Tango for two knights

Chihuahua glared as she realized what Iori's victory meant. Team Mimoko now led 2-1, meaning that just to break even, Chihuahua needed to win on demand, which was easier said than done.

In the moments leading up to Iori's victory, bishop d4, h4, g4, bishop e7, rook f2, rook g8, king h2, a5, king h3, and bishop d8 had all been played. The game was now leaning heavily in Mimoko's favor, but Chihuahua couldn't afford to surrender, even though things looked hopeless.

"Check. It seems like things have shifted in our favor, so my apologies, but I will not be offering you anymore draws," Mimoko stated as she moved her knight to d6.

"And I pegged you as the nice type," Chihuahua snarled as she moved her king to f8.

"I am being nice, for you see I believe it's disrespectful to play for a draw, when I'm clearly winning, even though a draw is all that's needed to clinch the match," Mimoko nodded as she moved her knight to b7.

"So the ball's in my court then? Well resignation is off the table. Nor do I believe you have a clear-cut victory yet," Chihuahua glared as she moved her king to f7.

"Fair point, then lets continue," Mimoko nodded as she moved her knight to f5.

Chihuahua promptly captured said knight with her bishop, but it was all a trade at the end of the day as said bishop was quickly captured by Mimoko's bishop. Even though Chihuahua was still a pawn up, it mattered not as positionally, she was on the verge of losing.

"Three pawns for a knight. An equal numerical value, but the disparity has become all the more clear before me," Chihuahua thought as she moved her king to g7.

Mimoko could see a path to victory and moved her rook to e2, but Chihuahua still wanted to attempt some counterplay, resulting in her moving her pawn to b4. This led to Mimoko capturing said pawn with her a-pawn, and Chihuahua capturing said pawn with her a-pawn. And all that did was strengthen Mimoko's position as she inched closer to victory by moving her pawn to d6.

Chihuahua made one final attempt at turning things around, moving her pawn to c3, but Mimoko doused the plan in cold water, capturing said pawn with her b-pawn.

Chihuahua captured said pawn with her b-pawn, but Mimoko managed to win the race by moving her pawn to d7, ensuring promotion at the very least. Then Chihuahua moved her rook to f8, and it was over. Mimoko saw it instantly, and not a moment after she captured the bishop at d8 with her knight did Chihuahua see it as well.

An audible and frustrated sigh escaped her lips as she captured the knight at d8 with her rook. "Dammit, she got me. If I had tried to promote and gone c2, I'd lose in cathartic fashion to rook e8, c1, queen, knight e6, check, king f7, rook captures f8, check, king e7, and d8, queen, mate. I knew she was a monster on the chessboard, but I heard she at least wasn't invincible, and with my maestro-tier skillset, I figured I stood a chance, yet I failed... This is not over yet, but for my status, I must go down fighting," she thought.

Chichuahua knew mate was inevitable, yet pride prevented her from resigning. Thus, Mimoko converted the win the old fashioned way.

Rook e7, check, king f8, bishop c5, rook captures d7, rook captures d7, check, king g8, bishop c2, king h8, bishop f8, rook h5, rook d8, f5, bishop captures f5, king g8, bishop g6, and finally king h8 before it was all over.

"And that's checkmate. Looks like we all win," Mimoko huffed as she moved her bishop to h6, winning the game.

Despite starting 0-1 in the hole, Team Mimoko had rallied to sweep their matches and get a 3-1 victory, meaning Chihuahua would never be allowed to bother them ever again. And in addition to that, the honor of probing Chihuahua for information was now on the table.

The full game:

White: Mimoko Inoue (2809) Black: Chihuahua Bibliotecario (3134)

1. d4 Nf6

2. c4 Nc6

3. d5 Ne5

4. e4 e6

5. f4 Nxe4

6. fxe5 Qh4+

7. g3 Nxg3

8. hxg3 Qxh1

9. Be3 Qe4

10. Qd4 Qxd4

11. Bxd4 exd5

12. cxd5 d6

13. Nf3 dxe5

14. Nxe5 a6

15. Kf2 f6

16. Nc4 b5

17. Ne3 Bd7

18. Nd2 Kf7

19. Bd3 Rc8

20. Ne4 h5

21. Rh1 c5

22. Bc3 Re8

23. a3 c4

24. Bc2 Be7

25. Rh4 g5

26. Rh2 Rh6

27. Kg1 Bf8

28. Bd4 h4

29. g4 Be7

30. Rf2 Rg8

31. Kh2 a5

32. Kh3 Bd8

33. Nd6+ Kf8

34. Nb7 Kf7

35. Nf5 Bxf5

36. Bxf5 Kg7

37. Re2 b4

38. axb4 axb4

39. d6 c3

40. bxc3 bxc3

41. d7 Rf8

42. Nxd8 Rxd8

43. Re7+ Kf8

44. Bc5 Rxd7

45. Rxd7+ Kg8

46. Bc2 Kh8

47. Bf8 Rh5

48. Rd8 f5

49. Bxf5 Kg8

50. Bg6 Kh8

51. Bh6#