Multiversal Chess Championships – Everything Thread

by **South Newlandia** » Sun Feb 09, 2025 7:52 am

See also: Signups/OOC Thread | Current Everything Thread | Signups may return if there is a next season.

This is the collective Everything Thread for the chess roleplaying tournaments that collectively make up the Multiversal Chess Championships.

Current World Chess Rankings:

P
 1 Sameul Salucci (VFT) [17/17/3]
 2 Noemi Etienne (VFT) [19/12/4]
 3 Eleanor Rigby (MIR) [15/31/7] (World Champion)
 4 Felix Tremblay (VFT) [15/20/3]
 5 John Roach (KYP) [20/23/12]
 6 Anne Christian-Warren (TJU) [16/27/11]
 7 Emilia Ziegler (KAT) [12/15/4]
 8 Rowena Sowards (KAT) [9/14/3]
 9 Mark Jensen (KAT) [12/16/5]
10 Stijn van Dijk (KYP) [13/19/7]
11 Istvan Barany (KGY) [11/8/4]
11 Norman Heartwell (APH) [10/10/3]
11 Sebastian Grob-Coltman (APH) [10/10/3]
14 Julia Willis (KYP) [8/18/3]
15 Charlene Jeannie N. Marceline Myong Suh-Hyung (VEZ) [9/14/5]
16 Miri Robertson (PDT) [7/12/4]
17 Brian Bowman (KAT) [5/4/1]
18 Miefodij Ihnatjew (NPU) [9/12/5]
19 Geza Horvath (KGY) [10/8/5]
20 Jacenty Kaminski (NPU) [4/13/0]
21 Glacia McDorrey (APH) [7/13/3]
21 Zygfryd Zurowski (UNC) [8/11/4]
23 Elani Jabulan (SNL) [7/16/5]
24 Kristian Theiss (NPU) [7/13/4]
25 Hannah Thompson (HAP) [6/2/2]
25 Raatrani Czouhan (NTR) [6/2/2]
27 Jonathan Troutman (EJM) [7/8/5]
28 Curt Matthews (HAP) [4/5/1]
28 Luka Vasilievi (CSR) [4/5/1]
30 Malik Robertson (PDT) [3/3/2]
31 Mila Walkowiak (BMT) [2/11/0]
32 Klaus Moeller (NPU) [5/4/3]
33 Maria Deering (KAT) [2/3/1]
34 Stephanie Jacobson (ESL) [6/17/7]
35 Jason Severn (ESL) [8/12/9]
36 Johnny B. Goode (MIR) [5/17/6]
36 Tshering Gyeltshen (TJU) [6/15/7]
38 Chirpsijibbers Clambanger (PDT) [5/14/8]
39 Margarita Altamiranda (TJU) [5/16/5]
40 Ilona Adam (KGY) [7/10/6]
41 Tina Mathieson (KAT) [0/10/0]
42 Jolyn Maxine Moira Maxine Wendy H. Maximovna (VEZ) [2/3/1]
43 Khanyisa van Lundi (SNL) [8/10/9]
44 Angela Weissel (LID) [4/6/3]
44 Klaus Rothbauer (KAT) [3/8/2]
46 Jessica Page (VFT) [1/3/0]
46 Mary Nerata (ESL) [1/3/0]
48 Ziggy Stardust (MIR) [6/13/7]
49 Prince Pierre-Alexandre 1er de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer (UNC) [4/15/4]
50 Eudoxia Kozlovi (CSR) [3/5/2]
50 Vyktor Undersen (EDS) [4/3/3]
50 Yuvraj Kumar (NTR) [3/5/2]
53 Irene Susanti (RIA) [1/5/2]
54 Christian Theiss (NPU) [2/2/2]
55 Denver Fong (HKA) [5/3/5]
55 Hitomi Ogata (HKA) [1/11/1]
55 Mo Steiner (LID) [2/9/2]
55 Tobi Al-Amim (BMT) [1/11/1]
59 Ruby Tuesday (MIR) [0/4/0]
60 Aydar Rakhmonov (BKH) [4/14/5]
60 Nurgul Zhaksybekova (BKH) [5/12/6]
60 Shavkat Muradov (BKH) [3/16/4]
63 Reud der-Wijner (EDS) [3/4/3]
64 Prince Khatoon (SNL) [1/0/1]
65 Erii Chulanont (HKA) [2/8/3]
65 Kurt Friedlander (LID) [1/10/2]
65 Layan Al-Saud (BMT) [2/8/3]
65 Robert Astrhmann (NSA) [2/8/3]
69 Adam Esteban (SNL) [5/13/8]
70 Oskar Lancelot (CRN) [5/11/7]
71 Makkehenst Virgrensteure (EDS) [3/3/4]
72 Adriana Faith Krystal Venus Kowalski Ela R. Lillian (VEZ) [0/1/1]
72 Gideon Irosaea (TJU) [0/1/1]
72 Haji Setiawan (RIA) [0/1/1]
72 Jim (PDT) [0/1/1]
76 Hahnea Izorigor (KYP) [0/0/1]
76 Jökull Magnusson (KYP) [0/0/1]
78 Grebatu Akanabu (QCA) [0/11/2]
78 Keven DMcgroar (NSA) [3/5/5]
78 Omori East (SGH) [2/7/4]
81 Catarina "Rina" Ramos (RIA) [0/1/2]
81 Michael Radley (KYP) [0/1/2]
81 Sebastian Berger (VFT) [0/1/2]
81 Sri Nyoman Yuli (RIA) [0/1/2]
85 Jamie Cartwright (ESL) [4/14/8]
86 Dave McDaverson (PPT) [3/2/5]
86 Freya Laitala (SKF) [1/6/3]
88 Eveline Valeria Annalise Tieu Xuan Ngoc (VEZ) [5/13/10]
89 Ahmed Michaels (NSA) [1/8/4]
89 Carl Baddsen (SGH) [2/6/5]
89 Rabado Kawakai (QCA) [1/8/4]
92 Spike Wigstan (CRN) [4/11/8]
93 Dave the Hobo (PPT) [2/3/5]
93 Parvos Fadahana (SFL) [2/3/5]
93 Rafokeli Nandrasoa (SFL) [2/3/5]
93 Sevastian Sheshtakovi (CSR) [1/5/4]
97 Akulia Swalialau (QCA) [1/7/5]
97 Harold Jackson (SGH) [1/7/5]
97 San Farein (TOL) [0/9/4]
97 Soleth Dreiloon (TOL) [2/5/6]
97 Vulin Creit (TOL) [1/7/5]
102 Valerio Hassan (CRN) [1/16/6]
103 Mannfred Honwar (RLS) [0/6/4]
103 Vladimir von Gaienrath (RLS) [0/6/4]
105 Rose-Emilie Neveu (UNC) [3/11/9]
106 David Matney (IMP) [1/3/6]
106 Linda Woodmere (IMP) [0/5/5]
106 Sam Hawbret (NKR) [0/5/5]
109 Hari Venkatesh (VAI) [1/2/7]
109 Jazeps Dantekars (RLS) [0/4/6]
109 Midjima Bahalari (SFL) [0/4/6]
109 Pietro Volkov (VAI) [0/4/6]
113 Adam Debinf (NKR) [0/2/8]
113 Ashwin Varkav (VAI) [0/2/8]
113 Richard Pulza Jr. (IMP) [0/2/8]

These rankings will not be used for scorination. Their in-character relevance is up to you. They are the calculated weighted average performance in the most recent MCC competitions.

Please direct any questions to the Signups/OOC Thread. All AI work in roleplays has to be declared, no exceptions.

by **South Newlandia** » Sun Feb 09, 2025 7:54 am

Welcome to the Grand Casaran of Chess in Al-Hilal, TJUN-ia!

Format:
The Grand Casaran of Chess is a chess tournament, contested by individual players. Both players have 100 minutes each to play all of their moves. 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.

The 62 entrants will play 13 rounds according to a Casaran/Swiss system. The player scoring the most points will be the champion of the Grand Casaran of Chess.

Tiebreakers:
Ties on points will be broken by Buchholz excluding the lowest, then total Buchholz, to reward players that have faced tougher paths.

If you have already posted Player Overviews for the SN3C, and nothing has materially changed, you do not have to re-post the same Overview; your Player Overview from the SN3C will continue to be counted. You are still invited to post a new Overview if you have new information, and you’re also welcome to post a roleplay before the first scorination!

First Round matchups:

White vs. Black

Angela Weissel (LID) vs. Ziggy Stardust (MIR)
John Roach (KYP) vs. Julia Willis (KYP)
Zygfryd Zurowski (UNC) vs. Mark Jensen (KAT)
Tshering Gyeltshen (TJU) vs. Charlene Jeannie N Marceline Myong Suh-Hyung (VEZ)
Rose-Emilie Neveu (UNC) vs. Layan Al-Saud (BMT)
Johnny B Goode (MIR) vs. Oskar Lancelot (CRN)
Erii Chulanont (HKA) vs. Noemi Etienne (VFT)
Shavkat Muradov (BKH) vs. Khanyisa van Lundi (SNL)
Keven DMcgroar (NSA) vs. Anne Christian-Warren (TJU)
Ilona Adam (KGY) vs. Eveline Valeria Annalise Tieu Xuan Ngoc (VEZ)
Carl Baddsen (SGH) vs. Harold Jackson (SGH)
Margarita Altamiranda (TJU) vs. Soleth Dreiloon (TOL)
Ahmed Michaels (NSA) vs. Omori East (SGH)
Istvan Barany (KGY) vs. Adam Esteban (SNL)
Geza Horvath (KGY) vs. Tobi Al-Amim (BMT)
Miefodij Ihnatjew (NPU) vs. Vulin Creit (TOL)
Rabado Kawakai (QCA) vs. Akulia Swalialau (QCA)
Stijn van Dijk (KYP) vs. Jacenty Kaminski (NPU)
Mila Walkowiak (BMT) vs. Kurt Friedlander (LID)
Felix Tremblay (VFT) vs. Mo Steiner (LID)
Stephanie Jacobson (ESL) vs. Klaus Rothbauer (KAT)
Norman Heartwell (APH) vs. Nurgul Zhaksybekova (BKH)
Jason Severn (ESL) vs. Grebatu Akanabu (QCA)
Aydar Rakhmonov (BKH) vs. Spike Wigstan (CRN)
Sameul Salucci (VFT) vs. Prince Pierre-Alexandre 1er de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer (UNC)
Eleanor Rigby (MIR) vs. Glacia McDorrey (APH)
Robert Astrhmann (NSA) vs. Jamie Cartwright (ESL)
Valerio Hassan (CRN) vs. Denver Fong (HKA)
San Farein (TOL) vs. Hitomi Ogata (HKA)
Elani Jabulan (SNL) vs. Emilia Ziegler (KAT)
Kristian Theiss (NPU) vs. Sebastian Grob-Coltman (APH)

Schedule:
The cut-offs for every scorination will be occurring on Sundays, between approximately 19:00 and 21:00 UTC every matchday.

February 16th:
In-Character Day One: Round 1
In-Character Day Two: Round 2 & Round 3

February 23th:
In-Character Day Three: Round 4
In-Character Day Four: Round 5 & Round 6

March 2nd:
In-Character Day Five: Round 7
In-Character Day Six: Round 8 & Round 9

March 9th:
In-Character Day Seven: Round 10
In-Character Day Eight: Round 11 & Round 12

March 16th:
In-Character Day Nine: Round 13

RP Information:
You may now start posting in this thread. It is recommended, although not required, that you post a Player Overview for your players to let other roleplayers know a little more about what they’re going up against. You can go into further detail about whatever you want (ages, heritage, club team (if any), play style, favourite openings etc. 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:
Roleplay about specific 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. Don’t be intimated by the amount of opponents it may seem like you need to consider simultaneously - you only need to worry about the games you actually want to talk about in-depth.

Otherwise, I, as the host of this competition, ask you to not to inflict any damage to TJUN-ian people or property without talking to TJUN-ia first. The same goes for clear proof of an opponent cheating (although accusations and stuff are fine).

If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a telegram or message me on discord - I know some of this stuff is confusing, so please ask if anything is unclear!

(O.O) · by **TJUN-ia** » Sun Feb 09, 2025 8:03 am

WELCOME TO AL-HILAL!
!مرحباً بكم في الهلال
BONVENON EN AL-HILAL!

The Government of the International Community of TJUN-ia, along with the TJUN-ia Chess Federation and the Government of the ArU Zone, is proud to welcome all Chess fans to the Grand Casaran of Chess here on the Island and City of Al-Hilal, ArU Zone.

For the very first time in our history, International Chess is coming to these shores as the 2nd Leg of the new Multiversal Chess Championships heads to this part of Esportiva for a unique tournament with a unique format that will help determine the mood entering the 11th Elephant Chess Cup and the overall quest to determine the first World Chess Champion. TJUN-ia’s three MCC players didn’t fare so well at the first event of this new era, the South Newlandian Classical Chess Cup, but a first-ever home tournament against foreign opposition should be the perfect opportunity to make a comeback and show off what TJUN-ian Chess is all about. But no matter your national affiliation, we hope you enjoy your time here all the same!

ABOUT TJUN-ia
TJUN-ia is a nation that was created by The Jaguar's United Nations, an organisation that pioneers "international roleplay" (think the UN but if the United States uses Fang the Sniper as its UN Ambassador), to be the official "testing grounds". The state acts as a place where TJUN Reps can learn the skills required to represent their chosen state, region or territory in TJUN over in what we call Universe 2.

To the average TJUN-ian, here in Universe 3, that fact doesn't affect their day-to-day lives. TJUN-ia is one of the most progressive states in Esportiva (even despite the move), with decriminalisation of all drugs and the free distribution of alcohol joined this year by a new decree that enshrines the equality of every TJUN-ian in the land, no matter who they are. You can expect every chess fan, no matter their country of origin, to be treated the same way.

The state recognises 6 Official Languages for official use in government and in day-to-day use: English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian and Arabic. We also have an official 2nd Language in the form of Esperanto, used as a bridge language by the state in order to help travel and synchronicity between all corners of the state. If there is a sign in TJUN-ia it will be in 2 languages: the language of choice and Esperanto. This helps ensure you won't get lost if you start seeing signs in a language you don't understand. All tourists entering TJUN-ia will receive a copy of the government's official guide to Esperanto ("Esperanto: How To Learn The New Second Language/Esperanto: Kiel Lerni La Nova Dua Lingvo") upon arrival at TJUN JagBase International Airport or any other airport in the nation. If you want to see TV options in the official languages, please see the TV Guide provided by the government.

Here in the ArU, a Zone populated by those of Arabic and Persian decent, only the official languages of the region (Arabic and Esperanto) will be in used on the island, but English translation services are widely available and English will be used in and around the venue in order to ease foreign travellers to their destination. If you need any assistance with communicating with the locals, do not hesitate to call the TJUN-ia Langauge Service on 301 and ask for the ArU Zone English-Arabic Service (ArU EAS).

ABOUT Al-Hilal and the Royal Centre

The City of Al-Hilal is located on the Island of the same name (circled on the map above), to the East of the main Jaguar Island that makes up the majority of TJUN-ia's territory. One of the most visited tourist spots in all of the ArU Zone, any movement to and from the island requires passage through the mainland city of Khat, either via ferry or via train service from the regional capital of Al Kalifa. International passengers arriving from TJUN JagBase International Airport must first connect to Al Kalifa via the Silk Express Service via the CEA Zone and Tiankong. Al-Hilal has a local reputation as a tourist hotspot filled with hotels, theme parks and other wonders, so there will be plenty to do on the Island for the duration of your stay. Make sure to pack the right clothing; however, even in winter, this part of TJUN-ia can get quite humid due to the jungles and their ecology.

The venue for this tournament will be the Royal Centre, in the city's South Downtown. Home of the Al-Hilal University (AHU) Islanders in the NSCAA, it can hold 15,000 fans and will be fully available for this tournament. Usually, hotels have become the main hosting venue for Chess tournaments but because this is TJUN-ia's first time hosting, the TCF wanted as much atmosphere and gravitas as possible - hence the large venue. Like a badminton tournament, the court will be split into 8 separate Tables to accommodate the number of matches that will be played across all 13 Rounds. There will, of course, be an Opening Ceremony at 1 pm TST, featuring the flags of all 21 competing nations, before the first round gets underway at 4 pm TST.

ROUND 1
Block 1
Table 1: Angela Weissel (LID) vs. Ziggy Stardust (MIR)
Table 2: John Roach (KYP) vs. Julia Willis (KYP)
Table 3: Zygfryd Zurowski (UNC) vs. Mark Jensen (KAT)
Table 4: Tshering Gyeltshen (TJU) vs. Charlene Jeannie N Marceline Myong Suh-Hyung (VEZ)
Table 5: Rose-Emilie Neveu (UNC) vs. Layan Al-Saud (BMT)
Table 6: Johnny B Goode (MIR) vs. Oskar Lancelot (CRN)
Table 7: Erii Chulanont (HKA) vs. Noemi Etienne (VFT)
Table 8: Shavkat Muradov (BKH) vs. Khanyisa van Lundi (SNL)

Block 2
Table 1: Keven DMcgroar (NSA) vs. Anne Christian-Warren (TJU)
Table 2: Ilona Adam (KGY) vs. Eveline Valeria Annalise Tieu Xuan Ngoc (VEZ)
Table 3: Carl Baddsen (SGH) vs. Harold Jackson (SGH)
Table 4: Margarita Altamiranda (TJU) vs. Soleth Dreiloon (TOL)
Table 5: Ahmed Michaels (NSA) vs. Omori East (SGH)
Table 6: Istvan Barany (KGY) vs. Adam Esteban (SNL)
Table 7: Geza Horvath (KGY) vs. Tobi Al-Amim (BMT)
Table 8: Miefodij Ihnatjew (NPU) vs. Vulin Creit (TOL)

Block 3
Table 1: Rabado Kawakai (QCA) vs. Akulia Swalialau (QCA)
Table 2: Stijn van Dijk (KYP) vs. Jacenty Kaminski (NPU)
Table 3: Mila Walkowiak (BMT) vs. Kurt Friedlander (LID)
Table 4: Felix Tremblay (VFT) vs. Mo Steiner (LID)
Table 5: Stephanie Jacobson (ESL) vs. Klaus Rothbauer (KAT)
Table 6: Norman Heartwell (APH) vs. Nurgul Zhaksybekova (BKH)
Table 7: Jason Severn (ESL) vs. Grebatu Akanabu (QCA)
Table 8: Aydar Rakhmonov (BKH) vs. Spike Wigstan (CRN)

Block 4
Table 1: Sameul Salucci (VFT) vs. Prince Pierre-Alexandre 1er de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer (UNC)
Table 2: Eleanor Rigby (MIR) vs. Glacia McDorrey (APH)
Table 3: Robert Astrhmann (NSA) vs. Jamie Cartwright (ESL)
Table 4: Valerio Hassan (CRN) vs. Denver Fong (HKA)
Table 5: San Farein (TOL) vs. Hitomi Ogata (HKA)
Table 6: Elani Jabulan (SNL) vs. Emilia Ziegler (KAT)
Table 7: Kristian Theiss (NPU) vs. Sebastian Grob-Coltman (APH)

by **Vielfaltig** » Tue Feb 11, 2025 2:55 pm

Vielfaltig (VFT) Player Overviews

Noemi Etienne
Age: 24
Hometown: Walbourg
Club: Walbourg Warblers
Second/Trainer: Lucas Felix
Repertoire: Catalan, Ruy Lopez (White); Grunfeld, Sicilian (Black)
World Rank: 1
Domestic Rating: 2831
Bio: Noemi Etienne was born in Walbourg, Marigny and started playing chess at the age of 6. She was introduced to the game by her father, an avid chess player, and the president of a local chess club. She rose through the ranks rapidly and was the youngest female player to achieve a rating of 2000 at the age of 9. She repeated this feat when obtaining her Grandmaster title at the young age of 15. She became the highest-rated woman in Vielfaltig in 1994 at the age of 17 and broke the 2700 barrier. Her rise was met with disdain and shock from the old guard as chess had primarily been a male-dominated field in Vielfaltig. Etienne was responsible for bringing change to the narrative that women could not compete at the highest level of chess. She elevated her game further and qualified for the 1996 and 1998 Vielfaltig Chess Championship Qualifiers winning the 1998 iteration. This set up a clash against reigning champion Felix Tremblay in the following year. The 1999 Vielfaltig Chess Championship match has been etched in history and is colloquially referred to as the "Match of the Century". It witnessed Etienne ascend onto the summit of Vielfaltigian chess defeating Tremblay who had held the crown since 1983. She has taken this opportunity to refine and develop her style of play further. Etienne prefers a dynamic and tactical style of chess and is not afraid of going down material for an attack on the opposition. Her boldness on the board is a risky approach however her defensive skills are equally up to the mark when she is in a bit of a worse position. She put this style on full display in the inaugural SN3C eventually winning it in a nail-biting armageddon game against Salucci. She mostly appeared comfortable in the tournament except for the two uncharacteristic losses to Tremblay and Salucci in which she failed to convert tactical opportunities. Her victory in the SN3C assures her of a spot in the World Championship Qualifiers next year. Etienne enters the Grand Casaran with a rejuvenated confidence looking to further assert herself as the very best in not just Vielfaltig but also the Multiverse.
Noemi is a fan of popular music and is a regular at the VIP boxes of numerous concerts. She can often be seen preparing for games by vibing to the newest pop record. She is also an avid student of chess and can often be seen making notes perhaps for a future book featuring a study of her games.
Lucas Felix (aged 38) has been Noemi's trainer since she was 17. A close friend of her father's Felix has been an integral part of Noemi's journey in chess so far. He led the team for her Championship effort and developed numerous novelties to catch out Tremblay. Felix was a much more active player in his 20s having achieved a peak rating of 2706. He has greatly reduced the number of tournaments he plays since taking up the Etienne challenge. He is a great sparring partner for Noemi too due to his strength as a chess player. He continues to dabble occasionally in Rapid and Blitz tournaments with the short formats keeping him excited. He is believed to have shaped much of Etienne's tactical tendencies and is one of the greatest proponents of hypermodern chess.

Felix Tremblay
Age: 37
Hometown: Vicchio
Club: Vicchio Vultures
Second/Trainer: Gabin Duchamp
Repertoire: Queen's Gambit, Italian (White); Caro-Kann, Nimzo-Indian (Black)
World Rank: 2
Domestic Rating: 2802
Bio: Felix Tremblay is an individual who has stood at the summit of Vielfaltigian chess perhaps the longest. Born in 1964 in Vicchio, Palma, his prodigal skills were visible from his early childhood. His father was a notable Minister in Julio Kalio's cabinet and a chess enthusiast. It was not much of a surprise when a young Felix took up the board game. He slowly became obsessed with the positional dynamics of chess and delved much deeper into the game. He made his debut in tournaments at the age of 12 and within a few months had obtained a rating of 2000. He had taken the chess world by storm and was quick to rise through the ranks. He was granted the title of grandmaster at just 14 years old and by the time he was 17 years old, he was already playing in a Championship match. The 1981 Championship Match was a pivotal moment in Felix's career as despite a close defeat to then-champion, Martin Travere, this served as fuel for him to touch newer heights. He breezed through the following qualifying cycle and once again faced Martin, this time winning dominantly with 5 wins and no losses in the 20-game match. Tremblay then proceeded to hold the crown from 1983 to 1999 when he was finally dethroned by Etienne in his 10th Championship Match and only the second match he lost. An 8-time Vielfaltig Chess Champion, Tremblay's legacy is cemented in history and he could very well retire. But what makes him special is his undying love for the game of chess and thus he carries on. Following the loss in the 1999 Championship Match, Tremblay has suffered a bit of a slump which he will be hoping to recover. He has also been very vocal about his fixation on regaining the crown and there is quite a heated rivalry developing between the two. The rivalry, however, has turned sour on various occasions especially before and during the championship match when Tremblay made numerous misogynistic remarks regarding women in chess. This rivalry saw its next phase in the SN3C where both Tremblay and Etienne were making their best effort to win the coveted title and secure that World Championship Qualifier position. In the two games, they played each other, both of them secured one win each. Tremblay appeared to have the upper hand going into the last two days before blowing the minute lead he held over Etienne and Salucci. Eventually, he crumbled in the rapid tiebreaker and will be hoping to have his revenge in the Grand Casaran as he very much appears to be at his former best. He is known for his rock-solid, methodical style which seeks to grind out small advantages rather than making bold tactical plays. That, however, does not mean he overlooks tactical sequences rather he prefers to play more conservatively.
Felix Tremblay is sort of the old-school player who will show up in a suit and stare you down before the game. He enjoys jazz and classical music in his off-time however before matches, you will most likely see him preparing for the game by learning the newest line of the Bongcloud (my bad, the Italian).
Gabin Duchamp (aged 43) has been a childhood friend of Tremblay's and was a colleague and competitor of his for many years. Having reached a peak of 2731 in his early 20s, he has opted to join Tremblay's team as his main trainer following his loss at the 1999 Championship. He has looked to revamp Tremblay's game with deeper opening preparation and an expansion of his repertoire to include more niche openings. Duchamp was a fairly successful player in his own time having been a Championship contender in 1977 and having won the National Open on three occasions. He is also one of the most reputed theorists having developed much of the theory in the Reti and the Italian through his books on both openings.

Sameul Salucci
Age: 16
Hometown: Bogen
Club: Bogen Blackhawks
Second/Trainer: Lambert Garnier
Repertoire: English, Reti (White), Sicilian, Modern Defence (Black)
World Rank: 2
Domestic Rating: 2763
Bio: Sameul Salucci, born in Bogen, Kaunus, is a young and upcoming talent whose rapid rise in the chess world has been nothing short of astonishing. Only 16 years of age, his qualification for this tournament in itself is a massive feat. He began playing at just 4 years of age and having been formally trained since 6 years of age, he is the most promising young player in Vielfaltig at the moment. He is the youngest grandmaster in Vielfaltigian history having obtained the title at just 12 years 216 days. He comes into the SNL Chess Cup with notable tournament victories such as the Victorin Memorial Cup and the recently concluded Vielfaltig Rapid Open. He is believed to be among one of the players who can challenge Tremblay for the contender spot in the Championship Match next year. Salucci is a player blessed with a tremendous ability to calculate positions while also being able to rely on his intuition sufficiently. This deadly combination makes him one of the most accurate players, especially in the longer Classical format. The SNL3C was Salucci's breakout tournament. While being a really strong player coming into the tournament, his ability to hold his own against the world's very best was in question. He proved his doubters wrong by going toe to toe with Tremblay and Etienne before eventually losing to Etienne in the armageddon. He may have been a little unlucky to have lost that qualification spot however he is certainly back to compete and hopes to use his youth to his advantage in the war that is classical chess.
He behaves like the average 16-year-old teenager and you may even confuse him for a spectator as he is often more intrigued by what is going on in the boards of others. A fan of hard rock and metal music, he enjoys playing the guitar to the newest Mouldy Metalloids track in his free time. He is well acquainted with all the latest computer technology which he utilises to its full potential in preparation. His favourite format of chess however in his own words is blitz which he can often be seen playing on the online platform, ChessVFT.org.
His trainer, Lambert Garnier (aged 61), has been coaching him since he was 6 years old. This long time has built quite a bond between the two. Garnier was never a very strong player in his heyday having hit a peak of 2610. He, however, remains an expert on positional dynamics and was referred to as the Boa Constrictor in his playing days for his constricting style of play. His influence on Salucci's game is visible, especially with his reliance on calculation to find the best move in each position. Garnier has spent much of his training period in preparing deep lines and theory much of which is greatly useful to Salucci who is known to play into deep engine lines to confuse his opponents.

Sebastian Berger
Age: 23
Hometown: Lutzkampen, Kaunus
Club: Comines Crows
Second/Trainer: Leander Schulz
Repertoire: Spanish, Catalan (White), French, King's Indian (Black)
Domestic Rating: 2705
Bio: Sebastian Berger is a talented player from Lutzkampen, Kaunus. Yet to have made his mark on the stage of multiversal chess having missed out on the cut for the SN3C and GCC so far. His chess career has been one of numerous ups and downs. As a player, he made his mark first in the Lutz Challengers section winning the event at just the age of 14. He showed signs of immense prodigal potential and quickly ascended the ranks of Vielfaltigian chess. That was until he hit a ceiling at a rating of 2600, failing to climb further and was stuck at that point for much of his last few teenage years. Unlike some other players at the very peak of chess, he pursued an education after graduating from high school. He studied Philosophy at the University of Comines and was largely inactive during these years. It was just last year when he made his full time return to chess after graduating from University. He emerged onto the chess scene with fresh ideas and a completely distinct aggressive style which caught some of the more cautious players by surprise. This style has become very rewarding in the shorter time controls as his opponents often miss the critical ideas leading to a crushing advantage for him. He relies on aggressive positional play and positional dynamics combined with acute tactical awareness making himself a very strong player in shorter time controls. He showed his proficiency at shorter time controls by winning the last two editions of the National Blitz Open and finishing runners up in the last National Rapid Open. He was subsequently picked up by the Comines Crows for the 2000-01 Bundesliga season and has been appointed as team captain. He was also an important part of our winning team in the inaugural Esportivan Chess Cup earning him a reserve spot on the ECC team. Sebastian is an interesting personality in the chess world due to his academic background. He can often be seen studying ancient philosophy in his free time. He also greatly enjoys listening to instrumental compositions and is a proficient pianist. He is the author of the book, "Chess and Metaphysics" which explores metaphysical concepts with reference to chess (don't ask me what this entails).

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Roleplay about specific moves made: Yes, but probably lemme know first in case I am preparing something too.
Godmod game events: Reach out to me
Godmod other events: Reach out to me

ChessVFT Database

by **South Newlandia** » Tue Feb 11, 2025 6:21 pm

South Newlandian chess players hope for better results in Al-Hilal after another Newport disappointment

Much to the disappointment of South Newlandian chess fans, the South Newlandian Classical Chess Cup took place in Newport again – the same city South Newlandians haven’t found any international success in about a decade. The opening tournament of the Multiversal Chess Championships wasn’t any different, with none of the South Newlandian top players even managing a positive record. Khanyisa van Lundi and Elani Jabulan each finished with 5 points from their 10 games, also each taking losses to the Kytlerians that would eventually win their respective groups.
Adam Esteban, widely considered the top South Newlandian competitor, had a disastrous tournament by his standards, finishing with just 4 points; winning just two of his games. At least his drubbing against the eventual group winner featured eventual tournament winner Noemi Etienne.

Now, the South Newlandian trio hopes to perform better at the second tournament of the cycle. We’re taking a trip to TJUN-ia, two-time Elephant Chess Cup champions (both over South Newlandia). Despite the fact that they’ve been around for a while in various sports, they’ve never hosted an awful lot – but to be fair, South Newlandia are quite the anomaly in that regard.
More specifically, we’ll be in Al-Hilal, smack in the middle of the country on a small island. Without having done any research on it, it seems this island has some similarities with South Newlandia, especially in its climate. The grand venue of the Royal Centre will host 62 players, just ever so slightly fewer than the mammoth field that was at the SN3C. In the first round of the 13-round Casaran event, all three South Newlandians have drawn very intriguing matchups.
Khanyisa Van Lundi will have the black pieces against Shavkat Muradov, who is also coming off of a 5/10 performance at the recent SN3C. The Barkhastanian board two will likely feel quite at home in Al-Hilal – at least, culturally speaking. The players from Barkhastan have generally given off the impression that they haven't quite shown their true power level yet; how much they can accomplish will be seen.
Adam Esteban will look to start his redemption tournament with the black pieces against Istvan Bárány of Gyaromia, who finished with a very strong 7/10 performance at the SN3C, establishing himself in the top 15 in the very young World Chess Rankings. Given his experience and varied abilities, Esteban will have a tough test ahead of him; hoping to not immediately start with a loss.
Lastly, Elani Jabulan will be the only South Newlandian playing a new face to the Multiversal Chess Championships, though not to international chess – she’ll have white against Emilia Ziegler. The Katzeburgian was part of the team that made the Esportivan nation the champions of Elephant Chess Cup 10, in an upset few expected. Ziegler played board two, and rocketed from schoolteacher to internationally recognised chess star in an instant – now, for the first time, she’ll also compete in the individual tournament scene.

by **Katzeburg** » Wed Feb 12, 2025 8:54 am

Emilia Ziegler
World Ranking - UR

Emilia Ziegler, a schoolteacher at Ynysgard Primary School, was one of the more unlikely heroes of the Ynsygard Chess Club’s run to the Elephant Chess Cup trophy. Originally picking up the game as a way to distract some of her more unruly students, Emilia found home in the chess club and quickly rose up the ranks to become the star second board and an anchor to the team’s successes.

Arguably the most astute and knowledgeable of the game itself, Emilia moved up into the first board spot after Rhys Furst stepped down at the end of the tenth Elephant Chess Cup and has been instrumental in creating a more welcoming and inclusive culture at the club - taking full advantage of the explosion of interest in the sport in the wake of the victory.

A very well-rounded player, Emilia often spends a lot of time thinking about her move and the next few ahead - often leaving opponents looking at the clock to see how much time she has left. It’s a strategy which keeps her well informed of the game going on, but has been her largest flaw to date, failing to take full advantage of the time available to her and losing more than a few times as a result of running out of time.

Since the team won the ECC, Emilia rather humbly went back to teaching on Ynysgard, content in her lot of life for the most part, only opting to enter the Multiverse Championships after some pressure from her former Ynysgard teammate Klaus Rothbauer thanks to the promise of free travel. Having never left the region of Esportiva, Miss Zeigler has cashed in some of her allotted annual leave to try her hand at the individual circuit.

Klaus Rothbauer
World Ranking - UR

The former bad boy of the Ynysgard Chess Club, Klaus was arguably the MVP of the team over in Eshialand, with his combination of aggression on the board, drunkenness in the bar, and fish-stench on his clothes proving a deadly combination - often dragging the side to draws during their staggering group stage appearance.

A local fisherman by trade prior to the win, Klaus frustrated several highly-trained competitors thanks to his insane willingness to sacrifice one of his own pieces if it meant he could capture someone else’s - often singing to himself ‘trade pieces, trade pieces’ as he completes the move. It was a tactic which worked to devastatingly good effect in Eshialand, but one which once it’s figured out can lead to incredibly quick losses for the Ynysgard local.

Born and raised in Ynysgard, Klaus got into the sport after watching the club play during a drunken night out at the Fishermans Arms, the local bar in Ynysgard, and while he has never really rubbed with the direction the local chess club has taken, his skillset means he’s often one of the first people they turn to when they have a big match.

Since lifting the Elephant Chess Cup, Klaus has become somewhat of a local superstar - instantly recognisable to anyone on the island of Dragoonspiel and something he has used to great effect to somewhat ‘scrub’ his image into one of a bigshot professional chess player.

So far, this has entirely been on the local circuit, spending his days travelling from city to city playing in (and often winning) chess competitions. It’s a lonely life, but a niche he has managed to carve out on his own and make a decent enough living from it. With the Multiversal Championships starting up, Klaus views this as his ticket to the big time, quitting his day job as a travelling fisherman to pursue chess professionally full time.

Mark Jensen
World Ranking - UR

When the stories are told about the Ynysgard Chess Club’s shock Elephant Chess Cup victory, one person is often left out of retellings - Mark Jensen. The former Senior Vice President of Merger Operations for Medium-Size Enterprises and International Affairs at the Bank of Katzeburg grew up playing chess on the island of Dragoonspiel, but left the sport and his family behind when he opted to move to the mainland to pursue education, creating a long-standing and emotional rift between himself and his father - former Ynysgard Chess Club captain Rhys Furst.

Mark had managed to put the sport well behind him until a chance flight from South Newlandia he was on gave him a major epiphany unlike anything he had ever experienced. Upon landing in Katzestadt, he immediately made his way to Eshialand to make peace with his father, who himself was facing a tough crisis of confidence during the cup.

He would get there just in time for the final, a final which saw a strong swansong performance from Furst as he won his first game of the competition to help the club lift the trophy. Since coming back, Mark took stock in his life and decided maybe island living was the best move for him - leaving his high-paying corporate job for a simple life on the docks of Ynysgard. Now the chief financial officer for the town’s council, Mark has been making up for lost time ever since, and not just with his father.

Picking up chess once more, Mark remembered why he loved the game as a child, and with his talents quickly growing, he assumed a spot in the village chess club, quickly working his way up to be the team’s second board behind Emilia. As one of the ‘new-age’ members of the chess club, Mark is keen to make a big splash on the multiversal stage while bringing his father along with him for every step of the journey.

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Roleplay about specific moves made: Please absolutely go ahead, I know close to nothing about the notation and strategy of chess.
Godmod game events: Yes, but please feel free to chat through it with me over TG/Discord!
Godmod other events: Yes, but please feel free to chat through it with me over TG/Discord!

by **Katzeburg** » Wed Feb 12, 2025 10:07 am

Nothing about it makes any sense. But it has been a trip since a plucky little team from the Ynysgard Chess Club somehow pulled off the miracle run to win the tenth edition of the Elephant Chess Cup in Eshialand. The team had no right being in any form of contention - failing to grab a team win during their group appearance but somehow sneaking out thanks to the sheer number of draws they picked up - but somehow clawed their way to the final and put in an incredible showing to become the toast of the town with a huge win in the final. The landscape of chess in Katzeburg as a result, shifted overnight. The exploits of the chess team was suddenly front page news on ever paper in the country, not just the Ynysgard Fisherman (which even during the Elephant Chess Cup had bumped the team off the front page for sightings of local legend ‘Big Fishboy’, a large unit of a fish which terrorised fisherman on the coast of Dragoonspiel).

The five Katzeburgians who made history were hailed as heroes, legends of a sport barely gaining traction on the island nation. But after the win? Chess was cool. It dominated the popular culture narrative for months on end, only fading away when the World Cup 98 cycle started for the country’s national football team, but its impacts are still felt to this day. Chess Tonight remains one of the most watched Katzeburgian programmes each week, and the Ynsygard Chess Club has been a vital part in building a national chess federation and competitive structure. The country now hosts an increasingly strong competitive circuit, with all major cities hosting a championship of their own. But it’s not entirely there yet as a fledgling professional circuit - there’s very little sponsorship or travel opportunities for good players, meaning only those with the time, money, or lack of sense would head around the country playing.

It’s not been an immediate jump to world contenders for Katzeburgian chess, with their shock win of the ECC regarded as exactly that - something that made no sense, and the longer you run your eyes over the results, the more bizarre it became. What do you mean the side lost easily to the Kytler Peninsulae in the group stage only to become demigods and wipe the floor with them in the final four? How did an old man, a teacher, a city councillor, and a person who sings about trading pieces win the biggest prize on the international stage?

At the now revamped Ynysgard Chess Club, it was a common rumour that it was the side’s victory in the ECC which led to a total redesign of competitive chess in the multiverse. (OOC - No qualms with this brilliant initiative, but does make for a nice bit of RP fodder!) Emilia Ziegler - now the leader of the club after Rhys Furst stepped back following the cup win - discounted it every chance she got, but it gnawed away at her every now and then. It wasn’t a rumour shared by those who actually went to Eshialand to take part in the competition; they know hard damn hard they worked to bring home the trophy, which now proudly stands tall in the central entrance of the Ynysgard Chess Hall - a formerly disused village hall which was repurposed and refurbished following the ECC win to accommodate the waves of players on the island now trying to become the next big thing in Katzeburgian chess.

But as they say, every good rumour has an inkling of truth behind it, and Emilia couldn’t discount it entirely. Sure, the ECC was going to continue being a thing and the club would be going back to try and defend their title, but this recent push into individual boards and a wider circuit did seem to have a tinge of highlighting top tier players over a long period of time, rather than having a group of people smelling of fish shit-housing their way to an international title. It was a circuit Emilia was for the most part, originally keen to avoid. She, along with the rest of the Ynysgard contingent, didn’t take part in the test event over in South Newlandia in the months prior, but for good reason. It had been a period of upheaval for not only her, but the club itself. Rhys was out, Klaus had split to go after a full-time career in the game, and while Nora and Kristine were still around, they had pulled back a little from club activities for various reasons.

Mark had stepped in, seemingly out of nowhere, and was a valued member of the team; but Emilia for the most part had felt dangerously alone these last few months. The club she had enjoyed being an integral cog in was gone. But she had a brand new club to build up from its ashes. She had certainly done well in that regard; the club was more popular than ever, with teams regularly going onto the mainland to take part in Northwest competitions and placing well. But the club had naturally found itself starting to lag behind clubs which had larger financial backing due to their location - as a small village on a tiny island, they had nowhere near the pull or resources available like the Katzestadt Chess Club or even the Waldstein Chess Club - a recent thorn in Emilia’s side thanks to a few tight clashes in recent regional tournaments.

So it did make it a very tough decision when her old teammate Klaus came storming through the doors of the Fishermans Arms one evening with a proposition.

“Join me on the multiversal circuit, Em,” Klaus said over several pints of Ynysgard Gold, the local lager brewed out the back of the pub. “You and me, we need to show the world that we weren’t a fluke.”

“But what if we were?” Emilia said, while tracing a circle around her pint glass. “We did a great service bringing the sport to more people here in Ynysgard, but what if that’s our role in all this?”

“Pfft. That’s stupid,” Klaus waved dismissively. “Our role is to be the best goddamn players this country has ever seen, and we’re already there. We just need to show everyone else now.”

“And going in this competition would help in that regard?”

“Of course it would! A few tourney wins and we’re at the summit of the world rankings. We can do something truly transformative here - make Katzeburg a chess superpower. Prove it wasn’t just a run of the mill miracle win, but an everyday, wow-this-team-is-brilliant win.”

“Did you see the event over in South Newlandia? There were some quality players there, we can’t just swing in and expect to do any good.”

“Why not? We did it once before, we can do it again. And with the two of us on board, I can swing some sponsors our way so we aren’t just spending out of our own pockets to go and play a little game on a board.”

“Wait, are you being serious? That’s an option?”

Klaus snorted and slammed down his pint. “Of course it is! We might need to be up for a couple of photoshoots, but we’d be able to travel for as close to free as we could to go take part.”

A small smile crept across Emilia’s face. She had been looking for a reason to exploit her growing wanderlust since coming back to the simple life of a teacher on a small island.

“I guess we could at least give it a go. For the first event, of course,” Emilia said, nodding along.

“I knew you’d be in! You and me Em, we’re gonna dominate like we did in Eshialand!”

“How many people can enter? Maybe we see if Nora or Krist-”

“Way ahead of you, I also asked the old man’s kid. Mike? Mork? Masterston?”

“Mark.”

“Him! He seems to be doing well here at the club, plus it would be a good marketing angle for us to take with the son of an ECC winner.”

“Marketing angle? Who are you and what have you done with Klaus?”

Klaus let out a large belch and twisted his arm towards the bar to put up an order for three more Ynysgard Golds.

“Never mind,” Emilia said as she picked up her pint. Things were about to change once more.

(O.O) · by **TJUN-ia** » Wed Feb 12, 2025 3:43 pm

Name: TJUN-ia
Trigram: TJU
Demonym: TJUN-ian/Jaguar
Player Nicknames: Jaguars/Jaguar Knights
Governing Body: TJUN-ia Chess Federation (TCF)

To say that we have awaited this day would be an understatement. The International Community of TJUN-ia, ironically, rarely hosts international events in its calendar. Apart from Home and Away formats and the incredible Jungle Fever, not much else happens out here...but that is about to change. Despite the disastrous performances TJUN-ia's players managed in the first event of this new Multiversal Chess Championships Tour, the TCF and the City and Island of Al-Hilal have been granted hosting rights to the Grand Casaran of Chess, the 2nd event in this new era and the final MCC event before the 11th Elephant Chess Cup. Our two ECC crowns speak for themselves, but what can our players do with the pressure of playing on home soil for the very first time?

TCF Rating System (Elo)
Professionals
Grandmaster of the International Community (GIC): 3001+
International Master (IM): 2751-3000
TCF Master (TM): 2501-2750
Candidate Master (CM): 2001-2500
---------------------------------------------------
Semi-Professionals
Class A (CA): 1801-2000
Class B (CB): 1601-1800
Class C (CC): 1401-1600
Class D (CD): 1201-1400
Class E (CE): 1001-1200
---------------------------------------------------
Amateurs
Class F (CF): 801-1000
Class G (CG): 601-800
Class H (CH): 401-600
Class I (CI): 201-400
Class J (CJ): 101-200
Rookie (R): under 100

This is how Chess is organised here in TJUN-ia, with 15 titles and 3 overall Tiers to cover all 1 million+ players who play Chess in TCF-affiliated or run tournaments and leagues. This system was created by the TCF to encourage more professionalism within the game and runs on a simple formula: 2 points per win, 1 for a draw, -1 for a loss and -2 for a loss in 30 or fewer combined moves (or the "15 each" rule). If you take part in any TCF-related event, then you can add to your Rating with 0 given to those making their TCF debuts at any given level. For the ECC, the TCF used a "3+1" mentality - Three Professionals, One Semi-Pro. That system will be in play for the next ECC, but not the MCC we are currently in.

Tshering Gyeltshen

Age: 26
Place of Residence: Trashiyangtse, CEA Zone
TCF Rating: Grandmaster of the International Community (N/A)
MCC Ranking: T-53rd
MCC Record: 1-4-5

There will be another ECC for these Jaguar Knights, but is their Leader feeling alright? Improvement from the awful showing in South Newlandia will be seen as a necessity by those who follow the sport - but he will stick to the style we all know too well, a style that loves the game as much as he loves Lam Chow-Cheung. Neither they nor Batu Tüvshinbayar will be in town to provide support, but Al-Hilal will. What will home board advantage potentially mean, if that even exists?

Anne Christian-Warren

Age: 30
Place of Residence: New Adamstown/Adamstaun, UO Zone
TCF Rating: Grandmaster of the International Community (N/A)
MCC Ranking: T-24th
MCC Record: 4-3-3

Anne Christian-Warren is a very interesting player in her own right - one of the highest-rated female players in the TCF and a rare athlete in any sport from New Adamstown, making her a Pitkerner. She certainly likes to be known as someone who represents her heritage and the blood of the HMS Bounty with pride, playing her game like a pirate as well - win no matter what, go for broke and all that jazz. She became a hero back in her home town after winning it all twice, with her strategy becoming so famous that it's even included in official Chess strategy guides published in the International Community. The Lesbian Pirate Queen, one of the most badass nicknames in TJUN-ian sport, is the TJUN-ian #1 after the first event of this new MCC and on home turf, she may be the best hope of success. But what can she do here?

Margarita Altamiranda

Age: 34
Place of Residence: Ciudad Calamar, UAC Zone
TCF Rating: Grandmaster of the International Community (N/A)
MCC Ranking: T-41st
MCC Record: 3-2-5

Margarita hails from Cuidad Calamar in the UAC zone - a city and region not seen as a Chess powerhouse by any means. Despite that, she's certainly a talent and plays with that Latin flair we all expect - quick and powerful at the same time. Being considered a professional for life certainly did wonders for her, especially back home, and while she doesn't have the crown anymore, she certainly has proved that she deserved to be considered a professional alongside her teammates. Altamiranda has done alright so fairing her quest to prove that the decision by the TCF for her to be the 3rd Jaguar Knight of the MCC over young Gideon Irosaea was the right call, but things are expected to feel a lot different when playing on home soil.

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Roleplay about specific moves made: Yes
Godmod game events: Yes
Godmod other events: Yes

by **Bir Matras** » Thu Feb 13, 2025 1:09 pm

Short overview of bir Matrasian Chess players

Mila Walkowiak
Age: 15
Favorite Openings: Reversed Sicilian(white), Kings Indian Defense(black)
Domestic ranking(Elo): 2295
Domestic ranking(placement): 8th
Mila Walkowiak is a young and rising Star in Bir Matras. She recently came second in the Fennek cup, the most prestigious chess cup in the nation, only losing out to Tobi Al-Aman in the final. She qualified for this tournament by winning the Yamal cup, which served as an international qualifier for the 3rd spot in the Chess team. Many people were shocked seeing such a young girl win such an important tournament. She is the youngest winner the Yamal cup has ever seen, beating the previous record by over 2 years. The nation is excited to see how the "Young wonder" will do in Bir Matras first international chess competition. Mila is known for her agressive playing style, which has often lead to surprising success against formidable opponents

Tobi Al-Aman
Age: 43
Favorite openings: Nimzovitch-Larsen Attack(white), Slav Defense(Black)
Domestic Ranking(Elo): 2735
Domestic Ranking(Placement): 1st
Tobi Al-Aman has been the dominant force in Bir Matrasian chess for almost 15 years at this point. He is an extremely skilled chess player, who know one has been able to consistently beat. He has won the last 7 Fennek cups in a row. he is known for his rather unusual playing stile, often employing lesser seen tactics to give the enemy a hard time. He is also known for being a careful and often defensive player. He first got into the spotlight when he beat reigning champion Arum Kil in the 2011 yamal cup. Before that point, he had not taken part in any professional chess tournaments, but was still incredibly skilled which surpised a lot of people at the time. Now he will represent Bir Matras in is first international competition with Honor

Layan Al-Saud
Age: 67
Favorite Openings: Polish opening(white), Pirc Defense(black)
Domestic Ranking(Elo): 2610
Domestic Ranking(Placement): 3rd
Layan Al-Saud has been in the highest class of Chess players for an extremly long time. She first entered the Top 10 in 1982 and has since then never left them. She was one of the biggest supporters of joining International competitions and after it was decided that Bir Matras would join International competitions, she was picked to represent us by a majority of players. Layan is known for being a hard player, who loves to switch up strategies, sometimes even in a game itself, with varying success. she considers it an honor to be able to reprsent Bir matras internationally and will do the best she can.

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Roleplay about specific moves made: Yes
Godmod game events: Yes
Godmod other events: Yes

by **The North Polish Union** » Thu Feb 13, 2025 2:34 pm

After the South Newlandian Classical Chess Cup, two of the three North Polish players return to the competition in TJUN-ia. Miefodij Ihnatjew and Kristian Theiss finished tied in places 2-3 and 4-5 of Group B, respectively.

Klaus Moeller has opted not to compete in the Grand Casaran, citing fatigue that impacted him as the SNCCC progressed, and has been replaced with Jacenty Kamiński. Kamiński, aged 27, boasts a domestic Elo of 2685 and is the second-strongest player in the country (behind Ihnatjew). He plays a universal positional style, preferring long-term strategy to sharp tactics, but is not afraid to engage in complications if the position demands it. His preferred opening is the English for white and the Open Ruy Lopez and Slav for black.

Round 1 Preview:
Miefodij Ihnatjew - Vulin Creit: Creit did not complete in the recent SNCCC and is a bit of an unknown on the international scene, Ihnatjew should in theory be the stronger player. However, Ihnatjew got off to a slow start in South Newlandia, drawing his first 6 games against generally weaker competition, before reeling off 4 straight wins to close the group stage in a comeback attempt that ultimately fell short. He should look to get out to a faster start here, although the longer tournament length may be more forgiving to slow starters.

Stijn van Dijk - Jacenty Kamiński: van Dijk won Group F of the SNCCC with an impressive 8.5/10 but finished tied for 4-5 in the Final Group with a -2 score. Facing a current world top-5 player, Kamiński will be hard-pressed to come out of this matchup even, although study of the games from the Final Group may show some weaknesses in van Dijk's game.

Kristian Theiss - Sebastian Grob-Coltman: Grob-Coltman finished tied for 1st in Group C of the SNCCC, ultimately losing out in the rapid tiebreaks to Felix Tremblay. Both players are known for their aggressive and sometimes unconventional style of play and this matchup promises fireworks no matter the outcome. The one question we are all asking will remain unanswered until the opening moments of Round 1: will Theiss try to defeat Grob-Coltman with the Grob?

by **Aphrilia** » Sat Feb 15, 2025 4:10 am

The Aphrilian Three from the SN3C are returning to play at the MCC.

PLAYER SHEET FROM THE SN3C (UPDATED)
Norman Heartwell
Age: 26
ACC Rank: Grandmaster
ACC ELO: 2547
WR: 7th

Norman Heartwell, an Aphrilian grandmaster who's the son of former national master player Jeanne Heartwell. Much like his mother, he's mainly proficient at playing with the black pieces, but he also has a nasty and poisonous bite when playing with white. What's unlike his mother is his approach to the game. Despite being a great player, his approach to the game is slow in the lazy way. He's relaxed, he takes things easy rather than being serious despite his age. It's his choice when it comes to when he should go 100% percent, and no one can convince him otherwise. He's so lazy that he only recently got his admission into the rank of grandmaster before the SN3C. But he willingly chose to represent Aphrilia unlike others.

Sebastian Grob-Coltman
Age: 47
ACC Rank: Grandmaster
ACC ELO: 2701
WR: 8th

Sebastian Grob-Coltman is a man of many talents. Even though he's a chess grandmaster (By Aphrilian standards), Sebastian is also a rather popular songwriter and artist. Another thing about him is that he's a coach for a youth chess club in the capital city, Darlingtown. Despite chess being seen as a game of cold, cutting-edge calculations and highly technical positioning, Sebastian lets his creative mind flourish on the chess board as well. He strays off theory and often is the one putting a game into a position never studied before. You could say he's a catalyst for on-board chaos. Though it's more likely you say that after knowing about him, since at first he gives off the aura of a bored, unabashed old man.

Glacia McDorrey
Age: 32
ACC Rank: Grandmaster
ACC ELO: 2511

If you think we're joking, we're not. Influencer turned quite serious sports player is a rare thing to happen, but Glacia McDorrey is exactly that kind of player. While she did play competitive chess on and off while she was younger, she was more interested in making content about it. At seventeen, she started making videos about chess and a few years later, started taking it seriously while making content for her fans on the side. At 32, Glacia has a combined following of 4.8 million people on all social media platforms, watching her journey to becoming a grandmaster. Her journey has taken her everywhere, and "everywhere" fits the description of her playing style. Having performed well enough in the SN3C and some domestic tournaments, Glacia finally gains the ACC Grandmaster title, a long journey over. Now, a new one begins.

CURRENT STATUS
Norman Heartwell back in the SN3C went through his group stage unbeaten, which in itself is quite impressive. However, he failed to tie the group due to the fact that he had an extra draw compared to Noemi Etienne. But it was undeniable that in the tournament, he showed that despite being quite lazy as he is, he was indeed a force to be reckoned with. Afterall, he's currently 7th in the World Chess Rankings. And thus despite his laziness, which equals to much less preparation than most other players, he's confident that he can bring good results to the table for Aphrilia once again. Even if it means that he'll have to play just that tiny bit harder than he usually would want to.

Then comes the old man who had made it the furthest back in the SN3C, forcing a tiebreak in his group. Sebastian Grob-Coltman let his creative mind flow through during the time, and he'll be doing so again here at the Multiversal Chess Championship. Just one ranking behind his fellow Aphrilian, the old fellow had the best performance back then, nearly forcing through his group by tiebreak and just losing to Felix Tremblay. Out of a state of dismay due to that, he played in a few tournaments, won two of them and performed well in the rest, and got an improved domestic ranking. Despite being the oldest player here, he wants to improve on that form and that means going as deep as possible in the tournament.

The last player on the team remains. Glacia McDorrey may have had the worst run out of the three Aphrilians back in the SN3C, but she proved that she was no pushover. Although performing well enough, she had to play an extra tournament here and there to get the required domestic ELO to earn the Grandmaster title. And that she successfully did so. Her coverage on the SN3C also became quite popular, and thus it seems Aphrilian chess may potentially have another boom in popularity soon. She continues to do this by having announced that she will also be doing coverage of the MCC even if she doesn't go that far. All three of Aphrilia's representatives look to be ready to grind through a brutal tournament.

Of course it's brutal, it's a multiversal championship.

by **Hakushiya** » Sat Feb 15, 2025 8:05 am

⌘ Secure https://cicibloggs.net
nothing to jump to here lolz

Hakushiyan news. And then some discretion.

Top topics at this hour: Grand Casaran of Chess | WorldVision 119 | See You-karin | Lilkay Got it | Cenian Open | SINI@90

Grand Casaran of Chess: introducing the three Hakushiyan players debuting the federation's chess traditions onto the multiversal stage
last updated Feb 14, 2025 at 17:50 (UTC-3) | by Kris Barrett

Pictured (from left to right): Grand Casaran of Chess participant Erii Chulanont and Cenian Open participant Jeno Roberts for a magazine shoot in Naganohara (credit: Tyla Fong/CiCiBL*ggS)

So it's been quite a while since we saw Hakushiya leap onto the multiversal stage in a certain sporting event... right? Well, you won't need to wait for any longer, 'cause three of the most famous Hakushiyan chess players have been selected as multiversal representatives for the federation at the Grand Casaran of Chess in TJUN-ia. Unlike what we did with the noobs at the WC96 qualifiers last year, we chose not to invite those three players to send in DMs via TalkLah, but we're still introducing them anyways through three pretty-short facts for each, so...

Pictured: Fong's self-portrait that was taken in time for last year's Hakushiyan Federal Chess Kick-Off (credit: Denver Fong on Globbr)

Denver Fong (23yo, she/her, ENTP)
>play styles: dynamic + pragmatic
>fave chess openings: the Ruy Lopez opening + the London system
>fave song: "Situations" by Galina Vyusic

Pictured: Chulanont's self-portrait that was taken in time for last year's Hakushiyan Federal Chess Kick-Off (credit: Erii Chulanont on Globbr)

Erii Chulanont (25yo, they/he, ISFP)
>play styles: defensive + open game
>fave chess openings: the Slav defense + the Polish opening
>fave song: "Zerkala" by Polly

Pictured: Ogata's self-portrait that was taken in time for last year's Hakushiyan Federal Chess Kick-Off (credit: Hitomi Ogata on Globbr)

Hitomi Ogata (29yo, she/they, ISTJ)
>play styles: defensive + hypermodern
>fave chess openings: the Vienna game + the Grunfeld defense
>fave song: "Portraits" by MERRIE

Which of these players do you think will leave a good first impression of Hakushiyan chess gamers on the multiversal stage? Let us know in the comments!

Kris Barrett
FULL-TIME CONTRIBUTOR
23+ | demiboi | he/they | writing from Chanya, Tsaoforn, Hakushiya | sports/social sphere-focused
(Globbr handle: @cantgetbluemondayouttamyhead)

by **The Martian Independent Republic** » Sat Feb 15, 2025 10:33 am

Spiders (MIR) at the Grand Casaran

After a less-than-hoped-for experience at the SN3C for all three Martians, the same players are hoping for more at the Grand Casaran in TJUN-ia.

Ziggy Stardust
Stardust is likely the best chess player from the Martian Independent Republic, but he's been having a slump as of late - compared to his highs at ECC8, he's playing horribly. Ziggy hails from Aeolis, the largest base in the Republic, and plays flashy moves, always trying to set up complex tactics and be one step ahead of his opponent. You can often find him playing the English, the Dragon Sicilian, or the Pirc.

Round 1 Opponent: Angela Weissel, a Lidstevite who didn't participate in the SN3C. With no prior knowledge of her playing style, this match could go anywhere - Stardust's higher-ranked, but he does have the black pieces.

Eleanor Rigby
The only Martian player with a dedicated fanbase, - all 800 residents of remote Borealis Base will be cheering her on, watching the one collective television in the base - Rigby's the most experienced Spider in TJUN-ia by far. Her style's a lot calmer than Stardust's, taking to heart the idea that the winner of the game is the player who makes the next to last mistake. This cycle will be her last - she has publicly announced she will be retiring from chess after the World Chess Championship - so she's got everything to play for.

Round 1 Opponent: Glacia McDorrey, an Aphrilian who's tied with Rigby in the world rankings. The lowest-ranked Aphrilian and the highest-ranked Martian clash - Rigby has the white pieces, so she's the slight favorite, but it could be anyone's game.

Johnny B. Goode
The MCF sends no more than one representative from each base per tournament, and Goode definitely had the toughest road to get here - it took five rounds of tiebreaks and finally an Armageddon game to get past Ruby Tuesday in the Huygens qualifying semifinal, then another three against Dan Steely in the final. Goode's going to have an even harder path if he wants to make the MCC Qualifiers, to say nothing of the Championship - but that all begins here. The most aggressive player of the three, Goode loves the f-pawn, being one of the best practitioners of Bird's Opening in the multiverse.

Round 1 Opponent: Oscar Lancelot, a Crpostranian who didn't have the best tournament last time around. The two young players have opposite playing styles - Lancelot prefers the long game, and Goode prefers explosive attacks. Whoever can control the style will likely control the game.

by **Gyaromia** » Sat Feb 15, 2025 12:24 pm

Player Descriptions from the SN3C.

Géza HORVÁTH
Age: 25
Elo: 2520
Géza Horváth is a rising star with a flair for the unpredictable. Born in a small farming village in Nyírmegye, Géza’s introduction to chess came through a traveling chess enthusiast who visited his school. Despite lacking formal training in his early years, he quickly developed an unorthodox style that thrives on intuition and creativity.

At 20, Géza burst onto the national scene by winning the Gyaromian Open with a series of dazzling victories. Now an International Master with an Elo of 2420, he is known for his willingness to take risks and his ability to outplay opponents in unconventional positions. His "all-or-nothing" approach has led to both spectacular wins and occasional stumbles, but his unpredictability makes him a fan favorite.

Outside chess, Géza is an avid writer, contributing essays on the psychology of chess to local publications. Despite his success, he remains deeply connected to his roots, often returning to his hometown to inspire the next generation of players.
Géza is a creative and unpredictable player who thrives on intuition. While capable of defeating much higher-rated opponents, his risky and unconventional style leads to inconsistencies that keep him slightly below the elite level. He is a dangerous wild card in tournaments and a crowd favorite for his bold play.
Géza is a highly unpredictable player whose style defies conventional categorization. Known for his intuitive and improvisational approach, he is a master of creating chaos on the board. Géza often seeks out complex and asymmetrical positions, where his creativity can flourish.

As White: Géza often opens with the English Opening to dictate the pace of the game and maintain flexibility. Against opponents who respond passively, he transitions into hypermodern systems like the King's Indian Attack to launch dynamic kingside assaults.

As Black: Against 1. e4, Géza plays the Pirc Defense, inviting his opponents into unbalanced and flexible structures. Against 1. d4, he opts for the Benko Gambit, sacrificing a pawn to seize long-term queenside initiative and create counterplay.

Géza is famous for his tactical flurries and his ability to play obscure lines that bewilder even seasoned opponents. While he occasionally takes risks that backfire, his unpredictability has secured him spectacular victories and a devoted following among fans.

Istvan BÁRÁNY
Age: 31
Home town: Székesvár
Elo: 2560
Hailing from Székesvár, István Bárány is Gyaromia's reigning national champion and its top-ranked chess player. Born into a family of academics, he was introduced to chess at the age of six by his father, a university professor. István showed early promise, winning his first national youth championship at 13. His career took off in his early 20s when he began competing in high-profile international tournaments.

Known for his precise and methodical play, István's rise has been steady and consistent. He became a grandmaster at 22 and earned his peak Elo rating of 2560
Outside chess, István has a degree in philosophy and enjoys hiking in the Gyaromian countryside. He is also an active advocate for integrating chess into the national education system, believing it sharpens young minds.
István is a highly analytical player who thrives on deep preparation and precision. He is known for his ability to adapt to different styles of play, often preparing specific lines to counter his opponents. As a seasoned professional, István excels in positional play, leveraging small advantages to create decisive endgame positions.

As White: István favors the Ruy-Lopez, particularly the Closed Variation. He aims to build a strong center and gradually accumulate positional advantages. Against Sicilian players, he often employs the Rossolimo Variation to sidestep sharp theoretical battles.

As Black: Against 1. e4, István relies on the Caro-Kann Defense for its solidity and endgame potential. Against 1. d4, he is a staunch advocate of the Nimzo-Indian Defense, aiming to seize control of the center while maintaining flexibility.

István's endgame technique is nearly flawless, and he is particularly skilled in converting rook and pawn endgames into victories. His patient approach has earned him a reputation as a "silent killer" on the board.

Ilona ADAM
Age: 28
Elo: 2238
Ilona Ádám is a trailblazer in Gyaromia’s chess community and one of the most prominent female players in the nation. Born in the picturesque lakeside town of Gyarmont, she first learned chess from her grandmother at the age of eight. Ilona’s natural talent became evident during her teenage years, as she dominated youth competitions and earned the title of Woman Master (WM) at 18. By 22, she had broken into the global chess elite, securing victories in women's tournaments and achieving several top-10 finishes in mixed-gender events.
Ilona is known for her dynamic and tactical style, thriving in complex and chaotic positions.
Ilona is a sharp and tactical player, known for her dynamic attacking style. She thrives in complex positions, where her creativity and resourcefulness shine. Ilona often surprises her opponents with lesser-played but aggressive openings.

As White: Ilona frequently opens with 1. d4, favoring the Trompowsky Attack (1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5) to take her opponents out of mainstream preparation and launch early tactical threats. In classical games, she also employs the Catalan Opening (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3), leveraging her deep understanding of pawn structures and long-term pressure on the queenside.

As Black: Against 1. e4, Ilona prefers the Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation (1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6), a fitting choice for her aggressive and counterattacking style. Against 1. d4, she plays the Grünfeld Defense (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5), exploiting her tactical prowess to generate imbalances.

Ilona’s games are filled with sharp combinations and unexpected sacrifices. Her boldness under time pressure often unsettles her opponents, making her a feared competitor in rapid and blitz formats.

The same three players from the SN3C will look to build off of their result in the aforementioned competition, with Horváth and Bárány finishing second in their respective groups and Ilona finishing fourth in hers.
Their standings on the world chess rankings are certainly no joke, and they will look forward to cementing Gyaromia as a formidable force in the chess world.

by **Lidstev** » Sun Feb 16, 2025 11:10 am

Overview of Chess in Lidstev

Despite the rules of the game being widely known across Lidstev, a domestic competitive scene for chess was been extremely slow to develop. A lack of interest and funding from either government or private sector sources has prevented any sort of national chess federation or organised national competition to arise. As a result of this, comptetitive chess almost exclusively takes place on the collegiate level. Therefore, Lidstev's roster for the Grand Casaran skews extremely young, and the players are just as interested in winning glory for their respective universities as they are for winning glory for themselves. The players sent to compete were the top three finishers in the most recent instalment of the Lidstev Universities Chess League, and are as follows:

Roster of Players

Angela Weissel attends the Westerbrun Institute, by far the oldest and historically the wealthiest university in Lidstev. Situtated on a rural campus around 17 miles north of its namesake town, the Institute was founded at the behest of a local nobleman and is something of a miniature town itself, if an austere and medieval one. Unfortunately, its large endowment was largely siezed by the military during its rule over Lidstev, and as a result the ancient university has lost much of the prestige that it once had, now often regarded as a crumbling shrine to the elitist, old fashioned attitude of higher education that once prevailed across Lidstev and the world.

At 25, Angela is the oldest member of the team, currently studying for a PhD in Old Lidstevite literature. Despite this, she still devotes a significant amount of her free time to chess, which paid off with her finishing first in the Universities Chess League. She is a defensive player, preferring to keep the board as closed as possible and deny her opponents opportunities to develop their pieces.

Kurt Friedlander studies at the University of Felweg, a town located on Lidstev's stormy east coast. Specialising mainly in arts, the university was maintains a distinctive collegiate system, with students being divided into residential colleges based off of their chosen specialisation, with each college also being responsible for teaching, with very few if any teaching being administered centrally. Kurt is studying for a degree in Fine Arts, specialising in contemporary painting.

Aged 20, Kurt initially played chess exclusively recreationally, until his friends encouraged him to join his college's chess club, who quickly put him forward to complete in the Universities League, in which he finished second. An unorthodox player, Kurt utilises rare openings in order to try to catch his opponents off guard, but is often put at a disadvantage if playing black.

Mo Steiner hails from the relatively newly founded King's College of Science and Engineering, the largest university in the capital city of Endsten. Founded at the behest of King Phillip following the recent end of the military dicatorship in Lidstev, the College has enjoyed a large amount of government investment, as well as links with Lidstev's bourgeoning engineering and research sector. He is currently studying for a Bachelor's degree in Physics, and hopes to persue a PhD after finishing his studies.

At the age of 18, Mo is the youngest player on the roster, but has made a substantial impression upon the collegiate chess scene, earning a very respectable third place finish in the recent Universities Chess League. An aggressive player, Mo's technique relies upon aggressive openings and rapid exchanges of material.

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Roleplay about specific moves made: Yes
Godmod game events: Yes
Godmod other events: Yes

by **Vielfaltig** » Sun Feb 16, 2025 12:04 pm

I'd firstly like to welcome everyone to the official ChessVFT press conference before the Grand Casaran kicks off in Al-Hilal, TJUN-ia. Following the success in the SN3C, the domestic and international chess scene has seen numerous changes with our chess prowess putting us at the helm of the coming years of this fascinating sport. Today, we are joined by the Noemi Etienne, reigning Vielfaltig Chess Champion and the winner of the first SN3C; Felix Tremblay, who finished in third following tie-breaks; and Sameul Salucci, the 16 year old phenom who took the world by storm in the SN3C. I will now be opening the floor to questions from the press for the players, please keep them brief and relevant, thank you.

"My question is for Etienne, could you describe what was going through your mind in those nerve-racking tie-breaks and how does it feel to be the first one qualifying for the World Championship Qualifiers?"

Etienne: "I am no stranger to difficult situations and I typically deal with them quite well. Even in the 1999 Championship Match, I was down two games halfway through before managing to stage a comeback. The tie-breaks in this case were challenging especially going up against my extremely skilled compatriots. Tremblay seemed a little unaccustomed to the faster time control however Salucci was definitely prepared for anything I threw at him in the first rapid game. I think Armageddon is probably just one of those things that goes your way sometimes. Its good to have a spot of course but I am not thinking too much about it. There's a lot of time to go and I just want to give my best in the remaining tournaments."

"To Tremblay, you had a pretty impressive tournament till the tie-breaks where you seemingly crumbled. Any particular reason you struggled with the shorter time-control?"

Tremblay: "No, I do not think I would say that. Yes, the tie-breaks were disappointing but its just that. I do not read too much into these tie-breaks and as you said, I did have a good tournament. I think if you look at my tie-breaker against Grob-Coltman, that was a pretty good display too. Speaking about the tournament, I obviously wanted to win but I will not beat up myself over the result. I did finish tied with Etienne and Salucci when numerous people had counted me out of it. It was a good opportunity for me to announce that I may be years older than some of the players but I still have it in me."

"Sameul, your rating has skyrocketed following the SN3C and your play has improved quite a bit too. How do you see your growth in the past few months and how much has the exposure of the SN3C helped in that regard?"

Salucci: "The SN3C was the first of its kind in inviting players from all across the multiverse so we faced different styles of play. And when you face such variety, you must adapt and improve yourself. I focused on playing accurate moves and finding the best lines. My greatest asset is my ability to evaluate positions and as long as I am doing that well I think I am very hard to beat. Everything was good for me till the Armageddon game of course where for some reason I just lost it. I went in too hard for some sort of play and was just worse out of the opening. I should have known that trying to beat Noemi with tactics probably would not work out."

"With the Bundesliga being added to the Vielfaltigian calendar, how do you see your calendars shaping up?"

Etienne: "Oh, is this for me? Well, I mean the Bundesliga is something I am very interested in and I did work with our Federation on this. Playing chess on the weekends at my hometown is a proposition I like very deeply. The club announcements are obviously interesting too, I joined the Warblers and hoping to see some friends from other nations jump in too. I think its gonna be fun to get together and play sometimes, its also great for some of the players not getting as much exposure."

Tremblay: "My thoughts on this too? Well, its more classical chess so why not? I am not particularly excited about it but the President insisted on my participation so I guess Vicchio is getting a team too. I do not expect to be there every week but its surely interesting to play some games when I've got time."

"Etienne, we also have the Battle Royale being held in Walbourg later in the year. What are your thoughts on a multiversal competition being held in your hometown?"

Etienne: "It is fantastic. I cannot state how happy I was when Mr. Borde informed me of it. I am eager to see how the tournament pans out especially since it has such an interesting format. Such developments are really important to develop chess in smaller cities such as Walbourg."

"For Salucci and Tremblay, with the introduction of the MCC cycle, will the both of you pay less attention to the Vielfaltig Chess Championship cycle? How much does that crown mean now?"

Salucci: "I think every Vielfaltig chess player grew up aspiring to be Vielfaltig Chess Champion and it is the most coveted title of all. The value and prestige of the MCC is not rooted in history but rather in the large field of competitors. I think both will be very important for my career and I am just getting started."

Tremblay: "Both are different things. No one can claim to be the best player in the multiverse if they are not the best player in their country itself. I am an 8-time champion so I know the worth of the domestic crown and while I would like to achieve what I have not yet, being the MCC, I cannot deny that I long to win back my crown."

"The Vicchio Open being held two weeks after the Grand Casaran is the first of two qualification events to the Candidates. Are there any plans to participate in that especially with such an hectic schedule?"

Tremblay: "Of course, I'll be there. The Bundesliga kicks off a week prior too. Its a busy schedule but I have been loving all the chess so far. I want to make it to the Candidates as soon as possible. The Championship Match early next year could be good practice going into the World Championship Qualifiers if I make it."

Salucci: "Yes, duh."

"Last question before we wrap up, will we see all three of you perhaps suit up for the Chess event as a part of the Esportivan Chess Festival?"

Tremblay: "No, I'd rather focus on developing my play in the Classical time control. I don't see the point in playing a rapid tournament amidst my already busy schedule."

Salucci: "I do want to be there, I enjoy the shorter time controls quite a bit. I think it could be a title we could fight for at our best."

Etienne: "Well I don't know, with the Bundesliga and the MCC Cycle, I would prefer to take a break before the next Championship Match so perhaps not. But we will see."

"Thank you guys, and good luck at the Grand Casaran."

by **South Newlandia** » Sun Feb 16, 2025 12:20 pm

Roleplay Cutoff for the first three rounds of the Grand Casaran! I'm going to edit the results into here round-by-round as I generate them.

Round 1 -- Day 1
Angela Weissel (LID) 1-0 Ziggy Stardust (MIR)
John Roach (KYP) ½-½ Julia Willis (KYP)
Zygfryd Zurowski (UNC) 0-1 Mark Jensen (KAT)
Tshering Gyeltshen (TJU) 1-0 Charlene Jeannie N Marceline Myong Suh-Hyung (VEZ)
Rose-Emilie Neveu (UNC) ½-½ Layan Al-Saud (BMT)
Johnny B Goode (MIR) 1-0 Oskar Lancelot (CRN)
Erii Chulanont (HKA) 0-1 Noemi Etienne (VFT)
Shavkat Muradov (BKH) ½-½ Khanyisa van Lundi (SNL)
Keven DMcgroar (NSA) 0-1 Anne Christian-Warren (TJU)
Ilona Adam (KGY) 1-0 Eveline Valeria Annalise Tieu Xuan Ngoc (VEZ)
Carl Baddsen (SGH) 1-0 Harold Jackson (SGH)
Margarita Altamiranda (TJU) 1-0 Soleth Dreiloon (TOL)
Ahmed Michaels (NSA) ½-½ Omori East (SGH)
Istvan Barany (KGY) 1-0 Adam Esteban (SNL)
Geza Horvath (KGY) ½-½ Tobi Al-Amim (BMT)
Miefodij Ihnatjew (NPU) 1-0 Vulin Creit (TOL)
Rabado Kawakai (QCA) ½-½ Akulia Swalialau (QCA)
Stijn van Dijk (KYP) ½-½ Jacenty Kaminski (NPU)
Mila Walkowiak (BMT) ½-½ Kurt Friedlander (LID)
Felix Tremblay (VFT) ½-½ Mo Steiner (LID)
Stephanie Jacobson (ESL) ½-½ Klaus Rothbauer (KAT)
Norman Heartwell (APH) 1-0 Nurgul Zhaksybekova (BKH)
Jason Severn (ESL) 1-0 Grebatu Akanabu (QCA)
Aydar Rakhmonov (BKH) ½-½ Spike Wigstan (CRN)
Sameul Salucci (VFT) ½-½ Prince Pierre-Alexandre 1er de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer (UNC)
Eleanor Rigby (MIR) ½-½ Glacia McDorrey (APH)
Robert Astrhmann (NSA) ½-½ Jamie Cartwright (ESL)
Valerio Hassan (CRN) 0-1 Denver Fong (HKA)
San Farein (TOL) ½-½ Hitomi Ogata (HKA)
Elani Jabulan (SNL) ½-½ Emilia Ziegler (KAT)
Kristian Theiss (NPU) 0-1 Sebastian Grob-Coltman (APH)

Round 2 -- Day 2
Sebastian Grob-Coltman (APH) 1-0 Ilona Adam (KGY)
Mark Jensen (KAT) ½-½ Tshering Gyeltshen (TJU)
Denver Fong (HKA) 1-0 Norman Heartwell (APH)
Noemi Etienne (VFT) 1-0 Carl Baddsen (SGH)
Anne Christian-Warren (TJU) ½-½ Margarita Altamiranda (TJU)
Jason Severn (ESL) 0-1 Istvan Barany (KGY)
Angela Weissel (LID) ½-½ Johnny B Goode (MIR)
Glacia McDorrey (APH) 1-0 Miefodij Ihnatjew (NPU)
Prince Pierre-Alexandre 1er de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer (UNC) ½-½ Shavkat Muradov (BKH)
Spike Wigstan (CRN) 0-1 Sameul Salucci (VFT)
Mo Steiner (LID) ½-½ Eleanor Rigby (MIR)
Kurt Friedlander (LID) ½-½ Aydar Rakhmonov (BKH)
Jacenty Kaminski (NPU) ½-½ Elani Jabulan (SNL)
Akulia Swalialau (QCA) 0-1 Felix Tremblay (VFT)
Jamie Cartwright (ESL) ½-½ Mila Walkowiak (BMT)
Tobi Al-Amim (BMT) ½-½ Stijn van Dijk (KYP)
Hitomi Ogata (HKA) 1-0 John Roach (KYP)
Omori East (SGH) ½-½ Robert Astrhmann (NSA)
Emilia Ziegler (KAT) 1-0 Geza Horvath (KGY)
Klaus Rothbauer (KAT) ½-½ San Farein (TOL)
Julia Willis (KYP) ½-½ Ahmed Michaels (NSA)
Layan Al-Saud (BMT) 1-0 Stephanie Jacobson (ESL)
Khanyisa van Lundi (SNL) 1-0 Rabado Kawakai (QCA)
Adam Esteban (SNL) ½-½ Rose-Emilie Neveu (UNC)
Soleth Dreiloon (TOL) ½-½ Grebatu Akanabu (QCA)
Eveline Valeria Annalise Tieu Xuan Ngoc (VEZ) ½-½ Nurgul Zhaksybekova (BKH)
Charlene Jeannie N Marceline Myong Suh-Hyung (VEZ) 1-0 Keven DMcgroar (NSA)
Harold Jackson (SGH) 0-1 Erii Chulanont (HKA)
Oskar Lancelot (CRN) ½-½ Valerio Hassan (CRN)
Ziggy Stardust (MIR) ½-½ Kristian Theiss (NPU)
Vulin Creit (TOL) 0-1 Zygfryd Zurowski (UNC)

Round 3 -- Day 2
Noemi Etienne (VFT) ½-½ Sebastian Grob-Coltman (APH)
Istvan Barany (KGY) 0-1 Denver Fong (HKA)
Margarita Altamiranda (TJU) ½-½ Khanyisa van Lundi (SNL)
Johnny B Goode (MIR) ½-½ Hitomi Ogata (HKA)
Tshering Gyeltshen (TJU) ½-½ Emilia Ziegler (KAT)
Felix Tremblay (VFT) 1-0 Angela Weissel (LID)
Layan Al-Saud (BMT) 0-1 Glacia McDorrey (APH)
Sameul Salucci (VFT) 0-1 Mark Jensen (KAT)
Ilona Adam (KGY) 1-0 Omori East (SGH)
Norman Heartwell (APH) ½-½ Tobi Al-Amim (BMT)
Erii Chulanont (HKA) 1-0 Zygfryd Zurowski (UNC)
Rose-Emilie Neveu (UNC) ½-½ Kurt Friedlander (LID)
Eleanor Rigby (MIR) 1-0 Jason Severn (ESL)
Shavkat Muradov (BKH) ½-½ Carl Baddsen (SGH)
San Farein (TOL) 0-1 Charlene Jeannie N Marceline Myong Suh-Hyung (VEZ)
Elani Jabulan (SNL) ½-½ Prince Pierre-Alexandre 1er de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer (UNC)
Miefodij Ihnatjew (NPU) ½-½ Julia Willis (KYP)
Stijn van Dijk (KYP) 1-0 Jamie Cartwright (ESL)
Robert Astrhmann (NSA) ½-½ Klaus Rothbauer (KAT)
Ahmed Michaels (NSA) 0-1 Mo Steiner (LID)
Mila Walkowiak (BMT) ½-½ Jacenty Kaminski (NPU)
Aydar Rakhmonov (BKH) ½-½ Anne Christian-Warren (TJU)
Kristian Theiss (NPU) ½-½ Soleth Dreiloon (TOL)
Valerio Hassan (CRN) ½-½ Spike Wigstan (CRN)
Geza Horvath (KGY) 1-0 Ziggy Stardust (MIR)
Rabado Kawakai (QCA) ½-½ Adam Esteban (SNL)
Stephanie Jacobson (ESL) ½-½ Eveline Valeria Annalise Tieu Xuan Ngoc (VEZ)
John Roach (KYP) 1-0 Harold Jackson (SGH)
Nurgul Zhaksybekova (BKH) 1-0 Akulia Swalialau (QCA)
Grebatu Akanabu (QCA) 0-1 Oskar Lancelot (CRN)
Keven DMcgroar (NSA) 1-0 Vulin Creit (TOL)

P                                                                   Pld    W   D   L   Pts 
 1 Denver Fong (HKA)                                                  3    3   0   0    3
 2 Felix Tremblay (VFT)                                               3    2   1   0    2.5
   Glacia McDorrey (APH)                                              3    2   1   0    2.5
   Mark Jensen (KAT)                                                  3    2   1   0    2.5
   Noemi Etienne (VFT)                                                3    2   1   0    2.5
   Sebastian Grob-Coltman (APH)                                       3    2   1   0    2.5
 7 Anne Christian-Warren (TJU)                                        3    1   2   0    2
   Charlene Jeannie N Marceline Myong Suh-Hyung (VEZ)                 3    2   0   1    2
   Eleanor Rigby (MIR)                                                3    1   2   0    2
   Emilia Ziegler (KAT)                                               3    1   2   0    2
   Erii Chulanont (HKA)                                               3    2   0   1    2
   Hitomi Ogata (HKA)                                                 3    1   2   0    2
   Ilona Adam (KGY)                                                   3    2   0   1    2
   Istvan Barany (KGY)                                                3    2   0   1    2
   Johnny B Goode (MIR)                                               3    1   2   0    2
   Khanyisa van Lundi (SNL)                                           3    1   2   0    2
   Margarita Altamiranda (TJU)                                        3    1   2   0    2
   Mo Steiner (LID)                                                   3    1   2   0    2
   Stijn van Dijk (KYP)                                               3    1   2   0    2
   Tshering Gyeltshen (TJU)                                           3    1   2   0    2
21 Angela Weissel (LID)                                               3    1   1   1    1.5
   Aydar Rakhmonov (BKH)                                              3    0   3   0    1.5
   Carl Baddsen (SGH)                                                 3    1   1   1    1.5
   Elani Jabulan (SNL)                                                3    0   3   0    1.5
   Geza Horvath (KGY)                                                 3    1   1   1    1.5
   Jacenty Kaminski (NPU)                                             3    0   3   0    1.5
   John Roach (KYP)                                                   3    1   1   1    1.5
   Julia Willis (KYP)                                                 3    0   3   0    1.5
   Klaus Rothbauer (KAT)                                              3    0   3   0    1.5
   Kurt Friedlander (LID)                                             3    0   3   0    1.5
   Layan Al-Saud (BMT)                                                3    1   1   1    1.5
   Miefodij Ihnatjew (NPU)                                            3    1   1   1    1.5
   Mila Walkowiak (BMT)                                               3    0   3   0    1.5
   Norman Heartwell (APH)                                             3    1   1   1    1.5
   Nurgul Zhaksybekova (BKH)                                          3    1   1   1    1.5
   Oskar Lancelot (CRN)                                               3    1   1   1    1.5
   Prince Pierre-Alexandre 1er de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer (UNC)    3    0   3   0    1.5
   Robert Astrhmann (NSA)                                             3    0   3   0    1.5
   Rose-Emilie Neveu (UNC)                                            3    0   3   0    1.5
   Sameul Salucci (VFT)                                               3    1   1   1    1.5
   Shavkat Muradov (BKH)                                              3    0   3   0    1.5
   Tobi Al-Amim (BMT)                                                 3    0   3   0    1.5
43 Adam Esteban (SNL)                                                 3    0   2   1    1
   Ahmed Michaels (NSA)                                               3    0   2   1    1
   Eveline Valeria Annalise Tieu Xuan Ngoc (VEZ)                      3    0   2   1    1
   Jamie Cartwright (ESL)                                             3    0   2   1    1
   Jason Severn (ESL)                                                 3    1   0   2    1
   Keven DMcgroar (NSA)                                               3    1   0   2    1
   Kristian Theiss (NPU)                                              3    0   2   1    1
   Omori East (SGH)                                                   3    0   2   1    1
   Rabado Kawakai (QCA)                                               3    0   2   1    1
   San Farein (TOL)                                                   3    0   2   1    1
   Soleth Dreiloon (TOL)                                              3    0   2   1    1
   Spike Wigstan (CRN)                                                3    0   2   1    1
   Stephanie Jacobson (ESL)                                           3    0   2   1    1
   Valerio Hassan (CRN)                                               3    0   2   1    1
   Zygfryd Zurowski (UNC)                                             3    1   0   2    1
58 Akulia Swalialau (QCA)                                             3    0   1   2    0.5
   Grebatu Akanabu (QCA)                                              3    0   1   2    0.5
   Ziggy Stardust (MIR)                                               3    0   1   2    0.5
61 Harold Jackson (SGH)                                               3    0   0   3    0
   Vulin Creit (TOL)                                                  3    0   0   3    0

Round 4 Matchups -- Day 3
Denver Fong (HKA) vs. Felix Tremblay (VFT)
Mark Jensen (KAT) vs. Sebastian Grob-Coltman (APH)
Glacia McDorrey (APH) vs. Noemi Etienne (VFT)
Mo Steiner (LID) vs. Erii Chulanont (HKA)
Emilia Ziegler (KAT) vs. Eleanor Rigby (MIR)
Anne Christian-Warren (TJU) vs. Johnny B. Goode (MIR)
Hitomi Ogata (HKA) vs. Margarita Altamiranda (TJU)
Khanyisa van Lundi (SNL) vs. Tshering Gyeltshen (TJU)
Stijn van Dijk (KYP) vs. Istvan Barany (KGY)
Charlene Jeannie N Marceline Myong Suh-Hyung (VEZ) vs. Ilona Adam (KGY)
Carl Baddsen (SGH) vs. Miefodij Ihnatjew (NPU)
Jacenty Kaminski (NPU) vs. Angela Weissel (LID)
John Roach (KYP) vs. Rose-Emilie Neveu (UNC)
Shavkat Muradov (BKH) vs. Layan Al-Saud (BMT)
Tobi Al-Amim (BMT) vs. Sameul Salucci (VFT)
Julia Willis (KYP) vs. Geza Horvath (KGY)
Prince Pierre-Alexandre 1er de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer (UNC) vs. Mila Walkowiak (BMT)
Kurt Friedlander (LID) vs. Norman Heartwell (APH)
Oskar Lancelot (CRN) vs. Aydar Rakhmonov (BKH)
Klaus Rothbauer (KAT) vs. Elani Jabulan (SNL)
Nurgul Zhaksybekova (BKH) vs. Robert Astrhmann (NSA)
Zygfryd Zurowski (UNC) vs. Kristian Theiss (NPU)
Omori East (SGH) vs. Rabado Kawakai (QCA)
Eveline Valeria Annalise Tieu Xuan Ngoc (VEZ) vs. San Farein (TOL)
Adam Esteban (SNL) vs. Jason Severn (ESL)
Jamie Cartwright (ESL) vs. Keven DMcgroar (NSA)
Soleth Dreiloon (TOL) vs. Valerio Hassan (CRN)
Spike Wigstan (CRN) vs. Ahmed Michaels (NSA)
Akulia Swalialau (QCA) vs. Grebatu Akanabu (QCA)
Ziggy Stardust (MIR) vs. Stephanie Jacobson (ESL)
Harold Jackson (SGH) vs. Vulin Creit (TOL)

by **Valentine Z** » Mon Feb 17, 2025 7:10 pm

Part 1 – Valentine Z is proud to present our two top-tier (of our own world) Chess players – Charlene and Eveline!

Head Diplomat Charlene Jeannie Natalia Adeline Marceline “완벽한 협상가” Celestie Christine Irelle Dv. Arianna Rees Edith Novena Annie Ciara Whitney Esther Iris Bethany Myong Suh-Hyung sat patiently, waiting for the next move from her opponent. It was quite enough for her that she got a bad start once on the first round out of all games. An opening to a new season and she already lost, she thought. “But no, I will just have to perfect it. I can try again and get this working. Besides, that previous opponent, Tshering Gyeltshen, was quite a good one. Not to say this one isn’t good but I need to play my moves and pieces correctly.” And so she did for the next two rounds, as she was able to take her victories against Keven DMcgroar and San Farein in the next two matches. This ranked her on 7th, which is tied with 13 other people. Out of the 62 participants, according to her count, at least, that was not a bad deal in the slightest, and also showed that Charlene has grew from the previous season. Endgame Technician, as it was called, was doing Charlene a lot of favour as of right now with a 66.67% win rate. Time will tell if she will be able to keep this up with the rest of the opponents that she will have to face – in particular, Ilona Adam – or that Ilona and the others will quickly see through her intent and deny her endgame plan and thus her victory.

Eveline Valeria Annalise Tiêu Xuân Ngọc, on the other hand, was not having much in the way of luck. She mostly chalked it up to the way she was playing. “I can keep it up with more practice, I am sure of it. The problem I have as of now is that, well, I am Hyper Aggressive, yes, but I am not able to keep that pressure for so long, you know? As a result, if the game went on for far too long and I started losing pieces, I will not have that pressure anymore and then there was not much I can do. With that said, it’s promising that I got 2 draws and 1 loss, instead of, you know, being 3 losses in a row. That would certainly be quite embarrassing, haha! Anyway, I am happy that it is sort of working enough that it would result in draws more than losses. So her opponents were able to wise up to her, but not until it was too late. “I can roll with that, still,” Eveline stated, waiting for her next match against San Farein.

My opponent, should they RP first, may do the following:
Decide board results: Absolutely!
Decide moves made: Yes, please!
Godmod game events: Yes! Feel free to godmod the board and moves too, while sticking to the playstyles of my two players.
Godmod other events: Yes, as long as my players don't get violently hurt, thanks! ^^;
Though please DO use the playstyle that I have written for my characters. Charlene being Endgame Technician, Eveline being Hyper Aggressive.

Reference: https://www.chessworld.net/chessclubs/OpeningGuide/chessplayingstyles.asp

by **Vielfaltig** » Fri Feb 21, 2025 6:47 am

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome back to the best chess coverage in Vielfaltig as today we bring you the latest from the Grand Casaran of Chess being held in TJUN-ia. We are presently poised at the end of day 2 with three rounds played in the tournament thus far. Etienne leads the way in terms of Vielfaltigians with 2/2 closely trailed by Tremblay and Salucci both of whom are on 1.5/2. Sebastian Grob-Coltman from Aphrilia and Hakushiyan Denver Fong also had great starts to the tournament winning both of their games. In the third round, we have numerous interesting matchups, notably at the top board, a battle between Etienne and Grob-Coltman.

Most of the action in this round however was concentrated on the lower boards as Grob-Coltman and Etienne played out a relatively equal draw with no notable chances for either player. Tremblay entered the Grand Casaran in Al-Hilal looking to make amends for the missed opportunity in the SN3C and a good start would be crucial to getting on that path. His third-round victory against Angela Weissel propelled him to 2.5 points tied with Etienne and in striking distance of the leader, Denver Fong, the only player with a perfect record. He joins us now to further break down this fascinating win against Weissel.

"So, Tremblay, that was quite an impressive win. Looking at the opening, were you surprised perhaps with her choice to go with the Dragon instead of the Najdorf or some other line?"

"I mean, slightly yes. The dragon is not the most accurate line but it makes sense given I am very proficient at more mainstream lines of the Sicilian. She was most likely trying to get me out of prep but its not easy."

"That's interesting. It seemed both of you were well within prep until you played 10. g4. Was this move a statement of your intentions?"

"Yeah surely, it was also to get her out of preparation and set up an attack on her king naturally. Initially, I think she was holding on pretty well but Rb8 followed by Rxb2 was not the right way forward. I had looked at a few of these lines and I knew I would have my chances given she would not be able to find the most critical lines."

"You pressed throughout the game especially with h6 and g5 limiting her dark squared bishop. But had you seen potential equalisation following the knight sac by her with 22. .... Nf5?"

"The following tactical sequence was really fascinating of course especially with the final material balance being a rook for a bishop and two pawns. She compelled me to find some great moves to maintain my chances for example 29. Be3 which was the only move. But I never felt it was really equal, I mean despite the slightly weak king, the threat was simply unsurmountable. Her king was struggling in the back rank and was effectively trapped there allowing me to execute tactics such as Qe7 forcing an exchange effectively. Given the balance of material, I never doubted that I had winning chances and I just executed it quite well."

"This win puts you in a good position heading into the next few days. Are you happy with your play so far and what could you look to improve?"

"I think I've performed fairly well. I am still getting into the groove but these two victories were solid and it only gets harder from here though."

"Yes, you're up against the leader, Denver Fong. How will you prepare for that game?"

"I think like any other. No match is more important than another. A win gives me one point regardless of the opponent so that is my goal. But I look forward to the encounter to try and go to the top of the standings."

"Thank you for joining us and best of luck for the rest of the tournament."

Sameul Salucci was also a player on 1.5 after the second round who was also looking to capitalise on the GCC after a disappointing end in the SN3C Armageddon. He faced off against Mark Jensen from Katzburg who had not taken part in the SN3C. Thus, he knew very little about his style of play and went into the game relatively unaware. This promised a fascinating game between the two players where Jensen eventually emerged victorious handing Salucci his first loss in the GCC. Sameul joins us to discuss what went wrong and his prospects looking ahead at the tournament.

"So Sameul, that was quite a tough loss. What do you think went wrong for you there?"

"It just was not my game. I think my strategy probably was not the best with the opening. I played too passively and gave him way too much control over the play. I do not think I made any blunders per se but just did not have the control and he played really well wrestling a strong advantage."

"Was this line of the King's Indian Attack something you had looked at? It seemed to transpose into a Catalan. Where do you think you started losing the advantage?"

"I had looked at this, yes, but it was quite some time ago so I am a little fuzzy on the details. It was a drawish line so I thought I would have come out with a draw quite simply in fact. The danger signs were probably showing after he got both his rooks on the open files around move 18. And then after the queen and rook trade, the endgame was really hard to defend, I had too many weaknesses."

"Not to dwell on the game further but how are you looking to recover from this setback?"

"Well, I mean losses are a part of the process so I do not mind it. I will look to play more aggressively definitely. I am very lucky this loss came so early in the tournament so I have plenty of time to recover."

"Do you think the SN3C Armageddon loss will be weighing on you?"

"Not really, I have moved on already. You know what they say about the youth, we are unbearably positive haha. But yeah, I don't think that will affect my play. I still have numerous chances to make it to the Qualifiers and a lot more chess to look forward to."

"That's good to hear. In better news, it is reported you will be leading the Vielfaltigian Chess Team in the Esportivan Chess Festival. Any news on that?"

"Ah yes, it seems like it doesn't it. I do not think it's official yet but you are right. With Tremblay and Etienne both deciding not to participate, it will be a relatively young team but still some of the best players we've got. It's a great opportunity for me and I look forward to it."

"Thank you for joining us Sameul."

by **The North Polish Union** » Fri Feb 21, 2025 3:16 pm

Not the best start for Union delegation in TJUN-ia

The North Polish Union participants in the ongoing Grand Casaran of Chess struggled over the first 3 rounds, with only 1 win between the three representatives. Miefodij Ihnatjew defeated Vulin Creit (currently in dead last in the entire tournament) in Round 1 before losing to Aphrilia's Glacia McDorrey in Round 2 and could only get a draw from a better endgame in Round 3 against Julia Willis. Ihnatjew was intended to highlight the group, having gone undefeated +4 in the recent Classical Chess Cup and narrowly missing out on the finals. In Round 4 he will face off against Carl Baddsen of Stromagehouf, looking to get back on track and improve in strength as the tournament progresses, as he did in South Newlandia.

Young star Kristian Theiss was blown off the board after choosing an unconventional opening against Sebastian Grob-Coltman in Round 1, and could only manage draws against Ziggy Stardust (who he had defeated in the group stage of the SNCCC) and Soleth Dreiloon, who he was expected to be stronger than. Round 4 pairs Theiss against Zygfryd Zurowski.

The only undefeated player so far among the group is newcomer Jacenty Kamiński, although he only managed three draws. His first game against Stijn van Dijk, who proceeded to the final group in South Newlandia, and Kamiński masterfully held a draw against one of the best players in the world. However, his next matchups against Elani Jabulan and Mila Walkowiak would see the same result, with the latter being against an opponent who Kamiński appeared to be much stronger than. Angela Weissel of Lidstev will be his next opponent, and that game also looks as though it could be an indecisive result once again given the two players' less than aggressive playing styles.

(O.O) · by **TJUN-ia** » Fri Feb 21, 2025 5:47 pm

They say home is where the heart is. And here in Al-Hilal, the fact this tournament is even here made everyone's hearts grow three times in size. Al-Hilal is a touristy island by trade with theme parks, malls and attractions across the place looking to entice those who come for fun and for glory, but having the Grand Casaran at the Royal Centre was just something else entirely. It was the talk of the town from when it was announced all the way to Opening Day itself, the hype of an international tournament on TJUN-ian building and building and building...until the day itself. Over nine days, the City and Island of Al-Hilal in the ArU Zone will be the centre of the MCC World in the final event before the Elephant Chess Cup and the Esportivan Sports Festival double-header - so what can our mid-to-struggling Jaguar Knights accomplish in their first-ever home international?

Tshering Gyeltshen

R1, B1, T4: W vs Charlene Jeannie N Marceline Myong Suh-Hyung (VEZ)
R2, B1, T2: D vs Mark Jensen (KAT)
R3, B1, T5: D vs Emilia Ziegler (KAT)
Day 2 Standings: T-7th (1-2-0)

With LCC and Batu off doing their own thing and after a pretty fun Jungle Fever, Tshering Gyeltshen arrived to Al-Hilal with the calendar much clearer and a point to prove as the "lead" Jaguar Knight. It certainly felt surreal to take part in a home international tournament, with 70% of the crowd backing you and your compatriots, and it certainly brought tears to his eyes...but he had to focus on his job as a home favourite and see what he could do in this packed arena. He ended up starting the show in Block 1 on Table 4 in some style, facing Charlene Jeannie N Marceline Myong Suh-Hyung of Valentine Z - a nation the locals knew all too well. It was a good win in the end to the delight of those watching but across Day 2, he would end up facing both Mark Jensen and Emilia Ziegler of defending ECC Champs Katzeburg and drew both contests. Despite the difference in styles (Jensen more green compared to the all-around talent of Ziegler), Tsheirng just couldn't break either of the Champs down...but this tournament is far from over. Khanyisa van Lundi will be up next tomorrow.

Anne Christian-Warren

R1, B2, T1: W vs Keven DMcgroar (NSA)
R2, B1, T5: D vs Margarita Altamiranda (TJU)
R3, B3, T6: D vs Aydar Rakhmonov (BKH)
Day 2 Standings: T-7th (1-2-0)

Margarita Altamiranda

R1, B2, T4: W vs Soleth Dreiloon (TOL)
R2, B1, T5: D vs Anne Christian-Warren (TJU)
R3, B1, T3: D vs Khanyisa van Lundi (SNL)
Day 2 Standings: T-7th (1-2-0)

On Day One of this tournament, Anne Christian-Warren took down Keven DMcgroar of New Salow while Margarita Altamiranda took down Soleth Dreiloon of The Toll before they were drawn to face each other on Table 5 in Block 1 of the Morning Session. This matchup would end up being eagerly anticipated by those who attended for the 2nd Round and while both of them gave a good show, it ended up in a pretty respectable draw. As did their respective games against Aydar Rakhmonov of Barkhastan and Khanyisa van Lundi of South Newlandia. Next up for each of them will be Johnny B. Goode and Hitomi Ogata respectively.

MCC Records: TG - 2-6-5, ACW - 5-5-3, MA - 4-4-5

by **The Martian Independent Republic** » Sun Feb 23, 2025 2:47 am

GCC Days 1-2: Two Steps Forward, One Leap Back

After two days, two of the three Martians in TJUN-ia are performing well, albeit not exceptionally so. Both Johnny B. Goode and Eleanor Rigby have two points from three matches, each on one win and two draws, two members of a pack of thirteen that's chasing the leaders. If Goode or Rigby can get some crucial wins from the next few games, they will have a chance at finishing in the top ten, maybe even top five. Otherwise, they'll likely fall behind in an insurmountable gap. Ziggy Stardust already has. After a disastrous first game against Angela Weissel, Stardust managed a draw against Kristian Theiss before playing this utter failure of a game against Geza Horvath.

Out of the gate, Stardust chose an obscure variation of the English, playing a5 on move 3, but it was Horvath who confused Stardust, finding the brilliant 5. Ng5!!, allowing his knight to be freely taken by Stardust's queen, but threatening a fork of his king and rook if that happens. Finding a response, 5... f5 (5... c6, kicking White's centralized knight, is slightly better), took Stardust almost an hour, and Horvath made use of this time advantage masterfully. With quick moves, he pressured Stardust into making several minor inaccuracies, and missing that Horvath's knight was stronger than Stardust's bishop, Stardust failed to make an important trade that could have equalized the position. Eventually, forced into passivity, Stardust was forced to trade queens and lose most of his pawns, and with promotion inevitable, he resigned.

In round 4, for the top two, two clashes with players of similar styles - for Eleanor Rigby, it's the ECCX-winning Emilia Zeigler, and for Johnny B. Goode, it's the chaos lover from the host nation, Anne Christian-Warren. Expect to see two players who usually don't fight for wins needing to do just that in the first match, and literally anything apart from a quiet game in the second. Ziggy Stardust faces Stephanie Jacobson in a must-win game, and will need to win practically every match for the next few days to even have a chance at finishing well.

by **Katzeburg** » Sun Feb 23, 2025 9:19 am

“Well, it could be a lot worse.”

Emilia Ziegler was relatively content with how things had shaken out over the first two days of the Grand Casaran of Chess as she, Klaus Rothbauer, and Mark Jensen sat down for a ‘dinner and debrief’ session after the first three rounds at a small bar down the road from the Royal Centre in Al-Hilal.

Dinner and Debrief had become a key part of Emilia’s management of the Ynysgard Chess Club since taking over in previous months, bringing the core team together to enjoy a strong team bonding over some food and drinks while talking tactics and strategy ahead of the next game on the docket. It was something the club had used to great effect during its run to the Elephant Chess Cup trophy, and Emilia had seen the team become a lot more cohesive in recent regional tournaments when utilising the method - maybe it was something to do with the tactical discussion, maybe it was more likely the sheer amount of alcohol consumed let people relax a little bit, but whatever the reason - it worked.

The three Katzeburgians had started the competition relatively strongly - Mark sat in equal second after his first three games off the back of two wins and a draw, downing Zygfryd Zurowski from the United States of Nova Calania and Vielfaltig’s Sameul Salucci, while Emilia was a little further back in equal seventh - a win against Gyaromia’s Géza Horváth and a pair of draws meaning she hadn’t dropped a game yet.

Klaus, ironically the brains behind the operation to bring the nation to the tournament, sat the lowest out of all Katzeburgians - remaining undefeated, but failing to pick up a win across his three opening games.

“What do you mean?” Klaus snapped as he slammed down his third pint of the session. “Three games, and three draws - I’m one bad back away from becoming Mark’s old man.”

“I mean, it seemed to work out for him and the team in the end at the last tournament we were in,” Mark chuckled. “Maybe stick with it and see how far draws can get you?”

“Out of a sponsorship; I can tell you that now,” Klaus said as he waved down a server. “I’ll tell you what though, TJUN-ia has got things sorted out when it comes to chess though. What a grand platform to play at - and the fact alcohol is so easy to get in copious amounts? It’s a literal dream come true!”

“It is a breathtaking place to play in, that’s for sure. But maybe we should cut down on the drinks until we talk strategy for the next couple of days? Just because we’re all undefeated means it’s only going to get harder from here for us.”

“You’re telling me, I’ve got Sebastian tomorrow,” Mark gulped. “He’s been impossible to read so far because of his tendency to go against his common play type, if he even has one. Hell, he might be as chaotic as our good friend Klaus here!”

“Oh really?” Klaus’ interest was piqued. “Well, how do you solve a problem like my play-type? You can’t. It’s tough to counter.”

“Well, I’d say your specific play style is actually very easy to counter - you just bait pieces and let you think you’re winning while in the background you make the right moves to wrap the game up with ease.”

Klaus scoffed. And then scoffed again. Before scoffing a third time. And a fourth. After the fifth scoff, he simply retorted, “Takes one to know one.”

“I’m sure that was a slam dunk in your mind, wasn’t it?” Mark jabbed back.

“J-just don’t tell anyone about that theory, it will send me down against the South Newlandian I’m taking on tomorrow.”

“Elani?” Emilia piped up. “She is very good - I think I got a little lucky she made a couple of tactical errors which threw the game back in my favour - I was heading well and truly to a loss before that. Just make sure your opening is a little different from the norm tomorrow and you might be alright; she tends to deep dive into her opponents.”

“Makes no difference to me,” Klaus shrugged as he picked up another pint and prepared to down it in one. “Who do you’ve got tomorrow?”

“Apparently I’m against an Eleanor Rigby from the Martian Independent Republic. Haven’t heard much about her, but apparently she’s quite popular amongst the Martian locals and from what I’ve heard likes to wait at windows when she’s got nothing else going on? Bit odd if you ask me, but I can hardly comment; I like to roll down the hill behind the primary school back home when it’s a bit quiet.”

“Ah, look at all the lonely people; where do they all co- I’m sorry, I was a million miles away. Who do you have again?”

Emilia rolled her eyes. “Eleanor Rigby.”

“Oh right. No idea who she is.”

“Didn’t think you would, Klaus, didn’t think you would.”

A slightly awkward silence circled around the table, as if the sole ‘professional’ player was on the verge of being called out by the two players who, while technically being funded to come over to TJUN-ia, had day jobs back on Dragoonspiel they cared deeply about.

“So what’s the plan then?” Mark asked to break the silence.

“I think we get a few more rounds in, and then go out there tomorrow and the day after and dominate,” said Klaus as he wiped off foam from the area around his mouth, indicating he had finished another beer for the evening.

“How about we negotiate that down to one more round, and a solid showing?” Mark said, keen to turn in for the evening.

“No dice; two more rounds and a few wins. That’s my first, last, and best offer.”

“Sure. I’ll go get the server.”

by **South Newlandia** » Sun Feb 23, 2025 12:27 pm

Cutoff for Rounds 4 to 6!

Round 4 -- Day 3
Denver Fong (HKA) ½-½ Felix Tremblay (VFT)
Mark Jensen (KAT) ½-½ Sebastian Grob-Coltman (APH)
Glacia McDorrey (APH) ½-½ Noemi Etienne (VFT)
Mo Steiner (LID) ½-½ Erii Chulanont (HKA)
Emilia Ziegler (KAT) 1-0 Eleanor Rigby (MIR)
Anne Christian-Warren (TJU) ½-½ Johnny B Goode (MIR)
Hitomi Ogata (HKA) ½-½ Margarita Altamiranda (TJU)
Khanyisa van Lundi (SNL) 1-0 Tshering Gyeltshen (TJU)
Stijn van Dijk (KYP) 1-0 Istvan Barany (KGY)
Charlene Jeannie N Marceline Myong Suh-Hyung (VEZ) ½-½ Ilona Adam (KGY)
Carl Baddsen (SGH) ½-½ Miefodij Ihnatjew (NPU)
Jacenty Kaminski (NPU) ½-½ Angela Weissel (LID)
John Roach (KYP) 0-1 Rose-Emilie Neveu (UNC)
Shavkat Muradov (BKH) ½-½ Layan Al-Saud (BMT)
Tobi Al-Amim (BMT) ½-½ Sameul Salucci (VFT)
Julia Willis (KYP) ½-½ Geza Horvath (KGY)
Prince Pierre-Alexandre 1er de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer (UNC) ½-½ Mila Walkowiak (BMT)
Kurt Friedlander (LID) ½-½ Norman Heartwell (APH)
Oskar Lancelot (CRN) ½-½ Aydar Rakhmonov (BKH)
Klaus Rothbauer (KAT) ½-½ Elani Jabulan (SNL)
Nurgul Zhaksybekova (BKH) 1-0 Robert Astrhmann (NSA)
Zygfryd Zurowski (UNC) ½-½ Kristian Theiss (NPU)
Omori East (SGH) ½-½ Rabado Kawakai (QCA)
Eveline Valeria Annalise Tieu Xuan Ngoc (VEZ) 1-0 San Farein (TOL)
Adam Esteban (SNL) ½-½ Jason Severn (ESL)
Jamie Cartwright (ESL) ½-½ Keven DMcgroar (NSA)
Soleth Dreiloon (TOL) 0-1 Valerio Hassan (CRN)
Spike Wigstan (CRN) 1-0 Ahmed Michaels (NSA)
Akulia Swalialau (QCA) ½-½ Grebatu Akanabu (QCA)
Ziggy Stardust (MIR) 1-0 Stephanie Jacobson (ESL)
Harold Jackson (SGH) 1-0 Vulin Creit (TOL)

Round 5 -- Day 4
Sebastian Grob-Coltman (APH) ½-½ Emilia Ziegler (KAT)
Noemi Etienne (VFT) 1-0 Denver Fong (HKA)
Felix Tremblay (VFT) ½-½ Mark Jensen (KAT)
Khanyisa van Lundi (SNL) ½-½ Stijn van Dijk (KYP)
Margarita Altamiranda (TJU) ½-½ Charlene Jeannie N Marceline Myong Suh-Hyung (VEZ)
Ilona Adam (KGY) 1-0 Nurgul Zhaksybekova (BKH)
Erii Chulanont (HKA) 0-1 Anne Christian-Warren (TJU)
Johnny B Goode (MIR) ½-½ Glacia McDorrey (APH)
Rose-Emilie Neveu (UNC) ½-½ Hitomi Ogata (HKA)
Tshering Gyeltshen (TJU) ½-½ Klaus Rothbauer (KAT)
Eleanor Rigby (MIR) ½-½ Shavkat Muradov (BKH)
Istvan Barany (KGY) ½-½ Prince Pierre-Alexandre 1er de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer (UNC)
Norman Heartwell (APH) ½-½ Mo Steiner (LID)
Valerio Hassan (CRN) ½-½ Jacenty Kaminski (NPU)
Angela Weissel (LID) 1-0 Carl Baddsen (SGH)
Layan Al-Saud (BMT) ½-½ Ziggy Stardust (MIR)
Elani Jabulan (SNL) ½-½ Tobi Al-Amim (BMT)
Miefodij Ihnatjew (NPU) 1-0 Oskar Lancelot (CRN)
Geza Horvath (KGY) 0-1 Eveline Valeria Annalise Tieu Xuan Ngoc (VEZ)
Sameul Salucci (VFT) 1-0 Kurt Friedlander (LID)
Aydar Rakhmonov (BKH) 1-0 Julia Willis (KYP)
Mila Walkowiak (BMT) ½-½ Spike Wigstan (CRN)
Keven DMcgroar (NSA) 0-1 Omori East (SGH)
Rabado Kawakai (QCA) 0-1 Jamie Cartwright (ESL)
Kristian Theiss (NPU) 1-0 Adam Esteban (SNL)
Robert Astrhmann (NSA) ½-½ John Roach (KYP)
Jason Severn (ESL) 1-0 Zygfryd Zurowski (UNC)
San Farein (TOL) ½-½ Harold Jackson (SGH)
Ahmed Michaels (NSA) 1-0 Akulia Swalialau (QCA)
Grebatu Akanabu (QCA) ½-½ Stephanie Jacobson (ESL)
Vulin Creit (TOL) 0-1 Soleth Dreiloon (TOL)

Round 6 -- Day 4
Sebastian Grob-Coltman (APH) ½-½ Khanyisa van Lundi (SNL)
Denver Fong (HKA) 0-1 Stijn van Dijk (KYP)
Mark Jensen (KAT) ½-½ Noemi Etienne (VFT)
Glacia McDorrey (APH) ½-½ Ilona Adam (KGY)
Anne Christian-Warren (TJU) ½-½ Angela Weissel (LID)
Emilia Ziegler (KAT) ½-½ Felix Tremblay (VFT)
Margarita Altamiranda (TJU) ½-½ Johnny B Goode (MIR)
Hitomi Ogata (HKA) ½-½ Miefodij Ihnatjew (NPU)
Mo Steiner (LID) ½-½ Rose-Emilie Neveu (UNC)
Charlene Jeannie N Marceline Myong Suh-Hyung (VEZ) ½-½ Sameul Salucci (VFT)
Eveline Valeria Annalise Tieu Xuan Ngoc (VEZ) 1-0 Aydar Rakhmonov (BKH)
Tobi Al-Amim (BMT) ½-½ Jason Severn (ESL)
Jacenty Kaminski (NPU) 1-0 Norman Heartwell (APH)
Nurgul Zhaksybekova (BKH) ½-½ Tshering Gyeltshen (TJU)
Spike Wigstan (CRN) 0-1 Istvan Barany (KGY)
Shavkat Muradov (BKH) ½-½ Erii Chulanont (HKA)
Layan Al-Saud (BMT) ½-½ Elani Jabulan (SNL)
Prince Pierre-Alexandre 1er de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer (UNC) ½-½ Eleanor Rigby (MIR)
Jamie Cartwright (ESL) 1-0 Valerio Hassan (CRN)
Omori East (SGH) ½-½ Mila Walkowiak (BMT)
Klaus Rothbauer (KAT) ½-½ Kristian Theiss (NPU)
Carl Baddsen (SGH) 1-0 Geza Horvath (KGY)
Kurt Friedlander (LID) ½-½ Ahmed Michaels (NSA)
Oskar Lancelot (CRN) 1-0 Robert Astrhmann (NSA)
Ziggy Stardust (MIR) ½-½ John Roach (KYP)
Soleth Dreiloon (TOL) ½-½ Julia Willis (KYP)
Zygfryd Zurowski (UNC) ½-½ Rabado Kawakai (QCA)
Adam Esteban (SNL) 1-0 Keven DMcgroar (NSA)
Stephanie Jacobson (ESL) ½-½ Harold Jackson (SGH)
Grebatu Akanabu (QCA) ½-½ San Farein (TOL)
Akulia Swalialau (QCA) ½-½ Vulin Creit (TOL)

P                                                                   Pld    W   D   L   Pts 
 1 Noemi Etienne (VFT)                                                6    3   3   0    4.5
   Stijn van Dijk (KYP)                                               6    3   3   0    4.5
 3 Anne Christian-Warren (TJU)                                        6    2   4   0    4
   Emilia Ziegler (KAT)                                               6    2   4   0    4
   Eveline Valeria Annalise Tieu Xuan Ngoc (VEZ)                      6    3   2   1    4
   Felix Tremblay (VFT)                                               6    2   4   0    4
   Glacia McDorrey (APH)                                              6    2   4   0    4
   Ilona Adam (KGY)                                                   6    3   2   1    4
   Khanyisa van Lundi (SNL)                                           6    2   4   0    4
   Mark Jensen (KAT)                                                  6    2   4   0    4
   Sebastian Grob-Coltman (APH)                                       6    2   4   0    4
12 Angela Weissel (LID)                                               6    2   3   1    3.5
   Charlene Jeannie N Marceline Myong Suh-Hyung (VEZ)                 6    2   3   1    3.5
   Denver Fong (HKA)                                                  6    3   1   2    3.5
   Hitomi Ogata (HKA)                                                 6    1   5   0    3.5
   Istvan Barany (KGY)                                                6    3   1   2    3.5
   Jacenty Kaminski (NPU)                                             6    1   5   0    3.5
   Jamie Cartwright (ESL)                                             6    2   3   1    3.5
   Johnny B Goode (MIR)                                               6    1   5   0    3.5
   Margarita Altamiranda (TJU)                                        6    1   5   0    3.5
   Miefodij Ihnatjew (NPU)                                            6    2   3   1    3.5
   Mo Steiner (LID)                                                   6    1   5   0    3.5
   Rose-Emilie Neveu (UNC)                                            6    1   5   0    3.5
   Sameul Salucci (VFT)                                               6    2   3   1    3.5
25 Aydar Rakhmonov (BKH)                                              6    1   4   1    3
   Carl Baddsen (SGH)                                                 6    2   2   2    3
   Elani Jabulan (SNL)                                                6    0   6   0    3
   Eleanor Rigby (MIR)                                                6    1   4   1    3
   Erii Chulanont (HKA)                                               6    2   2   2    3
   Jason Severn (ESL)                                                 6    2   2   2    3
   Klaus Rothbauer (KAT)                                              6    0   6   0    3
   Kristian Theiss (NPU)                                              6    1   4   1    3
   Layan Al-Saud (BMT)                                                6    1   4   1    3
   Mila Walkowiak (BMT)                                               6    0   6   0    3
   Nurgul Zhaksybekova (BKH)                                          6    2   2   2    3
   Omori East (SGH)                                                   6    1   4   1    3
   Oskar Lancelot (CRN)                                               6    2   2   2    3
   Prince Pierre-Alexandre 1er de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer (UNC)    6    0   6   0    3
   Shavkat Muradov (BKH)                                              6    0   6   0    3
   Tobi Al-Amim (BMT)                                                 6    0   6   0    3
   Tshering Gyeltshen (TJU)                                           6    1   4   1    3
42 Adam Esteban (SNL)                                                 6    1   3   2    2.5
   Ahmed Michaels (NSA)                                               6    1   3   2    2.5
   John Roach (KYP)                                                   6    1   3   2    2.5
   Julia Willis (KYP)                                                 6    0   5   1    2.5
   Kurt Friedlander (LID)                                             6    0   5   1    2.5
   Norman Heartwell (APH)                                             6    1   3   2    2.5
   Soleth Dreiloon (TOL)                                              6    1   3   2    2.5
   Spike Wigstan (CRN)                                                6    1   3   2    2.5
   Valerio Hassan (CRN)                                               6    1   3   2    2.5
   Ziggy Stardust (MIR)                                               6    1   3   2    2.5
52 Geza Horvath (KGY)                                                 6    1   2   3    2
   Grebatu Akanabu (QCA)                                              6    0   4   2    2
   Harold Jackson (SGH)                                               6    1   2   3    2
   Rabado Kawakai (QCA)                                               6    0   4   2    2
   Robert Astrhmann (NSA)                                             6    0   4   2    2
   San Farein (TOL)                                                   6    0   4   2    2
   Stephanie Jacobson (ESL)                                           6    0   4   2    2
   Zygfryd Zurowski (UNC)                                             6    1   2   3    2
60 Akulia Swalialau (QCA)                                             6    0   3   3    1.5
   Keven DMcgroar (NSA)                                               6    1   1   4    1.5
62 Vulin Creit (TOL)                                                  6    0   1   5    0.5

Round 7 Matchups -- Day 5
Stijn van Dijk (KYP) vs. Noemi Etienne (VFT)
Felix Tremblay (VFT) vs. Sebastian Grob-Coltman (APH)
Ilona Adam (KGY) vs. Mark Jensen (KAT)
Khanyisa van Lundi (SNL) vs. Emilia Ziegler (KAT)
Eveline Valeria Annalise Tieu Xuan Ngoc (VEZ) vs. Anne Christian-Warren (TJU)
Johnny B. Goode (MIR) vs. Charlene Jeannie N Marceline Myong Suh-Hyung (VEZ)
Angela Weissel (LID) vs. Denver Fong (HKA)
Istvan Barany (KGY) vs. Hitomi Ogata (HKA)
Sameul Salucci (VFT) vs. Glacia McDorrey (APH)
Miefodij Ihnatjew (NPU) vs. Jamie Cartwright (ESL)
Mo Steiner (LID) vs. Jacenty Kaminski (NPU)
Rose-Emilie Neveu (UNC) vs. Margarita Altamiranda (TJU)
Tshering Gyeltshen (TJU) vs. Omori East (SGH)
Eleanor Rigby (MIR) vs. Layan Al-Saud (BMT)
Erii Chulanont (HKA) vs. Carl Baddsen (SGH)
Elani Jabulan (SNL) vs. Shavkat Muradov (BKH)
Aydar Rakhmonov (BKH) vs. Tobi Al-Amim (BMT)
Mila Walkowiak (BMT) vs. Klaus Rothbauer (KAT)
Kristian Theiss (NPU) vs. Prince Pierre-Alexandre 1er de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer (UNC)
Jason Severn (ESL) vs. Nurgul Zhaksybekova (BKH)
Norman Heartwell (APH) vs. Ziggy Stardust (MIR)
Valerio Hassan (CRN) vs. Kurt Friedlander (LID)
Ahmed Michaels (NSA) vs. Oskar Lancelot (CRN)
John Roach (KYP) vs. Adam Esteban (SNL)
Julia Willis (KYP) vs. Spike Wigstan (CRN)
San Farein (TOL) vs. Zygfryd Zurowski (UNC)
Robert Astrhmann (NSA) vs. Soleth Dreiloon (TOL)
Rabado Kawakai (QCA) vs. Stephanie Jacobson (ESL)
Harold Jackson (SGH) vs. Geza Horvath (KGY)
Keven DMcgroar (NSA) vs. Akulia Swalialau (QCA)
Vulin Creit (TOL) vs. Grebatu Akanabu (QCA)

by **Vielfaltig** » Fri Feb 28, 2025 4:04 pm

Three more thrilling rounds are at an end and Vielfaltigians continue to progress towards the very peak of chess. Etienne following her victory in Newport had found a run of form which was she carried into the GCC. She was sitting in first place with three wins and three draws including having defeated Denver Fong who was having an incredibly strong tournament thus far. We start our show today with Etienne who has joined us.

"Thanks for joining us, Noemi. So let's start with your fantastic victory over Fong in the fifth round. He played into a King's Indian Defense, had you prepared this before the game?"

"Starting with d4 of course the King's Indian is a possibility but I did look into all the lines. I knew I wanted to play aggressively immediately which is why I went for a rather obscure h4-h5 push followed by g4-g5."

"That surprised us in the studio too, especially as you followed it up with f4-f5. What were your ideas playing this super aggressive setup?"

"I badly wanted a result from this game. The best way to push for that is to play an opening which compels your opponent to make mistakes. I remembered looking into this variation as I was very intrigued by the possibility of these pawn advances so early."

"Well, it's not just that you advanced your pawns but you also sacrificed two pawns by the end of move 11."

"Yeah well, I knew I would have my chances in the game. I do not know what the exact evaluation was at that point but his king was suffocating. His piece mobility was terrible with a trapped knight on f8 and very little space. I ended up getting back a pawn after b5 because he desperately needed to create space for his bishop. I think both of us played a difficult game but I was probably more tactically astute."

"I think a key moment was when you played 24. f6 which really justifies your entire style of play and opening choice. Winning with that small pawn push was really beautiful. How did you feel when playing it?"

"I saw that I would win some material for sure. I was pretty low on time by that point and needed to be more quick. It popped out to me as the best move so I played it but Nh4 was probably better. I do not think it was a special move per se but yeah the win was pretty sweet. Conversion from there was not easy either. He was defending really well and down to his last breath. But the tactical finish in the end winning his rook sealed it for me."

"Now that we have taken a look at that fabulous win, what are your thoughts on your performance so far?"

"Well, I think I have been playing pretty well so far. Obviously, it's not like the form I had in the SN3C but it was easier to win there because of the time control. The GCC is really a true classical tournament in terms of time control at least. Its much more challenging to get a result so three wins so far makes me really happy."

"Your next game is against Stijn Van Dijk of the Kytler Peninsula. You've faced him twice already in the SN3C with one win and one draw. How will you approach this game?"

"I think Van Dijk is a really talented player of course. Despite my good record against him so far, he played really well in those matches and even here he is tied with me for first place. Underestimating him would be a grave mistake on my behalf. I am cautiously confident that you could say so. Its a long tournament and there are seven more rounds to go so my job is far from over."

"Moving on, what does your calendar look like following the GCC?"

"Well, mostly I will be playing in the Bundesliga the next few weeks. I will also be training and preparing for the Elephant Chess Cup which is the oldest team chess honour that can be won. Having been appointed the captain of the side, I need to actually work with the Federation to finalise the four participants and the one reserve. The Battle Royale after the ECC is still some time away however we need to prepare for that too being the hosts."

"Speaking about the ECC, both yourself and Tremblay made the contentious decision to not play in the Chess event in the Esportivan Sporting Festival. What was the reasoning behind your decision and will you be keeping an eye on the participants?"

"My reasons were simple. I have played a lot of chess since the Championship last year and just want to take a break from the constant travelling. I will still be playing the Bundesliga and I am sure it needs some attention seeing its still in its infancy. I cannot speak for Tremblay, he must have reasons of his own who really knows. I will be keeping a keen eye on the developments of course, it will be very important for defining the final side for the Elephant Chess Cup."

"Speaking about Tremblay, the mutual disdain both of you hold for each other is well documented. If you play such an important role in determining the team for the ECC, will you consider Tremblay as a prospect?"

"No doubt about it, our personal decisions are insignificant when it comes to matters like this. He could be a part of the team if he wants to play that is. He has not played competitive rapid chess in a year or so now. He should begin practicing now itself given what happened in the tiebreakers."

"Thank you Etienne, that will be all."

Etienne was not the only one who won when needed in the last three rounds. Salucci was coming off a loss to Katzeburg player Mark Jensen. He needed a win and he got exactly that in the fifth round. This came against Friedlander who was simply crushed by Salucci's attacking prowess in this game. Salucci joins us now to discuss his tournament thus far.

"That was definitely a better three rounds for you than the first three. You got that important win against Friedlander so let's start with that. A simple Sicilian Najdorf but its never really simple is it. Where do you feel you wrestled your advantage?"

"I think Qxb2 may have been a mistake on his part. Taking the bait there probably was incorrect. From that point on both his kingside and queenside were very weak. His king was stuck in the centre and that's where I attacked from. After trading knights and exd6, I never looked back. I knew I was winning, his position was simply too weak."

"You had a really good tactical awareness around move 20 where you sacrificed a knight and bishop in successive moves. The mate threat on e7 was obviously very real. But how were you feeling about your calculation in this game?"

"I think I calculated well, winning his rook and then sacrificing my rook to win his queen. That sequence was absolutely destructive for him and I think the match then ended relatively quickly. It was queen bishop versus rook and two bishops. I was even up a pawn so there is no defending against that."

"Friedlander did appear quite frustrated. Looking ahead, how do you feel your chances are of making it to the top of the tournament with 7 more rounds to go and you trailing a point behind Etienne?"

"Honestly, it will not be the easiest. Etienne is a fantastic player and she is in the form of her life. The nature of classical chess is that it is extremely difficult to play for a win in every game. I will try my best to do so though, I need some favourable results in the next few rounds to be in the running. It will be good to catch up sooner rather than later."

"I do not want to keep you for long but just finally, are you excited to be captaining the team to the Chess event of the Esportivan Sporting Festival?"

"I could not be more excited. I am very grateful for the opportunity and the team is wonderful. We are having a camp immediately after the GCC to prepare so I look forward to do that. Hopefully, I play well enough to make the ECC team. Noemi, help me out here hehe."

"Thank you Sameul, we will be sure to pass on your message to Noemi."

Multiversal Chess Championships – Everything Thread

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