Kauai defeats Warwick University Alumni, now 2-0 in the WCLL

Congratulations to Team Kauai which scored a second convincing victory, 6.5-3.5 over Warwick University Alumni (the photo is Warwick Castle).  On the top board, Li Aipa used a total of one minute and seven seconds (plus 5-second delay) to defeat their team captain twice, convincingly.  Not surpising, as his bullet chess rating is nearly 2400.  The puzzle below comes from his second game.

On board 2 Valerie played a nearly perfect game (97%) on the black side of the Ruy Lopez.  With growing problems in the middle game, her opponent timed out.  The second game was a quiet draw.  On board 3 Chad played two interesting R + N endgames.  The first one didn't go his way, and he blundered in the time scramble.  In the second one he steadily outplayed his young opponent.  Both endgames are instructive.  On board 4 Damian enjoyed the fun side of a King's Indian but got into time trouble.  Then his opponent made a bad sacrifice and it was all over.  The second game started very badly for him, as he blundered early in the Petroff, allowing a strong attack on his castled king.  Fortunately, his counterplay in the center allowed him to find winning tactics in the nick of time.  On board 5 Manix played for Kauai for the first time.  He had two grueling, long games.  The second one looked drawish for a long time until his opponent suddenly blundered, allowing Manix to queen with check and win the remaining piece.  Manix didn't recover from the shock in time and flagged.  Oops!  A rough initiation to the team, for sure, but we are glad you are with us.  On board 6 Jim Serles earned 2 points for Kauai just by showing up for the match when his opponent didn't.  Thanks Jim!

The next round is the weekend of November 11-13 against Club Politika A, one of the top five teams in the competition, composed mainly of grandmasters.  With hard-fought games, we might not be shut out, but we can enjoy the fact that we've earned a spot at that table.  It is the same weekend as the Hawaii Open, so we will find a time before the morning round or after the second round, so that Team Kauai players can do both.  We hope to see everyone there, especially Likeke, because it is his turn to win the state title.   

Here is a really fun position from his second game.  Li is black.  His opponent just played Qb4, which looks like a mouse slip.  What is the correct move?  The answer is in his second game, and of course it is pretty.