The 64 - I've Paid My Dues, Time After Time - January 2022 Recap
Ask anybody, even the most novice of hockey fans, who did the 1980 US Men's Hockey Team beat to win the gold medal? And everybody will obviously answer the Russians. They beat the Soviet Union when a group of young college kids upset the greatest hockey team ever constructed, in what has been famously dubbed as "The Miracle On Ice".
But then the one who answered stands there, red in the cheeks and with egg on their face when I tell them that they couldn't be more wrong and that they now owe me five bucks. Although don't feel too bad if you also were mistaken, it's a question that even the all knowledgable and omnipotent Google fails to answer correctly.
The Americans actually beat Finland 4-2 to win the Olympic Gold Medal back in Lake Placid, New York 42 years ago. The game that has been immortalized by Al Michaels famous words was actually the semi-finals, where the winner advanced to the championship game.
On January 16th 2022, this was also the case for the US Chess Club, who saw themselves in the Final Four of the fourth season of the Live Chess Pan-American League Rapid Cup. Halfway through the month and this was the only event scheduled for the Americans, but the question was... would it be their last?
Let's dive right into the action -
The US guaranteed themselves a shot for Gold after bouncing Argentina Live Chess from the remaining tournament by a score of 59.5 to 46.5. Although the Argentines had the strongest player in the match, their top board being that of a 2437 Rapid rating, USA still had the advantage on the other top boards, thanks to a combined effort of 12 2,000 rated players (to Argentina's 3) and 4 titled players to boot (for which the South American country failed to produce even one). Highlighted for this live match is one of those 2,000 rated competitors, 2,000 on those nose to be exact. It's @awebaweFWE who managed to finish 2/2 on the day! So come with me as we delve onto the 64 squares and see how his two games played out.
First up is a miniature with the Black pieces -
1.f4 The Bird's Opening. Have you heard? I guess awebaweFWE and the US Chess Club didn't hear. His foe, @luiscarlossolari , must have heard though...
The Trashmen once sang "That the bird is the word" but after this 13 move shellacking, all it proves is that it's a trash opening. The bird is indeed NOT the word. This game completely refutes those poetic and rhythmically masterful lyrics.
The wheels come off real quick after 9.Bxg7?? and not because because the rook now has an open g-file but because of that incredible weak backwards pawn on e3. The engine actually suggests to forget the rook for the meantime and to just capture on e3, which eventually happens with 10...Nxe3. e3 simply can't fall. If the bishop made the more natural move of 10.Bd4 protecting e3, well after c5 the engine suggests losing the bishop with Nf1. The bishop is like a wounded soldier weighting down the troop.
Then before you know it, the White monarch is mated. Other than Scholar's Mate on move 4, that's about as bad an opening can go.
The Bird is NOT the word.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNupRaVPAGA
Now the game with the White pieces -
Well done. I'll ring in the new year by sending you a "Happy New Year" Award.
But it wasn't time to celebrate just yet, because the inevitable match between the unstoppable force and the immovable object was still yet to be decided. The finals were set.
As the standings indicate, USA and Puerto Rico were the two best teams all season long so it was no surprise that the US Chess Club would have to go through their commonwealth brethren if they wanted to hoist the Rapid Cup. In fact, the standings are what they are because Puerto Rico won their regular season match against the US Chess Club way back on November 6th by a tally of 21-17. But you could bet that for the final round, both teams would be presenting their most formidable and prolific lineups. That was certainly the case on January 23rd as you will soon see. No matter the outcome, this match would be completely different than the previous one.
So without further ado...this is the LCPAL Rapid Cup Championship Match!!!
It was Sunday night. Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen were exchanging blows, moving the ball up and down the field. Like Hikaru in time trouble, 13 seconds can be an eternity when it comes to the greats. The Chiefs overtime victory undoubtedly will go on to be considered one of the greatest football games of all time...
But too bad nobody watched it because the country had its sights set on the US vs Puerto Rico in the Rapid Cup.
And now onto the games...
Right off the bat, the sheer volume and participation of players was startling. A total of 57!! boards is almost triple the amount of the first time these two clubs duked it out, and up and down these boards, there wasn't much of an advantage to be had for either side. The 64 squares would have to decide the fate of this championship match.
It was a close match, so let's take a live look in at the US viewing party as the final games were being tallied...
That's right! In the words of the legendary broadcaster Sam Rosen "The Waiting is Over! The US Chess Club has won the LCPAL Rapid Cup!! And this one will last a life time!!!"
The US took home the gold after beating Puerto Rico by a final tally of 61.5 - 52.5.
It's impossible to single out any one game from this match so I'd like to highlight several top plays throughout all the games.
Such as this beautiful Queen sacrifice from @fritzdutter -
Or this royal knight fork by @thechesscorner64 -
Even a nice little tactic from yours truly -
A move in which after wrongfully recapturing with Qxd4 steps right into a pawn fork. This maneuver took me from a losing position into a winning one, and probably also left my opponent still a bit tilted in our second game as well.
But ultimately, I want to bring attention to all the players who helped achieve this prodigious undertaking. So instead of sending just one award to a particular match MVP, everyone who participated in the Rapid Cup Final will receive a "Let's Celebrate" Award badge, all 57 of you!, as a way to show thanks for your participation and dedication. It was a true team effort and we all stand on top of the podium together, as a team, as a club.
Another huge thanks goes out to the club's super administrators, @Dare-Dare and @FunkyStuff , as well as our lead LCPAL representative, for what turned out to be our championship season, @grymsailor.
Also huge shoutouts to this season's top performers -
NM @volunteers1998
CM @thechesscorner64
@boocoolpro
@accgds
@FunkyStuff
@Fritzdutter
As well as our 2021 LCPAL Rapid Cup prize winners:
@resop2
@Cenzr
@angryspacevoid
@losingreallybadly
@mcmodern
They all win 3 to 1 month Diamond memberships. That's right, you can win prizes here, and if you want a chance to win diamond memberships, compete in live matches and be able to call yourself a champion, then join the US Chess Club.
Here's a link to the US Chess Club main page -
https://www.chess.com/club/uschess
- where you can find all the information on how to link up, as well as all upcoming events. The club and matches are FREE to join and open to ANYONE who wishes to participate. You do not need a USCF rating! Just join the club and registration for Match Play opens one hour before the scheduled time, just like all other tournaments in the Live Chess tab. It's as simple as that!
But there's no time to rest on our laurels, as there is plenty of chess on the docket kicking off in the month of February. The club's main New Year's resolution is to better excel at the lower time controls and the club has a chance to do that when the LCPAL Blitz Cup begins February 12th. Along with that, season 4 of the Chess.com Nations League begins February 13th and that very same day, the Live Chess World League also opens so there will be plenty of chess that weekend as well as the weeks and months to come.
Hopefully the recent success of our Rapid Cup campaign will translate over to these other leagues, but until then, keeping studying those lines, taking your lessons and doing your puzzles. I know the recipients of those diamond memberships sure will.
And with that, let's roll the credits and fade to black on what was undoubtedly another incredible season of chess.
