Team C-Squared Defends Impossible Endgame, Reaches Final

GMs Fabiano Caruana and Cristian Chirila are off to the Final of the 2024 Team Chess Battle. On Friday, they defeated GM Wesley So and IM Alice Lee 1.5-0.5 to advance. 

Some say the hardest thing in chess is to win a won position. Both games showed just that: game one saw Team C-Squared nearly fail to convert an extra piece, while in game two they successfully defended a lost, exchange-down endgame for 50 moves.

The next Semifinal match will feature GM Hikaru Nakamura and IM Levy Rozman vs. GMs Daniel Naroditsky and Robert Hess. It will start on Tuesday, March 5, at 2:00 p.m. EST / 20:00 CET / 00:30 IST.

Pre-Match Banter: 'Let's Just Go And Play!'

Team C-Squared and the "Minnesota Vikings" (according to Naroditsky) were as cordial as ever before the match. So remarked that his opponents were "the strongest team left, with all due respect."

Caruana, known for being one of the best-prepared grandmasters in the world, let us in on his pre-match strategy: "Cristian said like, 'Let's think up a strategy,' and I was like, 'Let's not! Let's just go and play!'"

Caruana: "Cristian said like, 'Let's think up a strategy,' and I was like, 'Let's not! Let's just go and play!'"#TeamChess pic.twitter.com/KoQC6sjNIr

— chess24 (@chess24com) March 1, 2024

Just before the match got underway, Chirila pointed out: "The only one that has time on her hands and on her side is Alice," observing that, at age 14, she was the only player under 30. Twenty-eight-year-old Naroditsky chimed in: "Who you callin' old here?!"

"So you have only two years to make all your dreams come true. Once you get to 30, it's a bit different," said the elderly So.

So you have only two years to make all your dreams come true. Once you get to 30, it's a bit different.

—Wesley So

Time's winged chariot hurries near, so let's make haste and check out those games.

Caruana & Chirila 1.5-0.5 So & Lee

Both games showed shaky technique from the team with a winning position. Despite allowing a fortress, Team C-Squared "re-won" game one, while So and Lee were unable to do the same in the second.

Game one looked like smooth sailing, and pretty soon Team C-Squared won a piece in the endgame. It would be reasonable by this point for a viewer to grab a snack, make a coffee, and return to watch game two.

But the comedy of errors was only beginning...

Team C-Squared struggles to convert with the extra piece, and now they're not even objectively winning anymore!https://t.co/zqu7ujKU3V#TeamChess pic.twitter.com/ZBvI0mcobW

— chess24 (@chess24com) March 1, 2024

After some indecision, they soon completely lost the advantage and allowed a surprising fortress. But the final twist was yet to come: 65...Rc3?? offered to trade rooks into a losing endgame, and Team C-Squared grabbed that rook with four hands.

If you weren't convinced before, they are indeed human.

"That was the worst technique I've ever seen in my life. That was bad," said Chirila right after winning the game.

That was the worst technique I've ever seen in my life. That was bad.

—Cristian Chirila

Caruana added that he was having grim flashbacks to game four of the GM Vladimir Kramnik vs. GM Garry Kasparov match in 2000, where the former was unable to win with an extra knight.

So, perhaps as explanation for his stellar defense, admitted and showed that he had a certain fish in his room—two, actually. "You have a lot of fish in stock!" Naroditsky exclaimed.

You have a lot of fish in stock!

—Daniel Naroditsky

🐟 "Show us the fish, Wesley." #TeamChess pic.twitter.com/geaClOk60M

— chess24 (@chess24com) March 1, 2024

The Minnesota duo needed to win the second game on demand, and So was optimistic about their chances early on: "We just need to flag them. You know Cristian is like three times your age!" he reminded his partner.

We just need to flag them. You know Cristian is like three times your age!

—Wesley So

In a game that lasted 130 moves, they won an exchange for a pawn but Black had annoying counterplay. Nevertheless, So's team reached a technically winning endgame—yet nobody said it would be easy. 

Team C-Squared showed excellent defense in an impossible situation and reached 50 moves without a pawn move or capture. GM Rafael Leitao explains the Game of the Day below. 

 

After the game, So had only positive thoughts to share with his opponents and his teammate: "Alice was playing very well... it was fun while it lasted!... I wish the best of luck for Fabi and Cristian in the next match!" He splits $3,000 with Lee as they're eliminated from the tournament.

As for Caruana and Chirila, they're going to face the winners of the next semifinal match. Asked whom he'd prefer to win, Caruana said: "I'm personally rooting for you guys [Naroditsky & Hess]. I want to see you do well," which is either a heartfelt wish or a desire to dodge GM Hikaru Nakamura.

Who will be the second team to reach the Final? Tune in on Tuesday to find out!

Team Chess Battle is an event where two-player teams can freely communicate while facing other teams in a series of rapid chess games. Eight teams of two players each compete in a single-elimination bracket. Matches consist of two games (the Final is a four-game match) with a 10+10 time control. The event starts on February 21 and features a $25,000 prize fund.

Previous coverage:

• • Nakamura, GothamChess Dream Team Wins In Armageddon
  • Never Meet Your Heroes: Naroditsky & Hess Beat Their Commentary Inspirations
  • Team Wesley So & Alice Lee Kill With Kindness In Quarterfinals
  • Team C-Squared Neutralizes Novelty From Bickering Giri & Rensch
  • Team Chess Battle: The Star-Studded New 2v2 Tournament With Nakamura, Giri, GothamChess, And… Jan Gustafsson