Yuusuke's jobber streak

With the first round concluded, the second round would begin in a few hours, yet the moment it did, Yuusuke saw another repeat of round 1. He lost his game, but his team managed to win.

"Yuusuke-kun, why are you feeling down?" Mimoko asked.

"Because he's getting carried. He could lose every game, but get a gold medal. I thought you were improving, but now you're just slumping. Bet you'll end this tournament lower rated than you were before the Knightlife back in August," Hagemi snarled.

Yuusuke silently got up and walked away. As he walked, he came across a puzzle set up on a chessboard. E4, e5, queen f3, queen f6, king d1, king d8, bishop c4, bishop c5, bishop captures f7, bishop captures f2, and d4 had all been played with Black to move.

"You have good looks. Is your mind as good as them, the hooded bespectacled man with a bushy blonde mustache sitting at the board asked.

"Take on d4 with the bishop," Yuusuke grumbled.

"Very good. And bishop g5?"

"Queen takes it?"

"Yes! Now... b3."

Yuusuke squinted as he tried to visualize what the board would look like. "Think you could move the pieces-"

"No, you must visualize the moves in your mind."

"Well... take the rook on a1 with the bishop?"

"Bishop captures g8?"

"... Bishop b2?"

"You lose. Queen f8 is checkmate."

"How!?"

The man then played out all the moves, illustrating the point. "Your plan to try and mate was flawed to as queen c1, check, would have allowed king e2. Still advantageous for Black, but not a winning move. Seems chess isn't your thing."

Yuusuke clenched his fist and stormed away.

The full game:

White: Hooded man Black: Yuusuke Shousen

1. e4 e5

2. Qf3 Qf6

3. Kd1 Kd8

4. Bc4 Bc5

5. Bxf7 Bxf2

6. d4 Bxd4

7. Bg5 Qxg5

8. b3 Bxa1

9. Bxg8 Bb2

10. Qf8#