PogChamps 3: Negreanu Wins Exciting Match Against Rubius
PogChamps 3 and the battle for the GRIP6 championship belt continues! Though the xQc-Pokimane match was postponed due to the storm in Texas, the other contenders more than made up for it with their exciting games.
Poker star Daniel Negreanu started the day with a full house: two wins against Rubius. Benjyfishy also dominated in his matches, taking both wins decisively.
During PogChamps 3, Chess.com will match up to $100,000 in donations to the participants’ preferred non-profit organizations. Please read this article to see how PogChamps is supporting charities, and how you can help yourself!
Negreanu Goes All In, Rubius Folds
Daniel Negreanu raked in all the chips in this match, getting both wins against Rubius.
Both players started strongly in the first game, maintaining the tension into the middlegame. The game seemed dead even until the floodgates opened and a wild exchange of pieces occured. After the dust settled, Negreanu emerged with a large time advantage and the poker star was able to seize the initiative. A few moves later, Rubius resigned.
In game two, Rubius' cat Wilson brought him good luck, and the Spanish streamer set up a powerful attack with the black pieces. Negreanu boldly pushed his g-pawn and h-pawn up the board, an idea frowned upon by the commentators, but which paid off later.
Rubius answered with his own clever tactics, but in the final ten seconds he mis-clicked his queen and the game fell apart. Rubius dropped more pieces, and Daniel delivered a back-rank checkmate with support from his advanced g-pawn.
All Games
Benjy Shoots Down Neeko's Bird
Benjyfishy was at the top of his game today, and took out Neeko quickly in both games. Neeko had little time to prepare for the match after traveling from snow-swept Texas, where many have lost internet, electricity, and even water. She flew from Dallas, Texas to California in order to be able to play today.
Neeko used her beloved Bird's opening, which she has a lot of practice with, but Benjy was extremely well-prepared and picked apart Neeko's defenses for a quick checkmate.
Game two lasted longer, but ultimately had the same result—Benjyfishy played like a machine, with sharp and precise moves that kept him in control to the end. With this example of his strength, Benjy is looking like a contender to win the entire tournament!
Benjy is training very hard and doing daily lessons with GM Jon Ludvig Hammer to prepare for his upcoming match with Sardoche. More excitement soon to come!
All Games
Make sure to tune into Chess.com's daily coverage of PogChamps 3 presented by GRIP6 at 11:45 a.m. Pacific (20:45 Central Europe) on Chess.com/tv.
GRIP6 is an American manufacturing company dedicated to making the best belts, wallets, and wool socks. Visit GRIP6.com/PogChamps to enter into the ultimate PogChamps giveaway. GRIP6, Built to wear, not to wear out.
As Guayakí celebrates 25 years of regenerative yerba mate, they want to thank YOU for being a part of their mission achievement to steward and restore over 200,000 acres of rainforest by sharing cases during PogChamps 3. Come To Life at Guayaki.com/chess.
Previous Coverage:
- PogChamps 3 Presented by GRIP6 Announcement
- PogChamps 3: All The Information
- Rubius Joins Final PogChamps 3 Field
- Play Chess Against PogChamps 3 Bots
- PogChamps 3: Pokimane Refutes Negreanu's Englund Gambit
- PogChamps 3: Rainn Wilson Wins Despite Two Botez Gambits
- PogChamps 3: Ludwig Wins Bet, MrBeast Donates $10,000
