Trial

Žygimantas opened the game by moving his pawn to c4, with Mimoko being required to respond to it by moving her knight to c6.

"Yes, that's the correct response. Now, try to win with that," Žygimantas chuckled as he moved his queen to a4.

"Not to hard if you play like that," Mimoko scowled as she moved her pawn to e5.

"Not all are grandmasters like you and I," Žygimantas replied as he moved his pawn to d4.

"Then why are you playing so poorly against me?" Mimoko asked as she moved her bishop to b4.

"I have set forth a challenge via my authority as DSPCM; I open with c4, you respond with knight c6. That is all. Is it that shocking that you forgot to even say "check"?" Žygimantas scoffed as he moved his king to d1.

"No. But I'm baffled as to why you'd play like this," Mimoko frowned as she captured the pawn at d4 with her e-pawn.

"Was I not clear? This is a trial. Why should a trial be different for some, but not others?" Žygimantas glared as he moved his king to c2.

It was then that Mimoko got it. "I see, so you deliberately play bad for all," she smiled as she moved her knight to f6.

"Correct. A DSPCM is rated no less than 800. Why should I play higher than that for a trial?" Žygimantas smirked as he moved his knight to h3.

"But what if I want a challenge?" Mimoko asked as she moved her knight to e4.

"That is what rematch rights are for. Choose to repeat the trial or have us play all-out with standard rules," Žygimantas stated as he moved his pawn to b3.

"Yet you'll still give me the badge for beating you after this, right?" Mimoko frowned as she moved her knight to c5.

"As is customary. I shall ease your mind by informing you that there are others like me who either play below their level for this business or have a weakness that causes them to play horribly if you deploy a specific opening against them. Beat us at our full strength though, and we'll give you an additional badge," Žygimantas stated as he moved his bishop to g5.

"I see," Mimoko nodded as she moved her pawn to f6.

"Wait, so we challenge you, we get a free badge, but we challenge you again, we get another?" Iori asked as Žygimantas moved his queen to b5.

"You are correct," Žygimantas stated as Mimoko moved her pawn to a6. "But to get that honor, you must first pass my trial normally. Then should you choose, you can attempt to earn a second badge," he clarified as he captured the bishop at b4 with his queen.

"Which will be easily done. Check," Mimoko smiled as she captured the queen at b4 with her knight.

And her prediction was right on. Žygimantas was already in a losing position, with the question of mate simply being how long it would take for it to happen. Taking a minute to think, more so in order to play like an 800-rated player would do in this position, Žygimantas eventually moved his king to b2. Mimoko continued to play at her level and captured the free bishop at g5 with her f-pawn. Knight a3 was the next move from Žygimantas, a feat in it's own for how he was managing to intentionally play well below his level.

"I have to admit, at first I was disappointed, but now that I know how you work, you have my upmost respect," Mimoko smiled as she moved her queen to f6.

"I was never asking for any. Opinions are opinions," Žygimantas scoffed as he moved his pawn to f3.

"Then in my opinion, you've done well for an instructor. Check," Mimoko smiled as she moved her pawn to d3.

"And now you have but one task left; win the game," Žygimantas declared as he moved his king to b1.

An easy feat for Mimoko as she confidently moved her pawn to d2. However, Žygimantas decided to test her by moving his knight to f2, yet Mimoko moved her queen to c2, sidestepping any potential pitfalls.

"How about this then?" Žygimantas mused as he moved his knight to d3.

"I'll answer you with style points since I'm in a good mood," Mimoko giggled as she captured the knight at d3 with her b-knight.

"Hoh? That was stylish. Out of respect, I'll spare said knight," Žygimantas clapped as he stayed true to his word and moved his pawn to b4.

"And my respect for you increases further. Checkmate, good game," Mimoko smiled as she moved her queen to b2, winning the game.

The full game:

White: DSPCM Žygimantas Vilčinskas (2616) Black: Mimoko Inoue (2858)

1. c4 Nc6

2. Qa4 e5

3. d4 Bb4+

4. Kd1 exd4

5. Kc2 Nf6

6. Nh3 Ne4

7. b3 Nc5

8. Bg5 f6

9. Qb5 a6

10. Qxb4 Nxb4+

11. Kb2 fxg5

12. Na3 Qf6

13. f3 d3+

14. Kb1 d2

15. Nf2 Qc3

16. Nd3 Nbxd3

17. b4 Qb2#