Harshit Sets Up Mizzou-SLU Semifinal, UTRGV Eliminates Athens

The semifinalists for the 2024 Collegiate Chess League (CCL) have been decided after The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) staved off a late comeback by the National Technical University of Athens, while the University of Missouri (Mizzou) stormed to a 10-6 victory over The University of Texas Dallas (UT Dallas).

GMs Gleb Dudin (3/4) and Raja Harshit (3.5/4) were the heroes for their respective teams and with these results, UTRGV will clash with Webster University, and Mizzou will face Saint Louis University (SLU) to decide who will go through to the grand final.

The CCL semifinals will take place on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET/20:00 CET/0:30 a.m. IST.

Collegiate Chess League Playoffs - Standings

• Comeback Falls Short: UTRGV 8.5-7.5 Athens
• Harshit Stars: Mizzou 10-6 UT Dallas

Comeback Falls Short: UTRGV 8.5-7.5 Athens

UTRGV, who had a mediocre showing in the regular season relative to their lofty standards, began their finals campaign in style with a 4-0 match-one victory over Athens. Showing signs of great form, UTRGV's board-two Dudin capped off the round with a puzzle-worthy finish for the fans.

With GMs Dudin and Viktor Gazik picking up wins quickly in the second round, Athens' hopes of playing in the semifinals in their first CCL season looked to be going down in flames. This match would have a few twists, as Athens managed to score 1.5/2 on the remaining boards, courtesy of IM Dimitris Alexakis' win over IM Ekin Ozenir and a draw between GM Andreas Kelires and IM Juraj Druska.

Already within two points of claiming the match, UTRGV was still the firm favorite going into round three, but then the unthinkable occurred. With their backs against the wall, Athens mounted a comeback of epic proportions. With the points 1.5-1.5 split in round three, the final game between Gazik and Alexakis would determine Athens' fate. 

Up the exchange, UTRGV's board one opted to play for the win, a decision he would later rue following a blunder in time pressure on the 48th move. Confident that he could still draw the knight and pawn vs. two-pawn ending, Gazik blitzed out moves including the erroneous 59...Ke5??, which gifted the Athens board-two the win.

this was absolutely insane pic.twitter.com/pkjE2IhhZX

— CollegiateChessLeague (@CollegiateChess) March 16, 2024

With the scores poised at 8-4, Athens would have needed a 4-0 miracle to tie the match and, though they eventually came up one point short, the comeback was almost "the most historic" in the history of the league. In the end, a board-one draw between Gazik and Kelires proved decisive in the match, with Kelires taking a repetition perhaps doubting that his team would be capable of a sweep.

For UTRGV, whom Bok sees as one of the top contenders for the 2024 CCL season, the match was a mixed bag. While Dudin's performance was a highlight, consistency across all four rounds will be a necessity if they want to overcome their powerhouse semifinal opponent, Webster University.

Harshit Stars: Mizzou 10-6 UT Dallas

Team Mizzou has had a gold-or-nothing approach this season, and the prospect of a matchup with their in-state rivals SLU in the semifinals seemed to spur on the four-GM team on Saturday. For UT Dallas, who were the runners-up in the 2023 season, this was an opportunity to avenge their 11-5 loss at the hands of Mizzou in week two of the regular season.

A 2-2 tie to kick off the match was the perfect curtain-raiser for the clash, and the brutal nature of chess was on full display as UT Dallas' GM Ivan Schitco played with 92.6-percent accuracy yet still managed to lose after a single mistake.

The dynamic duo of Oparin and Antipov helped Mizzou pull away in the second round, the latter's win over IM Andrei Macovei came after Black allowed White to capture en passant, leaving too many weaknesses for Antipov to target.

A testament to the depth of Mizzou's CCL team this year, Harshit, who in a post-match interview told Lee and Bok that "the King's Gambit" is one of his favorite openings, finished on 3.5/4, the highest of his team.

you know we're expecting to see this from you now, right, Harshit? pic.twitter.com/vz2MX1d0Gu

— CollegiateChessLeague (@CollegiateChess) March 16, 2024

With the scores matching the day's earlier match after two rounds, UT Dallas felt bullish about their chances of a comeback. However, Mizzou continued to play consistently in rounds three and four, quashing any hope of a Texan resurgence.

The final score between the two teams was 10-6, and when all was said and done, one game stood tall above the rest. Our Game of the Day, which is a Sicilian Defense: Freak Attack that features two brilliant moves, has been analyzed by GM Rafael Leitao.

Thanks to their victory, Mizzou will go on to face SLU in a grudge match between the teams. Bok vehemently backs his Saint Louis comrades as "the favorites," although a Mizzou team stacked with players like Harshit, Oparin, and Antipov—who are firing on all cylinders—should come down to the wire.

The Collegiate Chess League is the premier online chess competition for college students. The 2024 CCL Spring Season is a team event starting January 20 at 2 p.m. ET/20:00 CET/0:30 a.m. IST and featuring a $25,000 prize fund.

Previous reports:

• Win Prizes In The Spring 2024 CCL Predictions Challenge
• Saint Louis Breaks Webster's Winning Streak, Missouri Defeats Rio Grande
• Webster Reaches 5-0, Rio Grande Beats Reigning Champions
• Webster Extends Winning Streak, Dallas Grows Comeback
• Perfect Scores By Harsha, Bok Lead Webster, Saint Louis To The Top
• Saint Louis University Records 15-1 Win Over Prague; Webster Rules In Overtime
• Webster Scores Debut Victory vs. Athens As 2024 Collegiate Chess League Begins
• Registrations Open For The Collegiate Chess League Spring 2024 Season