Elite 8 Results + Final Four Match-ups

Hola, amigos y amigas, bloggers, and members of BlogChamps

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This time we had great 8 submissions, and it was a pleasure reading all of them! Sadly, again, we will have to eliminate half of the competitors, but if you made it this far, congratulations, you did an outstanding job!

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Dear judges @VOB96, @KevinSmithIdiot, @nbrasington, @JustGettingThisOffMyChess, and @ChocoCaramelPawn worked hard at delivering a fast and fair decision, which we can thank them for. Clarification: One of the judges could not judge on time, but given that the winners were already defined, we decided to post the announcement already.

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Now I will not make you wait any longer. Below will be the summary of each matchup and their results. The comments in the announcement will focus on the positive aspects, and more detailed feedback for each blog will be posted in a separate forum.

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Group A: PokeGirl93 vs. ALondonInVienna

@PokeGirl93 wrote an outstanding blog covering women's titles and tournaments. Find out about these types of titles, popular tournaments, categories, and how they impact chess on and off the board. You will find a lot of new and interesting stuff about women's and men's chess that you didn't know before!  - My Sincere Opinion On Women’s Titles And Tournaments

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@ALondonInVienna, inspired by Vanessa Holmes, found out some many crazy conspiracies and conclusions based on their popularity and unquestionable data. From chess pawns to Chess.com itself, this humorous and funny to read blog will tell you about all the dark sides of chess that you surely had no idea about. - Crazy Chess Conspiracies Uncovered!

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After analyzing both blogs carefully (and having fun reading both), the judges have decided that the winner of group A is:

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Group B: Chesser1492 vs. AaravRoy_25

@Chesser1492 did not disappoint and taught us about the openings and what they would look like if they were real humans! It is a very fun read, and along with its humor, you will learn how to play these openings, with some of their main tricks and tips. Don't miss it!  - If Openings Were People

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@AaravRoy_25 chose a very similar topic, talking about what chess players may be hiding behind a superhero's mask. He finds a lot of similarities between the characters and backs it up with nice quotes and good humor. @VOB96: "No idea where he got this idea from" - Blitz, Brains, and Superpowers: Chess Legends as Superheroes

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So who will go on? The veteran competing in his third straight season, or the great Indian humorist? It was not an easy decision, but Group B goes to:

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Group C: Alina_Bakhtina_24 vs. WinT0L0ss

@Alina_Bakhtina_24 wrote a biography about a genius person inside and outside of chess, Pyotr Kapitsa. She talks about his achievements and great victories in chess, science, and technology. Find out more about him by reading this outstanding blog!  - The Chess Story of Pyotr Kapitsa

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@WinT0L0ss describes the history of chess in wars. His blog describes how the game evolved from the start to the very end, what impact it had on the history of wars, including famous historical people that played this complex yet simple game in their free time - War and Piece

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This exciting match was a real challenge to judge and compare. You two did an amazing job! But after analyzing both, the judges decided on the winner:

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Group D: nova-stone vs. Rodgy

@nova-stone tells us seven things that make chess boring. Her blog brings up a lot of problems that make a lot of people think that the game is dull and not fun. Find out more about the annoying things in chess by reading her blog!  - Chess Inferno: Seven Circles of Boredom

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@Rodgy talks about another of his attempts to become a National Master. He describes tournaments and games in detail, the high and low points in his journey, and all the preparation and effort it takes for him to achieve this goal. Always enjoyable! - The Long Climb to National Master - Part 3

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Another very hard match to decide, since both were amazing and unique blogs, making a direct comparison complicated. But well, only one can win, and it was:

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Congratulations to the 4 qualified bloggers, and consequently, the 4 medalists of Season 9!

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And if you didn't qualify, don't get disappointed! You had enough dedication and patience to make it this far; you gave a good fight! This competition helped you to become a better blogger, and you can always try again next season!

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Below, you can see the updated bracket and your match-ups:

If you are qualified, please confirm your participation in the Final Four by writing a short comment in this announcement, or send @ChocoCaramelPawn or @VOB96 a DM. And here is the link to the closed forum with the detailed feedback on all 8 blogs. As always, feel free to drop me a DM if you need more details or tips:

Season 9 Elite Eight Feedback Forum

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FINAL FOUR KICKOFF 

Now the next stage begins! The blog bowl is near, as well as the Zachary Isaac Snow II Trophy, so please keep going, and most importantly, don't forfeit!

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The rules are simple: 

• You have until October 5, 23:59 EST (Eastern Standard Time) to submit your blog in the following forum: Submission Forum - Season 9 Final Four

• We are giving you again 15 days. Make sure you submit before the deadline, and if you can't, please message us so we can try to find a compromise. Also, don't put your work away. Start working on your blog right now instead of leaving it to the last minute.

• Please don't forfeit! There are only four competitors left. Imagine the shame... everyone is hyped to read the blogs and figure out the winner, and you just end up... not competing. This would be the worst thing imaginable! As a sign of respect to all the judges and competitors, please do not forfeit!

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FAQ 

1) I was not qualified. Should I be a good sport and congratulate my opponent for the healthy competition, or should I whine that the judges robbed me for absolutely no reason?

A: I don't really need to answer that, do I? Remember that everything here is friendly, and this competition is just for fun. Get the most out of your participation, be happy for your opponent, and come back even stronger next time!

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2) I'm qualified, but I've lost the motivation and don't want to write anymore. Would it be too bad if I just didn't submit?

A: Yes, it would! Please try your best to submit a blog, even if it can't be perfect. The main idea of this competition is... well, to compete. I'm sure you'd hate to go to the stadium to watch your favorite sport and find out that one of the teams simply didn't show up. No one forced you to join, but now that you are in, I kindly ask you to play until you are eventually knocked out (or win). So please submit a blog!

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3) If I am not competing, should I continue to follow the Season, or am I no longer welcome, and should stop talking about it?

A: The more viewers, the better! You are welcome to make predictions (forum coming soon), read the submitted blogs to learn with them, pick your favorite blogger, and follow all the announcements to see who will be crowned in the end!

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That's all, folks! As always, if you have any questions, message @VOB96 or @ChocoCaramelPawn. Good luck and all the best to all bloggers!