Wesley So became the inaugural winner of Clutch Chess, a new online tournament that was created by Grandmaster Maurice Ashley and hosted by the Saint Louis Chess Club. As the grand prize winner, Wesley So has won a total of $40,000 during the competition.
Grandmaster (GM) Fabiano Caruana (World number 2), GM Wesley So (World number 8), GM Leinier Dominguez (World number 6 in Rapid) and GM Hikaru Nakamura (World number 1 in Blitz) were the top four American chess superstars that battled online during Clutch Chess from Tuesday, May 26, 2020, through Friday, May 29, 2020.
Compared to other chess tournaments, Clutch Chess featured a different type of prize breakdown and scoring. Bonus money of $10,000 was awarded to players who delivered victories in the clutch games in each match, while drawn clutch games rolled the money into the end of the match. This new prize structure means the final two games could be worth as much as $30,000 for a victory - as much as the first-place prize.
In the semifinals So gritted out a victory over Nakamura, while Caruana dominated in his match with Dominguez.
The final match was a very close battle with the opponents finishing neck-to-neck but Wesley So came out on the top thanks to a better tiebreak as he scored more points in critical clutch games.
“I am so happy right now to win the first-ever Clutch Chess tournament. Today was up and down but I am so relieved on the final outcome as in a two-game blitz match anything can happen. I’ve had the opportunity to play some of the strongest players, Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana, in this new tournament,” said So.
Expert commentary was provided by Grandmaster’s Yasser Seirawan and Maurice Ashley and Woman Grandmaster Jennifer Shahade throughout the tournament.
The exciting knockout format led to unexpected and uncompromising play throughout the tournament, including:
- Nakamura demonstrated why he’s an incredibly rapid and online player when he went into what Maurice Ashley called “swindle mode.” While down three pawns, he caused enough complications to ultimately save a draw in the second game of his match against Wesley So.
- Caruana was unstoppable in his first match, winning four out of the first six games. He was in the driver’s seat the entire time, winning another four games on day two to clinch the match. Caruana pocketed $10,000 in clutch prizes during the semifinals and went on to win a total of $38,000 by the tournament’s end.
- Dominguez, one of the highest-rated rapid players on earth, played with tenacious defense throughout the match, snagging several wins against Caruana. His ability to maintain a strong defense, combined with the unique scoring system, gave chances to the very end. In his postgame interview, Fabiano said “it still came down to the last two games. I realized if he wins the last two he can catch me. It was strange; I felt like after I won that Berlin endgame [game 10] I should win, the match should be over, but I realized there was still a lot to play for.”
- Wesley So ended the first day of the semifinals trailing Hikaru Nakamura by one point; he took his revenge on day two, winning rounds 7, 8, and 9 and finally the match. The final match between Wesley So and Fabiano Caruana was a back-and-forth affair, with Wesley winning a crucial victory early on. That decisive win ultimately secured him the match victory and the 1st place prize.
Final standings:
|
Place |
Name |
Total Winnings |
Clutch Bonus |
|
1 |
Wesley So |
$40,000 |
$10,000 |
|
2 |
Fabiano Caruana |
$38,000 |
$18,000 |
|
3-4 |
Hikaru Nakamura |
$12,000 |
$2,000 |
|
3-4 |
Leinier Dominguez |
$10,000 |
$0 |
|
Total prize fund |
$100,000 |
"Despite this unprecedented time and the inability to hold in-person tournaments, we’re passionate about continuing to innovate and bring new opportunities to the world of chess, not only to the players but also to the fans,” said Tony Rich, Executive Director of the Saint Louis Chess Club. “We’re thrilled with how the first Clutch Chess tournament went and are excited for the upcoming Clutch Chess International scheduled for June 6 - 14, 2020, and expanding to an international field with eight players.”
“We were extremely impressed by everyone’s enterprising and aggressive play throughout the Clutch Chess tournament,” said Maurice Ashley. “I was most definitely in awe of how Wesley So showed so much heart to come back and win after losing a devastating game eight.”
For more information about Clutch Chess, read daily recaps and re-watch the games with commentary, visit uschesschamps.com.
Text and photo: Official site
