Hundreds Reunite for Arena Kings Team Competition
The second edition of the monthly Arena Kings tournament took place on November 5. Over 1,800 players from 52 teams participated, with K2N Chess securing the overall team victory. Grandmaster Jose Ibarra clinched the top individual spot.
Ibarra’s club finished seventh overall and was one of only four teams to have more than 100 participants, though final team standings counted only the best 30 scores per team.
Ibarra’s Impressive Performance
Displaying remarkable consistency, Ibarra won his first 22 games and maintained his lead to claim the individual title. His main competitor throughout was International Master Yoseph Taher.
“The last game that Ibarra completed on his way to victory came against the very same [Taher]. With both players refusing a draw in a bishop ending, it was Taher who blinked.”
Despite this, Taher’s team finished second overall, taking the last laugh in the team competition.
Notable Highlight and Consistent Contenders
GM Oleksandr Bortnyk mirrored his second-place individual finish from October by earning the same spot in November. The tournament featured dramatic moments, like the shifting emotions of thinking you're winning until your opponent uncovers a sneaky move — only to miss it themselves, letting you win regardless.
“One moment in particular demonstrated the sudden shifts in emotion that only chess can offer—thinking you're winning... until you see that your opponent has a move... but then the opponent doesn't realize it, and so you win anyway.”
The event showcased strong team efforts and exhilarating individual battles, reinforcing Arena Kings as a premier monthly competition.
Summary: The November Arena Kings featured 1,800 players from 52 teams, with K2N Chess winning overall and GM Jose Ibarra dominating individually through unmatched consistency and key victories.