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Finals GamesDownloadAll games are now available in our Download Section.. You can also play through the games with a one diagram per move format, including commentary from Grandmaster Michael Rohde, in our Autoplay Section. |
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Overview | Games in PGN | |
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Round 1 The best of 6 series begins. Benjamin demonstrates a very deep (blue?) preparedness, and Christiansen falls to exhaustion after Saturday's SemiFinals marathon. A strange ending in a game very well-played by Benjamin. | Site Report | Games in PGNAutoplay |
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Round 2 | Site Report | Games in PGN |
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Round 3 | Site Report | Games in PGN |
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Round 4 | Site Report | Games in PGN |
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Round 4 | Site Report | Games in PGN |
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Round 5 | Site Report | Games in PGN |
Round 6 | Site Report | Games in PGN |
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 Round 6Site Report by NM Matt GuthrieJoel Benjamin won the 1997 Interplay US Championships today be defending coolly against a raging Larry Christiansen attack and gaining the draw that he needed. Christiansen sacrificed two pawns early in the middlegame of a Rubinstein Nimzo-Indian, but in returned gained the time to point his pieces menacingly at Benjamin's King. 27.f6 opened up the position in front of the Black King, but after the cool 30...f4 (note 31.Rxf4 Bc1!) and 31...Qd6, the Black Queen was able to return to the defence. By the 35th move it was clear that White's position was crumbling, and so Larry accompanied 36.Bxg6 with the draw offer that gave Joel the match. Congratulations to our new Champion, and heartfelt condolences to Christiansen, who gave his all throughout the tournament.[Ed. note: Our very special thanks to Matt Guthrie, who did a wonderful job getting the games scores and site reports distributed throughout the event, as well as to TD Robert Tanner.] Autoplay Games with diagrams and commentaryFinals broadcast and archives courtesy WebsongChristiansen-Benjamin, Round 6 Games in PGN formatFinals Round 6All Finals Rounds Round 5Site Report by NM Matt GuthrieGame 5 ended in a draw today after Larry Christiansen' Philidor Defence failed to provide sufficient imbalance in the position. Christiansen's 12...Bxe4 induced a long exchanging sequence at the end of which White's position, although seemingly slightly better, failed to offer any significant winning chances. Game 6 takes place tomorrow, at the slightly earlier time of 2 p.m. PDT. Benjamin needs only a draw tomorrow to take the title. A Christiansen win would force a playoff. In such a scenario, a 2 game G/25 match will be played tomorrow, and if subsequent playoffs are needed, they will be postponed until Saturday.Autoplay Games with diagrams and commentaryFinals broadcast and archives courtesy WebsongBenjamin-Christiansen, Round 5 Games in PGN formatFinals Round 5All Finals Rounds to date Round 4Site Report by NM Matt GuthrieThroughout the entire tournament Larry Christiansen has played every position to win, with very good results. However today this tactic had dire consequences, as overly optimistic play after the time control culminated in a blunder which led to a rapid loss. Larry chose a little known but potent system against the Pirc, and obtained a pull out of the opening. In the post-mortem he preferred 17.Rh3 as a better way of building the attack. However his Kingside play still looked ominous. "I was worse, but never losing." was Benjamin's evaluation after the game. A long exchanging sequence right before the time control led to the highly unusual ending of R+bP+cP vs.R+gP+fP. In this ending Christiansen first took an unnecessary risk with 42.Rc7+?, and then immediately blundered a pawn with 43.b6?? Benjamin soon converted the extra pawn, and the victory leaves Joel needing [only] one point from the final two games to clinch the match.Autoplay Games with diagrams and commentaryFinals broadcast and archives courtesy WebsongChristiansen-Benjamin, Round 4 Games in PGN formatFinals Round 4All Finals Rounds Round 3Site Report by NM Matt GuthrieThe fighting chess continued today, although the ultimate result of the game was a split point. Benjamin's Advance Variation against Christiansen's French followed a 1989 Kamsky-Kasparov game for 10 moves before Joel varied with 11.Bd3!?, in effect allowing a trade of d-pawn for g-pawn, with a very unclear situation. As White's time pressure increased, Christiansen launched an unclear exchange sacrifice, which he stated after the game was definitely the best move in the position, and not merely an attempt to exploit zeitnot. He did, however, play riskily in exposing his King immediately before the time control. Although Benjamin tried hard to exploit the King's position, it ultimately proved that a perpetual check was the best that White could gain. "A tough game, a real see-saw struggle." Said Christiansen afterward. "I feel like I'm on move the whole time." added Benjamin, referring to Christiansen's rapid rate of play.Autoplay Games with diagrams and commentaryBenjamin-Christiansen, Round 3 Games in PGN formatFinals Round 3All Finals Rounds Round 2Site Report by NM Matt GuthrieLarry Christiansen evened the US Championship Final today with a smooth positional win over Joel Benjamin's Queen's Gambit accepted. Larry gave a textbook example of maneuvering his Knight to occupy weak squares, as observers were treated to c3-d1-f2-d3-c5 tour, followed by the mirror image maneuvre c5-d3-f2-d1, and Joel resigned before the pattern could be completed by the return to c3, which would have meant the immediate demise of the Black b5 pawn. Strong pressure by White down the c-file forced Joel to lash out with 29...Bh3+!?, which if captured would have been followed up by 30...Nf4+!, with lines such as 31.gxf4 Qg6! to come. However Larry's calm refusal of the sacrifice soon forced Black's pieces into retreat. A "petit combination" 33.Rxc7 snagged a pawn, and the error 43...Ke7 left Black unable to protect his b5 pawn from White's nimble Knight, and so portended resignation. "I got an edge out of the opening, and then Joel made some mistakes in time pressure." commented Christiansen, who continued his habit of being substantially ahead on the clock in every game. "I guess I found out I'm not invincible today." said Benjamin, with his tongue planted firmly in his cheek. The match continues tomorrow.Autoplay Games with diagrams and commentaryRound 2Autoplay games with diagrams and commentaryChristiansen-Benjamin, Round 2 Games in PGN formatFinals Round 2Round 1Site Report by NM Matt GuthrieA fatigued Larry Christiansen succumbed rapidly in the face of Joel Benjamin's accurate positional and tactical play in the first round of the U.S. Championship Finals today. An exchange variation of the Slav defense led to the usual nagging pressure for white. Christensen's...Nd7 was a clear error allowing Benjamin to pick up the c6 pawn. A few moves later, a second error, ...a5, allowed Benjamin to add the a pawn to his booty. The rest of the game was a smooth explotation of the material advantage. "Larry was so tired from yesterday that he fell for a lot of cheap tactics." said the winner afterwards. The second game of the 6 game match takes place Monday.Autoplay Games with diagrams and commentaryBenjamin-Christiansen, Round 1 Games in PGN formatFinals Round 1
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