Bulldog Candidates Tournament #5 !!!

The bulldog Federation has decided to expand the Candidates Tournament from four to six players. The two most-favored players (by strength) will get a bye in the first round.

These tournaments are announced approximately one month after a championship game begins, so that the World Champion is targeted to have a new challenge within a few months of his/her last challenge game. The current World Champion is @captaintugwash. He is currently being challenged by @JustARandomPatzer in a game (here).

The winner of this tournament (#5) becomes the next player eligible to challenge the World Champion for the crown.

The six players selected for the next tournament are as follows:
@AwesomeBen
@Bad_Dobby_Fischer
@DukeOfHelsinki
@haoming09
@Marks1420
@musketeerchess2017

Note that the federation chooses players based on ELO score, and also merit based on trend in recent games. Player etiquette can also be a factor - players known for talking about moves in games are not eligible.

Before the Candidates Tournament begins, I need the six selected players to confirm they will play. Please reply here or to me by DM.

vickalan, they have responded to me via PM they are able to play.

Bdf still plays?

well, i found this by randomly scrolling down my friends activity list

You would’ve been alerted eventually

yeah ik

i just didn't know this has already been created

Ok, everyone's in. Tomorrow I will announce the tournament format (pairings for round-1). Then the games can start immediately. The two strongest players get a "bye" for round-1 and will enter at the semi-finals. I can mod the two round-1 games, but I will slightly stagger the start dates.

I put a notice in the bulldog club (here). I'll notify all players when their games are ready to begin. Please also check here for updates. I hope the round-1 games will be started within a few days. If anyone cannot start right away, please let me know, and I'll slightly stagger their start date.

Pairings will be out tomorrow 

Please see bracket (below) for the #5 candidates tournament. For details of how the six players qualified (please see here).

In this six-player tournament, the two strongest skip round-1. The other four have a chance to see if they can upset the rankings, and become qualified to play against the World Champion!

I will start game-1 tomorrow (DukeOfHelsinki vs. Bad_Dobby_Fischer) and game-2 (haoming09 vs. musketeerchess2017) will be started soon after.

Congratulations to all players who qualified and are playing!

ok

Game-1 (DukeOfHelsinki vs. Bad_Dobby_Fischer) is (here).

Game-2 will be started soon!

Game-2 (haoming09 vs. musketeerchess2017) is (here).

Thanks to evert for moding game-2.

@haoming09 wins against @musketeerchess2017 in the round-1 game, and advances to the semi-finals, to play against @Marks1420! I'll plan to start that game soon (probably Friday).

Congratulation to haoming09 for advancing to the semi-final stage!!!

Updated bracket is here:

Thanks

haoming09 played his round-1 game as White, so plays his next game as Black.

The semi-final game, Marks1420 vs. haoming09, is (here).

So after winning against Duke, I'm playing Ben? Ready to start anytime if so

Yes, and sorry for the delay. Bad_Dobby_Fischer wins against DukeOfHelsinki (here).

Bad_Dobby advances to the semi-finals to play against AwesomeBen. I'll start the game tomorrow.

Updated bracket:

Bad_Dobby_Fischer vs. AwesomeBen is (here).