GSTRONG100 Outshines Doctordion in Endgame Masterclass at Let's Castle Championship

The game kicked off with Doctordion, playing White with an Elo of 1031, opting for the Bishop’s Opening (1. e4 e5 2. Bc4)
, a solid choice aiming for rapid development. GSTRONG100, rated at 1364, countered with the unconventional 2...a6,
signaling a willingness to mix things up early. The opening phase saw both players maneuvering carefully—Doctordion castled kingside by move 4, while GSTRONG100 built a sturdy pawn structure with ...d6 and ...Bg4, pinning White’s knight.

The early middlegame brought some fireworks. On move 9, Doctordion’s h3 challenged GSTRONG100’s bishop, only for Black to boldly sacrifice it with 9...Bxh3. This aggressive play briefly threw White off balance, but Doctordion countered with 10. Ng5, forcing Black to retreat the bishop to e6. A flurry of exchanges followed, including a knight trade on e6 that left the board simplified by move 14.
At this stage, it seemed like Doctordion might hold firm with a balanced position.

However, the turning point arrived subtly but decisively around moves 17-21. After GSTRONG100 pushed ...d4,
 attacking White’s knight on c3, Doctordion’s 18. Qd2 allowed Black to capture with 18...dxc3, doubling White’s pawns and fracturing the queenside. This moment shifted the game’s momentum firmly in GSTRONG100’s favor. Doctordion’s subsequent 21. Rxe5+ was a desperate bid to regain control, but GSTRONG100 calmly neutralized the threat with 21...Be7, setting the stage for a devastating counterattack.

From there, GSTRONG100’s endgame execution was nothing short of clinical. The critical sequence began with 24...Qh2+, forcing White’s king to f1, followed by a series of checks that exposed Doctordion’s defenses. By move 29, ...Ba3+
delivered a crushing blow, and despite Doctordion’s attempts to fight back—highlighted by the valiant but futile 39. Rh8+—GSTRONG100 sealed the deal with 41...Qb2#,
 a picturesque checkmate featuring the queen and king in perfect harmony. “All I can say is that knight f7 checkmate is a killer,” @GSTRONG100
 Aka the mighty mighty gorilla quipped post-game, though the final blow came via the queen, underscoring his flair for dramatic finishes.

@Doctordion,
 reflecting on the loss, acknowledged the disparity in endgame skill: “I think I gave Gstrong some good games. His end game was a lot better. I have to get better at the end game.” Indeed, while Doctordion put up a spirited fight—keeping pace with GSTRONG100 through the middlegame—the inability to navigate the late stages proved costly.

This was the second clash between the two in the tournament, with GSTRONG100 also prevailing in their first encounter, checkmating Doctordion in 36 moves with White. In the standings, both players sit on 6 points, but GSTRONG100 edges into 4th place with 16 tiebreaker points to Doctordion’s 11, securing a slight advantage in the race for the top spots.

The game showcased GSTRONG100’s ability to capitalize on small errors, turning a seemingly even position into a masterclass of precision. For Doctordion, it’s a lesson in resilience and a call to sharpen those endgame claws. As the Let’s Castle Championship rolls on, these daily duels continue to highlight the beauty of chess—where every move counts, and the endgame often crowns the victor.

Let’s Castle Associated Press