Adamson Takes Death Match 8!
By the narrowest of margins, FIDE Master Robby Adamson -- a.k.a. "BLITZMASTER" -- pulled out a victory over International Master Dean Ippolito in Chess.com's 8th Blitz Death Match on Sunday. The final match score was 14-13 in favor of Adamson, by far the closest finish in any Death Match to date.
Down the stretch, it seemed the match could go either way! With 2 minutes of total "play time" left in the match, Adamson's lead was down to one game. Ippolito faced a must win situation... and he delivered!
Adamson lost on time before making his 37th move, and so, for the first time ever, a clear winner had not been determined after the initial 3 hours of play! The match moved to "Sudden Death" or "overtime", where the first player to achieve a victory would take home the cash prize!
The next game began right as "regulation time" expired, and not only was it the first ever "overtime battle" of any Death Match, but it was also the second consecutive game that alone was worth over $600 to each player. The winner was...
No one! The match would continue for at least one more "extra inning". The players showed no hesitation in starting the second Sudden Death game, but this time, a decisive result would be reached:
Live coverage of the match was offered on www.chess.com/tv -- with hosts IM Rensch and IM Pruess commentating throughout. The view the replay of the match, go here.
Chess.com will make the official announcement in regards to who will compete in the 9th Blitz Death Match (scheduled for Sunday, October 28th) soon!
Danny Rensch is an international master and Chief Chess Officer at Chess.com. After a successful scholastic chess career, Danny joined Chess.com as a co-founder in 2009. He directs the company's content, media partnerships, and professional chess events. Danny is an accomplished commentator and broadcaster, which he used to establish Chess.com's streaming and creator programs. He has channeled his lifelong passion for playing and teaching chess to advance Chess.com's mission of growing the game and helping people enjoy their lives through chess. With over 200 million registered users, Chess.com is the leading platform for playing and learning chess.
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Read “Dark Squares,” Danny’s Highly Anticipated Memoir
Danny Rensch has released his highly anticipated memoir on September 16, 2025. Described as Educated meets The Queen’s Gambit, this powerful and deeply personal book dives into his upbringing in an abusive cult and how chess ended up saving his life.
