Sweet 16 Results + Elite Eight Match-ups

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

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It is time to know who will advance to the Elite Eight of BlogChamps Season 9!

I want to thank all participants for writing such amazing blogs and not forfeiting. Judges had a hard time choosing the qualified bloggers for the next stage! We had 16 amazing submissions, and unfortunately, half of them will have to be eliminated.

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Dear judges @VOB96, @KevinSmithIdiot, @nbrasington, @JustGettingThisOffMyChess, and @ChocoCaramelPawn worked hard to make the fairest and fastest decision. Let's thank them for their time spent reading and rating your blogs.

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Before we go on, we would also like to thank @Charlie_Harold, Week 2 #9, for kindly preparing a blog that would be ready to replace anyone in case of a forfeit. It was not needed, but we really appreciated that you did it. Thanks a lot!

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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. Deepsealore

@PokeGirl93 wrote another great article talking more about some players that she does not appreciate for many different personal reasons. Find out more about her opinions on some of these people in this very well-written, funny article full of polemics, curious stories, and some questionable reasons for disliking them. - My Most Hated Not-So-Famous Players

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@Deepsealore wrote an awesome blog about chess recently joining the Esports World Cup. Is it good for the game, or is it a sacrilege to traditions? Is chess being used for sportwashing? The truth is that the world is changing fast, and so is our beloved game. Find out more and form your own opinion about it after reading his article - When Chess Joined an Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia: Bold Leap or Ethical Sellout?

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After analyzing both blogs carefully, the judges have decided that the winner of group A is:

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Group B: ALondoninVienna vs. ColeZwynenburg

@ALondoninVienna wrote about some of the most hated players in the chess world, explaining the reasons behind this hatred and what the repercussions and consequences were for them. We have cheaters, polemic statements, and even players accused of crimes. Check it out to learn more about their dark past. - The Most Hated Players In History

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@ColeZwynenburg told us more about his experiences volunteering and playing chess at the local senior center in his town. In this very personal blog, you will learn more about his preparations, feelings, reasons, and, of course, how it all went. A very enjoyable text about a human connection experience. - Masters of the Endgame: The Senior Center’s Old Guard

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

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Group C: Chesser1492 vs. SavageOppress

@Chesser1492 discussed some psychological aspects of the game regarding one of the most common results out there, the draw. Why do we sometimes offer and accept them? Should we? And is it the best decision? A good chance to learn more about its impact on our chess development and build your own reflections. - The Draw Reflex: Why We Stop Fighting

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@SavageOppress presented us with a curious and complex question. How much does the rating really influence the outcome of a game or a match? Using the World Chess Championship to analyse it, he studied whether having a higher rating will really mean that the chances of winning are bigger or not. Find out more! - Do Ratings Matter? Using Elo to Predict Chess World Championships

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This exciting match was a real challenge to judge and compare, but after analyzing both, the judges decided on the winner:

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Group D: DocSimooo vs. AaravRoy_25

@DocSimooo taught us more about the differences between the Elo ratings of different time controls and how you can enhance your skills on each of them. Have you ever wondered why there is such a discrepancy between your rating of rapid and bullet, and what can be done about it? This is a great chance to work on it! - Classical, Rapid, Blitz, Bullet - Different Skills For Different Time Controls !!

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@AaravRoy_25 wrote about the most famous polemics between FIDE and some of the strongest players in history, including Carlsen, Fischer, and Kasparov. Did you know all of them had big problems with the chess federation for many different reasons? Find out more about these stories and much more by reading his blog! - The FIDE Wars: When Grandmasters Fought the System

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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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Group E: Alina_Bakhtina_24 vs. readeroftomes

@Alina_Bakhtina_24 told us more about her own chess journey so far, how she was introduced to the game, and how chess has molded her life. Read this very enjoyable and personal blog to learn more about her experiences, struggles, and joy with our beloved game. A beautiful article that you will certainly not regret reading. - My Chess World: Behind And Beyond The Board

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@readeroftomes discussed on a topic that very few people understand when running their game reviews, the so-called "inaccuracy". But what is it exactly, how does it differ from a mistake or a blunder, and in which cases can it be decisive for a game or not? Learn more about this intriguing evaluation and learn with it. - Let's Play Chest!

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This was a tough decision. I am sure all the judges had problems deciding it. But well, this is a competition and only one can get through. The winner of Group E is:

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Group F: WinT0L0ss vs. squirtle

@WinT0L0ss explored the world of chess in art, showing us some famous paintings that involve chess and analyzing the positions presented in each of them. A true lesson not only about chess, but also a nice reflection on how this game is inserted in the culture of many different countries and eras through the lenses of artists. - The Art of The Game

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@squirtle introduced us to another of his great blogs about openings, this time discussing more about the famous Grünfeld Defence! Learn more not only about how to play it, but also its history and details you might never have thought about. A great chess and history lesson written in an engaging and fun way! - Into The Grünfeld Defence: An Austrian Classic Made Simple

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A duel that certainly delivered what we expected! These two have shown how this club can really help people improve. But well, there can only be one winner, and it was:

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Group G: ThePawnSlayer vs. nova-stone

@ThePawnSlayer taught us more about Edith Baird, the Queen of chess problems, talking more about her biography and the rich legacy she left. Read this amazing blog to find out more about the life story of one of the best chess composers of all time and try some of the hardest puzzles you will see. Have fun! - The "Queen of Chess" Problems - The Life and Problems of Edith Baird

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@nova-stone wrote more about how the famous Dunning-Kruger Effect applies to chess. Have you ever had the impression that beginners seem to think they know much more than they really do? Or do you have the impression that the more you learn chess, the less confidence you have? There is an explanation, and you can read more about it. - No Skills Necessary: The Dunning-Kruger Effect in Chess

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Oh, how I wish you both could move on. It really hurts that one of these two amazing blogs must be eliminated. Anyway, the rules only allow us to pick one, so the winner is:

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Group H: JDChess121 vs. Rodgy

@JDChess121 taught us about one of the most complicated winning positions to convert, the Queen vs. Rook endgame. I am sure you have already been on both sides and would love to know what to do. Learn more about how to defend or convert this by reading this very detailed and well-explained blog! - The Queen vs Rook Checkmate | The Hardest in the Game.

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@Rodgy continued his series, telling us more about his struggles to become a National Master. In this second episode, he covers 3 more tournaments that did not end as well as he expected, resulting in some rating loss. But the dream is alive, and you will certainly enjoy reading more about this journey. - The Long Climb to National Master - Part 2

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Now it is time to know the final participant of the Elite Eight round! The winner of Group H is:

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Congratulations to the qualified bloggers!

And a brief message to those who didn't qualify: you did an amazing job because you qualified in one of the toughest seasons ever and had a great run! All eliminated blogs could easily be in the next round, but the rules only allowed us to pick one. We hope you come back even stronger in Season 10!
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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 Elite Eight 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 to all 16 blogs. As always, feel free to drop me a DM if you need more details or tips:

Season 9 Sweet 16 Feedback Forum

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ELITE EIGHT KICKOFF

Now the next stage begins! You are a few steps away from getting the top blogger recommendation and the coveted 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 September 18, 23:59 EST (Eastern Standard Time) to submit your blog in the following forum: Submission Forum - Season 9 Elite Eight

• We are giving you 15 days. Make sure you submit before the deadline, and if you can't, message us and we will try to solve the problem, but only if strictly necessary. The rules for delayed submissions are still valid.

• Please don't forfeit! This is one of the biggest and toughest seasons we have ever had, and if you don't submit, there will no longer be a replacement for you! So, in respect to me, @VOB96, the other judges, and the competitors, publish a blog within the deadline, even if it cannot be perfect.

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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!