| FYERS American Gambits | 7-8 | Alpine SG Pipers |
|---|---|---|
| GM Nakamura, Hikaru | 1-1 | GM Caruana, Fabiano |
| GM Artemiev, Vladislav | 1-1 | GM Giri, Anish |
| GM Rapport, Richard | 1-1 | GM Praggnanandhaa R |
| GM Assaubayeva, Bibisara | 0-4 | GM Hou, Yifan |
| IM Injac, Teodora | 1-1 | GM Batsiashvili, Nino |
| GM Murzin, Volodar | 3-0 | GM Mendonca, Leon Luke |
The Alpine SG Pipers survived a nail-biting thriller to edge past the FYERS American Gambits 8-7 in Match 26 at the Royal Opera House. In a match dominated by draws across the top boards, Hou Yifan’s commanding victory proved the difference as both teams traded blows in a tense encounter that went down to the wire.
Stalemate at the Summit
The match began with high-level chess producing minimal fireworks. The icon board featured a fascinating battle between Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana that exploded into a complex endgame. Both superstars fought tooth and nail, creating chances and launching attacks, but neither could land the decisive blow. After 48 moves of intense maneuvering, the players agreed to split the point.
Board two delivered more of the same as Vladislav Artemiev and Anish Giri engaged in an 83-move marathon. The game featured everything—material sacrifices, king hunts, and endless technical precision. Despite all the drama, neither player could break through, with the draw keeping both teams level.
Richard Rapport and Praggnanandhaa extended the stalemate streak on board three. After 62 moves of fierce competition, including advanced passed pawns and relentless pressure, the game ended in repetition. With three straight draws, the match outcome hinged entirely on the bottom three boards.
Hou Delivers the Knockout
Hou Yifan provided the game-changing moment on board four. Against Bibisara Assaubayeva, the former Women’s World Champion demonstrated her championship pedigree with clinical precision. After outplaying Assaubayeva in the opening, Hou methodically converted her advantage through the endgame. The resignation on move 35 handed the Pipers crucial points and gave them control of the match.
Draws Keep It Close
Board five offered no relief to either side as Teodora Injac and Nino Batsiashvili battled to an exhausting 64-move draw. Despite Batsiashvili creating dangerous threats with passed pawns late in the game, Injac defended resourcefully to hold the position. The draw meant everything would come down to the final board.
Murzin’s Redemption
The prodigy board delivered the match-deciding drama—but not enough to flip the result. Volodar Murzin bounced back from his previous loss with a brilliant performance against Leon Luke Mendonca. After building steady pressure, Murzin launched a devastating attack that Mendonca couldn’t contain. The resignation on move 69 cut the deficit to a single point, but it came too late to save the Gambits.
One Point Separates Rivals
The 8-7 scoreline perfectly captures this thriller. With three draws on the top boards ensuring parity, Hou Yifan’s dominant performance proved decisive. Her 4-point haul carried the Pipers to victory, while Murzin’s late surge fell just short of forcing a comeback.
Finest of Margins
For the Alpine SG Pipers, this narrow escape demonstrates championship resilience. When the top boards delivered nothing but draws, Hou stepped up when it mattered most. Her commanding victory showcased why she remains one of the world’s elite players.
The FYERS American Gambits will rue missed opportunities. Despite Murzin’s redemption on the prodigy board, Assaubayeva’s loss on board four proved costly. In a format where every point matters, losing by a single point after being so close stings.
This match proved that in rapid team chess, one player can change everything. Today, that player was Hou Yifan—and her brilliance made all the difference.
