So Wins 7th Blitz "Death Match"!
Grandmaster Wesley So jumped out to a commanding 6-0 lead against Grandmaster Ray Robson in Chess.com's 7th Blitz Death Match, and he never looked back! In arguably the most lopsided Death Match yet, the Filipino #1 dominated the entire match, finishing with a plus score in all three time control "sets", ultimately winning by a final tally of 23 to 9.
Robson admitted heading into the match that he knew So would be considered the favorite by most, and Ray worried he was not heading into the Death Match in "his best form". So proved him right, continuing his current hot streak (So has won the last two international tournaments he's competed in, and nears his all time highest FIDE Rating of almost 2680) by running away with the match.
Though IM's Rensch and Pruess (who covered the match live on Chess.com/TV) agreed that the match was played at a high level by both players as far as chess moves are concerned, the obvious difference in the match was So's ability to consistently gain and maintain large time advantages. Robson could not avoid time pressure in what seemed like every game, consistently misplaying still "roughly equal positions" with much less time than his opponent.
Both players were "class acts" following the final game in their respective "post match interviews", thanking Chess.com for the opportunity. Robson requested another opportunity to compete in a Death Match for a chance at redemption, while So said he is looking forward to a "winners elimination event" of some kind.
Here are some of the more interesting games from yesterday's Death Match:
You can watch a replay of the match at http://www.livestream.com/chesscomlive
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.
