From zero to hero again: Sissy defends XLeague title

Sissy added yet another piece of silverware to her collection as she won the Final Series of the 2024 XLeague against Nici by 4-1 wins.

The two-time Royal Triple Crowner took a commanding 3-0 lead into the second day of the first-to-4 series as she had scored two 4-2 wins against her froggy daughter 24 hours prior in addition to her 1-0 head start.

Nici did pull one back by winning the first at-board of the evening. But there would be no way back into the series.

In the second at-board of the evening, Sissy surprised Nici with some kind of a high-tempo attack.

Nici did get to save one yellow and one black pawn by the 10-minute mark. But from then on, it was all Sissy’s green team and, eventually, she converted her first championship point on a “6” followed by a “2” to complete her first PWL.

She did so right at the 20-minute mark, thus tying the XMädn record for the quickest double-threat game played under 2T rules.

By winning the third at-board of the series, Nici at least made sure she would stay on top of the 2T Rankings which will be discontinued at the end of the year.

Sissy bounced back from an abysmal 0-8 start into the XLeague season by winning 15-of-16 to win the Round Robin Series and go directly to the Final Series. She remains the only XMädn player to have won silverware.

The 2025 Season is scheduled to begin on 11 January with the Winter Masters. The first of two XLeague seasons is scheduled to start on 5 April with the XLeague Masters. Nici and Harry will certainly do their best to finally get their hands on a trophy.