PRO Chess League Quarterfinals: Armenia, Canada Advance To Finals
The Armenia Eagles and Canada Chessbrahs have advanced to the PRO Chess League Finals in Norway at ChessParty2020.
The Eagles and the Chessbrahs are the final teams to secure their spots in the finals and the final four is set!
The PRO Chess League will make an announcement on Twitter later this week regarding the dates of the finals and how the league will be taking the safety of all of the players and fans into full consideration.
Armenia Eagles Knock Out New York Marshalls 9.5-6.5
Heading into the match, some viewed the Eastern Division Champion Armenia Eagles as an underdog against the mighty New York Marshalls. The first round supported this idea, with the Marshalls surging to a 3-1 start.
In round two, the Eagles soared back into the match with a 3.5-0.5 score! The turning point seemed to occur when the Eagles' GM Zaven Andriasian trapped GM Hikaru Nakamura's queen after 32.f3??
During the live broadcast, GM Georg Meier commented: "Any Armenian having a good day is a force in blitz/rapid!" What happens if more than one Armenian is having a good day? Both GM Tigran Petrosian and Andrisian won three in a row. After the first round, Armenia finished the match with a score of 8.5/12.
Armenia's fourth board, Petrosian, scored 3.5/4 while Andriasian had 3/4 and GM Parham Maghsoodloo had 2.5/4. Petrosian's fantastic performance ended not on the board but with a smile after his final round victory.
The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat both on simultaneous display. @Armenian_Eagles' GM Tigran Petrosyan can't help but smile!#prochess pic.twitter.com/hFp9NllTnO
— PROChessLeague (@PROChessLeague) March 12, 2020
The Eagles are returning to the Live PRO Chess League Finals for the third time in three years as they look to regain the PCL Championship title.
Canada Chessbrahs Defeat Chicago Wind 9.5-6.5
The Canada Chessbrahs were logically considered the heavy favorite heading into the match. The Chessbrahs' insanely strong lineup consists of world number-four GM Alexander Grischuk, world number-11 GM Anish Giri (both are 2020 Candidates tournament participants), the young superstar GM Alireza Firouzja, and the original Chessbrah GM Eric Hansen playing on board four.
The score was level after the first round, but the Chessbrahs took control in round two with Grishuk defeating GM Jorge Cori and Hansen making a statement win against GM Illia Nyzhnyk.
Huge win by the king chessbrah @hansenchess as he beats @IlliaNyzhnyk with the Black pieces #prochess
— PROChessLeague (@PROChessLeague) March 13, 2020
Full Game Link: https://t.co/OQELvyalNl pic.twitter.com/bVsGRsbyBb
At the halfway point, the Chessbrahs were ahead with a 5-3 score, but the Wind were ready for a fight in round three. All four of the games were decisive, but the round ended up 2-2 with Firouzja defeating GM Alexandr Shimanov, GM Ray Robson defeating Giri, Nyzhnyk defeating Grischuk and then Hansen coming in with another clutch victory (this time against Cori).
Heading into the final round, the Chessbrahs were up 7-5. They won the final round with a 2.5/4 score though things looked hairy for a moment as Alireza Firouzja got into trouble and ultimately lost a spectacular game against Cori. Saving the day, both Grischuk and Hansen won their final round games to turn the tide and secure match victory for the Chessbrahs.
The hero of the day was the Chessbrahs' famous manager, Hansen. He put up a 3.5/4 score to help the Chessbrahs advance to the finals for the first time.
The @chessbrahTV win. If @hansenchess scored 1.5/4 or less, as many predicted, the @ChicagoWindPCL would be going to the live #prochess final. Instead Hansen had a monster performance to lead the Chessbrahs to their first Final Four pic.twitter.com/ehhhRz2W5C
— PROChessLeague (@PROChessLeague) March 13, 2020
The Eagles and the Chessbrahs will face off in the Semifinals in Norway at ChessParty 2020. For more on ChessParty 2020, check out the promotional video below, but take note that the PRO Chess League will make an announcement on Twitter later this week regarding the dates of the finals and how the league will be taking the safety of all of the players and fans into full consideration.
