CircleChess Bullet Bash 3.0 Concludes in Dramatic Fashion!

by ChessBase India - 14/03/2024

CircleChess, the tech startup pioneering advancements in chess learning and online tournament discovery, successfully concluded the largest-ever free-entry online bullet tournament in India with an impressive 3,341 participants battling it out in an arena format for a thrilling 90 minutes. The Bullet Bash series, hosted by CircleChess, pits players of all skill levels, both titled and untitled, against each other in a fast-paced arena format. This unique structure encourages participants to maximize the number of games they play within the limited timeframe. This iteration witnessed a phenomenal six-fold increase in participation compared to the previous tournament, primarily attributed to CircleChess's decision to make the event free to enter and introduce a dedicated prize pool for untitled players. Read more about the thrilling details in the article below. Photos: CircleChess

The Bullet Bash series, hosted by CircleChess, pits players of all skill levels, both titled and untitled, against each other in a fast-paced arena format. This unique structure encourages participants to maximize the number of games they play within the limited timeframe. This iteration witnessed a phenomenal six-fold increase in participation compared to the previous tournament, primarily attributed to CircleChess's decision to make the event free to enter and introduce a dedicated prize pool for untitled players.

The event attracted a remarkable contingent of over 200 titled players from across the globe, including renowned names such as Jose Martinez, Zhigalko Serjei, Volodar Murzin, Mitrabha Guha, Diptayan Ghosh, Yoseph Theolifus Taher, SL Narayanan, Thomas Beerdsen, Leon Livaic, Jakub Pulpan, Sanan Sjugirov, and Rasulov Vugar. These seasoned players faced off against a large group of enthusiastic untitled players for a chance to share in the impressive prize pool of ₹1.1 lakh and compete for one of the 207 prizes awarded!

The thrilling 90-minute chess spectacle witnessed a remarkable display of speed, with 39,212 games played and an astounding 2,800,534 moves made. This translates to an estimated average of 31,117 moves per minute, showcasing the players' incredible speed and strategic prowess.

Two contrasting approaches emerged during the tournament. Some players leveraged their rapid play skills to secure quick draws or losses, aiming to maximize the number of games played within the time limit. Others, opting for a more calculated approach, meticulously focused on winning each match. The arena tournament format, incentivized players to prioritize playing as many games as possible, regardless of the outcome. This strategic discovery proved to be a key factor in the competition.

The tournament saw a bold embrace of the high-risk, high-reward "berserk" strategy by 12% of the participants. This strategy allows players to sacrifice half their remaining time in exchange for doubling the increment, adding an extra layer of excitement and uncertainty to the matches.

Despite the unpredictable format, which kept the leaderboard constantly shifting, deserving champions ultimately rose to the top, demonstrating their mastery of both speed and strategy. You can view the final leaderboard here.

The Winners

In a surprising turn of events, International Master (IM) Tvoik emerged victorious in a field dominated by Grandmasters (GMs). Establishing an early lead, Tvoik held his nerve and secured the win. He played an impressive 62 games with a phenomenal win rate of 68%, and in a bold move, he opted for the "berserk" strategy in 20% of his games, boasting a high berserk rate of 26%.

The second-place position was fiercely contested between GMs Jospem and Thomas Beerdsen. Ultimately, Jospem secured the runner-up position with 54 games and a remarkable 78% win rate.

The tournament additionally offered a unique 10K INR prize for players who streamed their entire gameplay throughout the competition.

The untitled section saw "anonymousblitz" establish an early lead, remarkably surpassing all titled players in the first half-hour. However, their pace slowed down, resulting in a commendable 9th place finish overall. Nonetheless, "anonymousblitz" claimed the top spot in the untitled section, securing the impressive prize of ₹7,500.

The entire event was streamed here.

What Players said about the bullet bash:

Tournament winner, IM Tvoik, shared his enthusiasm in the post-event interview on the CircleChess live stream. He expressed his enjoyment of the competition, highlighting the thrill of facing and overcoming some of the chess world's "greats." Tvoik concluded by expressing his excitement for the next event.

Taking to social media, players shared their experiences from the tournament:

The feedback we received from both the audience and players was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing their excitement and satisfaction with the event. They highlighted the fast-paced nature, the smooth organization, and the high-quality competition as aspects they particularly appreciated. Additionally, several attendees mentioned that they were eagerly looking forward to future tournaments, indicating a strong desire for more opportunities to participate in similar events.

CircleChess CEO Kumar Gaurav expressed his satisfaction with the event's success. He promised that CircleChess will continue to host "bigger and better online tournaments" in the future, further solidifying their commitment to the online chess community. Furthermore, Gaurav hinted at an exciting new platform designed to help players improve their chess game. He concluded by inviting interested individuals to join the waitlist for more information.

About CircleChess:

CircleChess is a startup founded by chess enthusiasts and tech experts with a mission to revolutionize the chess ecosystem. Leveraging technology, CircleChess provides a seamless chess experience for players, coaches, arbiters, and organizers. Its comprehensive suite of features includes tournament discovery, automated pairing notifications, registration, and tournament management. CircleChess's leadership team comprises experienced technocrats from India's leading tech companies, who also share a passion for chess. Follow CircleChess on Instagram for regular updates and become a part of the community!