Good End to a Tough Day | Day #2 of World Rapid & Blitz Team Championship

If you haven't read the first part, you can do so here: I BEAT A SUPER-GM!! | Day #1 of World Rapid & Blitz Team Championship

Round 5

It ended up being one of those matches where everything fell apart. Tim got a dream position out of the Caro-Kann as white but suddenly blundered a piece. Julia was better as well, then made a similar mistake and lost material. Oliver also gave away a piece in what was looking like a very promising position. Alexander had a strong position too, but once again, the same story played out. I messed up in a different way. I confused my move order in the opening and allowed a queen sacrifice that gave my opponent full compensation. What’s frustrating is that I already knew this line. I had seen it in a 2023 World Youth game between Agoston Juhasz and Sebastian Lukas Kostolansky. I even remembered spectating it back then because it lined up with something in my own repertoire. But somehow, in the moment, it slipped from my mind.

Even after the queen sacrifice, the position was still objectively drawn, but I didn’t know that during the game and started playing far too passively. That allowed my opponent to take full control. And just to add to the misery, Anton declined a couple of draw offers in his game, trying to push for more, and ended up losing. It was a painful match, and definitely one of our worst team performances of the event.

Round 6

After that, we needed to reset quickly for round six, where we were facing Hammersmith Chess Club. Finally, a team closer to our level. Surely this would be our chance to bounce back. Sadly, the match did not go our way either. I took a draw in what may have been the most lifeless game of my life. It was equal from the start and stayed that way. Anton played below his usual level for most of the game, but to his credit, he managed to fight back and salvage a draw. Tim blundered an exchange against some very underrated little kid. Julia was completely crushing her opponent but ended up losing in time trouble during a hectic final scramble. Alexander wasn’t able to do more than draw his game. Oliver, at least, won his game convincingly, but by then the match was already lost.

We lost 3.5 to 2.5, which was frustrating because we had so many chances. At this point, our hopes of claiming the under-2200 prize were looking faint. But the day wasn’t done.

Round 7

Round seven brought us up against a team called The London Legends. What followed was one of the most painful games of my life. Edvin was worse out of the opening, but his opponent suddenly gifted him a full piece without any explanation. Julia went for a very ambitious Greek gift sacrifice that didn’t work out tactically, and she lost. Oliver, as usual, pulled through and won his game. Anton played a clean and convincing game to get another full point. But then Alexander blundered early in the opening and got hit with a brutal attack that ended his game fast. That meant everything came down to my board. I got a very comfortable position in the Catalan and felt confident I would convert it.

But then, for no clear reason, I lost focus and allowed counterplay. Suddenly the position was equal. I could have bailed out and taken the draw, which would have won us the match. But mentally, I had already spiraled, and instead I dropped a piece in one move. That moment will probably haunt me for a while.

Round 8

After that collapse, I felt terrible and honestly didn’t want to play round eight. But the team convinced me to push through. We were up against the Danish Futures, and obviously the pride of Sweden was on the line. I played against the 2400-rated Rasmus Skytte, and to be fair, he just outplayed me. I wasn’t in the right mindset and he was simply stronger.

But here’s the twist! It didn’t even matter. Julia bounced back and won her game with a beautiful finish. Oliver continued his insane streak and won in the endgame. Anton took a practical quick draw. Edvin was completely winning but lost track of the thread and let it slip. But then! Alexander, who had been struggling earlier in the day, cheesed his opponent and won with brilliant tactical play. We had done it. We won the match and finally ended the day on a high!

Alexander Ström-Engdahl against Nicolai Kistrup (Photo taken by Phimelon Wehinger)

We celebrated the only way a group of budget chess tourists could... With some McDonald’s! Spirits were back up. There are still four rounds to go, and the dream of winning the under-2200 prize is still alive.