IAF Antichess World Championship 2024

By @Xiped and @ZendiScar
Photo credit: insta @cvisserphotography

An Historic Occurence

As the event was previously known as the IAF Open European Antichess Championship, this year we introduce ourselves under a different name. With the 3rd installment of this prestigious event many challenges were overcome and bounderies have been pushed. Hours of hard work by @BBLGL, @ZendiScar and a loyal team of volunteers, it was time to host an event that hasn't been held in 23 years: an Antichess OTB World Championship! And what an event it turned out to be! Welcome to the IAF Antichess World Championship!

With returning players like @neverplayfastanti, @Kex09, @Bertfighter, and @Chessdemon989, the competition was fierce. First-time participants like @TheUnknownGuyReborn, @mental_suicide, and @bwmtone added to the excitement, making it a thrilling tournament.

The First Day

The first day already proved difficulty to come out victorious at the event. Many favorites and outsiders for the title were dropping points left and right. @ZendiScar impressed by scoring 4.5 out of 5 points, drawing with @neverplayfastanti and beating @Pebblerye, @bwmtone, @mental_suicide, and @TheUnknownGuyReborn.

Second game of the tournament already rewarded spectators with dramatic facial expressions and antichess drama: @ZendiScar very tensely observing the position while waiting for @TheUnknownGuyReborn to make a move.

@TheUnknownGuyReborn unable to find a good way to continue the position.

On a different table: The brothers Verschuer from Germany. Young at heart, but assured to show their mastery in antichess, they shocked the tournament in round 2! Both players beating higher-rated players @maxoubar and @UglySwede with a very convincing game.

After the lunchbreak, the competition heated up. By the end of day one, only 1.5 points separated 2nd and 16th place! @neverplayfastanti was in the lead (as usual) with 10.5 out of 13 points. Could anyone deny him the world title on the second day?

Amidst the harsh fought battles a steady @DrunkPolo settled for second place after day 1. but with 16th place being so close behind? Could he maintain that performance and bring home a trophy? A silent but deadly @Xiped clinched victories left and right. Beating @bwmtone and @mental_suicide granted him a 4th place halfway through the tournament.

For the Dutch championship, contestants @Pebblerye and @ZendiScar did not allow each other an inch of space. Tying the position on day 1 all was to be decided on the second day...

The new generation was well represented at the event: The brothers Verschuer against each other at the 2nd table. @Daarts (left) vs. @JKM_SG (right) at the front. @Daarts was able to pull off an impressive draw against @Bertfighter and completely wiped the floor with @ZendiScar during these two days!

The Second day

The difficulty to rise out on top of the standings in a two day event should not be underestimated. While many players performed much better than was anticipated beforehand on the first day. Continuing such a performance is not an easy feat. Higly ranked players like @TheUnkownGuyReborn, @Bertfighter and @Kex09 had a rough start, ending in the midfield on the first day, but unleashed their mastery of the game on the second day. But with @neverplayfastanti out of reach, only two prizes remained to be claimed.

@ZendiScar and @Pebblerye were once again close in the standings for the Dutch Championship. @ZendiScar leading by a half point in the penultimate round the pairings were tough on him. As he had to pull off a draw or better against a very well performing @DrunkPolo. @Pebblerye won his last round match, while @ZendiScar, under pressure, made a critical mistake in a drawn position. Congrats to @Pebblerye for extending last year's victory!

A resilient @TheUnkownGuyReborn had a near perfect sheet on the second day as only Kex09 was able to beat him that sunday. In the end it proved to be enough to claim 2nd place! Concrats TUGR!

Everyone has agreed that @TheUnknownGuyReborn 's (left) hat was key in his outstanding performance as he secured victory against IAF president @bwmtone (right).

What about @Kex09? The only player capable of beating TUGR would surely mean a 3rd place... right...? ...not if the surprise of the tournament has anything to say about that: @DrunkPolo ! He maintained an outstanding performance! That’s right, @DrunkPolo ‘s performance went beyond the bounderies of space and time and forced a tiebreaker game against @Kex09 as they drew for 3rd place. A dramatic tie-breaker had to decide who would claim 3rd place!

Everyone watching 2 greats going at it in an all deciding final game.

In the end, @DrunkPolo moved his pieces where he should, winning the game and rewarding himself with 3rd place!

But for 1st place, there was no doubt. Losing only once during the entire event, @neverplayfastanti was the clear winner. His Antichess skills are unmatched, finding powerful moves in the most challenging positions. He kept his title for the 3rd year in a row – The OTB Antichess World Champion: @neverplayfastanti!

The Experience

Drama, heroics, friendship, fancy socks and a nice hat. These words would ultimately describe what has been an extraordinary weekend. Players from four continents showed up to compete for the Antichess World Title, making it a memorable experience. Everyone, on behalf of the organizers, volunteers and competitors: we thank you! It is the greatest gift to see everyone have such a wonderful time. We look forward to continuing this tradition with passion and can't wait to see everyone next year!

From left to right top: @Pebblerye, @Chessbear63, @AlfredDuffyer, @UglySwede, @DrunkPolo, @neverplayfastanti, @marc47, @TheUnknownGuyReborn, @bwmtone, @maxoubar, @Kex09, @Tinker_bell, @Xiped Bottom: @Daarts, @ZendiScar, @Bertfighter, @mental_suicide

To you, dear reader: @BBLGL and @ZendiScar are always looking for valuable input on how to improve the event! Can we request 5 minutes of your time to fill in this survey: https://forms.gle/7G6vgJfrrMuwY8UTA

Thank you very much for your help!

Study of the games played during the event: