GM Wei Chen (China)
White
GM Mert Öztürk (Turkey)
Black
White wins by checkmate
ChessVault Pre-Championship 2026 Online – Battle for Leaderboard Supremacy
GM Wei Chen (China) unleashed a devastating Sicilian attack against GM Mert Öztürk (Turkey), winning in 67 moves with a kingside rook mate. Black's early central lunge backfired spectacularly, handing White a feast of tactics and passed pawns.
Early Blunder Ignites the Fire (Moves 1-25)
Black's 7...e5?? cracked the center prematurely, allowing White's knights to rampage. Mert fought back with rook invasions (...Rxf3), but Wei's precise defense kept the edge.
Promotion to Mate
Wei converted flawlessly: passed a-pawn queenside storm, king invasion, 67. Re8# – poetic justice!
7...e5?? – Game-losing inaccuracy.
26. N5d4!! – Tactical explosion.
21...Rxf3?? – Greedy overreach.
38. c6!! – Passed pawn killer.
67. Re8# – Flawless finale.
Wei Chen's double brilliants turned defense into domination. Mert battled, but this was masterclass precision!
GM Emre Yılmaz (ChessVault #2)
Sicilian chaos at its finest – 26. N5d4 will be replayed endlessly. ChessVault delivers fireworks.
IM Ahmet Demir, Turkish Coach