[imagefield_assist|fid=16024|preset=fullsize|lightbox=true|title=Lindenwood University Freshman Micah Losee was one of six LU students who participated in the 2-on-2 Team Championship.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=700|height=467]
By Mike Kummer
A total of 17 teams of two came out to compete for a guaranteed prize fund of $750 over a pleasant Columbus Day weekend. Unlike most of the previous team events held at the CCSCSL, the No. 1-seeded team was not the father-son duo of Ben and Spencer Finegold, rather it was Lindenwood University teammates International Masters Priyadharshan Kannapanan and Levan Bregadze. But in a team tourney with a fast time control (G/70 with a five-second delay), anything can happen.
In the first round, the Lindenwood team, "LU Lions," were paired against "Mini-Me and Dr. Evil," otherwise known as the father-son tandem of FM Doug Eckert and his son, Brett. So in just the first round, spectators were treated to the titanic match-up of FM Eckert, the No. 4 seed overall, playing white vs. the No. 2 seed IM Kannappan. IM Bregadze won his game early over his outmatched opponent so all Kannappan needed was a draw to clinch the match. FM Eckert wisely declined a draw in the middlegame and got an advantage in the endgame. Kannappan was low on time and material but not low on heart. Despite being down a bishop, he consolidated all the mating material off the board to force the draw and win the round one match for his team.
The Finegolds, who used a couple Super GMs to build their team name of "Caruana & Carlsen," dispensed yet another father-son tandem to remain perfect. Things weren't so difficult for the "LU Lions" in round two as they took care of "Charlie Checkmate and the Oakland Kid" (a.k.a. Michael and David Askin). The Finegolds overpowered Lindenwood's "B" team, "the BMF's," in round two. Going into round three, there were only three teams perfect: the "LU Lions," "Caruana & Carlsen," and "The Club," which was made up of CCSCSL Executive Director Tony Rich and Scholastic Coordinator Matt Barrett.
"The Club" was paired against a pair of Washington University students in round three, so that meant the much-anticipated match-up was upon us. As expected, IM Bregadze got the better of NM Spencer Finegold meaning GM Finegold was forced to play for a win to draw the match. Finegold had the advantage on the board and also a big time advantage. He also had a rook, a knight in his opponent's territory and three pawns to Kannappan's rook, bishop and three pawns. Finegold had well over a minute to Kannappan's seven seconds. But with the five-second delay, the young Lindenwood IM still had a chance. Finegold, in severe time pressure of his own, pushed his passed e-pawn to the sixth rank in an attempt to get a new queen. But lo and behold, by pushing the pawn, it allowed his knight to be pinned to his king. Doh!
Kannapan got the miracle he was looking for as he chopped the knight off the board and advanced his pawns to a thrilling victory! Who says chess isn't a spectator sport? In round four, the "LU Lions" were paired agaisnt "The Club" which had drawn the team from Wash U in the previous round. Amazingly, Barrett was able to draw the IM but it wasn't enough as Kannappan could not be denied on this day and defeated Rich. The "LU Lions" took clear 1st, which was good for $300, and Kannapan's rating broke the 2500 mark.
The Wash U teammates finished strong by defeating the Eckert team 1.5-.5 to take the U3800 prize. Owen Bitting's ad hoc team with Tom Gaul was a bit of genius. Their combined rating of 3194 put them in prime position to snatch the U3200 prize. They got two match points, which was good for a tie for 1st place U3200. They split the prize with the Rainbow Warriors, the brainchild of CCSCSL Scholastic Coordinator Alex Vergilesov. He teamed up with an underrated instructor to compete for the U2800 prize. The strategy worked out as Ben Conover (796) scored the upset of the tourney by defeating a 1700 in the first round.
The 2-on-2 Team Championship was another fun event as players got to play alongside their family and friends for the day. The event featured the top 10 boards relayed simultaneously on the internet via DGT Boards.
Check out the final standings, and download all the exciting games by clicking the link here.
