SRM Leaps Back Into First, UCLA Defeats Illinois

SRM clinched first place in Division I of the 2024 Collegiate Chess League (CCL) Fall Season in the last week of the regular season. In Division II, UCLA defeated Illinois with a round to spare.

SRM's top three boards, IM A Ra Harikrishnan, IM Srihari L, and IM Manish Cristiano, each scored 3.5/4 to gain a massive score vs. Virginia. Bhavik Ahuja, UCLA's top scorer, also achieved 3.5/4.

The playoffs begin on Saturday, November 16, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET/20:00 CET/12:30 a.m. IST.

Division I - Week 7 Standings

In the last week of the regular season, we review matches from Divisions I and II.

• SRM Undefeated on Top Three Boards: Virginia 4-12 SRM
• UCLA Wins With Round To Spare: Illinois 7.5-8.5 UCLA

SRM Undefeated on Top Three Boards: Virginia 4-12 SRM

Beginning the match in seventh, Virginia was in a must-win position to make the playoffs. Meanwhile, after suffering their first loss in week six to Missouri, SRM needed a victory to finish in the top two. With so much on the line for both teams, a compelling matchup was in store.

SRM started with a one-point lead, scoring 2.5-1.5. Srihari stirred up tactical play in the ending to defeat Alex Shrauger.

In the next round, SRM won on three boards, growing their lead to three points. With his king under fire, IM Manish Cristiano discovered a table-turning counterpunch vs. FM Jason Morefield. 

SRM achieved their best round yet in the third, nearly sweeping with 3.5/0.5. This brought SRM to nine points, clinching the match and putting them within a half point of first overall. 

They were more than up to the task in the final round, scoring 3-1 to close out the match. Harikrishnan set from tactical fireworks from start to finish vs. Morefield.

UCLA Wins With Round To Spare: Illinois 7.5-8.5 UCLA

Two competitive teams in Division II, Illinois (UIUC) and UCLA, faced each other with fairly close lineups in ratings. 

UCLA started guns ablazing, scoring 3.5-0.5. Sacrificing a knight and later a rook, Ashton Jin won a sensational miniature vs. Krishna Nathan. This is our Game of the Day, with analysis by GM Rafael Leitao.

Unfortunately for Illinois, their board four, FM Sharvesh Deviprasath, forfeited the first two rounds, giving UCLA two free points. UCLA reached 6.5 by round two―already within two points of winning the match. FM Shaashwath Sivakumar generated an unstoppable mating attack vs. Eric Zhang in 23 moves.

In round three, Illinois's missing board four, Deviprasath, showed up in the nick of time to give his team a fighting chance. They battled UCLA to a 2-2 split, yet it was just enough for the Bruins to clinch the match with a round to spare.

Sivakumar's king led his army to victory in a bishop pair vs. knight pair ending against Nathan. 

With the pressure off and all their players present, Illinois swept the last round 4/4, ultimately finishing just a point behind their opponents, 7.5-8.5. After the match, UCLA's board two, Jin, shared: 

Something I really like about this UCLA team is we’re very well-rounded. Like today, I didn’t have my best day, but it was really easy for my teammates to pick me up.

On our team, there’s no international master. There’s no grandmaster. We’re all at a somewhat similar level. So, one week, I might go 4/4, and another week, I might go 1/4, but all of us are capable of carrying the load for a certain week.

Something I really like about this UCLA team is we’re very well-rounded.

—Ashton Jin

In the Division I Quarterfinals, Missouri will face Yale while Saint Louis will duel Athens. We will see SRM and UT Rio Grande in the Semifinals. As the top two finishers, they automatically advance into the second week of the playoffs.

The Collegiate Chess League is the premier online chess competition for college students. The 2024 CCL Fall Season is a team event that started September 28 at 2 p.m. ET/20:00 CET/0:30 a.m. IST and features a $25,000 prize fund. 

Freshman and sophomores, Susquehanna's "Discovery Days" could be your chance to explore what a career in quantitative trading and finance looks like! Apply now for virtual and Philly spots (travel included): https://careers.sig.com/us-discovery-days.

Previous reports:

• Saint Louis B Team Stages Last-Round Comeback, Arizona State Outscores Northwestern
• Saint Louis Overcomes Yale in Shocking Finish, SRM Still Perfect
• SRM Reaches Perfect 4/4, Saint Louis Bounces Back
• Newcomers Take Down 4-Time Champions, Team Spirit Carries Athens To Victory
• Missouri Unleashes 'Star Recruit' Tari In Win Over Athens
• Virginia Upsets Top-Seeded Missouri, Saint Louis Defeats Athens
• Registrations Are Open For The Collegiate Chess League Fall 2024 Season