Final Scores
In fifth place, MA, with four points!
In a shared fourth place, Vexen/Varrok and Phoetux with six points!
In third place, GGP with eight points!
In second place, Blair with an excellent sixteen points!
But in first place, Oddey with a round twenty points, having beaten everyone twice!
A special thank you to everyone who voiced support for this idea and then joined in! Without you, this event wouldn't have been possible and I would never have gotten to know your openings and gambits!
---
The last round's games:
Vexen vs. Phoetux
Unfortunately, Vexen/Varrok chose to resign the games vs Phoetux, meaning I have no games to show you here.
GGP vs. MA
Game 1
Game 2
Game 1 showcases some very fine play from GGP, as he slowly but surely wipes out MA's side of the board before delivering a watertight checkmate.
Game 2, on the other hand, is one of the few draws of this tournament and actually the only draw that was agreed upon by both players. GGP plays a wild and aggressive opening that eventually leads to MA recovering and drawing out a game that might otherwise have been very deadly for him.
Blair187 vs Oddey
Game 1
Game 2
Game 1 is the long-awaited clash between myself and Blair187, both of us undefeated up til this point. Game 1 is extremely close, with a big part of the game being almost completely equal. It is also extremely long, with a drawn-out endgame that I really pushed hard for a win. I do eventually get it, but probably not due to any brilliance on my part so much as just bitterly fighting on.
Game 2, on the other hand, features Blair going for a reversed Sicilian, something Blair has not played before. While this is an awkward choice for myself as well, Blair makes a decision to try to pull his queen out of the way, which ultimately undermines his king's security and his defense falls apart all too quickly.
---
I hope to use this tournament to start up an OWF Chess Championship in late 2018, around the same time I started this tournament, where challengers will be welcomed to play one another to qualify for finals and eventually try to take the title of OWF Chess Champion from me. Meanwhile, I also intend to host another tournament of this form, but with Blitz games instead of classical games and with four games rather than just two. Keep an eye out for a new thread for just such an event and feel free to chat about ideas for other things on the OWF Chess Discord!