Missouri and Saint Louis Dominate Week 1 of Collegiate Chess League Spring 2025

Missouri and Saint Louis emerged as the first victors of the Collegiate Chess League Spring 2025 as the new season kicked off on Saturday. The returning champion Missouri team dominated Virginia with an impressive 11-point margin, led by their bottom board GM Luka Budisavljevic who scored a perfect 4/4. On the other hand, SLU’s victory against Athens was a much closer match, finishing 8.5-7.5, with GM Viktor Gazik leading SLU to victory with a flawless 4-0 score.

The Collegiate Chess League, now in its tenth season, features the top college players from around the world competing for top honors. Division I includes the eight highest-rated teams, with all other divisions consisting of 16 teams each. Teams will compete in a seven-week round-robin format, with the top six teams advancing to the playoffs for a chance to win a share of the $25,000 prize fund.

In the first match of the season, Missouri secured a decisive 13.5-2.5 victory over Virginia, showcasing their dominance and skill. Despite a strong start from Virginia, Missouri’s GMs and NM Owen McCoy’s upset victory sealed the win for the reigning champions.

In the second match, SLU faced off against Athens in a closely contested battle. Despite a fire alarm leading to a forfeit for SLU, they managed to pull off a comeback and secure an 8.5-7.5 victory. GM Gazik’s stellar performance and strategic gameplay were instrumental in SLU’s triumph.

The Collegiate Chess League continues with week two on Saturday, January 25, 2024, promising more intense matches and exciting gameplay as the teams vie for supremacy in the league. Stay tuned for more updates and coverage of the CCL Spring 2025 season.