Brilliant Finish to Chess.com Chess960 Championship
We saw the blunders and we saw the Botez Gambits, but today the 8 GM finalists proved their chess genius in a series of thrilling matches. In the end, GM Vladimir Fedoseev clinched the title to become the first Chess.com Community Chess960 Championship winner!
Let's take a look at some brilliant moves from today's matches, see if you can spot them too 👀
In the Quarterfinals, GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda saved a lost position against GM Benjamin Bok after the move Qb1?? Can you find the mate in 6?
Rxg7+!!... ripping open black's defenses and exposing the king to an onslaught from the white queen and rook. It's important to see the f5 pawn covering the key g6 escape square. Huge find by Duda that propelled him into the Semifinals against GM Denis Lazavik.
Lazavik would show Duda his own brilliant play though. With only 7 left seconds on the clock, Lazavik detonated Nxc2!!... a practical decision that trades the knight for three pawns. After some manoeuvring and trading the bishop and queen at the right moment, Lazavik was able to take this important game, sending him to the Finals to face Fedoseev.
Heading into the finals, the community was able to vote on the position the players would play and they decided on position 2 where it became Fedoseev's turn to show who deserved to be champion.
Can you find the shocking brilliancy that forces black to find only moves?
Bxf6!!... leaving the queen to be taken but following up with 26. Nxd5 setting up the mate Ne7# (a double checkmate) and setting up another mate with Nxf6+ if black takes the f6 bishop. After Lazavik's best response 26... Rf7, 27. Bxg5 threatens Nf6+ forking the king and queen. Lazavik trying to avoid the fork blunders with 27... Kg7 and Fedoseev finishes in style with 28. Nf6! anyways, leaving black with no options but to give up the queen or resign.
Congratulations to GM Vladimir Fedoseev on a spectacular win!
In his post-match interview, I asked him about how he evaluates a Chess960 starting position and he provided some insight into the way he thinks.
The first thought is usually how do I get harmony in [the] position? How to develop pieces to normal squares?
- GM Vladimir Fedoseev
Fedoseev went on to mention how he enjoyed playing in this Chess.com's community event and looks forward to playing more online chess events in the coming months.
The next Chess.com Community club event is the Spell Chess Championship! Join the Chess.com Community club through the button below and watch for the announcement with all the details!
What is Chess960? Read Chess.com's article.
What is Spell Chess? Read Chess.com's article.
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