PogChamps Final: Hafu Is Champion
In an exciting set of matches, itsHafu played Gripex90 in the championship match, and easywithaces took on Cizzorz for the top spot in the consolation bracket.
In case you missed it, here's how we got here:
The first match of the day was for the top spot of the consolation bracket. In game one, easywithaces sacrificed a bishop for two pawns and a chance to expose the white king. The only path to a clear refutation of the sacrifice would have been the counter-sacrifice Bxh7+ in the position below.
White played the logical Be2, but Black played well, kept attacking, avoided stalemate tricks, and won a good game.
In game two, easywithaces played an early check with the queen, where it could have been captured! Here's how Cizz reacted.
No @cizzorz no!!!!! 🤯@EasyWithAces hangs his queen but @cizzorz doesn't see it! Heartbreaking. 💔 #Pogchamps pic.twitter.com/kRmgWojPLp
— Chess.com (@chesscom) September 6, 2020
That was Black's last chance. Once he got to keep his queen, easywithaces kept his cool and won the game.
itsHafu vs. Gripex90
In the title match, itsHafu came with good opening preparation. She surprised Gripex in the opening, won a bishop, and eventually found a fork to win a queen.
🤯 @GripexJ moves his king right into a fork with the queen! @itshafu is looking unstoppable right now. 👏 #PogChamps pic.twitter.com/n1WLnXlHVL
— Chess.com (@chesscom) September 6, 2020
Game two was well played and balanced throughout. However, in the critical moment Hafu found another winning fork and finished it off with two rooks checkmating on the f-file.
It's all over! It's all over! 🤯🤯🤯
— Chess.com (@chesscom) September 6, 2020
👏 @itshafu checkmates @GripexJ and wins the #Pogchamps Championship Bracket! 👏 pic.twitter.com/f8TfMXMm01
Here are the games.
Congratulations to Hafu, the PogChamps 2 champion!
Previous Coverage:
- Chess.com Announces The Next PogChamps
- The Next PogChamps: All The Information
- Win Cash Prizes With The PogChamps Fantasy Game
- 7 Reasons PogChamps 2 Could Be Even Better
- itshafu, Forsen, Gripex90 Win In Dramatic PogChamps Opener
- WagamamaTV Starts Strong, easywithaces Defeats PogChamps Veteran xQc
- ConnorEatsPants Wins, Underdog TSM_Zexrow Scores, tfbladeTrolls His Way To Victory
- Gripex90, cizzorz, David Pakman Win In Drama-Filled Day
- itshafu, WagamamaTV Take Group Leads, HafthorJulius Moves To Group 2nd
- TSM_Zexrow Takes Group C Lead, dogdog 2nd
- Epic Match Between Pakman And Easywithaces, xQc vs. Hafu Postponed To Sunday
- Favorites Halfthorjulius, WagamamaTV, itshafu Win, Advance To Championship Bracket
- tfblade, dogdog win, Brackets Set
- dogdog, Gripex90, Cizzorz Win In Exciting Quarterfinals Action
- PogChamps 2: TFBlade, QTCinderella, easywithaces Win, Advance To Semifinals
- Today: PogChamps 2 Finals
Jeremy Kane is a National Master and three-time Wisconsin state champion. He is the Director of Training Content for Chess.com. He has been teaching chess in person and online for over 15 years and has designed hundreds of lessons, available on chess.com/lessons. He is the author of Starting Out The Trompowsky on Chessable and The Next To Last Mistake, a book on defensive ideas in chess.
He is the developer of the Caro-Kane Variation of the Caro-Kann Defense.
email: [email protected]
Twitter/X: @chessmensch
