Yesterday, the 6th of July, was yet another Team Battle for the Blockchain Team, but this time, for a change, we were able to remain in Liga 3. The last time we played in this category, we got relegated.

We finished in 7th place with a point total of 248 points, with

as our MVP for this round, bringing in a total of 37. In this round of the event, it was not all rosy for me, but I would say it was not a bad day on the chessboard as well.

For a while in the tournament, I had a winning streak of seven games in a row, and I even got a draw against a 2600-rated player. I will talk more about the game in my game review. I am glad to say I was the third player to bring the most points for the team. A total of 31 points.

A huge shoutout to all 25 players registered in the tournament under the Blockchain Chess Team Banner, and to the 22 players who played at least one game, Thanks a lot. It was helpful. Special thanks to

for the consistent reminder to all players.

Now let's look at some exciting games I played during the tournament.

ZGM_Samostically vs SalvadoreDali2025

This is the game I drew against a 2600-rated player, and it was against the Scandinavian Defense, but this time, black went for Qd8 instead of the popular Qa5.

As an e4 player, the Scandinavian Defense is no stranger to me, as I have encountered it so many times and even against my friend

, who is a strong lover of the opening. Also, on my blog, I have done a Hive lecture on this opening and how white should not get carried away simply because black moved a piece twice.

At this point, most of my pieces are out; only my dark-squared bishop is still at its starting position. From this position, my idea is simply to bring out my bishop and centralize my rooks, thereby fortifying my control on the central files: d-file and e-file.

After a couple of moves down to this position, I felt I had an edge I could press on since I have a passed pawn on the c-file, although it is still a bit hard to play due to the presence of the same coloured-square bishop. I have to give a thumbs up to my opponent as well for playing well despite the berserk. It shows he is a strong player.

From here, there was no saving grace for my extra pawn, and I knew the game was heading for a draw, just like most rook endgames end up.

Use the Game link to watch the game:

And here is the Game PGN:

[Event "Lichess Liga 3B Team Battle"]
[Site "https://lichess.org/e65lOGpz"]
[Date "2025.07.06"]
[White "ZGM_Samostically"]
[Black "SalvadoreDali2025"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2178"]
[BlackElo "2660"]
[Variant "Standard"]

Opening "Scandinavian Defense: Valencian Variation

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd8 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 g6 6. Bc4 Bg7 7. Ne5 O-O 8. O-O c6 9. Be3 Nd5 10. Nxd5 cxd5 11. Bb3 Nc6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Qf3 e5 14. dxe5 Bxe5 15. c3 Qh4 16. g3 Qh3 17. Qg2 Qh5 18. Bd1 Qh3 19. Re1 Bd6 20. Bf3 Qxg2+ 21. Bxg2 Bf5 22. Bh6 Rfe8 23. Be3 a5 24. Rad1 Rab8 25. b3 a4 26. bxa4 Ra8 27. c4 Bb4 28. Rf1 Bc2 29. Rc1 Bd3 30. Rfd1 Be2 31. Rd4 c5 32. Rxd5 Rxa4 33. Bxc5 Bxc5 34. Rxc5 Rxa2 35. Rc7 Bg4 36. Bd5 Be6 37. Bxe6 Rxe6 38. Rc8+ Kg7 39. c5 Ree2 40. Rf1 Rec2 41. c6 h5 42. h4 Kf6 43. Rc7 Ra6 44. Kg2 Raxc6 45. Rxc6+ Rxc6 46. Re1 Re6 47. Rc1 Rd6 48. Rc5 Kg7 49. Rc7 Re6 50. Rc2 f5 51. Ra2 Kf6 52. Ra5 g5 53. hxg5+ Kxg5 54. Ra8 Rd6 55. Rg8+ Kh6 56. Rh8+ Kg6 57. Rg8+ Kf6 58. Kf3 Rd3+ 59. Ke2 Rd4 60. Ke3 Rg4 61. Rh8 Re4+ 62. Kf3 Kg6 63. Kg2 Ra4 64. Rb8 Ra6 65. Rb5 Rf6 66. Kh3 Kg5 67. Rb8 Rd6 68. Rg8+ Kf6 69. Kh4 Rd2 70. Rf8+ Kg6 71. Ra8 Rxf2 72. Ra6+ Kf7 73. Kxh5 f4 74. g4 f3 75. Kg5 Rg2 76. Rf6+ Kg7 77. Rxf3 Re2 78. Rb3 Re7 79. Kf5 Rf7+ 80. Ke5 Kg6 81. Rg3 Kg5 82. Rg1 Re7+ 83. Kd4 Re8 84. Kd3 Rd8+ 85. Ke4 Re8+ 86. Kf3 Rf8+ 87. Kg3 Ra8 88. Kh3 Ra3+ 89. Rg3 Rxg3+ 90. Kxg3 Kg6 91. Kf4 Kf6 92. Ke4 Kg5 93. Kf3 Kg6 94. Kg3 Kg5 95. Kh3 Kg6 96. Kh4 Kh6 97. g5+ Kg6 98. Kg4 Kg7 99. Kf5 Kf7 100. Ke5 Kg6 101. Kf4 Kg7 102. Kf5 Kf7 103. Kf4 Kg6 104. Kg4 Kg7 105. Kf5 1/2-1/2

ZGM_Samostically vs Shirojk1000

It all began with f5. Whenever I encounter the Sicilian defense, I love to play the Grand Prix attack, as it allows me to regroup my pieces towards the kingside after my opponent castles. That is exactly what I did in this game.

After regrouping my pieces, the next thing is to open up space for my pieces to launch their attack on the opposing side, hence the reason for the move f5. Although it looks like I am giving out a pawn but what is a pawn compared to the attack I get to launch after sacrificing the pawn?

From here, I knew the king could not run for long. It is only a matter of time before everything comes falling into shambles.

As I anticipated. Things have begun to drop. First, I have picked up a pawn on a7, next I am moving to take more. Even worse for my opponent, he is down on time and in a bad position, a recipe for losing the game.

I ended up winning the game on time even after my blunder in the position with Qxf8. The game was still leveled for an equal chance, but no time for my opponent to play on. I guess it is a game of Berserk gone wrong.

Use the Game link to watch the game:

And here is the Game PGN:

[White "ZGM_Samostically"]
[Black "Shirojk1000"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2175"]
[BlackElo "2280"]
[Opening "Sicilian Defense: Grand Prix Attack"]
[Termination "Time forfeit"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 e6 4. Nf3 d5 5. Bb5 Ne7 6. Bxc6+ Nxc6 7. d3 g6 8. O-O Bg7 9. e5 Ne7 10. Qe1 O-O 11. Ne2 b5 12. Ng3 a5 13. c3 b4 14. d4 Ba6 15. Rf2 Qb6 16. Kh1 a4 17. Be3 cxd4 18. Nxd4 bxc3 19. Ndf5 Qc7 20. Nxg7 cxb2 21. Rxb2 Kxg7 22. f5 gxf5 23. Qd2 Rfb8 24. Rxb8 Rxb8 25. Bg5 Ng6 26. Bf6+ Kf8 27. Qh6+ Ke8 28. Qxh7 Qc3 29. Qg8+ Nf8 30. Rg1 Qc5 31. Nh5 Kd7 32. Qxf7+ Kc6 33. Be7 Rb7 34. Qxf8 Qxe7 35. Qc8+ Kb6 36. Qc1 Ka7 37. Qe3+ Ka8 38. Qc1 Qb4 39. Qc8+ 1-0

That is a wrap for this round. See you in the next round. I am sincerely looking towards us getting promoted to Liga 2 and what that experience will feel like.

In contrast to the post above,

I created a poll for chess players participating in my Saturday weekly Hive Chess tournament, so they can cast their vote on what time works best for hosting the tournament on Saturdays. You can cast your vote in the poll through this post