Feb 19, 2026
Author's Commentary #720:
Time to talk about Chapter 720: Two years of En Passant Grandmaster.
Time truly has flown by between this year and the last, even more from 2-years ago when I uploaded Chapter 1. Now we're 11 seasons and 720 chapters in, not to mention, we've surpassed 1,000 likes and 100,000 views. I can't thank you all enough for your support for this series.
I know that things have been rough given all the contests popping up, but I'm committed to trying to pump out content for this series. I'm also busy working on finishing Volume 5, which I decided to start uploading chapters for on this day to celebrate EPGM's 2-year anniversary. I've also uploaded the redesigns of the main cast and important side characters along with a banner art of all the anniversary chapters to celebrate as well. I might even do a dedicated novel release of just the anniversary chapters, so look out for that as well.
As for the chapter itself, it's built around the game between Mimoko and Gyuri, whom I mistakenly called "Gyugi" or "Gyuki" at times. Don't worry, I've fixed it.
Like with Chapter 1, the game here is inspired from a real-life game, this time an online game played between Chess.com users, bananarama3000 and dracco99. I actually had quite a bit of trouble with this one as initially, I was going to modify a game I played against the 2600-rated Judit Age 15 bot, yet the problem I ran into there was that the one playing the game is Mimoko. I could justify characters like Okisato and Iori foregoing an easy mate to go for an en passant checkmate, but for Mimoko, I felt she'd only go for it if it lined up with a natural end to the game. Thus, I studied the aformentoned referenced game and tried crafting an original from it, as while said game is good, I felt it would be too quick a defeat for a 2727-rated grandmaster, thus I modified things a bit. But in regards to the game I was originally going to use, I think I might know exactly what to do with it.
Once again, Happy two-year anniversary to this series, and Happy Birthday to Fifi as well. Remember, today is her birthday. Fidelma and Crina also share the birthday, so Happy Birthday to them as well.
Whether you've been reading since Chapter 1 was released 2 years ago, or are just now getting into it, thank you once more for all your support. Here's to another two years of En Passant Grandmaster.
That's all for this commentary. I hope you enjoyed it.
