The Knights of the Square Table
In this article the sentences in italics represent the Author's thoughts and are completely detached from the rest of the imaginary story.
Tournament: https://www.chess.com/tournament/2025-chess-com-daily-chess-championship-1
Italy, XIIth century, somewhere.
Day 0
Antelacus was admiring the landscape from his bedroom window. The rolling hills, the now bare trees, the dry leaves scattered on the ground. It was the last day of the year, preparations were in full swing to celebrate the arrival of the next newborn. But it wasn't the only thing to celebrate, nor the most important.
“Maestro Antelacus, can you hear me?”
He whirled around. A small, frail creature was on the threshold of the door; he was looking at him with respect and a certain awe. Antelacus blinked a couple of times.
“I am Herbert, Maestro, one of your faithful adepts” stammered the little being with slightly trembling wings.
Antelacus finally shook himself: “Oopps, sorry Herbert, I didn't realize you were there.” Inside he thought that it was very strange that it was he, Herbert, the last of his adepts, who came to question him. “Do you have something to tell me, Herbert?”
“Yes Maestro, I have been instructed to remind you that tomorrow is the Big Day” he paused briefly and in a small voice added: “There will be no second thoughts, right?”
Antelacus smiled. “No, no second thoughts, we will proceed as planned.”
Herbert brightened up, it had been a long time since not only he, but everyone, had been waiting to get back to work, after years of just blitz and rapid. “Good…I report…thank you Maestro…” He lingered a moment longer in the doorway, almost seeking the courage to ask the next question; he finally found it: “And…for the openings?”
“No experiments, everything will be as planned,” he said.
Herbert swallowed audibly.
“When we are dressed in white it will always be Eddie who starts the fight” declared the Maestro.
Herbert was unperturbed, he knew very well that he could never be the Chosen One, even though deep down he always hoped that one day he could become one, maybe even just for one night.
“Instead, when our robes are dark,” added the Maestro, “it will depend on what our opponents will do. Charlie or Kite will answer, at least in the most common cases…otherwise I will decide on the spot”
“Ve…Very good Maestro” stammered Herbert in the throes of emotion “I will report everything in detail”
“The meeting for tomorrow afternoon has also been confirmed, when we will probably have to make the first decisions” Antelacus added definitively. At 4.00 pm, I'll be waiting for you all in the Meeting Room”
Herbert did a clumsy pirouette and flew away.
Day 1
Meeting Room, 3.59pm. 17 present, no absent. The large square table was full as it hadn't been seen for years. At the head of the table was Antelacus, holding a folder full of papers, to his right eight adepts, in reverse alphabetical order, and on the opposite side the other eight.
A loud whisper could be heard in the background, everyone except the Maestro had their heads bent over the table, facing now to the right, now to the left, exchanging hidden thoughts and secret hopes with their neighbors. They were interrupted by a slight cough from the Maestro.
“Gentlemen, I declare the meeting open,” he announced loudly.
Suddenly all 16 participants fell silent and raised their heads as a sign of respect and devotion. Not a fly was heard again. Antelacus opened the folder in front of him and placed it on the table. He quickly scanned everyone present, one at a time, then began to speak:
“I received the first moves of our opponents”. The tension grew suddenly, you could almost feel it, it was so strong. “And I must say that I was a little surprised,” The Maestro continued.
Someone gasped. Could he mean this would be his chance? The one you've been waiting for years? Eddie's eyes watered.
“Because…well…only 3 opponents dressed in light made their debut by sending their Eddie forward”. The adepts started looking at each other as if they had been bitten by a tarantula. A loud buzz took over the room.
“Gentlemen, please!” Antelacus was forced to raise his voice, but it wasn't enough. He then banged the hammer on the table three times, an unmistakable sign of a request for silence. The followers suddenly fell silent. Very slowly they turned their gaze towards the Maestro, almost investigating his intentions in his eyes.
“As many as 7 opponents opened with Derek” continued the Maestro “A strange proportion, I would say”. Everyone then did a simple calculation: 3 + 7 = 10. And the eleventh? But no one dared ask the question. There was no need. “However, no news from opponent number 11” concluded Antelacus. He closed the folder. “So we will proceed as planned.” No surprises, as it should have been. “Eddie will open all 11 matches against the White ones, while Charlie will start with the Dark ones in the three matches mentioned above. Finally” he turned his gaze towards Kite “you will always be the one to start with your classic jump into the other seven.
Kite seemed to have won the Knights' lottery. He knew he was the Chosen One in these cases, but he never imagined becoming so on so many occasions. He mentally thanked the seven opponents who had made that splendid decision for him.
"Questions?" asked the Maestro. Everyone shook their heads. “Good, then we'll adjourn until tomorrow, same time and same room”. He stood up suddenly, took the folder and made a short bow towards the center of the table. The adepts responded in turn with a deep obsequious bow and hurried towards the exit, on the opposite side of the room.
Day 2
“Silence please!” Antelacus was forced to shout. There must have been a leak, because he had the distinct impression that his adepts already knew what had happened, at least in part. He looked around for confirmation, but no one seemed to betray any emotion in this sense.
He took a deep breath and continued, “I have good news and bad news at the same time.” He opened the folder, but this time he didn't place it on the table and held it in his hands, tilted towards himself.
“The good news is that three of our opponents laid down their weapons without even making a move, and this means that we stored the first three points without even fighting.”
A gigantic and general sigh of relief emerged in the silence.
“The bad news is that someone has overtaken everyone in the standings and is dominating us from above undisturbed.” He continued: “We don't know how it could have happened, but it seems that he took advantage of many opponent mistakes, even blunders in some cases. However, nothing is lost, we are only at the beginning, but this will force us to win almost always, and this was not foreseen at all."
The adepts looked at each other for a look that expressed confidence.
Day 3
Nothing to report.
Day 4
The agitation could be cut with a knife. Someone was seriously worried about the turn events had taken, Antelacus was struggling to maintain order.
“Silence gentlemen, silence!” But in vain. “Listen to me please, there's no point in getting excited, it makes things worse!” He banged the hammer repeatedly on the table, until with too strong a blow he cracked a beam. The sinister noise had the effect of making all the followers jump. They fell silent. A sudden sense of shame filled them to the core.
“It's not just bad news, we have good news too.” He looked at the followers one by one, knowing full well that the situation was getting complicated. “I have to announce with great pleasure that one of our opponents has given up the contest, with both colours”.
The news reassured people, although it was little compared to what everyone already knew.
“Obviously” continued the Maestro, “we also have to deal with an opponent who has reached odds of 11/11”. He bowed his head, even he. “But we must not lose heart, we just need to develop a new strategy. We are forced, given the situation, to beat all the other opponents with both colors and score a victory and a draw against this formidable player. We will call him the Supreme Opponent."
(At that moment I didn't know that in case of a tie both players would advance to the next round).
“In the meantime we are at 6/6, so we can hope to continue like this. The meeting is over, we'll see you again tomorrow at the same time as always.”
Day 5
No news from any front.
Day 6
The sixth day was one to remember. One of the remaining opponents gave up, it is not known whether out of fear or for other reasons, but in one of the games he found himself in an untenable position after only seven moves. His strategy had been a failure, with the Queen's coming and going across half the board achieving the only result of putting the rest of the army in great troubles.
But the most vivid memory was undoubtedly held by Lightop, the hero of the day. As soon as he realized his opponent's mistake, he pounced on his prey, almost without waiting for the Maestro's order. He knew well that his fate was sealed, but this was equivalent to breaking down all opposition resistance. As soon as he reached his destination, he stared into the eyes of the enemy, certain of victory, and victory it was, immediately.
But he didn't stop there. Incredibly, in another game, he performed the same fatal move, even attacking the Supreme Monarch, who finally surrendered.
He was carried in triumph, rivers of wine and beer flowed across the table that evening. They drank themselves to exhaustion, falling asleep on the counters or even on the floor. Lightop was carried in triumph in a wheelbarrow throughout the monastery; then, after yet another toast, he collapsed to the ground and remained there until the next morning. He dreamed that he was Lancelot.
Day 7
Lightop couldn't believe his eyes. He was for the third time on the fatal square b5, placed there a couple of moves earlier. He was enjoying that position which brought to mind very recent triumphs. And when the Maestro ordered Ring to take over the column, he became the supreme corollary, forcing his opponent to surrender.
He didn't even celebrate, limiting himself to reflecting in the lake like Narcissus. With the difference that he didn't die at all by falling into it.
Day 8
Nothing interesting.
Day 9
Bad news: the Supreme Opponent has defeated everyone, he has 20/20 and only has two games left against Antelacus.
Day 10
A favorable bolt from the blue: with White's position still to be played, one of the remaining opponents resigns the contest with both colours. The information in the possession of the Knights is not sufficient to clarify what happened.
Day 11
No news from the front.
Day 12
Finally, four pieces down, the opponent surrenders.
Day 13
Interlocutory day.
Day 14
The key day of the entire tournament. The game you can't miss.
Antelacus thought for a long time before deciding, but in the end he was convinced. He had to act, and quickly. Otherwise, who knows. He filled the folder with analysis after analysis, meticulously checking every single variation almost to checkmate. In his heart he knew that the double sacrifice had to be corrected, but in Chess you can never be certain of anything.
The adepts were vibrating with emotion, they too felt that the moment had come, the culmination of the strategy. They were never so happy to sacrifice themselves.
The Supreme Opponent abandoned the contest, probably considering the shame of seeing his Monarch captured or his Queen perish under the blows of a modest minor piece as horrible. Or at least this was the official version.
Antelacus never revealed anything to them about what he had discovered at the end of the main variation. He was afraid of it. Would he have been able to keep a cool head and carry it through victoriously? Nobody will ever know.
As indefensible as Black's position seems, there is a practical chance. How to judge the final position of this variation? I was firmly convinced that it wasn't easy at all, having no idea about the computer's evaluation. But there was no need because my opponent resigned after Ne6. Immediately after the game ended, I tried the variation and the machine ruled that almost all the moves in this analysis were not the best. Rating +3.08. White actually has a clear material advantage, but from a practical point of view Black has a chance. Without minor pieces (while Black has all four!) I find it really difficult to break through the defense.
That same day was also that of Eddie's missed consecration for a single step, now certain of transforming into a splendid Queen and disappointed due to the abandonment of his opponent. Poor Eddie left the room with a papier-mâché crown on his head that he had made himself for the occasion, sad and with a lump in his throat.
And it was also the first of two days of glory for Stephen, who became the hero of the moment, first by razing the few remaining ruins in the West to the ground and three days later by contributing to the capture of his colleague. A horrible massacre!
Day 15
Nothing new under a snowfall.
Day 16
The snow no longer falls.
Day 17
We have already talked about Stephen and his exploits.
Day 18
Eddie and Charlie had never seen eye to eye with each other. Always competing, and also separated from Derek. Derek often had to act as peacemaker, caught between two quarrels seeking glory and personal attention. Until, on that 18th day, something happened. And it was Derek who suggested it.
Exasperated by their antagonism, he found himself standing behind them throughout the game, just so he wouldn't hear them arguing, even when the game itself was clearly decided. Suddenly, he saw an opportunity. “Now, now is the time!” he exclaimed at the height of his excitement.
“Do it now!”
Eddie and Charlie looked at each other perplexed. But what did he even mean?
Then, perhaps it was Charlie who noticed it first (Antelacus himself never wanted to know precisely, he only cared about the result), together with Eddie he set the trap. The opponent fell for it and was forced to abandon immediately.
Day 19
We are almost at the apotheosis. The last two opponents, Supreme Adversary aside, surrendered, not without a fight.
But in the following game I took a big risk. Not being able to force the position that I thought was to my advantage, I made a terrible trade. A trade like this can never be advantageous, but I didn't see any solutions. Luckily for me, not even my opponent noticed a rather simple continuation; the danger escaped, then everything went smoothly.
And in the penultimate game, now decided at this point, I had previously started a combination that the computer considered a missed opportunity. In fact, in the position of the diagram (which I later discovered with extreme surprise to be +2.37) the best move is not the one I played, because Black has a simple countermove that leaves White ahead "only" by +1.04. The correct move hadn't even crossed my mind. Here too, luckily for me, the opponent didn't see it, in fact he played the worst possible move. Can you find the winning move? I played 18.Nxc4 and my opponent missed 18...Bh4! and reply with the tragic 18...Bd8??.
Day 20
A draw is enough to qualify Antelacus and his adepts to the next round; only one game remains, the one against the Supreme Opponent, and we have entered a balanced endgame.
Day 21
Here we go, it's done! Impossible to lose! (Really?)
Day 22
“So, do we all agree?” The Maestro hadn't even brought the folder to the Meeting Room, sure as he was of the final result. Everyone nodded. “Good, let's check by show of hands”
15 hands rose above the table.
“One, two, three…fourteen, fifteen…” Antelacus froze. Did anyone disagree? “Who didn't raise his hand?” he asked a little disconcerted. It practically never happened that someone did not agree with the Maestro.
"Maestro!" cried Herbert. “Stephen is not among us!”
Indeed, one of the central chairs on the left side was empty. Stephen's.
“Has anyone seen it? Does anyone know where he is?” asked the Maestro.
Everyone shook their heads. There were some moments of confusion. Under the rules of the Square Table, decisions could not be made if even a single favorable vote was missing.
“Who knows what horror he's gotten himself into…” Angus murmured from the end of the table.
Suddenly the door to the living room flew open and Stephen appeared in the doorway. He was pale as a corpse and was sweating cold. He seemed distraught.
“Stephen, what's wrong with you?” Antelacus asked worriedly.
“Maestro, didn't you even notice?”
The Maestro rolled his eyes. “Aware of what?”
“Of the trap!”
“What trap?”
“Maestro, forgive me, but if you didn't even notice…”
What followed was never made known outside the castle walls.
In the diagram position I was actually about to play 35...Ke7, intending to respond to 36.Rc6 with 36...Rc8. I'm not sure I would have noticed 37.Rxe6+!, winning immediately. All things considered, even if I lost I would have qualified, together with my Supreme Opponent, but I prefer to remain undefeated.
Everything ended well, like in fairy tales.
Antelacus and his followers celebrated until the late night, between rivers of beer and mountains of french fries seasoned with ketchup. But deep down, Antelacus knew he had a lot to thank his adepts for. He did it in silence.
The end
Characters and performers (in random order):
Antelacus/The Maestro=Me
Adepts=Chess Pieces
Angus=a-Pawn
Herbert=h-Pawn
Derek=d-Pawn
Eddie=e-Pawn
Charlie=c-Pawn
Stephen=King
Kite=King Knight
Lightop=Light Square Bishop
Ring=King Rook
Supreme Opponent=@Mr_Meowcahvich
