SRM Extends Perfect Score to 4/4 in Week Four of 2024 Collegiate Chess League (CCL) Fall Season
SRM continued their dominant performance in week four of the 2024 Collegiate Chess League (CCL) Fall Season, extending their perfect score to 4/4. Despite a strong showing from Athens’s board one player, IM Dimitris Alexakis, SRM outscored their opponents once again. On the other hand, Saint Louis defeated Virginia and remains in pursuit of SRM, trailing by just one point.
The match between SRM and Athens saw a balanced performance from the Indian team, even without their top seed, GM Pranesh M. IM Harikrishnan Ra set the tone for SRM with a decisive victory in the first round. Despite Alexakis’s impressive 3/3 score for Athens, SRM maintained their lead and ultimately clinched the match with a solid performance from IM Srihari L in the final round.
In the other match of the week, defending champions Saint Louis bounced back with a convincing 11-5 victory over Virginia. Despite Virginia’s strong start in the second round, Saint Louis maintained their lead throughout the match, with standout performances from NM Shelev Oberoi and GMs Nikolozi Kacharava and Dambasuren Batsuren.
Looking ahead to week five, Virginia will face Athens, Missouri will take on Rio Grande, and the top teams SRM and Saint Louis will play against Prague and Yale, respectively. The Collegiate Chess League continues to be a thrilling competition for college students, with a $25,000 prize fund up for grabs in the 2024 Fall Season.