Clash of the Titans II – Congratulations to our Winner Rowan!
The second chapter of the Clash of the Titans competitions has been taking place in School over the last few weeks, played once again between Year 13’s Rowan and Nikolai. After emerging victorious in their previous showdown earlier this year, Nikolai returned as the reigning champion, with both players once again battling for the title of Woodbridge School’s ultimate Chess player.
The contest unfolded with a dramatic Armageddon decider waiting in the wings should the scores have been tied. Played out across lunchtimes, the matches attracted plenty of attention from students keen to watch two of the School’s strongest players go head-to-head. Competing for the coveted first board position on the School’s Chess team, find out more about the final three matches below, which – spoiler alert – resulted in Rowan being crowned champion!
Huge congratulations to Rowan and well done to Nikolai who proved to be a fierce competitor as ever!
Game No 1: Clash of the Titans II: Nikolai – Rowan 0:1
After the last year’s Clash of the Titans matches both players were familiar with each other’s opening preferences and playing styles. The first game in a Chess match is always partly the testing time to check your opponent’s chess form, therefore, Nikolai and Rowan played out their usual King’s Indian Defence, staying with the familiar set up from the previous match. Watching this game in action, for a long time it was not clear at all who would win the game, as both players were careful with their time management and were battling in a complicated, closed position. The balance started tipping to Rowan’s side, once Nikolai allowed Black to open the position up to their favour. Black’s counterattacking move 23…f3 – clearing the c1-h6 diagonal for the Black Bishop in response to White’s threat on the Black Knight was the last straw that decided the game.
The match can be seen here.
Game No 2: Clash of the Titans II: Rowan – Nikolai 2:0
Nikolai arrived confident due to the strong opening preparation, willing to give Rowan a good fight. Nikolai’s play was positionally sound and brave when needed. The 23…b5 move, exploiting the double pin in White’s position, showed Nikolai’s sharp tactical vision. Unfortunately, under the time pressure for both players (less than one minute each!), Nikolai had a lapse in concentration and blundered his queen in one move in a winning position.
The match can be seen here.
Game No 3: Clash of the Titans II: Nikolai – Rowan 0:3
Half an hour before the game in his Chess lesson, Rowan decided to surprise his opponent with an opening that Rowan has never played before – the Grünfeld Defence. A quick preparation of a few lines and it was time to play. The surprise element is very strong under this time control our Chess Titans were playing with (10min+1sec per move each) that can easily eat up a big chunk of it. Nikolai desperately needed a win to save the match and tried hard to press for a win, but Rowan withstood every White’s threat, winning the game and the match overall.
Well done to both players for a truly exciting match!
The last game that sealed Rowan’s overall win can be seen here.
