The 2025 Let’s Castle OTB Rapid Championship Is About to Explode But Where is J_Santiago?!

Hey what’s up Castlers! If you’re not already marking your calendars for August 23rd, what are you even doing? The second leg of the 2025 Let’s Castle Grand Tour – the OTB Rapid Championship
 – is dropping at noon sharp in Cunningham Park, Fresh Meadows, NY. We’re talking seven rounds of pure adrenaline with a 15-minute time control that’ll have pieces flying faster than a peregrine falcon!   This isn’t  just any tournament; it’s the battleground where legends are made, and the path to becoming the ultimate Let’s Castle Club Champion heats up big time.

Let’s rewind real quick: The first leg, the Blitz Championship, was an absolute barnburner. J_Santiago crushed it with a monster 11.5 points, snagging the win and a juicy lead in the overall Grand Tour standings

. Hot on his heels were Machine1963
 at 11.0 and Blahaccount at 10.0 – those guys were trading blows like it was personal. But now, with two events  left, the race for the crown is wide open. Accumulate the most points across all three events, and you’re the Club Champ. Simple as that, but oh man, the drama is just starting.

And speaking of drama, look at this stacked lineup for the Rapid showdown:

•  @Blahaccount (2025 rating): The high-rated beast who nearly stole the show in the Blitz. This guy’s got the firepower to dominate – expect him to come out swinging for redemption.

•  @Machine1963 (1607 rating)
: Fresh off a strong second-place finish, he’s hungry and precise. If he keeps that momentum, watch out – he could flip the script on everyone.

•  @Moekillz (1138 rating)
: Underdog alert! Don’t sleep on this player; lower rating, but the heart of a lion. Rapid chess is where upsets happen, and Moekillz could be the spark.

•  @Ydtd (1352 rating)
: Hold up – this is the reigning Let’s Castle Club Champion from last year! @Ydtd is back to defend his throne, and with that experience, he’s a force correction he’s THE BOGEYMAN!!!
. But with @J_Santiago leading the tally, is Ydtd ready to reclaim his spot at the top? The crowd’s gonna be electric for this potential clash.

•  @Kingross007 (000 rating)
: He ended up with a  respectable 4th place finish in the Blitz Championship in May. In terms of the Rapid he is a Mystery man with an unrated vibe – anything goes here. Could be a dark horse dropping bombs or just in it for the fun. Either way, adds that wildcard energy we love.

•  Bustamove82 (968 rating):  in 2024 @Bust_a_Move82 won the summer Otb Rapid Championship. He’s Another gritty competitor from the Blitz leaderboard. He might be lower-rated, but his 4.0 points last time shows he’s got moves. Rapid format suits the bold – let’s see him bust some!

This field’s got everything: Top dogs, rising stars, and that undefinable X-factor. With the third leg – the Classical Championship on November 8th (30 minutes plus 10-second increment) – looming, every point here counts toward immortality. Imagine the storylines: Will Blahaccount or Machine1963 close the gap on the leader? Can Moekillz or Bustamove82 pull off a Cinderella run? And @Ydtd, the defending champ, facing off against fresh blood – that’s must-watch chess right there.

But here’s the real hook, folks: @J_Santiago,
where you at, brother? You’ve got the lead after that epic Blitz performance, sitting pretty at 11.5 points. The Grand Tour’s calling your name – come defend your spot in the Rapid! Picture this: You versus @Ydtd, the reigning king, in a head-to-head that could define the whole year. The park’s gonna be buzzing, the boards sizzling, and the glory’s up for grabs. Don’t let these challengers steal your thunder without a fight. Show up, dominate, and cement your legacy as the unbreakable force. We’ve seen what you can do – now let’s see you do it again under the Rapid pressure!

Spectators, grab your spots early – this is over-the-board chess at its rawest, in the heart of Fresh Meadows. No screens, just pure, unfiltered strategy and trash talk (the good kind). If you’re in NY, get there. If not, follow along and root for your favorites. The Let’s Castle Grand Tour is building to an epic finale, and this Rapid leg is where the fireworks really start.

Who ya got? Drop your predictions below – and J_Santiago, if you’re reading this, suit up. The board awaits! 🚀♟️