The ongoing Kotlis Convention has arrived at the Relgan coastal city of Pondi, in the nation of Great Tendor. While setting up for the exhibit, the kotlis known as Mimi goaded his companion to take him for a walk in the nearby park, where Mimi saw two older men playing a local tendori game called ‘chess’. It’s a board game where both sides have two dozen pieces, taking turns to move those pieces in ways specific to each type, with the goal of capturing enemy pieces.

Mimi reportedly curled around his peldak companion’s neck and intently watched several games, then hopped down onto the chess board to investigate. Amused, one of the older men offered to play against the adorable little creature, to which Mimi sat down on the opposite side and stared at his opponent until they began.

The game they played quickly drew a large crowd of locals who wanted to see the alien beast shuffle his cute little paws forward to move in line with the rules. Every time Mimi captured an enemy piece, he received a treat and a scratch under the chin. Tendor’s most adorable chess master played a total of ten games and lost each one before knocking the carved wooden pieces off the table and leaping onto his companion’s shoulder, turning away from the elderly tendori and flicking his tail in frustration.

But while Mimi may not have won a game, he certainly won the war for our hearts, and news of the chess-playing kotlis quickly spread across Great Tendor, boosting ticket sales to the convention.