Bartholomew vs. Kashlinskaya | IM Not A GM Speed Chess Championship FINAL

It's the Final round of the inaugural IM Not A GM Speed Chess Championship!
In this final matchup IM Bartholomew faces off against IM Kashlinskaya!

Kashlinskaya is a 26-year-old player from Moscow, Russia. She has held the Women Grandmaster title since 2009, and the International Master title since 2014. Before winning some major events, she took quite a few second places early in her career.

33-year-old Bartholomew, from Minnesota (USA), is an International Master since 2006. At the age of 15 he won his first major prize as the winner of the 2002 National High School Chess Championship.

The match consists of 75 minutes of 5+1 blitz, 45 minutes of 3+1 blitz, and 25 minutes of 1+1 bullet chess.

[jozefserf]

Can't remember watching any chess tournament that was so much fun. Commentary, format, personalities, presentation were all first rate.
Definitely want to see more of Alina, Eric, John, Levy and the rest.

I would like to have seen the trash talkers back up their words a bit better, but maybe next time. You can say what you like about them, but they're not boring.

[rosyhavoc]

Bond villain Bartholomew sips coffee evilly with his single GM norm knowing he will never lose an IM only tournament.

[redfoxvoice]

Edit: Apologies for the SPOILERS, I just got excited!
...
...
...
...
...
...
My boy John!!
Very well-played by both wonderful players and a massive congrats to JB!

[jimothyus]

The best possible final i think. Well done everyone involved including the comentators

[jacobmartinez]

Daniel really needs to quit beating around the bush and put a ring on Hess

[SathvickSatish]

Been a fan of JB since the beginning, and I knew he was gonna win the tournament cuz he’s GM level! However, respect for Alina as well. She fought well!

[williamsmith]

I will admit I was rooting for John during this tournament, but Alina was definetly an amazing competitor during this, and I'm sure she will be on everyone's radar as a potential favorite for future tournaments.

[ducluongdo]

Congrats, John. You have the mentality of a champion

[NochNi]

I’m a brand new chess player and I couldn’t comprehend some of this match but it was exciting to watch. Congrats John.

[priyamd]

This is a tactics master class!
*Format 5+1 Blitz* (AK wins +4 -2 =1)
02:22 Game 1, 13:41 Game 2, 23:49 Game 3, 33:52 Game 4, 43:42 Game 5, 55:22 Game 6, 1:07:57 Game 7
*Format 3+1 Blitz* (JB wins +6 -0 =0)
01:30:23 Game 1, 01:37:49 Game 2, 01:46:28 Game 3, 01:53:53 Game 4, 02:02:16 Game 5, 02:09:47 Game 6
*Format 1+1 Bullet* (AK wins +4 -3 =0 )
02:26:30 Game 1, 02:30:42 Game 2, 02:35:58 Game 3, 02:39:55 Game 4, 02:43:35 Game 5, 02:47:06 Game 6, 02:51:33 Game 7
03:04:15 Interview

[trlspann]

Congratulations to John. Top effort Robert/Daniel. Enthusiasm + friendly banter = outstanding commentary.

[findmads]

I really liked the commentary through out these matches ! Thanks to the both of you. Wanna see more Naroditsky and Hess please!

[rookenforcer]

JB congrats, huge fan here, this was great stream not only because of two great Chess, Players but also two great announcers

[michalhosek]

Well played John. What a comeback! Congrats.

[pupona]

john is a very strong IM, one of the strongest IM in the world for sure. And he is a class act, as always.

[yyguuyg]

Robert and Danya have to be the greatest commentary duo of all time. And Alina is an absolute monster! So impressed with her play. I came into this match rooting for my boy John after watching hours upon hours of his instructional videos but by halfway through the match I actually switched teams and was rooting for Alina to win it all. Fantastic tournament! Hope this happens again and I hope to see Alina come back and crush some more IMs in the future.

[satishswaminathan]

Fantastic Games, great commentators, quite pleasurable !

[pranavanand]

I was hoping for an Alina win, but congrats to John. And big congrats to Alina for doing so very well! People underestimated her a lot in the beginning, and she proved them wrong

[Gadgetify]

Damn, Alina lost 6 straight games in 3 minute portion. Did I see that right? I was rooting for her but couldn't watch live

[googoogagian]

man man man might be one of my favorate fraises ever