VCT 2 - Round 3 Story

By Bikash Sherpa

Match # 17    :    Arkadip(ArkatheLogan) V Maddy(maddy1847) 

Result            :    Maddy won

Round 3 began with the Logan taking on Maddy. Logan as I have noticed throughout the tournament, started to push his pawns in front of his king which put him in deep trouble as the black king ran all the way from e8 (its original position) to a3!! Maddy finally won a game and would like to continue the form onto next tournament. 

Match # 18     :    Jongol(shayon62) V Irfan(Irfan_raza6) 

Result             :    Irfan won 

This was the first game of round 3 and Irfan with 80% accuracy won his game with black pieces. Jongol missed a pawn fork (which Irfan highlighted later on in VCT 2 whatsapp group) after which Irfan converted nicely justifying his 2nd seeding. Other guys including myself should be aware that if we blunder a piece then it would be very difficult to comeback against top seeds like Sandy and Irfan. :)

Match # 19        :    Diesel(mirmadan) V Bikash(BIKASHSHERPA) 

Result                 :    Bikash won

I got to play white once again and after missing a free bishop, he offered me his queen again and this time I grabbed it. The game finished it soon after. I suggest Diesel to keep practicing for future tournaments.

Match # 20         :    Nandita(nandy111) V Anustup(anustupsikdar) 

Result                 :    Anustup won

As was in round 1, nandy111 was winning with a piece up and got checkmated on h7 with a nice idea from Anustup. She totally forgot the queen+bishop darting towards her King. This tournament could have been different for her with near misses. Best of luck to both Anustup and Nandita for future tournaments.

Match #21        :    Aneek (Aneek_roy) V Matcho (HopelessIndian) 

Result               :    Matcho won

Well I keenly watched this match knowing that the loser will play me in the Quarter finals. Aneek squeezed Matcho with black pieces like a chess master and was even had advantage of -21.6 (0.00 is equal) on chess.com engine until for some reason he did not take Matcho's well earned queen (not sure if he was showboating or his Mango steroid power finished). Matcho got some "Hope" and did not need 2nd invitation after which he nicely checkmated him that too under severe time trouble.

Match #22            :    Pablo(changpablo) V Neha(BheegiBasanti) 

Result                    :    Pablo won

Pablo nicely picked up Neha's two Rook one by one (as if the black rooks were absent to start with) which goes to show that he deserved to play Sandy in Quater finals. Like mirmadan, Neha needs to practice more for future tournaments.

Match #23             :    Masid(masidhere) V Huso(chessyoman) 

Result                    :    Masid won

With the spot on Quater finals up for grabs, Masid opened with e4 with white pieces, Huso missed a knight grab on h4 after which chess.com engine termed Masid's queen move from d2 to a5 brilliant (I have never seen a brilliant move till now on chess.com engine) and mated the black King. Fantastic finish by Masid to close the qualifier rounds.

Match #24               :    Avik(champ2w) V Sandy(Buhu_s) 

Result                      :    Sandy won

This was always going to be difficult for Avik (despite being 3rd seed) and Sandy opened with his favorite Queens Gambit (d4 and c4). In the middle game, Sandy's knight danced towards the black territory and forked the Rooks. After this it was a one way traffic which led to Avik's resignation. He needs to put up more valiant effort as he faces 2nd seed Irfan in the Quater finals.

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# Game of the round:     Aneek V Matcho

# Player of the round:    Masid (masidhere) for beating higher ranked player and playing a brilliant move as per chess.com engine.

# Surprise/Shock/Comeback of the round:    HopelessIndian comeback win over Aneek_Roy.

# Tactics of the round:        Pablo picking up both the Rooks vs Neha was awesome.

# Special Note:

Congratulations to the players who qualified to the next round and commiseration to the ones who could not make it. All I can say is practice hard for future tournament (practice makes a chess player better). And don't forget to watch and cheer the knockout games.

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