“Ratata Spanish Squad Advances to 2024 Team Chess Battle 2 Final After Victory Over Team Cramling”

GM Pepe Cuenca and IM David Martinez, also known as the “Ratata Spanish Squad,” emerged victorious in a thrilling match against GM Pia Cramling and WFM Anna Cramling of “Team Cramling.” The Spanish duo secured a 1.5-0.5 win, advancing to the 2024 Team Chess Battle 2 Final.

The first game saw the Cramlings lose after a questionable pawn sacrifice, while the Spanish team blundered an entire rook in the second game. Despite missing the opportunity to capitalize on the blunder, the Cramlings couldn’t secure a win, resulting in a draw.

The upcoming quarterfinal match on Wednesday will feature IM Levy Rozman and James Canty III of “Team Swole” against IM Sagar Shah and IM Tania Sachdev of “Check De India.”

The pre-game interviews between the teams were filled with mutual respect and admiration. Cuenca expressed his admiration for the Cramlings, while Anna reciprocated the kind words. However, the friendly atmosphere didn’t translate to the board, as the Spanish team clinched a victory in a well-played endgame.

Both Cuenca and Martinez acknowledged their luck in the second game, where they narrowly avoided defeat despite a major blunder. Looking ahead to the final, Martinez expressed his desire to face Levy and secure a 2-0 win.

Team Chess Battle is a unique event where two-player teams compete in rapid chess games while communicating freely. The tournament features a single-elimination bracket with matches consisting of two games with a 15+10 time control. The event, with a $10,000 prize fund, runs from October 7 to October 18.

With the Ratata Spanish Squad securing their spot in the final, the anticipation builds to see who will challenge the legendary Spanish commentators for the team crown.