Here’s a recap of the Final PogChamps 5 showdown between CDawgVA and Frank.
PogChamps 5 concluded with CDawgVA grabbing the PogChampion title with a 3-1 victory against Frank. The event began in mid-July and continued its Final round live in Los Angeles. The LAN event gathered four final players - two from the Consolation bracket, and two more from the Championship bracket. Check out the final standings of PogChamps 5 below!
Championship | Prize | Consolation | Prize |
1st - CDawgVA | $20,000 | 1st - Wirtual | $7,000 |
2nd - Frank | $12,000 | 2nd - QTCinderella | $5,000 |
PogChamps 5 Final Round Recap
The peak of the tournament featured CDawgVA, a Welsh YouTuber and voice actor. On the other side, is Franks-is-here or Frank, a Chess YouTuber. Here's how their series played out.
Game 1 - CDawgVA misses mate in one
Game one started off intense with unexpected, drastic turns. Frank's Black pieces had a solid opening and CDawgVA's White pieces couldn't develop well on the board. However, a trade showdown happened at the center of the board, involving both Queens and Rooks.
This trade unfolded in CDawgVA's favor, as Frank carelessly moved his Rook to a doomed e8 square. In the image below, CDawgVA was one move away from a checkmate - Qe2 takes Re8. However, he captured Black's Queen on d2 instead, and the game swung back to Frank's side as he owned more pieces. Eventually, Frank took the first game with a checkmate.
Game two - An early blunder for Frank
The beginning of game two went terribly for Frank as he blundered an early Rook at move 8. CDawgVA managed to push his Knight forward up until the c2 square and swiftly forks Frank's King and Rook. It went downhill for Frank afterward, as his formation broke and CDawgVA continued playing carefully.
The end game was a little tough for CDawgVA despite the numerous advantage. He couldn't find ways to checkmate Frank and his timer was running down to 20 seconds. Nonetheless, it ended in a victory for the Welsh creator, sealing the deal with a checkmate on Frank's King, who was trapped in the center of the board.
Game three - The "swindle of the century"
Entering the third game, CDawgVA opted for a more unconventional opening style with White. Contradicting his usual safe and passive beginning, he pushed his Queen up ahead in the center of the board. This unfamiliar opening saw his center formation destroyed and Frank led with an upper hand on his positioning.
Frank managed to push a pesky pawn into White's territory and things looked incredibly tight for CDawgVA. But in the heat of the moment, CDawgVA found a crucial bait that would lead to a delicious King-Queen fork. This turnaround would see Frank lose his Queen and eventually lose the game.
Game four - A confident victory for CDawgVA
The fourth game started with an early Queen trade, clearing the powerful piece off the board. CDawgVA then continuously pushed his pieces forward, aggressively attacking and eluding Frank's defenses. Riding on the momentum of the previous game, he outplayed Frank and finished the game with a brutal checkmate.
CDawgVA lifts the Pawn trophy and claims the fifth PogChamps title. And that concludes PogChamps 5!
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