Webster won their fourth match in a row while Dallas continued their comeback in week four of the 2024 Collegiate Chess League (CCL). 

With a perfect 4/4, IM Anna Sargsyan led Webster to victory vs. Prague. For Dallas, it was IM Andrei Macovei―their team captain and their only international master in a sea of GMs―who scored the most points with 3/4.

The CCL will continue on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET/20:00 CET/0:30 a.m. IST.

Collegiate Chess League – Week 4 Standings

Sweeping Start And Finish: Webster 13.5-2.5

With two GMs, Webster was the favorite heading into this match as they faced the well-balanced Prague team composed of all FIDE masters. 

Webster took no prisoners in the first round, winning on every board. Their board four, CM David Zhurbinsky, defeated Prague’s top board, FM Martin Hollan, with insightful attacking play. Though, at one point, a momentary shock occurred. 

Round two was the closest round, though Webster still managed to stretch their lead by one point. In our Game of the Day, GM Aram Hakobyan ignited his kingside attack with a knight sacrifice vs. GM Richard Mladek. Enjoy analysis by GM Rafael Leitao coming soon.

FM Ondrej Toman was the only player on Prague’s team to score victories, defeating Zhurbinsky in round two and upsetting Hakobyan in round three. His persistence pays off in his 95-move struggle vs. Webster’s board one. 

As their first board faltered, the rest of the Webster team scored wins in the third round, sealing the match with a round to spare with 9.5 points. Can you find how their top scorer, Sargsyan, finished off her game vs. Prague’s board one, FM Petr Hollan?

White to move and win.

In the last round, Webster finished the way they began: with another 4-0 sweep. Bouncing back from his loss, Hakobyan was particularly out for blood. He used all of his forces to incite a kingside assault vs. fellow top board, Hollan. 

With this victory, Webster keeps their perfect score and first place spot at the top of the standings. Though, they still have yet to face their main rivals this season, Saint Louis. 

A Close Duel From 6000 Miles Away: Athens 7.5-8.5 Texas

Despite Dallas outnumbering Athens in grandmasters by three to one, it was an exceptionally close fight. For most of the match, the two teams stayed within a one point of each other―until the last minutes. 

Dallas took an early two-point lead with wins by GMs Ivan Schitco and Rahul Srivatshav. Though their game ultimately ended peacefully, GMs Andreas Kelires and Macovei battled with herulican effort in their 167-move fight.

This strenuous game turned out to be the duel between the two teams’ MVPs. It was also Kelires’s only draw of the match. 

In round two, Athens fought back, bringing the match within one point with a win by Kelires and a sneaky time scramble bishop snatch by FM Petros Rahmanidis.

Round three was a round of bold attacking play. Kelires held off Rahul’s all-out sacrifice-laden attack with perceptive defense, tying the match for Athens as the first game to finish. Schitco countered with an enterprising bishop sacrifice to rip open the kingside and regain the lead for Dallas. 

In the final round, IM Dimitris Alexakis struck first for Athens, temporarily re-tying the match again. Yet, Dallas edged back ahead with wins by GM Balaji Daggupati and Macovei, crossing the 8.5 theshold to clinch the match. 

Despite being the only international master on a team of GMs, Macovei was the MPV, scoring 3/4. In the post-match interview, he shared how close he is to achieving the grandmaster title:

I need one norm. I was pretty close a couple times. The last one was really frustrating I missed at the European teams last November. I needed a draw against a guy who wasn’t even doing well in the tournament, but I just commited a suicide with the white color. But it’s all good, I’ll get there.

In week five, Dallas and Rio Grande will have their chance at slowing down the leading teams, Webster and Saint Louis. 

The Collegiate Chess League is the premier online chess competition for college students. The 2024 CCL Spring Season is a team event starting January 20 at 2 p.m. ET/20:00 CET/0:30 a.m. IST and featuring a $25,000 prize fund.

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