Guillermo Vazquez (Gena217) and Lars Oskar Hauge (Larso) are 2023 Chess.com Bughouse World Champions
Guillermo Vazquez (Gena217) and Lars Oskar Hauge (Larso) clinched the title of 2023 Chess.com Bughouse World Champions, showcasing a stellar performance throughout the tournament. Their journey to the championship was marked by an impressive victory in the finals, where they outplayed MarvelandDCForLife and NoChewyCandy with a commanding score of 35-17. This outcome was unexpected to many, as the match was anticipated to be closely contested.
Their triumph is particularly notable considering this was both Vazquez's and Hauge's debut in a bughouse tournament. Despite their absence from the world championship scene in the preceding three years, their background as chess grandmasters undoubtedly contributed to their composure and strategic insight during the crucial moments of the final. Vazquez, with several years of bughouse experience under his belt, and Hauge, who has been playing competitive bughouse on Chess.com for less than a year, demonstrated remarkable progress in the months leading up to the tournament. This progress was pivotal, especially given the doubts surrounding their advancement from the group stage, highlighted by a loss to the Polish team of Aelin_Ashryver_Galath and rezacz. However, they rebounded magnificently in the playoffs, affirming their status as the premier team of the tournament.
The finals were broadcasted on Chuck Moulton's YouTube channel, featuring commentary by Moulton and KillerbeesonAttack. The link to this broadcast is available here. Additionally, a unique perspective of the finals can be experienced through a video from NoChewyCandy and MarvelandDCForLife, which captures their in-game communication, accessible here.
As the bughouse season concludes, it's a gentle reminder of the world beyond the board - encouraging players to enjoy the outdoors and recharge for the next championship, anticipated to commence in the autumn.
The prestigious list of Bughouse World Champions now proudly includes Gena217 and Larso for the year 2023, alongside previous champions. For inquiries regarding prizes, participants are advised to contact Chuck Moulton, who will coordinate with Chess.com. Additionally, spectators can look forward to the third-place match and the final of the U2000 Challengers section by checking the TeamUp calendar for scheduling details.
Reflecting on a memorable chess game from years past, Hauge executed a brilliant combination reminiscent of bughouse tactics, further illustrating the depth of his tactical prowess.
Lars showcased his tactical acumen with a decisive combination: 1.Rxf7+ Bxf7 2.Rxf7+ leading to an unavoidable mate, 2. - Kh8 3.Nxg6+ Kg8 4.Ne5+ Kg8 5. Qg7 mate
Demonstrating the level of skill that contributed to their championship victory.
