Round 3 in Division 1 Review

After Round 3 we have got 3 groups of participants

• Leaders (Russia, Ukraine) – both won all matches
• Candidates for Champions Pool (Iceland, France, Serbia, Argentina)
• Candidates for Relegation (Slovakia, Kazakhstan)

There were some exciting moments in all 4 matches.

So let us call to mind it!

•  Ukraine – Argentina: Double Superadmins battle!

Besides general review of the match from @SamCopeland I have some hidden gems for you.

During my 4 seasons in LCWL with Team Ukraine I have experienced to play against our opponent`s admins.

But this time we had 2 pairs (!) of superadmins (!) fighting each other in the same match

AGM Oleksandr Matlak @AlexanderMatlak  vs José Carrizo @magisterio

IM    Alexey Palekha     @rainspistols          vs    Mariano    @Vladon80

The result of my bullet battle with @magisterio was 1-1. In both games White was an upper side.

José Carrizo @magisterio

In another “superadmins superbattle” my colleague @rainspistols managed to win a beautiful game in random-960 – with Queen sac and mating attack 27…hxg6!!

IM Alexey Palekha @rainspistols

In Blitz section I had an amazing battle in random-960 with Argentinian streamer WIM Ayelen Martinez @AyelenChess

Here is a link on her exciting stream https://www.twitch.tv/videos/462553236

The result was also draw 1-1, but this time Black was an upper side!

In the first game I had a very promising position, but then Ayelen overplayed me in tactical complications

Fortunately, in the second game I took a rematch while Ayelen blundered a tactical trick with Queen Sac 27…hxg3!!

Special prizes in nomination “Win in Cossack`s style” go to my team-mates Artur Sevosteenko @UAArtur and Serhiy Shchukhomet @Shchukhomet

Guys obtained their victories following the way our great Teachers (David Bronstein, Leonid Stein, Vasyl Ivanchuk) taught us to play

@UAArtur and @AlexanderMatlak (Business Chess League – 2018, Kyiv, Ukraine)

Serhiy Shchukhomet @Shchukhomet (with his little daughter and....badge Team Ukraine!)

In Blitz there were 105 Ukrainian players and 97 Argentinian registered in a minute before start.

Many thanks to Argentina Live Chess admins and players for this interesting match and given possibility for our lower-rated players to feel the taste (not just smell-!) of Live Chess World League at last.

Respect from Ukraine!

• Russia – Serbia: Match of the Week!

Winner of Season 1 versus two-times Champion in Rapid: dizzying and very close battle of two LCWL hippos!

Srbija Tim obviously had a bad luck on the start of Season 4.

After losing random-960 to Team Iceland (29-33), it was very close to take a point versus Team Russia in bullet (51-59).

In Blitz, Serbian squad with 9 tittled players seemed even stronger than their Russian opponents.

Otherwise, Team Russia had a more massive tail.

Last 10 boards gave them an advantage 16,5 – 3,5 and it had a crucial impact on final score of 80,5 – 61,5.

Leader of Team Russia and streamer IM Mikhail Lushenkov @mikhaillushenkov did his best.

Russian strongman obtained a victory in this very sharp and double-edged game in random-960

Serbia has its own reach and unique Chess Culture.

It was shown us by FM Milan Jocev @jocmil – student of great Serbian grandmaster Dragoljub Velimirovic (do you remember sharp Velimirovic Attack in Sicilian?)

Milan Jocev @jocmil (in the center) with his trainer GM Velimirovic (1942 - 2014)

Milan won his game in random-960 with an excellent Queen sac 32.Qc7+!! (I believe, his Teacher would be glad to watch)

• Kazakhstan - Iceland: without any sensation

The good news is that Team Kazakhstan has strengthened they squad having 26 boards, without forfeits in bullet and rapid-960.

But it’s still a long way to go we could see Team Kazakhstan from Season 1.

Team Iceland`s admins and players just did their job properly without giving any hope to their opponents.

This time Icelandic team had 9 (!) titled players, only Srbija Tim could do the same in Round 3.

Heimir Ásgeirsson @holivela won probably the shortest miniature in Division 1

Heimir Ásgeirsson @holivela

After 7.Ne2! losing a piece seems inevitable for Black.

But FM Milan Jocev @jocmil kindly showed me that Black resigned prematurely having resource 7...Ke7!!

From Team Kazakhstan side, player Shakeeenzo Iksan @shakeeenzo should be mentioned.

He managed to win a blitz game against very strong player IM Bjorn Thorfinnsson @Hunninn in dynamic endgame

•  France – Slovakia: French bid for Champions Pool

Thanks to confident performance in this match, it remains possible for Team France to enter Champions Pool.

For this purpose it needs to take at least 50% points against Ukraine, Argentina, Iceland and Serbia.

Team France has a good potential as we can see a lot of good players with tricolor here on chess.com

For instance, such as Quentin Jouniaux @quentinjnx51 who won this miniature in Harry Pillsbury`s style:

Quentin Jouniaux @quentinjnx51

Team Slovakia also brought to the match their strong players, like two brothers -

FM Viktor Haring @viktorko131

FM Filip Haring @fiha25

They both contributed points to Slovakian team.

For instance, Filip played very strong in this game:

In round 4 we are going to have Match of the Week: Team Iceland – Argentina Live Chess.

See you then!