Scripted loss

Daria let out a frustrated groan as she flopped down on the couch. "Nothing. That jobber didn't have any involvement or information on Mimoko Tanabe. And worse, in my agitated state, I challenged Mimoko to a practice match to calm my nerves, and it played out move-for-move like it was foretold in the game logs. And Mimoko even played a little quickie with the neighbor's kid, and same thing! Although, that in of itself should provide an out. The big problem is with tomorrow's game. I really want to just have the arbiters pair her up against someone else, but with what happened in the second round, I doubt that would solve the problem."

...

The next day, Daria settled down in the commentator's booth as she watched everyone head to their boards below. Xiu was back on as guest commentator, with the order from the other days repeating up until the final round.

"Looks like some big scandals went down when the others were on. So, we gonna talk about how many believe Mimoko's a fraud this whole time?" Xiu snickered.

"What rumors might that be?" Daria glared.

"Oh, that she'd been fixing matches so that she can become an idol. Now to blow the whistle, it's true. That's why I got so pissed back in Budapest."

"Xiu, you're treading treacherous waters. You were NOT bribed. Mimoko beat you and others with pure talent. More importantly, what evidence do you have to support your claim?"

Xiu pulled up a forum on her phone. "I saw this popping off on social media and when I checked it out, boom! Alma Mata will lose in two moves to Mimoko Inoue. Shocking, but the poster also says EVERY game here for Mimoko has been scripted."

"And the second round?"

"That's the big conspiracy. Turns out, the poster says the Japanese chess fed is in on it, and pulled some mumbo jumbo to make the lights go out. Everything's extensively detailed on the 9-quorum forum, so direct viewers to that."

"Uh, hate to break the tension, but we're not on air yet, nor were any hot mics on," Saloni nervously smiled.

Daria let out a huge sigh and dragged Xiu out of the room with her. "This is going to be a gamble, but maybe it'll pay off either way if I show her Mimoko Tanabe's profile," she thought.

Down in the playing hall, Okisato found himself against Noa, while Yuusuke found himself facing off against Ichiko. As for Mimoko, she was up against Alma.

"Mimoko, oh, I've waited for you, my queen!" Alma gushed.

"Uh, Alma-chan?"

"Tis but excitement! The play premieres today, 2 minutes, curtains rise, the lights dim. Fear not, tis simple a task shall be aced even by thee who struggled to speak through Chupacabra latex."

"Alma-chan, what are you going on about?"

But the conversation would go on hold as the round began.

Alma wasted no time in moving her pawn to f3, startling Mimoko. "Alma-chan, you wouldn't," she nervously thought as she moved her pawn to e5.

But indeed she would and moved her pawn to f4. Not even a minute had passed since the round's start, yet Mimoko's game was about to be all over. "Why? Alma-chan, you're 2000-level. Playing the Fool's Mate... I can't ignore this, even though I want to defy the prediction... I can't," Mimoko thought as she slowly moved her queen to h4. "Checkmate... Alma-chan-"

"SPLENDID! That performance went brilliantly!" Alma exclaimed allowed.

All eyes turned towards her.

"A- Alma-chan, what are you-"

"Oh, don't belittle yourself. The acting lessons we were given by Ms. Squidbeak have paid off in spades. Mimoko, I'll await you in Hollywood," Alma chuckled as she flashed a malicious and off-putting smile.

Mimoko Inoue had been trapped.

The full game:

White: Alma Mata (2032) Black: Mimoko Inoue (2858)

1. f3 e5

2. g4 Qh4#