For the first time in what we hope to become the tradition, FIDE and Chess.com brought chess to the Olympic Esports Series (OES). This global virtual and simulated sports competition created by the International Olympic Committee culminated in spectacular Finals in Singapore on June 23-24.

42,000 players from 219 countries participated in qualifying events, but only eight players went through it all to find themselves in beautiful Singapore for the Olympic Esports Series Finals: GM Samvel Ter-Sahakyan, GM Oleksandr Bortnyk, GM Alexey Sarana, GM Bassem Amin, GM Maksim Chigaev, GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son, GM Aleksandr Rakhmanov, GM Goh Wei Ming Kevin, GM Tin Jingyao (Singapore wildcard), IM Irene Kharisma Sukandar (female wildcard). 

The fight in the Pool Stage on Day 1 of the Finals was fierce. Maksim Chigaev and Alexey Sarana won their Pools, and Ngoc Truong Son Nguyen and Aleksandr Rakhmanov emerged as runners-up to enter a knockout stage.

In the semis, the future winner Alexey Sarana defeated Ngoc Truong Son Nguyen. He started with two wins in the first two games and needed just a draw in the remaining two. Ngoc Truong Son Nguyen bounced back in the third, keeping the intrigue alive. The fourth game was wild. Ngoc Truong Son Nguyen playing with the white pieces had a winning position but let the chance slip as Black found a perpetual check and a much needed draw that let Sarana advance to the final. 

In the final, Alexey Sarana showed excellent chess against the eventual silver trophy winner Maksim Chigaev, winning all three games to confidently claim the overall victory. Ngoc Truong Son Nguyen prevailed over Aleksandr Rakhmanov in the match for the third place and brought home a bronze trophy. You can replay the games on Chess.com.

Congratulations to the winners and huge thanks to the International Olympic Committee for such an amazing event!

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