Fourth International Chess Championship [RP/Scores]

by **Paradystopia** » Sun Mar 31, 2013 5:37 pm

Kolb was feeling a little intimidated. It was a new feeling for him and he didn't really know how to interpret it. Ever since he had punched Julio Ramos, he had acquired a small cohort of admiring fans from the Sova Empire who had now begun followed him around Pinehearth. First he tried the usual angry looks but this only encouraged them. Then he tried ignoring them, this was also a failure. Whenever he so much as lifted his arm, he could hear the excited chattering as they hoped he was about to punch someone again.

As he entered the arena for his final group match against the formidable Rook Slide, he noticed his little group of fans with a homemade banner.

BRING ON THE BEATDOWN!!!

At the table, he caught Rook's eye and tried his best to indicate 'They're not with me'. Subtle facial gestures were not his strong-point and the whole pantomine could easily have been misunderstood as 'I have acute indigestion as well as trying to avoid producing audible flatulence'. Whatever Rook thought he meant, he just gave an awkward sort-of smile. Maybe. Kolb wasn't particularly good at reading subtle facial gestures either, nevermind those of a 'unihorn'. (He misheard the word 'unicorn' and has yet to be corrected ... )

The match began oddly. On his second move, Kolb had accidentally moved his c-pawn as opposed to the e-pawn. Maybe it was those damn Sovans, always in the corner of his eye. However, it appeared to work to his advantage. By the time Rook had fianchettoed his bishop, Kolb had a wall of pawns in the centre of the board and seemed quite pleased with the fact. He knew that Rook would be inclined to play defensively, why not give him something to defend against?

5. ... e5

Finally, Rook offered a pawn. Maybe he wanted to break the wall? Kolb had other ideas.

6. d5 Nb4
7. Qa4+ ...

"Check"

Kolb took visible pleasure in announcing check to his opponent. Remembering the events of the Ramos match the Sovans began making excited noises. Studying the board, Rook realised his blunder. He'd lost a knight, there was no escaping that.

... Nc6
8. dxc6 b6

Most of the middle game was tentative. Neither player wanting to give an inch. This appeared to be frustrating Rook, or at least that's how Kolb interpreted it, but he had a game plan. Slowly pile on the pressure and hope the early mistake causes cracks to show.

17. Qb5 f6
18. Nh4 g5
19. Bxb6 ...

Boom! It was one of the first concepts of chess that Kolb had learnt. 'Your opponent can only ever take one piece at a time' and he had exploited this perfectly. Rook was left with the difficult choice of whether to take the knight or the bishop but whichever he chose, the other would punish him. If he took the knight on h4, the other knight would fork his rooks. If he took the bishop, his queen would be threatened. Rook chose to take the bishop.

... cxb6
20. Ng6+ ...

Kolb was in no hurry and putting the king in check allowed him to save his knight.

... Kg8
21. c7 ...

Rook wasn't looking comfortable. Kolb put on his smug face just to heap on the pressure.

... Qc8
22. Nge7+ ...

Things just weren't going Rook's way ...

... Kf7
23. Nxc8 Raxc8
24. Qc6 g4
25. hxg4 Bxg4
26. Nxb6 ...

Kolb wondered exactly what must be going through the unihorn's head. After losing to Rook previously in only 8 moves, he was now on fire. It was as though he knew the best move, all the time just willing Rook to screw up with his steely gaze.

... Kg6
27. Nxc8 Rxc8
28. Rh4 ...

Rook looked long and hard at the table. Kolb saw Ng5 29.Rxg4 hxg4 30.Qb7 Re8 31.c8=Q and felt that with two queens on the table, Rook would surely submit. He didn't have to wait and Rook toppled his king and offered a hoof. Kolb accepted the handshake and had he shook with anymore gusto, Rook may have probably blacked-out. The Sovan horde cheered and for once, Kolb was grateful of their presence.

To the quarter-finals and the mysterious Bob ...

by **Karditan** » Mon Apr 01, 2013 1:00 pm

Rook slunk back in his chair and stared at his toppled king. How had it come to this? I was on top of the odds after Yarsley's stumbles... and now I'm qualifying through second place. Dammit.

He grunted and rolled out of the chair, landing on all four hooves and trotting away from the board. Lilly Bell joined him as he passed the small crowd surrounding Gunt, and tried to reassure him. "It was luck, honey. You know someone like Gunt can't straight outplay you; it was just a fluke. And you're through to the next round, so that's all you should be focusing on."

"I know, I know. And the expansion back to the four-game series should help iron out those fluke matches." He nodded and put a hoof around her, pulling her in for a kiss. She giggled and gently guided him off the path, wanting to take a stroll in the park.

Rook let himself be redirected, but he wasn't too happy about it, to be honest. It's cold, it's damp, and there are far too many birds about... the hotel shampoo isn't exactly of the highest quality, so I really don't want to serve as target practice. But, whatever makes her happy... "So... do you know who I'll be playing next?"

Lilly put a hoof to her chin and thought for a moment. "I think the scoreboard said... it was you versus that Du Went fellow."

"The one from Stretta?"

"Yeah, that's him."

"Ah..." Crap. He had the best group-stage record... unless you count the lossless, but draw-oriented Kazali. This is going to be interesting.

by **The Inevitable Syndicate** » Tue Apr 02, 2013 1:00 pm

After a relatively easy win against Alphonse Oohm-pah-pah, Raymond checked the scoreboard to see who he would be facing next. Ongoing pressures at the SIA were making this chess tournament second on his priorities list, but he wasn’t going to go down without a fight. Ashra Kazali, eh? The one from that country in a far-flung land? That should be an interesting game. I like her play style. Even though she only won two games, I distinctly remember those games that she tied in would last ages. Resolve. Never giving up. Oh god, four games is going to take a while tomorrow…

The next day, Raymond dashed on over the the SAC hall. He’d had little time to prepare himself, and as a result forgot his bowler hat, and mistakenly taken his jacket with the food stains on from the bar. As he very quickly handed his EyeGlass to the official, he scanned the room to see if anything was out of the ordinary. And that’s when he noticed Bob. Bob?! How bloody long has he been here! I don’t even remember him entering! Of course, it must have been Verreau… After all, she did hypnotise him last ICC. I wonder if he’s still under her effects, seeing as she wasn’t able to enter this time… Oh well. Hopefully Gunt beats him. Bob will probably call him fat or something.

Yarlsey sat down, apologised for his tardiness, and began an important game of chess.

Quarter Final Cutoff, Results to follow!

by **The Inevitable Syndicate** » Tue Apr 02, 2013 1:04 pm

Match A:

Dr. Hubertus Schimmel (Kriegiersien) 2½ – 1½ Victoria Valdemar (The Babbage Isles)

Match B:

Bob (Darmen) 1 – 3 Kolb Gunt (Paradystopia)

Match C:

Rook Slide (Karditan) 2½ – 1½ Charles Du Went (Stretta)

Match D:

Raymond Yarsley (The Inevitable Syndicate) 3 – 1 Ashra Kazali (Khazmatistan)

Colours are for flair, nothing more...

Match-Ups for the semi-finals:

Dr. Hubertus Schimmel v Kolb Gunt

Rook Slide v Raymond Yarsley (Side note from Raymond: Oh, it’s on…)

by **Kriegiersien** » Tue Apr 02, 2013 2:11 pm

[ooc I am a great artist. Not. Yes, he has legs, they are just not visible here. Ahem.]

A long game ended. Two knights and her queen left, but the king was trapped by his own pawns. Checkmate in four moves. There was no way to prevent this. He would win the final game and advance. Nice.

Hubertus took the hand of his opponent, her handshake was weak. The woman looked a bit dizzy and absent, like in all the games, were great ideas were often ruined by simple mistakes. Maybe she was happy that it was over. She stumbled away.

He looked to the monitors and saw the results. No real surprises. The established favorites and medal winners of the last time, Rook Slide and the Title Defender and player for the host, Raymond Harsley, were in the semis and played against each other. Charles Du Went from Stretta had put up a good fight, he had seen that in his breaks, but lost in the end against the Pony.

His opponent was the Giant Kolb Gunt, who had beaten Bob easily. The man seemed pretty strong, both on the board and physically. Hubertus had heard from the accident in the group stage. Well, that wouldn't go well, if his Bodyguards and this man would clash. He just hoped the man was civilized enough to not start an argument with a polite being.

He was on the way to Charles, to congratulate the young man to a great tournament, when he heard someone in the audience whisper "Now it is man against Fruit and Horse".

by **Stretta** » Wed Apr 03, 2013 2:29 pm

Charles had finished his game, took the hoof of Rook, and then turned around to the spectators. He didn't quite know how to react. That's when he noticed Hubertus on his way over. Charles decided to meet him halfway. He seemed distracted by the time they were in talking range, but Charles couldn't figure out why. He extended a hand. "I see you're through to the semi-finals. Congratulations! I'm afraid I wasn't so lucky though. I'll be on the next flight home. I wish you all the best in the rest of the tournament, and if you should find yourself bored and needing a match partner, please feel free to e-mail me."

Packing his things up in the hotel, Charles reflected on the tournament. Rook Slide was a good player, and he wasn't upset to have been knocked out by him. That isn't to say he wasn't upset at not making it further. He sighed. Maybe next year. Charles' phone rang. It was his mother's care home. "Mr du Went, I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news..."

His mind went blank. There seemed to be an emptiness around him, like the world had no impact on his being. The ride to the airport was a daze, and the plane journey didn't seem to be real. When he touched down in Giroux International Airport, it was like a ton of bricks had just landed on his shoulders. The world came flooding back in to focus. There were people talking that he hadn't registered before. The engines, which surely must have been providing a subtle backdrop to his journey were now audible. The fact that his mother had just died caused his heart to fall through his body and go crashing into the floor.

The tournament was just a memory now.

by **Paradystopia** » Wed Apr 03, 2013 5:31 pm

Kolb had defeated Bob surprisingly easily, though it was not quite as much of a surprise as discoving the hobo he stepped over after leaving the hotel prior to his victory over Rook was actually Bob.

Throughout the entire match, he had struggled to gauge whether his intimidation tactics were working. Bob had just seemed so ... distant. Either he wasn't totally 'with it' or he simply didn't care. Kolb had been on the verge of going two-nil up in games, he just had remove a defending knight then his train of thought was completely derailed by Bob getting up to go scavenge in a bin for food-scraps. Upon his return to the table with a half-eaten chocolate bar, Kolb committed to sacrificing a bishop to remove the offending knight, looked up and spoke.

"Aren't you, like, rich?"
"Mmmhmmm"
"So ... err ... why do you ... just ... why?"

Bob shrugged, greedily wolfed down the remainder of the chocolate and toppled his king, in the process leaving a smattering of small brown crumbs on the board. Tentatively, Kolb accepted his handshake making a mental note to wash his hands immediately after leaving the table.

Even though he only now needed a draw to qualify for the semis, The Paradystopi chess-'master' had difficulty maintaining his concentration. Something about Bob really discomforted him. Maybe it was that constant vacant look he gave, maybe the habit he had of sniffing his fingers after scratching his armpits or maybe he was just subconsiously referencing one of his favourite movies; Attack of the Flesh-Eating Zombie Hobos. Regardless of the reason, Bob pulled a game back. Two-one, with one game to play.

1. g4 ...

Kolb looked curiously at the board. He had never seen that opening before. He could gauge nothing from Bob, who sat motionless gazing vacantly at his pieces.

... d4
2. h3 ...

This was unsettling. Bob was moving rapidly after Kolb, who watched his seconds ticking away on the clock

... e5
3. Nc3 ...

His initial reaction was to attack the knight, d4, but maybe that was too obvious.

... e4
4. f3 ...

What?

... Qh4#

"Err ... Checkmate ... "

Bob said nothing but nodded in an untroubled manner, shook Kolb's hand (to the disgust of Kolb) and stood up to leave. Kolb looked over the position of the pieces. Had Bob just let him win?

"Excuse me ... "
"Mmmm?"
"Did you mean to do that?"

Bob nodded.

"I mean, did you, like, actually let me beat you?"

Bob smiled, gave an enigmatic shrug and left. Placing a hand upon Kolb's shoulder as he exited. Kolb continued to stare at the pieces. Was it just him, or were people messing with his head?

To add to the madness, it was announced he would be facing a strawberry in the semi-final ...

by **Khazmatistan** » Wed Apr 03, 2013 11:16 pm

Knocked out in the quarterfinals. Well, it was far longer than Ashra had ever expected to last. Of course she'd have been taken out by Yarsley, she'd never stood a chance. Well, apart from that one surprising win, but that had been the result of pure luck. Raymond was a nice fellow, and she was glad to have met him.

Overall, the experience had been a good one. A once-in-a-lifetime chance to participate on an international level in a sporting event, and see the world outside of Khazmat. Getting this far had probably gotten up her hopes too high, but Ashra wasn't too disappointed in the result. Now she could finally go back home and tell everyone about her experience.

Embarking from the airport, she looked out the window and waved goodbye to the Syndicate.

OOC: Dark purple is my favourite colour, actually.

by **Karditan** » Thu Apr 04, 2013 1:11 pm

This... is going nowhere, fast. Rook stared at the board and tried to find an opening, anything at all. Nothing.

Du Went seemed to be equally perplexed, so Rook offered up a hoof. "Draw?"

Charles gave the board another look, then met the hoof. "Sure."

As the two got to resetting the board for the final match, Rook pondered the situation. One win and one draw apiece... it all comes down to this. I won the first match by wearing him down, picking off his pieces one by one until I could catch his king in a pincer. He learned from that in the second game and bashed through my defenses before I could weaken him any. And the last one... a classic stalemate. Neither of us could get the edge over the other. Now what to do? The pieces were all back in place and it was time for him to start his second game on white. Let's see if a surprise will work. The rightmost white pawn started to glow a light blue, and shifted forward slightly.

Charles' eyebrows immediately shot up, but he said nothing as he played d5. Rook responded with g4, transposing from quite possibly the least-used opening move to Grob's Attack. It's an exceedingly unconventional strategy, and off-the-beaten-path is Rook's style whenever he goes on the offensive. I'm too entrenched in my defensive techniques to play any 'traditional' attacking strategy properly, since everyone knows how to counter those... Du Went is young, and something of a hobbyist... which I was at his age, but that was decades ago. He won't know what to make of this.

And he didn't. Rook's fianchettoed light bishop caused havoc with Charles' line, as he had clearly not been expecting Rook to come after his deep pieces so quickly. The bishop was lost three moves later, but had done its job by then, causing irreparable damage to Charles' possessions and leaving him heavily handicapped for the remainder of the match. It took just a shade under twenty moves for Rook to put the grip on the black king, and the two opponents shook to celebrate a series well played.

by **The Inevitable Syndicate** » Thu Apr 04, 2013 1:15 pm

Ashra Kazali, even though the scores, and maybe she, might have said otherwise, was an incredibly formidable opponent. Her style of play was truly refreshing in Raymond’s eyes - the way she protected her pieces while carefully choosing which ones to send out to battle - was really an eye opener to Raymond. It was, with a touch of sadness then, when she made some schoolboy errors that ultimately cost her the game. Raymond did lose one of them, and while people may have chalked it up to luck, he’d genuinely not spotted the rooks on the flank.

Speaking of rooks, that was his next opponent. Rook Slide. Now, they’d faced in the final, back on Rook’s turf, and he’d won then. Now he was here, on his turf, and he was rather scared. Now, if I win, it’ll look like a fix. But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try. I think I’ve played consistently well, or at least, as well as I can do. And if Rook beats me, on a level and fair battlefield, then that’s fine. But he won’t. Not unless he’s switched his strategy. I have a fair idea on the moves he’s going to pull... He’s typically a defensive sort of horse, but can do a sketchy and unpredictable, yet cobbled together attacking play... Now, whether he actually pulls them is a different thing entirely...

Raymond woke up the next morning with a spring in his step, and practically bounced down to the SAC hall. Sat there was Slide, with his collection of fans. It was nice that people travelled all this way to see him play. Not many people had done the same to Yarsley. Of course, the fact that he won made him a little more famous, and now there were a plethora of people that came down to see him. Even his frail mother sat in the crowd. She gave him a wave. He waved back and sat down to play what should be an interesting game of chess...

Quarter-Final cutoff, results to follow!

by **The Inevitable Syndicate** » Thu Apr 04, 2013 1:21 pm

Dr. Hubertus Schimmel (Kriegiersien) ½ – 3½ Kolb Gunt (Paradystopia)

Rook Slide (Karditan) 1 – 3 Raymond Yarsley (The Inevitable Syndicate)

It's a fix! It's a fix I tells ya! (It's not, honest...)

So, the final fixture will be:

Kolb Gunt v Raymond Yarsley

With the third place playoff being:

Dr. Hubertus Schimmel v Rook Slide

by **Kriegiersien** » Thu Apr 04, 2013 1:57 pm

yeah, the humans win. 1/2 to 3 1/2 and 1 to 3? it's rigged, booo, I say, booo *throws strawberries*

It was really hopeless. Somehow he had ended again in a position he couldn't win. Beside a draw he had never been able to put Gunt into danger to lose. He could only congratulate the man to four flawless games. He shook his hand for the last time, again hoping not to get his fingers squished.
"Well played, maybe you want to play some games online against me?", he gave the Giant a note with his E-Mailadress he had especially registered to play with Charles and others from the tournament.
"Maybe we see again in another tournament. Good luck in the final."

A bit later he watched how Raymond Yarsley won against Rook under the applause of the audience and so was able to beat his opponent again. Hubertus fished in his pocket after his shopping list, but only found a note with his E-Mailadress. Where had he put the shopping list then? He had to write a new one and go shopping later. Or he could send his 'goons'. His bodyguards looked a bit depressed. Would they have gotten a bonus if he had won, he wondered?

He waddled over to Rook Slide.
"Greetings, that was an interesting game. I hope our game will be as much promising. Maybe we could make a... testmatch before our game if you have time? Or just meet for a chat. I would love to here more about your country. I know a cozy cafe here in the near."

by **Paradystopia** » Fri Apr 05, 2013 4:58 pm

The match had passed so quickly, Schimmel succumbing to Kolb's intimidating glares and blundering. Kolb assumed this was probably partially due to for easily strawberries bruise as he noticed Hubertus flinch on several occaisions when he lifted his great arm to move a piece.

Two games in and he had practically won the match. Twice Schimmel, despite opening with great promise, had allowed Kolb's into his head, backed himself into a corner and eventually resigned. He wished the Sovans were here watching this, but they had mysteriously disappeared and the only supporters he could make out in the crowd were two old otters from the Lymryk Isles who were tourists on an Atlantean Oceanian tour. Occaisionally, they made encouraging squawks, but on the whole, seemed to be finding chess a little boring.

After Kolb won the third game, there was a chance of a 4-0 victory, something he wasn't sure had ever been done before. Obviously though, Schimmel would be doing everything to salvage a little dignity. He managed. Kolb's aggressive play allowed for a counter-attack which eventually became stalemate by 3-way repetition.

Kolb accepted Schimmel's outstretched hand and tried to hold it as lightly as his bulky fingers would allow.

"Well played, maybe you want to play some games online against me?"
"Err ... yeah? ... I don't know ... maybe?"

He took the piece of paper from Hubertus. On-line chess wasn't really his thing. Without being able to administer his psychological style of play, he was a little amateurish and his requests to play wth webcams had been met with mixed responses. Twice he had had moderators ask why he wanted to see a webcam of a 12 year old and a 14 year old respectively, Once, he had been ejected outright with no questions asked and there was that time he had been greeted by a video feed of a gentleman in nothing but a bikini top swinging his genitals back and forth. Never before nor since has he forfeited a game.

His reverie of a gyrating penis was thankfully broken by the Kriegiersienian.

"Maybe we see again in another tournament. Good luck in the final."
"Uh? ... Yeah ... maybe ... Thanks? ... "

'Thanks?' There had been a time when he would have simply growled at the large strawberry. He had to keep up appearances, if only for one more match. Raymond Yarsley. Maybe he could have a bit of a practice online later? He looked at the bit of paper, Hubertus had given him.

compost (2 bags)
manure - ~~ask Rook Slide?~~ too impertinent
coffee
milk
toilet paper

by **Karditan** » Sat Apr 06, 2013 9:15 am

Rook scanned the board. Come on, there has to be something... I've got to force a tiebreaker. He raised his hoof above his remaining rook, then returned it to his side. No... that's not going to work. A pawn that he was close to queening glew blue and began to levitate, but was plopped back down before long. Damn, he has that covered, too... After a moment more, Rook sighed and toppled his king. He stuck out a hoof above the board and shook with Yarsley. "Looks like you've bested me again. Good luck in the finals."

Just then, the strawberry waddled up.

Kriegiersien wrote:"Greetings, that was an interesting game. I hope our game will be as much promising. Maybe we could make a... testmatch before our game if you have time? Or just meet for a chat. I would love to here more about your country. I know a cozy cafe here in the near."

The unicorn looked at the talking strawberry in surprise, seemingly getting his first good look at Schimmel. He's like one of those Eviscermatoes... but less violent. "Hello, and thanks. I'm not sure that I'm really up for another match today, but a chat sounds great. It would be interesting to learn more about your nation, as well..."

And so the two went off to a Syndicatian café, to discuss the intricacies of strawberry scholars and pony physicists.

by **The Inevitable Syndicate** » Sat Apr 06, 2013 12:01 pm

So, this was it. The final. Raymond had been here before, and won, but not here. Not on his home turf. He was determined to win again, and prove to everyone that the Syndicate, for all it’s faults, was the true home of chess, located in the center of the home of sport, Atlantian Oceania. His game was against the now pseudo-legendary Kolb Gunt, a young man from Paradystopia that, if he wins, might just take the world by storm. Of course, Raymond did, when he won, becoming the Syndicate’s new face of chess and encouraging kids up and down the country to take part in mind sports. That was one of the perks of the job, Raymond thought to himself, as he waited for Kolb to arrive.

Cut-off, results to follow!

by **The Inevitable Syndicate** » Sat Apr 06, 2013 12:06 pm

Third Place Playoff:

Dr. Hubertus Schimmel (Kriegiersien) 1½ – 2½ Rook Slide (Karditan)

Final:

Kolb Gunt (Paradystopia) 2½ – 1½ Raymond Yarsley (The Inevitable Syndicate)

Congratulations to Kolb Gunt of Paradystopia for winning the fourth edition of the International Chess Championship. As always, it's been a pleasure competing with you all, and this time hosting for you all. Raymond will be sure to get you all next time. Thank you very much for everything (including putting up with my less-than-stellar hosting skills), and from me and everyone in the Syndicate, goodnight!

by **Stretta** » Sun Apr 07, 2013 2:17 pm

Sicilian Defence wrote:We spoke to Charles du Went after the completion of the Fourth International Chess Championship held recently in the nation of The Inevitable Syndicate. Charles managed to reach the quarter-finals before being knocked out of the competition by the formidable Rook Slide of Karditan (who finished in 3rd overall).

Curtis Merryweather: So, the Syndicate?
Charles du Went: A great place. It was a pleasure to be there. Sure, there were issues with venues and the weather, but it was still great!
CM: Obviously, it would have been better if you'd of made it to the final...
CdW: [laughs] But of course. Having said that, I don't think given my personal situation, I would have played my top game in those final matches.
CM: Yes, I was sorry to hear about your mother. What are your plans now?
CdW: Keep playing. I've got my day job of course, but I still enjoy the game. Perhaps the fifth ICC will be my chance.
CM: You certainly showed that Stretta can hold its own on the world stage. Do you think it will enhance the profile of the game here? Your success, that is?
CdW: I really hope so.
CM: Anything you'd like to add?
CdW: I'd like to publicly say a huge thank you to the event organisers for putting on the championship. They did a really great job. I will, of course, be sending them a letter along these lines, thanking them personally.

Fourth International Chess Championship [RP/Scores]

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