[imagefield_assist|fid=14010|preset=fullsize|title=Nick Karlow (pictured) and Zach Kasiurak had to fight their way through some tough competition to claim the title.|desc=|link=none|origsize=|align=left|width=700|height=529]
By Mike Kummer
The 2-on-2 Team Championship featured 18 teams, and couple of college students upset a few of the favorites to claim the title.
"Da Bums" from Washington University represented with a fine performance. Nick Karlow and Zach Kasiurak, ironically dressed in their finest attire, were on fire. The two experts swept the Master team of FM Doug Eckert and NM Richard Benjamin, and then were paired with the other Master team of NM Ron Luther and NM Bob Holliman in the final round.
The duo from Kansas City, appropriately named "Slow Motion," were a half point behind "Da Bums" and needed a win to take clear first. After NM Holliman and Kasiurak drew, all Karlow had to do was draw Luther to secure the title. But Karlow battled on to the win in a wild queen + rook + passed pawns endgame. Chess Expert Joe Garnier and his pupil Clark Berry, team "Twilight Yay," took home the U3600 prize. Clark saved the team by defeating Ken West in the final round to ensure a round four match draw, which was good enough for the cash prize. The U2800 prize was won by an ad hoc team, the "Daggers." Brandon Williams from Quincy, Ill., and Chess Club Ladder winner Matt Flint upset "The Smarties" in the final round to get in the money.
Thanks to everyone for showing up and supporting this fun event. Next year's Championship will feature a $750 guaranteed prize fund, more team prizes, and a reduced entry fee. Stay tuned for a more detailed report in an upcoming e-mail blast, scheduled for Monday, October 17.
2-on-2 Standings
| # | Name | Rtng | Team | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | Rd 3 | Rd 4 | Tot | TBrk[G] | TBrk[M] |
| 1 | DA BUMS | 2083 | 13 | W12 | W8 | W4 | W5 | 4.0 | 7 | 7.5 |
| 2 | BOCA JUNIORS | 2266 | 8 | W9 | L11 | W12 | W8 | 3.0 | 6.5 | 6 |
| 3 | THE LARSONISTS | 1946 | 2 | W17 | L4 | W10 | W7 | 3.0 | 6 | 7 |
| 4 | TEAM ECKERT | 2226 | 4 | W16 | W3 | L1 | W11 | 3.0 | 5.5 | 9 |
| 5 | SLOW MOTION | 2200 | 3 | W15 | D6 | W11 | L1 | 2.5 | 5.5 | 8.5 |
| 6 | TWILIGHT YAY | 1695 | 6 | W14 | D5 | D7 | D9 | 2.5 | 5 | 6.5 |
| 7 | BRUINS | 1594 | 12 | W18 | D9 | D6 | L3 | 2.0 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| 8 | B DRAGON | 1730 | 16 | W13 | L1 | W14 | L2 | 2.0 | 4 | 4.5 |
| 9 | TOP DOGS | 1561 | 18 | L2 | D7 | W16 | D6 | 2.0 | 4 | 4.5 |
| 10 | DAGGERS | 1339 | 17 | L11 | W15 | L3 | W17 | 2.0 | 4 | 3.5 |
| 11 | THE WINNER'S GROUP | 1851 | 10 | W10 | W2 | L5 | L4 | 2.0 | 3.5 | 5.5 |
| 12 | COLTS | 1371 | 14 | L1 | W18 | L2 | D13 | 1.5 | 3.5 | 4.5 |
| 13 | THE TIGERS | 1324 | 9 | L8 | D16 | D15 | D12 | 1.5 | 3 | 4 |
| 14 | HISTORY CLASS | 1324 | 7 | L6 | W17 | L8 | D16 | 1.5 | 3 | 4 |
| 15 | HUSKIES | 1372 | 11 | L5 | L10 | D13 | W18 | 1.5 | 3 | 3.5 |
| 16 | TEAM AWESOME | 1376 | 15 | L4 | D13 | L9 | D14 | 1.0 | 2 | 5 |
| 17 | THE SMARTIES | 1345 | 1 | L3 | L14 | W18 | L10 | 1.0 | 2 | 3.5 |
| 18 | "YOU'VE GOT MATE" | 922 | 5 | L7 | L12 | L17 | L15 | 0.0 | 0 | 4 |
2-on-2 Team Roster and Scores
| Code | Name | Score | TBrk[G] | TBrk[M] | |
| 1 | 13 | Da Bums (2083.0) W12 W8 W4 W5 | 4.0 | 7 | 7.5 |
| NICK W KARLOW (2085) 3.5 Bd: 1 | |||||
| ZACH KASIURAK (2081) 3.5 Bd: 2 | |||||
| 2 | 8 | Boca Juniors (2265.5) W9 L11 W12 W8 | 3.0 | 6.5 | 6 |
| GORAN VOJINOVIC (2567) 3.5 Bd: 1 | |||||
| JAMES LARKIN SMITH (1964) 3.0 Bd: 2 | |||||
| 3 | 2 | The Larsonists (1945.5) W17 L4 W10 W7 | 3.0 | 6 | 7 |
| SPENCER FINEGOLD (2125) 3.0 Bd: 1 | |||||
| MATTHEW W LARSON (1766) 3.0 Bd: 2 | |||||
| 4 | 4 | Team Eckert (2226.5) W16 W3 L1 W11 | 3.0 | 5.5 | 9 |
| DOUG D ECKERT (2245) 2.5 Bd: 1 | |||||
| RICHARD BENJAMIN (2208) 3.0 Bd: 2 | |||||
| 5 | 3 | Slow Motion (2200.5) W15 D6 W11 L1 | 2.5 | 5.5 | 8.5 |
| RONALD G LUTHER (2201) 2.0 Bd: 1 | |||||
| BOB HOLLIMAN (2200) 3.5 Bd: 2 | |||||
| 6 | 6 | Twilight YAY (1695.0) W14 D5 D7 D9 | 2.5 | 5 | 6.5 |
| JOSEPH AN GARNIER (2021) 2.0 Bd: 1 | |||||
| CLARK ZHANG BERRY (1369) 3.0 Bd: 2 | |||||
| 7 | 12 | Bruins (1594.0) W18 D9 D6 L3 | 2.0 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| VIKRAM ARUNA ARUN (1924) 2.5 Bd: 1 | |||||
| DANIEL RAYMON (1264) 2.0 Bd: 2 | |||||
| 8 | 16 | B Dragon (1729.5) W13 L1 W14 L2 | 2.0 | 4 | 4.5 |
| JASON ZHOU (1738) 2.0 Bd: 1 | |||||
| BOB HOWE (1721) 2.0 Bd: 2 | |||||
| 9 | 18 | Top Dogs (1561.0) L2 D7 W16 D6 | 2.0 | 4 | 4.5 |
| WILLIAM NESHAM (1886) 3.0 Bd: 1 | |||||
| KEN WEST (1236) 1.0 Bd: 2 | |||||
| 10 | 17 | Daggers (1339.0) L11 W15 L3 W17 | 2.0 | 4 | 3.5 |
| BRANDON WILLIAMS (1551) 2.0 Bd: 1 | |||||
| MATTHEW FLINT (1127) 2.0 Bd: 2 | |||||
| 11 | 10 | The Winner's Group (1851.0) W10 W2 L5 L4 | 2.0 | 3.5 | 5.5 |
| WILLIAM M TONG (2002) 1.5 Bd: 1 | |||||
| VISHAL BHARADWAJ (1700) 2.0 Bd: 2 | |||||
| 12 | 14 | Colts (1371.0) L1 W18 L2 D13 | 1.5 | 3.5 | 4.5 |
| STEVEN D BANGE (1909) 2.5 Bd: 1 | |||||
| IRIS YI-XIAN ZHOU (833) 1.0 Bd: 2 | |||||
| 13 | 9 | The Tigers (1324.5) L8 D16 D15 D12 | 1.5 | 3 | 4 |
| HAOZHE WANG (1337) 0.0 Bd: 1 | |||||
| TORIN HYLAN (1312) 3.0 Bd: 2 | |||||
| 14 | 7 | History Class (1323.5) L6 W17 L8 D16 | 1.5 | 3 | 4 |
| SCOTT M ANDERSON (1332) 1.0 Bd: 1 | |||||
| AADIT PALANIAPPAN (1315) 2.0 Bd: 2 | |||||
| 15 | 11 | Huskies (1371.5) L5 L10 D13 W18 | 1.5 | 3 | 3.5 |
| ZACHARY LAN SCHUH (1540) 2.0 Bd: 1 | |||||
| COLLETTE WRIGHT (1203) 1.0 Bd: 2 | |||||
| 16 | 15 | Team Awesome (1376.0) L4 D13 L9 D14 | 1.0 | 2 | 5 |
| JONATHAN SCHRANTZ (1451) 2.0 Bd: 1 | |||||
| JEFFREY SCHRANTZ (1301) 0.0 Bd: 2 | |||||
| 17 | 1 | The Smarties (1345.0) L3 L14 W18 L10 | 1.0 | 2 | 3.5 |
| NATHAN TU PHAN (1620) 1.0 Bd: 1 | |||||
| OWEN O BITTING (1070) 1.0 Bd: 2 | |||||
| 18 | 5 | "You've Got Mate" (921.5) L7 L12 L17 L15 | 0.0 | 0 | 4 |
| JONAH LEVI SMITH (1020) 0.0 Bd: 1 | |||||
| ERIK TKACHENKO (823) 0.0 Bd: 2 |
2-on-2 Wall Chart
| # | Name/Rtng/ID | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | Rd 3 | Rd 4 |
| 1 | GORAN VOJINOVIC | B 14 | W 10 | B 13 | W 16 |
| 2567 14119784 Boca Juniors | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 3.5 | |
| 2 | DOUG D ECKERT | W 22 | B 6 | W 7 | B 10 |
| 2245 12107920 Team Eckert | 1.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 2.5 | |
| 3 | RICHARD BENJAMIN | B 28 | W 15 | B 8 | W 18 |
| 2208 12399940 Team Eckert | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | |
| 4 | RONALD G LUTHER | B 21 | W 9 | B 10 | B 7 |
| 2201 10365007 Slow Motion | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | |
| 5 | BOB HOLLIMAN | W 31 | B 23 | W 18 | W 8 |
| 2200 10364833 Slow Motion | 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 3.5 | |
| 6 | SPENCER FINEGOLD | B 19 | W 2 | B 20 | W 12 |
| 2125 12665760 The Larsonists | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 3.0 | |
| 7 | NICK W KARLOW | W 13 | B 16 | B 2 | W 4 |
| 2085 12827792 Da Bums | 0.5 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 3.5 | |
| 8 | ZACH KASIURAK | B 35 | W 17 | W 3 | B 5 |
| 2081 12773968 Da Bums | 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 3.5 | |
| 9 | JOSEPH AN GARNIER | W 25 | B 4 | W 12 | B 14 |
| 2021 12852544 Twilight YAY | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | |
| 10 | WILLIAM M TONG | W 20 | B 1 | W 4 | W 2 |
| 2002 12879755 The Winner's Group | 1.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | |
| 11 | JAMES LARKIN SMITH | W 30 | B 18 | W 35 | B 17 |
| 1964 13362808 Boca Juniors | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | |
| 12 | VIKRAM ARUNA ARUN | B 34 | W 14 | B 9 | B 6 |
| 1924 13048508 Bruins | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.5 | |
| 13 | STEVEN D BANGE | B 7 | W 34 | W 1 | B 24 |
| 1909 12546617 Colts | 0.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 2.5 | |
| 14 | WILLIAM NESHAM | W 1 | B 12 | W 22 | W 9 |
| 1886 13135370 Top Dogs | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | |
| 15 | MATTHEW W LARSON | W 33 | B 3 | W 32 | B 29 |
| 1766 14278511 The Larsonists | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | |
| 16 | JASON ZHOU | B 24 | W 7 | B 25 | B 1 |
| 1738 14085162 B Dragon | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | |
| 17 | BOB HOWE | W 27 | B 8 | W 26 | W 11 |
| 1721 12870683 B Dragon | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | |
| 18 | VISHAL BHARADWAJ | B 32 | W 11 | B 5 | B 3 |
| 1700 12934399 The Winner's Group | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | |
| 19 | NATHAN TU PHAN | W 6 | B 25 | W 34 | W 20 |
| 1620 13278415 The Smarties | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | |
| 20 | BRANDON WILLIAMS | B 10 | W 21 | W 6 | B 19 |
| 1551 12901846 Daggers | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | |
| 21 | ZACHARY LAN SCHUH | W 4 | B 20 | B 24 | W 34 |
| 1540 13760474 Huskies | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | |
| 22 | JONATHAN SCHRANTZ | B 2 | W 24 | B 14 | W 25 |
| 1451 14612073 Team Awesome | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | |
| 23 | CLARK ZHANG BERRY | B 26 | W 5 | B 29 | W 30 |
| 1369 14439534 Twilight YAY | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | |
| 24 | HAOZHE WANG | W 16 | B 22 | W 21 | W 13 |
| 1337 14230826 The Tigers | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| 25 | SCOTT M ANDERSON | B 9 | W 19 | W 16 | B 22 |
| 1332 12924985 History Class | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | |
| 26 | AADIT PALANIAPPAN | W 23 | B 33 | B 17 | W 28 |
| 1315 12920948 History Class | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | |
| 27 | TORIN HYLAN | B 17 | W 28 | B 31 | B 35 |
| 1312 13621321 The Tigers | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | |
| 28 | JEFFREY SCHRANTZ | W 3 | B 27 | W 30 | B 26 |
| 1301 14729148 Team Awesome | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| 29 | DANIEL RAYMON | W 36 | B 30 | W 23 | W 15 |
| 1264 14352370 Bruins | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | |
| 30 | KEN WEST | B 11 | W 29 | B 28 | B 23 |
| 1236 12544320 Top Dogs | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | |
| 31 | COLLETTE WRIGHT | B 5 | W 32 | W 27 | B 36 |
| 1203 13726833 Huskies | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
| 32 | MATTHEW FLINT | W 18 | B 31 | B 15 | W 33 |
| 1127 12787482 Daggers | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | |
| 33 | OWEN O BITTING | B 15 | W 26 | B 36 | B 32 |
| 1070 13536703 The Smarties | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | |
| 34 | JONAH LEVI SMITH | W 12 | B 13 | B 19 | B 21 |
| 1020 13362794 "You've Got Mate" | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| 35 | IRIS YI-XIAN ZHOU | W 8 | B 36 | B 11 | W 27 |
| 833 14467261 Colts | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | |
| 36 | ERIK TKACHENKO | B 29 | W 35 | W 33 | W 31 |
| 823 14524502 "You've Got Mate" | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
