Elephant Chess Cup 2 - Everything Thread

by **South Newlandia** » Sun Oct 17, 2021 9:38 am

Welcome to the second Elephant Chess Cup in Newport, South Newlandia!

Signup Thread

Format:
The Elephant Chess Cup is a new chess event. Teams will be playing in teams of four, on four separate boards. The player on board one will play the player on board one of the other team and so on, for four total matches in a matchup. For every win on a board, the team of the winning player gets one game point, (half a point each for a draw). The team that gains more points across four boards gets two board points for the team (one in the event of a 2-2 draw). The time control for every match is 15+5, meaning that every player has 15 minutes to make all their moves and gains 5 additional seconds after making a move. For more information on the game of chess, here is the Wikipedia article on chess. Chess knowledge is absolutely not required for RPing this tournament, though.

ICly, the tournament takes place over a weekend, with the first 4 matches on Friday (11:00, 13:00, 16:00 and 18:00 local time) the next four on Saturday at the same times, and the last match and the knockouts on Sunday (11:00, 13:00, 16:00).

The format used for matchups is called a Casaran (or Swiss) system. The first match will be a completely random draw. After the first match, teams will be ordered in a table, and the top teams will be playing each other for the next match. This process continues for a total of nine matches, although teams will never play a team they already played previously. After that, the top two teams in the standings will play in the final, with the team playing first having draw odds. There will also be placement games for 3rd, 5th, and 7th, with draw odds for the higher placing teams.

There are some available options to automate Casaran/Swiss matchups, however, I haven’t gotten one to work for me (and most do not eliminate rematches, anyway). Therefore, I will be doing matchups “by hand”. For transparency, my system will be to sort teams by the regular tiebreakers (up to Board Points), and break any ties after that by alphabet. Then, I will have the first team play against the second, third against fourth, and so on. If, for example, the 3rd and 4th teams in the standings have already played, the 3rd team will play the 5th one instead, and so on.

Tiebreakers:
The tiebreakers will be, in that order:
Game points
Board points
H2H game points
Buchholz points (total game points by all opponents, to reward teams with tougher schedules)
IC coinflip (scorinated game)
OOC coinflip
If a tie between multiple teams must be broken and one team wins the tiebreaker at any stage, while the remaining teams are still tied, the tiebreakers start at the top of the list again to break the tie between the remaining teams.

Schedule:

The cut-offs for every scorination will be occurring between 19:00 and 20:00 UTC every matchday.

October 24th: MD1 and 2 (Friday 11:00, 13:00 ICly)
October 27th: MD3 and 4 (Friday 16:00, 18:00 ICly)
October 29th: MD5 and 6 (Saturday 11:00, 13:00 ICly)
October 31th: MD7 and 8 (Saturday 16:00, 18:00 ICly)
November 2nd: MD9 (Sunday 11:00 ICly)
November 4th: Semifinals and placement games (Sunday 13:00 ICly)
November 6th: 3PPO and Final (Sunday 16:00 ICly)

RP Information:
You may now start posting in this thread. The best way to do that is by posting a roster, to give your opponents an idea of who they’re going up against. Names should be the minimum, and you can go into further detail about whatever you want (ages, heritage, club team (if any), play style, favourite openings etc.). Otherwise, you can Roleplay about whatever you like; it doesn’t have to be chess, either.
You are also advised to include a Roleplay permissions box in your roster post. An example may look like this:

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my lineup: Yes/No
Decide board results: Yes/No
Decide moves made: Yes/No
Godmod game events: Yes/No
Godmod other events: Yes/No

This can reduce conflicts between you and your opponent when you both want to RP the same match, but the best plan to do that remains to message your opponent on discord or by telegram.
Otherwise, I, as the host of this competition, ask you to not to inflict any damage to South Newlandian people or property without talking to me first. I generally am okay with stuff like that, but I do not enjoy being blindsided about those things. The same goes for clear proof of an opponent cheating (although accusations and stuff are fine).

Matchups for matchday 1:

(teams listed first have white on boards two and four)

StrayaRoos - Sarzonia
Mertagne - Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom
Natanians and Nosts - The Jovannic
Polkopia - Atheara
Zug um Zug - Norrhem
The North Polish Union - Eshialand
The 14 Stars - Untecna
Caribou Island - Arjunnagar
The Cordian Isles - Kriegiersien
Bollonich/Graintfjall - Qasden
Brookstation/Ardengard - Reformed Alto Tan
Essena - South Newlandia

If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a telegram or message me on discord.

by **South Newlandia** » Sun Oct 17, 2021 9:40 am

WELCOME TO SOUTH NEWLANDIA

In a nutshell
South Newlandia is a small Esportivan island with about four million inhabitants, located approximately between the Nova Anglican Admin Zone of Esportiva, Tumbra, and Super-Llamaland. South Newlandia is known for democracy, elephants, regulated capitalism and environmentalism, and the friendly population, happy to help you out if you run into any problems.

Overview
South Newlandians don’t like to be divided into groups, because they believe that it can never do a singular person justice to reduce them to a single feature of them, but occasionally, it’s just necessary. For example, when you talk about South Newlandian places, you need to group the country into some geographical areas to get any idea what is being talked about. In general, you can divide South Newlandia into a Southern and a Northern Part, each consisting of five general areas. Newport is considered part of the Northern part, and belongs to the Eastern subregion. You can reach a Newport directly with an airplane, but you’ll be a bit outside of the main city. Fortunately for you, getting around is easy, with public transport being almost free in South Newlandia, while renting a car can be more expensive.

Travel
The best options to get around in South Newlandia are the multiple high-speed trains that can get you almost everywhere in the country fairly quickly. If you don’t like trains, for some reason, there are also busses and cars to rent, but the streets aren’t always in perfect condition, and are far less convenient, to be honest. Flights inland are banned in South Newlandia, with the exception of the daily plane to Dragon Island, flying cargo and people between Masmow and Newport, and back. If you want to be mobile within a city, you can rent bikes for free, or you can take the underground if you are in a bigger city and the bus if the city is smaller. There are also busses and rental cars in the bigger cities, but unless you really need to, we wouldn’t advise you to use them. The bus is slower than the underground, and the underground gets you pretty much everywhere within a city. Cars can get very inconvenient because they are banned in many areas, and where they aren’t, there are rarely any parking spots. Seriously, don’t try to drive a car in South Newlandia. Most of the citizens don’t either; many of them don’t even have a license.

Weather
The climate typically stays the same in South Newlandia throughout most of the year, with warm winters and moderate summers. Snow is a foreign concept to everyone not living on the Dragon Island, and extreme heat is similarly uncommon. Weather extremes in general are rare, too; don’t expect any windstorms or floods or anything like that.

Animals
There are some wild animals in South Newlandia, but they will generally don’t disturb you if you don’t disturb them. Basically, just stay on the outlined paths in the forest and don’t do anything to anger animals, and you’ll be fine. Most of South Newlandias wild animals are friendly, like the elephants, for example; in the unlikely event that you meet a bear, probably the most dangerous animal you could meet in South Newlandia, in the woods, you should follow standard bear safety guidelines. In any emergency, you can call or text the number 123 to get immediate help, or the number 321 if you just need less urgent, but still important advice.

Rules and Laws you should be aware of
If you plan to visit South Newlandia, there are a few things you should be aware of beforehand. Laws on imported goods are rather strict, and things you’d expect to not be allowed to take into other countries are usually banned in South Newlandia as well. Examples for this include dead animals, living people unwilling to enter and bombs of any kind. The same regulations will also apply if you go to leave the country again. Special note should be made of South Newlandian drug laws. While all drugs, and this means all drugs, including alcohol and tobacco; are decriminalized in South Newlandia; this does not mean you are allowed to deal drugs. Selling or giving away drugs for any reason is strictly banned; this includes, again, alcohol and tobacco. However, you are allowed to take any drugs you want to without punishment, and are allowed to own any that are only for your own consumption. You are probably going to be treated like an addicted person though, so people might attempt to get you professional help to fight the addiction they perceive you to have. This is rare; most people are aware that different customs exist in other countries. In short, you are allowed to take any drugs into South Newlandia as long as you can convince officials that you aren’t addicted to them and do not intent to sell them. Bribing South Newlandian officials is basically impossible; border control is a very well-paid job in South Newlandia. Otherwise, the South Newlandian legal system is similar to the legal systems of most other civilised places; with the exception that jails and prisons have recently been outlawed.

About Newport

Newport is located on the East coast of South Newlandia, and is the second-biggest city of the country at about 330,000 citizens. It used to be a very industrial city, named after the port that is the biggest in the country today. If anything is getting shipped to South Newlandia, odds are, it arrives in Newport first. In recent years, Newport has been the fastest growing city in the country, as job prospects have quickly attracted people from around South Newlandia and the multiverse.

Sports
Newport has always been an important city for South Newlandian sports. You might be able to attend a baseball game of either the Newport Owls or Newport Dolphins. Both of them have been playing really solid baseball in Llamaphant Pro Baseball recently. One thing you won’t be able to attend, but that still exists, are the Newport Rooks, one of South Newlandia’s better chess teams.

Other attractions
Newport has basically everything you’d expect a city to have, including food from around the multiverse, malls, and everything else. Two of the most well-known attractions of Newport are the East-Newport minigolf course, considered the best in the country, and suitable for all ages and skill levels; and the Newport Cineplex, one of the biggest cinemas in the nation, featuring all the currently relevant movies and blockbusters. If you’re more interested in culture, you can visit the highest court of law here, or the Newport College for International Relations, or the Newport Law School, or the Newport Politics Institute…

The people
The citizens of Newport are pretty normal for being South Newlandian, friendly, and commonly welcoming toward foreigners. Of course, many citizens of Newport are immigrants themselves, moving to South Newlandia for job prospects or whatever else. They do have a reputation for being a little bit less open than South Newlandians from other places, but that’s mostly a myth.

The venue
The tournament will take place at the Ivory Crown Hotel, which has been closed to all visitors unrelated to the ECC for the duration of the tournament. It is considered one of the nicest hotels of South Newlandia, frequently winning all sorts of awards, and a common place to stay especially for rich foreigners. The hotel comes with all bells and whistles, including a pool to relax in, all kinds of sporting equipment, and much more. If you try to come up with something you’ve seen in a luxury hotel before, odds are, the Ivory Crown Hotel has it too.
All players will have their own room to stay in, study, sleep, and relax, and rooms to train as a team are also available. The games will be played in various rooms on the ground floor. They have been redesigned for this purpose, and every board is hooked up to all sorts of stuff to allow streaming the games in real time. Every player is also allowed to request a specific chair for comfortable sitting.

If any of you need/want additional info about anything, please feel free to ask me.

by **Kriegiersien** » Mon Oct 18, 2021 6:55 am

Kriegiersien Chess National Team

Alongside

and

two more Grandmasters (both human)
Olivia Queen
and
Red Panda
got nominated.

RP-Permissions: Everything allowed we can work with

by **Sarzonia** » Mon Oct 18, 2021 8:00 am

The Sarzonian delegation to the second Elephant Chess Cup is as follows:

Grandmaster: Lloyd Conway
Candidate Master: Lisa Boudreaux
Class A: Audrey Tate; Javier Lopez

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my lineup: Yes
Decide board results: Yes
Decide moves made: Yes
Godmod game events: No
Godmod other events: No

by **Sarzonia** » Mon Oct 18, 2021 9:23 am

"So who's going to manage our delegation?"

"You are."

"Me? I've never done anything like that before in my life!"

"You managed people at your job. This isn't all that different. Good luck."

The phone hung up before Lloyd Conway could respond to the declaration. He was being called upon as his country's Grandmaster to manage the Sarzonian delegation to its first-ever international chess tournament. The next person up in the four-person team Sarzonia was sending was a candidate master. The other two members of the delegation were Audrey Tate and Javier Lopez, neither of whom had significant experience competing domestically, let alone internationallly.

A Sarzonian chess organisation was newly re-organised as part of the Department of Health and Athletics, an organisation which retained its title, even though the bulk of the country's health initiatives and medical care decision-making were now under the responsibility of the country's Surgeon General Dr. Linda Carswell. Health and Athletics remained under the responsibility of Vice President Carter Marshall, who was the driving force behind assuming oversight of Chess Sarzonia. The directive to send a team without a manager of any kind felt out of place to Conway; he felt he was behind the eight ball trying to organise his team's lineups for a competition Sarzonia was not part of in its inaugural edition.

This feels like we're just doing this for shits and giggles, he thought. He looked at himself in the mirror of the hotel room. As grandmaster, he had his own room, whilst candidate master Lisa Boudreaux was sharing a hotel suite with Audrey Tate and Javier Lopez. Conway raised an eyebrow when he learned that a male player was sharing living quarters with two women until he learned that Lopez was gay. He knew better than to presume Lopez would be treated like one of the girls, but he also knew from having conversations with Lopez that he took seriously the code of conduct memo everyone on the delegation was required to sign and agree to. There would be no sexual harassment allowed. There would be no sexual relations allowed among teammates.

Conway looked at the cultural guide that was sent to him by Chess Sarzonia explaining various aspects of South Newlandian culture. He'd received a knock on the door from a hotel assistant manager assuring him that staff would be readily available to assist him or anyone in the Sarzonian delegation at a moment's notice. He looked at the welcome basket that was left for him by hotel staff and an envelope bearing the words "Welcome to Newport!" in a script font. He smiled. He'd heard of how friendly South Newlandians were from some Sarzonian athletes who'd made the trip there previously. Now that he could see it first hand, he breathed a sigh of relief.

The work of chess would come soon enough. Right now, it was time to acclimate to the temporary life of being in South Newlandia.

by **StrayaRoos** » Mon Oct 18, 2021 5:26 pm

StrayaRoos Team
Grandmaster: Yuka Nut
Candidate Master: Tim Ling
Class A's:Kim Ling ,Rue Poa
My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my lineup: Yes
Decide board results: Yes
Decide moves made: Yes
Godmod game events: No
Godmod other events: No

by **Caribou Island** » Tue Oct 19, 2021 7:14 pm

Grandmaster Hana Rossedoter
Age: 68
Rating: 2680
Board Member, Moorland Chess Association
A methodical and powerful player, Hana is a formidable opponent, though age has undeniably softened her skills a bit. Nevertheless, she was the highest ranked female player in the world from 1972 - 1981 and ranked in the top three players in the world between 1973 - 1977, being the first ever woman to break a rating of 2800, and holding a historic high of the 9th highest ranked chess player in history at her peak. Her popularity in a globally male-dominated field at the height of the women's liberation movement made her an icon of the time and only enhanced her reputation as a stone-cold killer on the board, able to take out any man who stood in her way. She retired as a full-time chess player in 1985 but has remained active in the scene, being a member of the Moorland Chess Association, acting as the president from 1990 - 2000, being inducted as a board member in 2000, and having been the chair from 2008 - 2014. She is from the north of Moorland with the height to match, towering over most others with her shock of pepper-grey hair and electric blue eyes, reflecting the fear in her opponents back at them. Despite her appearance and reputation, she is a kind figure and a comforting presence at the board. She does not often participate in championships anymore, but has been sent as a representative of the MCA to determine if the Elephant Cup is worth continued participation and to act as an advisor to the more junior chess players sent in the Moorish delegation.

International Master Kars Isason
Age: 37
Rating: 2438
Senior Member, Moorland Chess Association
Kars Isason was meant to be the future of the Moorish chess scene, and even expected to rise to the top of the world. A child prodigy, from the age of 6 he was capable of competing in international competitions. At the age of 10 he came within 10 points of the Grandmaster title, and again at age twelve. By seventeen the excitement had faded and he remained, trapped by a sport he loved that just wouldn't give him what he so desperately wanted. Desire and the rush to still be a young star saw him throw himself against stronger and stronger opponents, tanking his rating for several years. After taking several years away from the game, Kars returned to the game with a more mature perspective, able to appreciate how far he had gotten. He has hovered in the low 2400s for the past decade, a respected presence at many international tournaments. His playstyle is highly variable, using his expertise to put his opponent on edge and gain an advantage.

Candidate Master Varina Sant-Alstair
Age: 28
Rating: 2298
Member, Moorland Chess Association
Varina is a Moor from the affluent swamplands of southern coastal Moorland, representing a small minority of the best chess players from the nation considering their comparatively large population. Most of the best Moors hail from the frosty north, where chess is a way of life, but Varina doesn't mind her lack of pedigree. She more than makes up for any shortcomings in dedication to her craft and a certain stubborn spirit gifted only by the saints. She can still give as good as she takes and has slowly been working her way up the boards for years, remaining a reliable presence in national and regional competitions. She is a stalwart defender that loathes flashy moves and has a deep suspicion for so-called "prodigies". She expects players to check their egos at the door and meet their opponents where they're at. In this competition she's hoping to finally tip the scales and achieve the title of Master.

Cora Jansdoter, Class A
Age: 23
Rating: 1992
Member, Moorland Chess Association
Cora is a promising young player who had never played chess until her university formed a club for it. She instantly fell in love with the game and has been playing for four years now, quickly rising to be a proficient player. Always a cheerful presence at the board, she is a gracious loser, though defeat is something she has slowly had to face less and less of as the years have passed. Her inexperience shows at times and she does have a penchant for risky gambits, but when she's down to her last few pieces is when she's at her best. Her growth has been largely stymied by her doctoral work, but she has been able to find the time to compete in the Elephant Cup. With much of the MCA busy during the week of the Cup, running the Moorland Chess Association Youth National Championship, she managed to qualify for the available fourth seat in the delegation. Her aim is to finally get to the rank of Candidate Master.

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my lineup: Yes
Decide board results: Yes
Decide moves made: Yes
Godmod game events: No
Godmod other events: Yes

by **The Cordian Isles** » Wed Oct 20, 2021 1:17 am

2021 Cordia Chess Championships

The top 16 Cordian chess players, determined by ratings, tournaments, and other such measurements, have convened in the capital of Cordasfjord, the finalists of which will be sent to South Newlandia for the Elephant Chess Cup. The participants have been split into four groups of four, and will play a double round robin in qualifying. The top 2 of each group qualify to the semifinals, which will feature the same four-player, double round robin format. The top two of each group make the finals and the ECC team. The finals consist of a triple round robin to decide the winner.

Round One

Group 1A                  Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA 
1 Halfdan Olson             6   3  2  1    4   2  Semifinalist
2 Solving Stendahl          6   3  2  1    4   2  Semifinalist
3 Dina Bjorkman             6   2  2  2    3   3
4 Tatiana Albrechtsson      6   0  2  4    1   5

Olson took 1.5 points against Stendahl to take the first position. Despite a final-match victory over Olson, Bjorkman found herself in third and eliminated, while Albrechtsson didn't win a single match, a near-guaranteed recipe for elimination.

Group 1B                  Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA 
1 Karen Rask                6   4  1  1  4.5 1.5  Semifinalist
2 Henny Lind                6   2  2  2    3   3  Semifinalist
3 Jonna Oster               6   2  2  2    3   3
4 Laila Mikaelsson          6   1  1  4  1.5 4.5

The difference between Lind and Oster was Lind's match two victory over the latter, meaning Lind had guaranteed herself qualification with a draw against Oster in match five. Rask won four of six matches, while Mikaelsson lost four of six, and the former qualified to the semis.

Group 2A                  Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA 
1 Oline Nord                6   3  2  1    4   2  Semifinalist
2 Marius Horn               6   3  1  2  3.5 2.5  Semifinalist
3 Lina Bager                6   2  1  3  2.5 3.5
4 Magda Tjader              6   2  0  4    2   4

Bager's heart was broken with a final-match loss to Marius Horn; the match was essentially a playoff and Lina's inefficient development gave her the short end of the stick.

Group 2B                  Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA 
1 Sara Klasson              6   3  2  1    4   2  Semifinalist
2 Vendela Stenberg          6   2  2  2    3   3  Semifinalist
3 Regine Ostergard          6   1  3  2  2.5 3.5
4 Susan Lang                6   2  1  3  2.5 3.5

Qualification in 2B was already decided by the final matches; Ostergard won and Stenberg lost, but that wasn't enough for the former to qualify.

Round Two, Half One

Group 1C               Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA 
1 Halfdan Olson          3   1  1  1  1.5 1.5
  Henny Lind             3   1  1  1  1.5 1.5
  Solvig Stendahl        3   1  1  1  1.5 1.5
4 Karen Rask             3   0  3  0  1.5 1.5

With everyone at 1.5 points, 1C was anyone's group to win, and just about anyone could have conceivably made the finals.

Group 2C               Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA 
1 Oline Nord             3   1  2  0    2   1
  Sara Klasson           3   1  2  0    2   1
3 Marius Horn            3   1  1  1  1.5 1.5
4 Vendela Stenberg       3   0  1  2  0.5 2.5

With Nord and Klasson tied for top two, it was their group to lose even with Horn just half a point behind with three matches to play.
Round Two, Half Two

Group 1C               Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA 
1 Henny Lind             6   2  3  1  3.5 2.5  Finalist; ECC
2 Solvig Stendahl        6   2  2  2    3   3  Finalist; ECC
3 Karen Rask             6   1  4  1    3   3
4 Halfdan Olson          6   2  1  3  2.5 3.5

It was an epic finish in 1C, with the winner separated from last place by a single point. Stendahl qualified over Rask on head-to-head, a heartbreaking loss for the latter.

Group 2C               Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA 
1 Marius Horn            6   3  2  1    4   2  Finalist; ECC
2 Oline Nord             6   2  3  1  3.5 2.5  Finalist; ECC
3 Sara Klasson           6   2  2  2    3   3
4 Vendela Stenberg       6   1  1  4  1.5 4.5

It was their group to lose and they lost it. Horn won two matches and drew the other to come from behind with a first-place finish, while Nord went 1-1-1 to finish a half-point behind and Klasson lost two matches, failing to make the finals as a result.

The Finals, and the ECC team, were set. All that was left was to find a champion.

Finals

Oline Nord 1–0 Solvig Stendahl
Henny Lind 0–1 Marius Horn
Nord and Horn win, making 2C look rather the stronger group in the opening match. Nord played her attacking style to a win over Stendahl's "Cordian" style. Horn, meanwhile, won with a speedily-developed Cordian strategy.

Solvig Stendahl ½–½ Marius Horn
Oline Nord ½–½ Henny Lind
Forced draws all around in the second matches, a rather boring bit of chess.

Henny Lind 1–0 Solvig Stendahl
Marius Horn 1–0 Oline Nord
In a rematch of semifinal groups, Lind won over Stendahl with some pretty pawn play while Horn embarrassed Nord with a checkmate in under fifteen moves.

Final Group            Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA 
1 Marius Horn            3   2  1  0  2.5 0.5
2 Henny Lind             3   1  1  1  1.5 1.5
  Oline Nord             3   1  1  1  1.5 1.5
4 Solvig Stendahl        3   0  1  2  0.5 2.5

Solvig Stendahl 0–1 Oline Nord
Marius Horn 0–1 Henny Lind
Lind takes a major upset over Horn after the former overextended and Lind took our her queen for a massive advantage, compounded with Horn's weaker endgame. Stendahl stayed the only competitor without a win as Nord simply outplayed her start to finish after building an early material advantage.

Marius Horn ½–½ Solvig Stendahl
Henny Lind 0–1 Oline Nord
Stendahl was unable to take advantage of poor positioning from Horn, settling for a draw instead, while Nord won an important game over Henny Lind to hush the hype surrounding the latter after her upset of Horn.

Solvig Stendahl 1–0 Henny Lind
Oline Nord 0–1 Marius Horn
Stendahl took her first win to come within a half-point of Lind with three matches to play, while Horn took a second straight win over Nord to take back first place and prevent Nord from taking a 1.5 point lead.

Final Group            Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA 
1 Marius Horn            6   3  2  1    4   2
2 Oline Nord             6   3  1  2  3.5 2.5
3 Henny Lind             6   2  1  3  2.5 3.5
4 Solvig Stendahl        6   1  2  3    2   4

Final Three Matches
Oline Nord ½–½ Solvig Stendahl
Henny Lind ½–½ Marius Horn
Nothing changed in the standings, aside from the pressure mounting with just two matches to go.

Solvig Stendahl ½–½ Marius Horn
Oline Nord 0–1 Henny Lind
Horn could have secured the championship with a victory. Instead, Stendahl forced a draw, meaning that with Nord and Lind wins in the final matches, Horn could have dropped from first to third.

Henny Lind ½–½ Solvig Stendahl
Marius Horn 0–1 Oline Nord
Despite not having lost since match four, Stendahl only managed a single victory en route to a last-place final finish. Lind might have made the competition even closer with a victory, but fell short, resulting in a draw. Horn, despite the loss, held the head-to-head tiebreaker over Nord and therefore took first place.

Final Group            Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA 
1 Marius Horn            9   3  4  2    5   4  Champion
2 Oline Nord             9   4  2  3    5   4
3 Henny Lind             9   3  3  3  4.5 4.5
4 Solvig Stendahl        9   1  5  3  3.5 5.5

Elephant Chess Cup Roster

Uniquely, the Cordian team will only feature females after women dominated the Championship, shutting men completely out of the final. They are:

Marius Horn
The thirty-four-year-old plays aggressive, all-or-nothing chess. Opponents may be surprised by her quick attacks, and these could result in early checkmates if they have not prepared. If the opponent can counter effectively, however, Horn often finds herself off-balance and struggling, and her weak endgame skills don't help things. She only lost five matches in her twenty-one match Championship run, establishing herself as a force to be reckoned with, so never expect an easy win if you blunt her first attack.

Oline Nord
Nord, twenty-two, plays the "Cordian" style of chess, based on getting an early advantage and trading pieces as much as possible from there. This strategy can turn a pawn advantage into a victory, but also comes at the risk of a weak defense if the opponent is allowed to make attacks. Nord picked up chess in elementary school and quickly developed a passion for the game, surpassing her instructor by the time she went into middle school. The Cordian style is most often taught by Cordian instructors, and so people in Cordia that discover the game at a young age are the most common users of this strategy.

Henny Lind
Lind is a fifty-year-old and quite skilled at chess. She focuses on defensive play and you'll seldom see a piece of hers that is defended by less than two other pieces. She simply hates losing material, and this can hold her back when her refusal to trade results in unfavorable positions. Lind learned chess in high school and has honed her game for over thirty years, so her defensive play is often backed up by moments of offensive brilliance when an opponent overcommits to an attack.

Solvig Stendahl
Stendahl is an unusual chess player. She'll take an opportunity, if she sees it, to take a draw to avoid the potential of a loss, and she does so often. This resulted in her five draws in the Final. Nevertheless, she is a quality chess player in her own right, skilled at both tactical and positional play and fluid in switching between them. Stendahl is someone many will underestimate. Many will live to regret that.

Cordians remember their Ro16 loss to Kriegiersen in the last World Lacrosse Championships; the first matchup against that nation's chess team has the potential for a small amount of revenge for the Cordian side.

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my lineup: Yes
Decide board results: Yes
Decide moves made: Yes
Godmod game events: Yes
Godmod other events: No

by **Ardengard** » Wed Oct 20, 2021 5:44 am

Brook Chess Federation & Ardengardian Board for Chess

The Brook and Ardengardian Delegation

Chess in Ardengard
Traditionally known as ‘The Game of the Wise’ in Ardengard, chess is most popular among the elderly population in the nation. It isn’t very long ago that youngsters started taking interest in the game and it has been just a few decades since chess was seen as a competitive sport in Ardengard. However, the love and culture associated with the game goes back centuries. Scenes of men and women in rocking chairs deciding on the piece they would rather sacrifice could be seen even before the invention of art. Slowly, that culture has seeped into the younger generations. With the growing acceptance of chess as a sport, the Ardengardian Chess Board was established. Its name was changed to the present one a month later to avoid the unintentional pun. However, Ardengardian players still stick by some of the traditions developed over the past. One such example is the name of the chess pieces. Though players use the generally accepted names for international matches, they prefer the Ardengardian names for domestic games and tournaments. The Ardengardian names are:
Pawn – Bargin | Knight – Borimer | Bishop – Leglas | Rook – Gimlo | Queen – Eowyne | King – Arogarn

Chess in Brookstation
Indoor sports is not popular in Brookstation. Although chess is by far the most popular indoor sport in Brookstation , it is not famous as an overall sport. It is a sport which can be seen present in almost each household as a pass time game. Recently the game has been promoted and chess training centers have been built throughout Brookstation.

Players

Name: Dan March
Age: 55
Title: Grandmaster
Nationality: Ardengard (ARG)
One of the oldest and most successful competitive chess players from Ardengard, Dan March was one of the first Ardengardians to take on chess as a young man. He has proven his mettle over the years with some significant victories across platforms and a great number of domestic trophies. He gained the title of Grandmaster at the age of 24. When he isn’t busy working on his game, he works for the future of chess in Ardengard. A few years ago he founded the March Chess Centre in his hometown – Reichenbach. The centre serves as a youth training centre and also hosts annual open competitions. With regards to his fellow Ardengardian teammate, he acts as a mentor figure to Nigella.

Name: Deepak Singh Topal
Age: 22
Title: Grandmaster
Nationality: Brookstation (BRO)
This Brook comes from a poor background. He was a child prodigy and had shown promising talent from the very day he first played chess. He could've got into the team at a younger age but his financial conditions prevented him. His parents had passed away in a car accident and as the eldest member of the family, it was his responsibility to look after his young sisters. He earned money by working and played chess whenever he could. It wasn’t until recently that the BCF decided to take care of his family so that he could play for the nation. He has shown rapid progress to make it to the delegation this year and will be looking to impress over the duration of the cup.

Name: Nigella Seale
Age: 19
Title: International Master
Nationality: Ardengard (ARG)
She has been called a ‘wunderkind’ by critics as well as her senior teammate. In turn, she idolizes Dan and greatly admires his career and journey. Her own success in domestics has been immense, defeating established and experienced players with ease. The Elephant Chess Cup serves as a chance for her to make a mark in an international tournament. With respect to her playing style, her opponents call her “ruthless in the endgame”, with her impeccable ability to make excellent use of pawns being her biggest strong point. Her chess life aside, Nigella is currently pursuing a degree in Bio-Chemistry at University of Shirefton. She plans to balance her interests in chess and academics.

Name: Kenneth Popoola
Age: 19
Title: International Master
Nationality: Brookstation (BRO)
Kenneth Popoola was born on 24 March 2002 in Halebid. His grandfather, the late Roy Popoola, taught him chess at the age of 5. Soon he became very popular in chess circles of Halebid as he was the youngest player in most tournaments taking place during those days and also won prizes. In 2010, at the age of 8, he won both the Brook National U-10 and U-12 Championships which marked the beginning of his career. He played Deepak Topal in 2017 at the age of 15 where he defeated him and got into the Brook team. The 19 year old International Master is looking forward to play this tournament.

RP Permissions:
In general, yes to everything. If it’s something drastic, TG or DM for permission.

by **Atheara** » Wed Oct 20, 2021 6:09 am

Athearan Team; Elephant Chess Cup 2

Atheara is not too well known for chess in the Multiverse, say for Atheara participating in the first edition of the Elephant Chess Cup. Atheara is a threatening team when the players are on their day. And this time, the same four players return to Newport, South Newlandia to finish better than where they did finish the last time Atheara was in the Elephant Chess Cup

Player 1: Carlos Devyn
Having participated in the Garvida Chess Championships and the first edition of the Elephant Chess Cup, Devyn returns to international chess still as Athearan Champion. He once again makes the return leap to the chess board with his slightly agressive and quick playstyle. Which is sure to be able to shock the chess board just like the last time he played in Newport, due to the fact that he focuses on a mix of force and combination of pieces, creating a fantastic and beautiful chaotic outlet of a game.

Age: 37
Favourite Openings:
Birds Opening, Kings Gambit (White)
French Defense, Closed Sicilian; Traditional Main Line (Black)

Player 2: Dushev Akarpovick
Dushev also still has it in him. With the rivalry between him and Devyn still growing quite well, Dushev also looks to prove himself in Newport. He also returns with the way he plays chess, a defensive playstyle that will surely make the psyche of other players because it revolves with the way his openings work. His openings have gotten sharper, and his accuracy to see pieces is still going up and amazing everyone. Hopefully he will put up a great defensive game to make everyone not underestimate defensive players.

Age: 34
Favourite Openings:
English Opening, Kings Pawn; Ponziani (White)
Caro Kann; Exchange, Open Sicilian; Najdorf (Black)

Player 3: Aelena Svetrachka
Formerly one of Atheara's most young and currently prestigious talents, and still leveling up her skills with experience and age, Aelena has a very mixed way of playing chess on the board. She tends to start with a solid position that can, at her will and choice, start a new attack that seems to appear from thin air. And she plays gambits very, very often and resolidify her position, to start and play the waiting game out of thin air. It's a recurring theme for her to change the pace of the game out of thin air, and that's just her.

Age: 26
Favourite Openings:
Queens Gambit, Sicilian; Grand Prix Attack (White)
Englund Gambit, Kings Gambit; Falkbeer Countergambit (Black)

Player 4: Selena Mlyawtaski
Everyone knows that Selena has always been the rigorous one when it comes down to chess, so when she heard about the ECC being hosted again, she wanted to be picked again. This year, she was picked again. She was picked because she took chess quite seriously, the needs of someone serious is high. And now she will repay the fact that she deserves the place on the team by playing chess in an interesting way, and that is to play by restricting enemy movement and having a neutral playstyle, which now she can change at the will of a piece.

Age: 25
Favourite Openings:
Kings Pawn; Danish Gambit, Dresden Opening (White)
Dutch Defense, Nimzo-Indian Defense (Black)

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my lineup: Yes
Decide board results: Yes
Decide moves made: Yes
Godmod game events: Yes, but TG me or DM me first.
Godmod other events: Yes, but TG me or DM me first.

by **Essena** » Wed Oct 20, 2021 6:35 am

Choose my lineup: Yes
Decide board results: Yes
Decide moves made: Yes
Godmod game events: Yes
Godmod other events: Yes

Essenian Chess Team
Team Name - The Essenian Animals
Coach - Nicholas Orlov

Daniel Summers - 57 years old
The oldest on the Essenian chess team, Daniel is an experienced chess player starting his love for chess in park matches then finally moving on to Essenian championship tournaments.

Talia Marsh - 37 years old
Talia is relatively new to Chess. Only becoming interested after watching her favorite streamer play chess on Twitch. Having only won 2 regional championships, winning an international championship will be a massive undertaking.

Ming Ho - 50 years old
Ming is a chinese-essenian that moved from Hong Kong. While in Hong Kong she was instilled with the love for chess and her family nurtured it. With 43 chess championships under her belt she is ready to take things to a new level.

Jack Mallory - 42 years old
Jack is lax chess player who for one reason or another has won 5 chess championships. His light-hearted behavior while playing can be distracting to other players but the people watching enjoy it.

by **Sarzonia** » Wed Oct 20, 2021 12:59 pm

The day after the Sarzonian delegation to the second Elephant Chess Cup arrived at their hotel and the four-member team got to their respective spaces to unpack, Javier Lopez finally had a chance to breathe. Lisa Boudreaux and Audrey Tate decided to go out for a day on the town to check out the sights and do some shopping. Lloyd Conway was spending the morning sightseeing when he wasn't sitting down and looking at the schedule and planning which players were going to face which opponents.

Both Boudreaux and Tate were comfortable changing around Lopez since they both knew he was gay. Too comfortable, he thought, as he thought about Boudreaux getting ready for the shower whilst Lopez was waking up. He'd already seen more than he'd bargained for, but Chess Sarzonia already decided that as the de facto manager of the delegation, Conway would have his own hotel room whilst Lopez would have to share space with the two women. The adjacent room, which was admittedly smaller than the suite the two women occupied and the room assigned to Conway, was listed as unavailable.

As Lopez went to his bed to lie down and catch up on sleep after a restless four hours, he thought back to the adventures it took for him to even make it this far. He'd earned the last berth of the four assigned to Sarzonia and the trip to South Newlandia in good order. The problem was getting his passport sorted at External Affairs. His application had been sent well in advance of the 10 October deadline, but there was a problem with the application.

"We need an updated photo," came the call from the agent at External Affairs. "You're not permitted to wear any jewelry in your photos," the agent said, specifically calling out the rainbow flag pin on his shirt and the hoop earring in his right ear. "Those gotta go."

"That's ridiculous!" Lopez retorted. "It's homophobic!"

"No jewelry, no valid photo, no passport, no trip," the agent said, sounding entirely too smug for someone in a position to serve the public. Lopez hung up the phone, slamming his mobile phone to the couch and sitting down next to it in a huff when he'd heard the bad news. He then sat down and began to cry. His statement of pride in who he was as a human being was about to cost him an opportunity he'd trained and fought so hard for. That was, until the mobile rang again.

"What!" he snapped, clearly not in a headspace to entertain anyone. It turned out to be the same agent he'd just spoken with. Only this time, the voice was obviously chastened.

"Mr. Lopez," the agent said. "We've reviewed the information and we've approved the photo you're using for your passport. It should be ready for pickup at your office in three business days." Lopez was so relieved by the news he didn't think to respond with snark to the agent. It was all well that he didn't, because the agent's supervisor heard the call and they'd already decided to approve the exception to the policy; an exception that was, in fact, unnecessary because if the agent bothered to read the regulation further, it would have specifically provided an exception to allow for 'self-expression' including Native Sarzonian, LGBTQ+ and other minority groups. Lopez had no way of knowing the supervisor would lecture them about their conduct on the call.

What mattered to Lopez was having the opportunity to look at his newly-obtained passport with the jewelry in it and his wide, beaming smile. But right now, he had to attend to the knock on the door, so he did. On the other side of the door was the hotel's assistant manager.

"Mr. Lopez?"

"Yes?"

"We've been in contact with Chess Sarzonia. The room adjacent to yours is now available. They've approved your use of it."

So now, Lopez had to pack his bags again, but this time, it was to give him his own set of accommodations. And hopefully now, a chance to catch up on sleep rather than waiting for his two loud, talkative roommates to finally turn in.

by **Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom** » Wed Oct 20, 2021 1:56 pm

Federal Republic of Zeta Reka & Hügeltaldom
Elephant Chess Cup 2

Players

Klaus Schreiner
Titles: Grandmaster, National Champion
Rating: 2563
Age: 33
From: Porto Nowi, Rekadom, Zeta Reka
Accolades: Zeta Reka National Champion (9); National Runner-up (3); Zeta Reka U-18 Champion (2); Highest rated player in Rekan history; First Rekan GM

Klaus Schreiner is the ever defensive top player in Rekan history. He's considered unbreakable by domestic peers. By giving opponents zero solid options, Schreiner has been able to amass some strong lossless streaks over the years. The positional GM won five consecutive national titles in his late twenties. He is also the defending two time national champion. Schreiner has had a rivalry with NM Wuk Slijepčewić, but has won far more games over the years.

Schreiner was recently awarded a Grand Master title. "The man is more than deserving," former understudy NM Goran Tomiwić said of Schreiner. Schreiner has a few younger players under his wing, though none are as positional as the master, the Grand Master of Zeta Reka.

Wuk Slijepčewić
Titles: Candidate Master, "National Master"
Rating: 2288
Age: 45
From: Zeleton Okrug, Rekadom, Zeta Reka
Accolades: Zeta Reka National Champion (8); National Runner-up (12); Zeta Reka U-18 Champion (2); Zeta Reka Open Chess Cup (14); Zeleton Okrug Assemblyman (elected once)

For years, the tactical maniac Wuk Slijepčewić was considered Rekan chess' finest player. He is a multi time national champion. His current rating makes him Candidate Master, though he identifies as "National Master" for personal reasons. As mentioned before, this man is tactical and wild. Playing almost all of his games in Zeta Reka has insulated the veteran, novelties from Slijepčewić are always interesting. Sometimes the moves are wildly good, and other times they are outright blunders.

In the past decade or so, Slijepčewić been usurped by Klaus Schreiner. After losing out for five straight years against Schreiner, Slijepčewić took the national title three years ago winning all but a single point available. Slijepčewić has also won fourteen of the last seventeen Open Chess Cups, which is an all time record to be sure. Only twenty editions of the tournament have even been held.

Goran "Gogi" Tomiwić
Title: National Master
Rating: 2192
Age: 22
From: Porto Nowi, Rekadom, Zeta Reka
Accolades: Zeta Reka Open Chess Cup (1); Open Chess Cup Runner-up (1); Zeta Reka U-21 Champion (4); U-21 Champion runner-up (2); U-18 Champion (2); Youngest National Master in Rekan history (age 16)

Goran "Gogi" Tomiwić is one of the two bright young players in Rekan chess. He's described by GM Schreiner as a "star in the making." Tomiwić has already beat his two seniors in games, though he's yet to win a match against Schreiner. Tomiwić was the first U-21 champion in Zeta Reka, winning the title at fifteen, eighteen, nineteen and twenty years of age. Tomiwić is much like Schreiner, tactically cautious and willing to play positionally. "Schreiner's students, like this one, may be slow and positional," Wuk Slijepčewić after losing a game as black to Tomiwić, "but children in chess are always cavaliers."

Finn Zeller
Titles: ZRH Class A, Youth Champion
Rating: 1968
Age: 21
From: Alter Platz, Glavni Oblast
Accolades: Zeta Reka U-21 Champion (1); U-21 Champion runner-up (2); U-18 Champion (2)

The second of Zeta Reka's heirs apparent, Zeller is the U-21 champion after finishing second twice before. Winning the tournament over a higher ranked opponent allowed Zeller to represent his country. Unlike Tomiwić, Zeller is a fiery youngster and is attacking, even more aggressive than Slijepčewić. Zeller also has an affinity for black piece gambits, finding them exciting and effective. His win loss record against senior players leaves some to be desired, though Zeller is not getting crushed anymore like four years ago.

OOC

Opponent, if they RP first, may...
Choose my lineup: Y
Decide board results: Y
Decide moves made: Y
Godmod game events: Y
Godmod other events: Y

by **Graintfjall** » Fri Oct 22, 2021 7:24 am

Ánýá Klæðskera-gleði, a Kamdyr chess prodigy, has competed on the Græntfjaller men’s circuit for a number of years. The Kamdyr are a nomadic people who mostly inhabit, though do not particularly claim affiliation with, Græntfjall. Traditionally, they lived in yurts, migrating with the seasons, herding buffalos, unicorns, reindeer, dragons, and other animals. Today, many Kamdyr, especially the younger generations, have to some extent integrated with Græntfjaller society, getting jobs and apartments, attending schools and universities. All the same, the Kamdyr retain their distinct ethnic heritage; a notable example of this is that they are among the few exempted from the requirement that all Græntfjaller names be patronymic or matronymic.

The 29 year old achieved grandmaster status while studying mathematics at the prestigious University of Waltenberg, where she later pursued postgraduate studies in econometrics. Now an economist by day, she is one of the most accomplished female players in Græntfjall despite never having entered the National Women’s Championship. Regarded as a calm, composed, and defensively-minded player, she is known for her stalwart and effective defence; she is especially adept at rook endgames. She shows little interest in unusual openings, nearly always opening 1.e4 with white, usually with Lárentíus Arnbjörnsson.* She represented Græntfjall at the Garvida Chess Championship.

Reynir Ýrarsson is the current Græntfjaller men’s champion. A former civil servant – he worked in the Ministry of Transport and is considered the nation’s leading expert on potholes – he now competes full-time in chess. He also writes cryptic crosswords (under the nickname ‘Rowan’) for left-liberal Altendalur newspaper Vestrænnblaðið. His interests include opera, ornithology, and real ale. Reynir is a much more aggressive player than Ánýá, more interested in tactical innovation. He favors a 1.d4 opening with white.

* Lárentíus Arnbjörnsson was a priest who wrote the first known book on chess in the Græntfjaller language. A number of common chess terms are expressed differently by Græntfjallers (who have never heard of somewhere called Spain or some guy called Ruy López).

by **Bollonich** » Fri Oct 22, 2021 7:32 am

The Bollonischian and Græntfjaller Chess Team

The Bollonischian Association of Chess

Chess is a recreational sport in Bollonich which most children in Bollonich are exposed to mainly for recreational purposes. Chess has always been famous in Bollonich and has a rich history with number of great players in the region of Rushmore. Chess as a sport is highly respected and players are considered in high order in society and given much more respect than most sportspeople, even more than footballers. What has really propelled the popularity of sport in Bollonich is the development and refinement of online chess. With online chess large numbers of people can easily play against people from the other side of the globe and compete at competitive levels from their homes itself. It also provides exposure to new players and various opportunities for more unorthodox forms of the game. Originally standard games were the most popular form of time control in Bollonich however with growth of online chess the drift to shorter time controls like Rapid (15 minutes) and even Blitz or Bullet have become increasingly popular.
The combined Bollonischian Græntfjaller team which participated in the first edition of Elephant Chess Cup was among some of the best chess players in the world. The four men and women however were very well prepared as they did very well in the casaran stage. Competition however was stiff as going into the last match, Mertagne’s players had already bagged first and recovery from 1 point behind Raspotochje seemed unlikely. Raspotochje’s players however had other plans as they suffered a defeat to Shell Shock Troop Clan demoting them to third in the stage meaning they would have to fight it out with Eshialand for 3rd place. Ourselves would emerge victorious in a fabulous battle against Mertagne to the death as the joint team took 1st place in the inaugural Elephant Chess Cup. The side which had been formed with underlying political motives had outdone all expectations and as the same nations band up once more, reclaiming the title is not a far fetched idea.

Players
Clara Josep (BOL) - Clara is part of a generation of female chess players, who are huge talents. Female chess players barely existed in Bollonich 50 years before however with advancements in gender equality in Bollonich we have seen more and more women like Clara who have taken up chess. Clara is a generational talent in between a large generation of great women chess players. Competitions in Bollonich have since changed their format to make it open to both men and women instead of having separate categories. The 31 year old Clara Josep is overall ranked 1st in Rapid in Bollonich. She is also a highly ambitious and successful standard player with great success in longer time limits to domestically. She also has a great record in the online platforms as she is ranked in the top 5 on playchess.org and 1st on Chess Bollonich. In her youth she trained at the Ferguson Chess Academy at Akusha. Her performance in the first Elephant Chess Cup against some of the best in the multiverse has been described as the best chess tournament showing for any Bollonischian player in history.
Favourite Opening - Van't Kruijs Opening (White), Caro Kann (Black)

Felip Oliver (BOL) - Felip is a young 19 year old chess player who initially made his name in Bollonischian chess through the method of online chess by the username of ChessKing003. He rose to stardom stature in chess very soon as his natural talent for chess could be easily seen in the games he payed online beating highly revered chess players of the nation. His rise to such a level in chess often prompted the question of who this mystery player was, such a player who could comfortably defeat some of the best players out there. Soon Oliver started appearing in tournaments rising through the BAC ranks while simultaneously doing the same on various online chess websites. It were these websites that initially peaked his interest in the sport of chess. He is currently ranked 8th in Bollonich in Rapid however his ranking on other platforms are way better as should be expected with him being 1st on playchess.org and 2nd on Chess Bollonich after losing to Clara in a best of 3 match up. Oliver was not shy in revealing his natural game in the Elephant Chess Cup as he played a vital role in the team's victorious display.
Favourite Opening - Ruy Lopez (White), Sicilian Defence (Black)

Ánýá Klæðskera-gleði (GRÆ) - Ánýá Klæðskera-gleði, a Kamdyr chess prodigy, has competed on the Græntfjaller men’s circuit for a number of years. The Kamdyr are a nomadic people who mostly inhabit, though do not particularly claim affiliation with, Græntfjall. Traditionally, they lived in yurts, migrating with the seasons, herding buffalos, unicorns, reindeer, dragons, and other animals. Today, many Kamdyr, especially the younger generations, have to some extent integrated with Græntfjaller society, getting jobs and apartments, attending schools and universities. All the same, the Kamdyr retain their distinct ethnic heritage; a notable example of this is that they are among the few exempted from the requirement that all Græntfjaller names be patronymic or matronymic.
The 29 year old achieved grandmaster status while studying mathematics at the prestigious University of Waltenberg, where she later pursued postgraduate studies in econometrics. Now an economist by day, she is one of the most accomplished female players in Græntfjall despite never having entered the National Women’s Championship. Regarded as a calm, composed, and defensively-minded player, she is known for her stalwart and effective defence; she is especially adept at rook endgames. She shows little interest in unusual openings, nearly always opening 1.e4 with white, usually with Lárentíus Arnbjörnsson.* She represented Græntfjall at the Garvida Chess Championship.
* Lárentíus Arnbjörnsson was a priest who wrote the first known book on chess in the Græntfjaller language. A number of common chess terms are expressed differently by Græntfjallers (who have never heard of somewhere called Spain or some guy called Ruy López).

Reynir Ýrarsson (GRÆ) - Reynir Ýrarsson is the current Græntfjaller men’s champion. A former civil servant – he worked in the Ministry of Transport and is considered the nation’s leading expert on potholes – he now competes full-time in chess. He also writes cryptic crosswords (under the nickname ‘Rowan’) for left-liberal Altendalur newspaper Vestrænnblaðið. His interests include opera, ornithology, and real ale. Reynir is a much more aggressive player than Ánýá, more interested in tactical innovation. He favors a 1.d4 opening with white.

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my lineup: Yes
Decide board results: Yes
Decide moves made: Yes
Godmod game events: Only with permission
Godmod other events: Only with permission

by **Polkopia** » Fri Oct 22, 2021 1:56 pm

"Sir, we need a decision from you. You've kept everyone waiting long enough and I don't know how much longer they're willing to sit in that room without an answer." Leonid Pavlović had just entered the conference room, where Polkopian chess legend, Stoyko Gennadiyević was sitting down, watching the projection screen which showed different views of the gymnasium. The picture transitioned between different camera angles, each of which showed another group of prospective chess players who were eager to prove their worth to Mr. Vakhrušev.

"And they'll keep waiting," Vakhrušev said, "if they do not have the patience to wait another hour for me to make my decision, then they do not have the patience, nor the worth, to compete in an international chess competition."

On the screen, it now showed an overhead view of four different chess tables. To Yeryomin, it seemed like a bunch of faceless teenagers mindlessly throwing wooden pieces around a checkerboard, but he knew that Vakhrušev was paying close attention to his notebook and checking off peoples' names as they made their moves.

"However, Leonid Pavlović, you may be right. It is time for a decision," Vakhrušev said, "won't you bring me the microphone then?"

Yeryomin nodded and brought the microphone from the other side of the room and sat it in front of Vakhrušev. This microphone was connected to an intercom which sounded around the entire gymnasium so that all of the players would be able to hear Vakhrušev as he spoke.

"Good evening, prospects," Vakhrušev said, his voice booming in the adjacent room, "you have sat in this room for hours, playing against those who you may or may not be already familiar with, however all of you came here with one goal in mind. As you know, the Elephant Chess Cup is nearly here, and Polkopia has yet to announce its team. That's why all of you are here today, after all. I have made some decisions regarding who will have the honor of playing in South Newlandia. When I call your name, please stand up."

Yeryomin looked at the projection screen now, which showed an overhead view of the entire gymnasium. Many of the people there were looking around the room, wondering whether or not the mysterious man speaking to them could see them or not, and if so, from where?

"Player number 121. Player number 46. Player number 60. Player number 9." Vakhrušev read the list of names he had jotted down in his notebook over the past few hours until at least 50 people were standing. "It is without question that you lack the necessary skills to have the honor of representing your country abroad. Please find the nearest exit and proceed through these doors immediately."

On the projector, Yeryomin saw the men and women who were now standing in the room hang their heads and make their way toward the exit, leaving the room with a little over half of those who initially entered the room. There had been 132 people selected for this tournament, however 64 had just left and the remaining competitors now had to play one another while Vakhrušev watched from another room. Chess was a fairly popular game in Polkopia, and many were eager to have the opportunity to play for their home country in the nation's first participating in an international competition. However that also meant that the competition was tough and would spare no one's feelings as they tried to weed out the weakest individuals out of the bunch. In Polkopia, while chess was a game rooted in honor, tact, and sportsmanship, it was also ruthlessly competitive, and one had to forgo any of their personal feelings or emotions if they could expect to rise through the ranks and become one of the top chess players in the country.

"Stop, stop." Vakhrušev said, just as some of the players started to find new opponents to play, "I haven't finished."

Yeryomin listened as Vakhrušev proceeded to list off more and more names of those who he had felt were unworthy of accompanying him to South Newlandia. On and on he went until only four people remained in the room and Vakhrušev paused.

"Players 8, 29, 101, and 129. I have watched you battle opponent after opponent for hours now. It is clear that the four of you have what it takes to uphold Polkopia's name in what will be the finest chess competition in the multiverse. Please, make your way through the large metal doors in the back of the room and my aid, Leonid Pavlović, will see to it that introductions are made and preparations are underway."

"At once, Stoyko Gennadiyević." Yeryomin bowed and left the room, where the four competitors were now staring back at him, eager to prove themselves in the face of fierce international competition.

"You there," Yeryomin motioned to the woman who stood at the far left of the group, "what is your name?"

"My name is Mariya Kirillivna Khabenskaya, I'm from P-"

"That's enough, girl." Yeryomin held his hand up. I did not ask for a lengthy introduction, however it is very nice to meet your acquaintance, Mariya Kirillivna. And you?" Yeryomin motioned to the man next to her.

"Mattias Makarović Rusnak."

"And you?" Yeryomin continued down the line.

"Anton Pavlović Prazdnikov."

"You?"

"Nikita Anatoliević Dryagin."

"Very nice," Yeryomin clapped his hands together, "now, won't you follow me? We will be going over some of the administrative paperwork needed for you to travel overseas."

"But won't we meet Sir Stoyko Gennadiyević?" Prazdnikov said.

Yeryomin stopped in his tracks. "The first thing you need to know about being a part of Stoyko Gennadiyević's team is that you will speak when spoken to." Yeryomin hissed before continuing on, leaving the group out the doors and to the gymnasium's locker room, which had been transformed into a makeshift office for this occasion. Polkopia's team had been chosen and it was bound to be a life-changing experience for all four of these individuals.

Because of the honor code associated with chess in Polkopia, players' patronymic names are used when addressing them in a chess environment. To ignore this is a great insult on, not only the player, but the custom of formality in Polkopian culture as a whole.

by **Eshialand** » Fri Oct 22, 2021 4:57 pm

The Eshian National Chess Team

That's right, they're back for round two, it's the team that nobody asked for, it's the Eshian Chess Federation! After their third-place showing last year, they knew that there was no way in the world they wouldn't be coming back for the second edition, hopefully to capture more than bronze medals this time.

Board 1: Jason SEVERN
Age: 23
Favorite Openings: Ruy Lopez (White), Sicilian Dragon (Black)
Playstyle: A vibrant attacking style that prioritizes beautiful combinations rather than brute force.

Board 2: Mary NERATA
Age: 32
Favorite Openings: Italian (White), Petroff (Black)
Playstyle: Highly defensive, and unwilling to take too many risks. She'll often offer/accept draws despite being in an unclear position just because it's the safer option.

Board 3: Alan BLAINE
Age: 34
Favorite Openings: Vienna Game (White), Caro-Kann (Black)
Playstyle: Alan's strategy tends to revolve around making the game so complicated that no human can possibly take it apart. In theory, that should work, but in practice, it tends to backfire a lot.

Board 4: Stephanie JACOBSON
Age: 28
Favorite Openings: Ruy Lopez (White), King's Indian (Black)
Playstyle: Stephanie has always believed in the power of knights over bishops, and as such is known for trading away her bishops for her opponent's knights, as well as keeping the game relatively closed in order to show her knights' true potential.

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my lineup: Yes.
Decide board results: Yes.
Decide moves made: Yes.
Godmod game events: Usually yes, but if you think something is ridiculous you can send me a TG.
Godmod other events: Same as above.

In general, I'm always happy to collaborate, so feel free to TG me about anything!

by **Bollonich** » Sat Oct 23, 2021 1:37 pm

Vreton City Journal

The Elephant Chess Cup to the Nyowani Kitaran Crisis: A story of Bollonich-Græntfjall’s geopolitical ties

With the second edition of the Elephant Chess Cup on the horizon two years from the original edition we look back on some of the major events which have taken place between the two nations since that crucial first step. The Elephant Chess Cup came directly following the aftermath of the election of the Left Slate in Græntfjall and this presented Lecholy the then President of Bollonich with a good prospect and proposition. The ending of animosity between the two nations was a major feature of Lecholy’s politics as his party during that time was very much more centred around having better diplomatic relations with close neighbours who could be important allies. And this rings truer than ever during these testing times of war and conflict. This is when the idea of a joint chess team was born in the head of Foreign Minister of Bollonich, Leopold Jeremy. The GCF and the overall Græntfjaller government looked keen on this and this marked the beginning of two years of successful collaboration between the two nations.

The story of how decades of animosity went to Græntfjaller foreign minister Kaija Michaelsdóttir spectating a chess match at South Newlandia to pan-national cooperation in a multiversal conflict is truly fascinating. Even with a change of government from Lecholy’s slightly socialistic beliefs to Spence’s neoliberal, militaristic ideology the development of relations between the two nations never took a hit. The developments which were started by sports has not only seen it affect the geopolitical standing on the entire Rushmori region but also the sporting world of the two nations. The impact of bettering relations echoed across the huge border shared between the two nations, as an ice hockey team from Bollonich participated in an edition of the Pavolan League which is to encompass hockey teams mainly from Græntfjall but also from the larger Pavolan continent. Following the ending of the animosity, Brústeinn, a Græntfjaller tyre manufacturer and supplier also was allowed to join in the market for the official Bollonischian WGP3 Championship tyre market allowing it to compete and outright defeat the lower competition posed by the inferior Abelli tyres. Græntfjaller sportspeople have in general also featured more in the spectrum of Bollonischian sports which is signs of how relations are returning to normal.

While the impacts in sports are obviously significant ones, the effect this has had on the foreign policies and the geopolitical position as a whole is of greater importance. The Pavolan continent was and pretty much still is in a state of disarray. This new found cooperation between the two nations however provides some sort of stability to an unstable continent as a whole with foreign agendas similar to each other. This mutual understanding between Northern Pavolan nations namely Bollonich, Græntfjall and Tikariot as you could say is definitely useful in conflicts such as the Nyowani Kitaran conflict. Bollonich-Græntfjall cooperation has been best visible in the Nyowani Kitaran conflict where the combined efforts of both nations allowed them to provide a rather unprecedented amount of humanitarian care while remaining completely neutral on the conflict and consistently pushing for a diplomatic solution.

by **Zug um Zug** » Sat Oct 23, 2021 3:18 pm

Zug um Zug is a recognized puppet state of Zwangzug, founded when the latter nation became "old enough to have its own account," whatever that means. It is unclear if they represent a serious geopolitical entity, a computer simulation run by bored teenagers posting train and/or board game memes, or something in between. Don't take them too seriously.

They boast many talented chess players (at least in their own minds), and have selected the following based on performance in a recent speed tournament:

1. Wade Evans
2. Georgina Withington-Fox
3. Mitchell Kennedy
4. Emily Felstead

Alternate: Amy Morris-Hargrave

If you RP first--anything goes, though I'd rather you not cause lasting harm to my characters/in my country without running it by me first. But this is a silly puppet, so feel free to be absurd.

by **South Newlandia** » Sat Oct 23, 2021 5:47 pm

Elephant Chess Cup 2 – South Newlandian roster

Chess is the 4th-most popular sport in South Newlandia, behind football, baseball, and the other football. Many children learn chess at a young age, and quite a few choose to pursue chess professionally. That number has dropped off a bit in the last years, so the South Newlandian Chess Association is now attempring to show the public that chess players can be stars, too. What better way to do that then with a big international tournament?
All South Newlandians usually feel more comfortable in open positions, which can be a weakness against skilled opponents. All of them are eager to play for their country, and will try their best to be competitive, but these expectations might be holding them back, too.

Board 1:
Lisa Morgen, 29 (Walstreim Lions)
Morgen is one of those players who are really, really fast. She’s not at the very top in Classical, but in the faster time controls, she really excels. She sometimes plays a bit too fast, but it works out well for her. Her favourite openings are the Caro-Kann with both sides, as well as the Slav with Black.

Board 2:
Cecilia Blossom, 22 (St. Riecarn Monks)
Blossom is one of the biggest talents for South Newlandian chess. Despite her young age, she is already close to the very top of the country. She is easily able to keep calm under pressure, and likes to create chaos on the board, especially when up on the clock. Her opening repertoire includes the Italian with both colours.

Board 3:
Robert Kane, 40 (Elephant Valley Chess)
Kane is one of the more experienced South Newlandian professionals, and has a solid opening knowledge regardless of the situation. When he was a bit younger, he used to win national titles frequently, and he is still a good player and great mentor. He likes to play the English with white and e6-b6 setups with the black pieces.

Board 4:
Maria Sally, 30 (Newport Rooks)
Sally, playing for the local Rooks, is playing on the last board for the team. She does get into time trouble a lot, but few players are as good at working under pressure as Sally is. She prefers the Italian with white, and frequently plays into the Albin Countergambit with black.

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my lineup: Yes
Decide board results: Yes
Decide moves made: Yes, but I’d also love to collaborate on this!
Godmod game events: Please do ask first
Godmod other events: Please do ask first

by **Eshialand** » Sun Oct 24, 2021 9:02 am

The End of a Long Year

knock knock...

"Come in!" the king said, having a hunch as to who this could've been coming into his office.
"Hello, William..." said a familiar face of an old acquaintance. This old friend was Lazlo Herrefur, president of the Eshian Chess Federation, who hadn't seen the king in a good long while.

"Wait, is it already chess time?" the king asked, searching for his calendar of events.

"Yes, yes, no need to search for the calendar. It's been a year, can you believe it?"
"Actually, it feels like so much longer... It's been a hard year Lazlo."
"Oh? How so?"
"Well, there were the weird visions, the assassination attempt, the diplomatic crisis, the time one of my best friends thought I was ruining his life but it was actually the impossible to explain visions..."
"Your life is quite an odd one."
"Yeah, I kinda know it is... so, you need 5 tickets to Newport, as per usual?"
"Yep, me and the same team from last year."
"Done and done. Enjoy the tournament!"
"Thanks for supporting us."

Date: Friday, December 2^nd, 2022
Time: 9:30 AM

"So here we are, same diner, same breakfast, same time..." Jason commented. "How are we all feeling about this year? You know, as opposed to last year."
"Pretty decent, I'd say." Alan replied.
"Nervous, but pretty good..." Mary said.

"Why don't we focus on just having fun instead of results?" Stephanie asked, raising a few eyebrows at the table. After all, last year, Stephanie would never have said anything like this, as she was the one toxically obsessed with results. She wanted nothing more than to win every single game, and here she was, talking about having fun. Their attempts to change her attitude seemed to work long-term. They had made her a better person.

"So, the North Polish Union, any thoughts?" Jason asked.
"Well, I mean, we don't know much about them..." Mary noted.
"Yeah, they haven't even told us who they are. I want to say that this will be easy, but we can't learn how they play if we don't even know their names..."

"It'll be fine!" the new Stephanie said. "It's all about having fun, and I'm sure we'll do that!"

"She's certainly a different sort of weird now..." Alan whispered to Jason and Mary.
"I blame you!" Mary told Jason.
"Hey, she's better than she was before, and that's a win."

"Alright, time to get back to the hotel and get ready for the first match!" Lazlo said as he came to the table. "I wish you four good luck in the tournament, and I hope you all have a good time!"

by **South Newlandia** » Sun Oct 24, 2021 12:27 pm

This is the first cutoff for the second ECC! Here's how this will work: I will now scorinate the first match. In a bit, the results of MD1 and a table will be added to this post along with the MD2 pairings. After a short break, the MD2 results, a MD2 table, and the MD3 pairings will be added.

Match 1 – Friday, 11:00

Results:
(the team listed first has white on boards two and four)

StrayaRoos 1–3 Sarzonia
Mertagne 1½–2½ Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom
Natanians and Nosts 2½–1½ The Jovannic
Polkopia 3–1 Atheara
Zug um Zug 3–1 Norrhem
The North Polish Union 1½–2½ Eshialand
The 14 Stars 2–2 Untecna
Caribou Island 3–1 Arjunnagar
The Cordian Isles 3–1 Kriegiersien
Bollonich/Graintfjall 3½–½ Qasden
Brookstation/Ardengard 3–1 Reformed Alto Tan
Essena 1½–2½ South Newlandia

Table:

P                             Pld    W   D   L     PF     PA    PD   Pts 
 1 Bollonich/Graintfjall        1    1   0   0     3.5    0.5   +3     2
 2 Brookstation/Ardengard       1    1   0   0     3      1     +4     2
   Caribou Island               1    1   0   0     3      1     +4     2
   Polkopia                     1    1   0   0     3      1     +4     2
   Sarzonia                     1    1   0   0     3      1     +4     2
   The Cordian Isles            1    1   0   0     3      1     +4     2
   Zug um Zug                   1    1   0   0     3      1     +4     2
 8 Eshialand                    1    1   0   0     2.5    1.5   +2     2
   Natanians and Nosts          1    1   0   0     2.5    1.5   +2     2
   South Newlandia              1    1   0   0     2.5    1.5   +2     2
   Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom    1    1   0   0     2.5    1.5   +2     2
12 The 14 Stars                 1    0   1   0     2      2      0     1
   Untecna                      1    0   1   0     2      2      0     1
14 Essena                       1    0   0   1     1.5    2.5   −2     0
   Mertagne                     1    0   0   1     1.5    2.5   −2     0
   The Jovannic                 1    0   0   1     1.5    2.5   −2     0
   The North Polish Union       1    0   0   1     1.5    2.5   −2     0
18 Arjunnagar                   1    0   0   1     1      3     −4     0
   Atheara                      1    0   0   1     1      3     −4     0
   Kriegiersien                 1    0   0   1     1      3     −4     0
   Norrhem                      1    0   0   1     1      3     −4     0
   Reformed Alto Tan            1    0   0   1     1      3     −4     0
   StrayaRoos                   1    0   0   1     1      3     −4     0
24 Qasden                       1    0   0   1     0.5    3.5   −6     0

Match 2 Pairings – Friday, 13:00

Bollonich/Graintfjall - Brookstation/Ardengard
Caribou Island - Polkopia
Sarzonia - The Cordian Isles
Eshialand - Zug um Zug
South Newlandia - Natanians and Nosts
Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom - The 14 Stars
Untecna - Essena
The Jovannic - Mertagne
Arjunnagar - The North Polish Union
Atheara - Kriegiersien
Reformed Alto Tan - Norrhem
Qasden - StrayaRoos

Match 2 - Friday, 13:00

Results:
(the team listed first has white on boards two and four)

Bollonich/Graintfjall 3–1 Brookstation/Ardengard
Caribou Island 2½–1½ Polkopia
Sarzonia 3–1 The Cordian Isles
Eshialand 3½–½ Zug um Zug
South Newlandia 2½–1½ Natanians and Nosts
Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom 2½–1½ The 14 Stars
Untecna 1–3 Essena
The Jovannic 1½–2½ Mertagne
Arjunnagar 1½–2½ The North Polish Union
Atheara 2½–1½ Kriegiersien
Reformed Alto Tan 1½–2½ Norrhem
Qasden 1–3 StrayaRoos

Table:

P                             Pld    W   D   L     PF     PA    PD   Pts 
 1 Bollonich/Graintfjall        2    2   0   0     6.5    1.5   +5     4
 2 Eshialand                    2    2   0   0     6      2     +4     4
   Sarzonia                     2    2   0   0     6      2     +4     4
 4 Caribou Island               2    2   0   0     5.5    2.5   +3     4
 5 South Newlandia              2    2   0   0     5      3     +2     4
   Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom    2    2   0   0     5      3     +2     4
 7 Essena                       2    1   0   1     4.5    3.5   +1     2
   Polkopia                     2    1   0   1     4.5    3.5   +1     2
 9 Brookstation/Ardengard       2    1   0   1     4      4      0     2
   Mertagne                     2    1   0   1     4      4      0     2
   Natanians and Nosts          2    1   0   1     4      4      0     2
   StrayaRoos                   2    1   0   1     4      4      0     2
   The Cordian Isles            2    1   0   1     4      4      0     2
   The North Polish Union       2    1   0   1     4      4      0     2
15 Atheara                      2    1   0   1     3.5    4.5   −1     2
   Norrhem                      2    1   0   1     3.5    4.5   −1     2
   Zug um Zug                   2    1   0   1     3.5    4.5   −1     2
18 The 14 Stars                 2    0   1   1     3.5    4.5   −1     1
19 Untecna                      2    0   1   1     3      5     −2     1
20 The Jovannic                 2    0   0   2     3      5     −2     0
21 Arjunnagar                   2    0   0   2     2.5    5.5   −3     0
   Kriegiersien                 2    0   0   2     2.5    5.5   −3     0
   Reformed Alto Tan            2    0   0   2     2.5    5.5   −3     0
24 Qasden                       2    0   0   2     1.5    6.5   −5     0

Match 3 Pairings – Friday, 16:00

Eshialand - Bollonich/Graintfjall
Sarzonia - Caribou Island
South Newlandia - Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom
Essena - Polkopia
Brookstation/Ardengard - Mertagne
Natanians and Nosts - StrayaRoos
The Cordian Isles - The North Polish Union
Norrhem - Atheara
Zug um Zug - The 14 Stars
Untecna - The Jovannic
Kriegiersien - Arjunnagar
Reformed Alto Tan - Qasden

by **Sarzonia** » Sun Oct 24, 2021 1:44 pm

George Tunney is an accountant living in Corcorran, a Portland suburb in northern Somerset. He was watching sport highlights on the local newscast as they talked about the Portland Timbers training camp and a profile piece on FC Corcorran, a second division club that was recently established.

He'd grimaced after he'd seen the reports about Portland entries in basketball, hockey, and gridball losing their respective matches and was about to turn off the tele in disgust. That was, until he heard, "finally, tonight, word of a new competition in South Newlandia featuring Sarzonian competitors. Chess.

"Sarzonia have played two matchdays and they've won both by 3-1 margins. They currently sit level for second place with Eshialand among the 24 teams competing in a Casaran-style format after victories in the opener against StrayaRoos and The Cordian Isles. Sarzonia and Eshialand are currently one score behind the combined Bollonich and Græntfjall team as they've won their matches 3½–½ over Qasden and 3–1 over the combined Brookstation/Ardengard team."

Tunney raised an eyebrow and pulled out his mobile phone. He didn't recall seeing news about a chess competition; in particular, an international one involving Sarzonia. Sure, he'd heard of the Elephant Chess Cup when the inaugural edition happened, but since Sarzonia didn't send a team, he didn't pay any attention to it. The day Sarzonia announced it was establishing a delegation and sending it to Newport to compete against other countries, Tunney had been in meetings all day and was too tired to do anything but grab a quick sandwich before brushing his teeth and going to bed.

He'd been a champion chess player among his secondary school peers in Somerset; in fact, he won a 10th year competition in Bowser County and the only reason he didn't go to the statewide competition in Portland was because his family didn't have enough money to send him. And Dad didn't want me going by myself, he thought. He felt at 16 years old he could take care of himself, even though his father thought he was too naive at the time to trust on his own. His mother tried unsuccessfully to convince his father to let him go and represent his school. The decision led to years-long resentment between father and son.

If my kids ever get the chance, I'll trust them, he thought to himself. The resentment lasted so long, in fact, that Tunney didn't go to his father's funeral. Needless to say, he never forgave his father for that.

The fact that Sarzonia were competing, and in fact, that they won their first two matches and faced another strong opponent in Caribou Island, which also won their first two matches, 3-1 over Arjunnagar and 2½–1½ over Polkopia meant it made for interesting theatre. Tunney scoured the website about Sarzonian chess he'd stumbled upon to find information about the match so he could keep up with it.

"Whaddya know?" he said. "I'm feeling my interest in chess coming back!"

by **Atheara** » Mon Oct 25, 2021 3:27 am

Atheara had recently started in the Elephant Chess Cup. With a 3 - 1 loss against Polkopia, and a 2½–1½ win over Krigiersien, Atheara is starting to mold. This team, which is concieved of three home level grandmasters (Devyn, Dushev, and Aelena) and one home level international master (Selena). For the first match, Devyn and Selena had boards one and three, whilst Dushev and Aelena had boards two and four. Devyn played his usual Birds Opening, in a game which he won quite easily. But... what about his teammates? How did they fare in the opening matchday?

Well, his teammates were not so lucky. Dushev had to handle playing in the Closed Sicilian, an opening which although he can manage, he does not approve to play in, he ended up losing that game. Selena, with her addiction to restriction, for some reason played the Dresden, like any sane person would. She lost, but to be fair, it was a close game. Aelena had to play up against a Taimanov Sicilian, which had caught her by surprise, and she was slightly sloppier than usual. She ended up resigning after move 45, as she saw no way of winning the game or making a comeback.

But they were not ready to give up. Krigiersien meanwhile was a weird match. Devyn apparently took the time to waste 7 minutes before playing his first move. He was on board two, so he had the white pieces. Delving from his usual open repertoire, he played an English Opening, the Reverse Sicilian, Anglo-Dutch variation against Hubertus Schimmel. He won that game. What about board one? Well... Aelena was playing that board. Red Panda decided to play a bonger. The Blackmar-Diemer gambit is not a gambit you see often on the international level. Aelena accepted the gambit, but she managed her position well, and a draw was made.

Dushev had board three, and let's just say he had some fun. An Exchange Caro-Kann, an opening he thoroughly enjoys playing. The game had finished very quickly against a unexpectly caught off guard Mary Muffin. Mary had resigned because there was nothing stopping Dushev's made Alekheine's Gun. Selena was left on board four, against Olivia Queen. She decided to playe the Danish Gambit, much to Devyn and Dushev's dismay, and in the end she lost that game. Funnily enough, she had lost the game on time.

"Phew, i finally get a drink." That was Devyn's first words after the match against the Krigiersien national team. "Really Devyn? This is not the time. Plus, do you know where Selena and Aelena went? Those two are still young to our standards." Dushev asked Devyn, whilst drinking some cold ice brewed coffee. "I think they can manage themselves. They went to Aelena's room as far as i know." Devyn answers back. "I envy those Eshians. They won by quite a fair bit." Dushev thought outloud. "All we can do is play my friend. We will get better by time. Plus, remember what i said about envying others? Keep it to yourself and strive to improve." Devyn puts his opinion. "Alright, let me just go back and put this cup of coffee in the trash bin, it's empty now and i'm craving for some water." Dushev then left for a bit to find a trashbin. Luckily, he didn't need to look far.

In Aelena's hotel room...

Aelena and Selena were analyzing their games for their future matchups. They were going to play against Norrhem, who were tied in 15th place against Atheara and Zug Um Zug. "So... what do you think, Selena? Could we win?" Aelena asked. She was never the one to do analysis by herself. "I think we can, their opening repetoire is good, but they seem to be just... off their game from time to time." Selena answered Aelena's question from slightly earlier. "Soo... i heard a few rumours you got into a relationship with a footballer... Is it true? Please tell me" Aelena asked Selena with a face that showed "Please...?" "Alright fine. I did, he's not in any big team, and he is a center-back. That's all i wanna say. Let's get back into our analysis." Selena answered. "Could we get some food after this? The analysis is making me very hungry, also where are those two old men?" Aelena asked. "1. Okay sure; 2. Same for me; 3. I think they went for a two buds hangout, also don't call them old." Selena scolded Aelena slightly.

Oh boy... this is gonna be a long tournament in Newport. And when one says long, they mean quite long. Let's hope that: A. Dushevs stops his envying; B. Devyn opens up more; C. Aelena stops her wining, and; D. Selena gets to keep her secret; E. Everyone gets along well and works together and they finish better when they all finished last time in Newport. Will the challenge be a smooth one? No, but at the very least they can try to make it smoother for themselves. By getting together and doing what they do for a living... Playing chess.

by **Ardengard** » Mon Oct 25, 2021 6:19 am

Tick, tock. Tick, tock.

The Grand Shirefton Auditorium was in pin drop silence, save the strokes of the clock and the occasional click from a journalist’s camera. All eyes were fixed on the table at the centre of the room. More accurately, they were fixed on the black and white board and the two figures seated on either side of it. From the vantage point of the audience, on the left hand side was a man and a woman on the right. The man reached out to move one of his pieces, pressed the button to resume his opponent’s clock and brought his arms back into a folded position. The young woman fiddled with one of her fallen chess pieces. Her time was ticking away but she couldn’t afford to make a mistake. After all, this was the finals of the Ardengardian Chess Meet. Moreover, she was facing one of the greatest chess players around – Dan March. She needed to keep her calm and concentrate.

Creeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak

The sound of the door slowly opening made her look up from the board. A man walked in with an apologetic face. Annoyed by the distraction, she looked at her clock and then back to the board – her fallen queen still twirling around in her fingers. Hesitatingly, she made a move. Dan immediately replied with a capture and a check. It was her turn again.

The man who had just entered the room walked over to an elderly woman sitting at the front row and took the empty seat beside her.

“How’s she doing?” he whispered to her.

“Not great, but better than most have against Dan.”

“Expected.”

“How’d the call go?”

“Yeah, Brookstation has confirmed. They’re selecting their half of the delegation too.”

“And us?”

“One’s Dan obviously. The other is probably this girl.”

“She doesn’t have any international experience.”

“Then this’ll be her first.”

Silence ensued as they both focused on the match.

“When will you tell her?”

“After this.”

Dan March could hear the whispering going on in the front row of the audience. Looking up, he saw his good friend Vince Goor talking to Clement Roberts.

Seeing his clock start he made his next move and gave it back to the girl.

Vince was a retired chess player. He would have been successful in domestics had it not been for Dan. However, their rivalry did not result in enmity. Now Vince had turned to being a mentor. Dan had heard that he had been placed with selecting a team for the upcoming Elephant Chess Cup.

Gimlo to E4. Making his move, the girl’s clock resumed. She looked despairingly at the board, at each of her pieces. She went through all possible moves she could see. None of them ended well. Knowing she was beat, she tipped her king over and gave Dan a weak smile. They shook hands and stood up. A round of applause went around the room for the winner, Dan March. After some formalities Dan made his way out of the hall, where he was met by Vince.

“Congrats.”

“Thanks, I hadn’t won it though.”

“What do you mean?”

“She still had a way out. Good for me she didn’t spot it.”

“Ah well, take the win.”

“Yeah. Want to get a bite?”

“Sure, after you.”

“So, were you just here to cheer me on or in some professional capacity?”

Vince chuckled. “Well, a bit of both really.”

“The girl?”

“Yes.”

Dan nodded.

“You approve?”

“She’s big talent, that’s for sure. She still needs to unlock her potential but with the right mentors and assistance, that shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Well, we have a few months before the cup to work together.”

“Yeah, those will be useful. What about Brookstation?”

“They’re in the process of selecting. Who do you think they’ll send?”

“Deepak should be the first, not sure about the second.”

“Hmm, they’ll send the names over in a week. There’ll be a joint announcement.”

“Let Seale know before the announcement, we don’t want to give her a shock.”

“Seale?”

“The girl.”

“Oh, yeah. Yeah I’m telling her today. Now, actually.”

He took his phone out of his pocket.

“Really, you were going to call her right now even if I didn’t just say what I said?”

“Yep, great timing.”

They stopped as Vince typed in a number and called.

Vince said suddenly, “Hey, what’s her name?”

“I just said, Seale.”

“No, her first name.”

“Uhhh, Nigene, Niger?”

“Oh right got it.”

The call was picked up.

“Hello?”

“Hello Nigella. This is Vince Goor. Commiserations for the loss but I may have some news to lift your spirits.”

Elephant Chess Cup 2 - Everything Thread

Elephant Chess Cup 2 - Everything Thread

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