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Chess Life Online 2010 September 2010 Labor Day Madness: Part II
Chess Life Online 2010 September 2010 Labor Day Madness: Part II | 2010 Labor Day Madness: Part II |
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| September 8, 2010 | |
 A cool chess weekend in Oak Brook, Photo of FM Albert Chow by Betsy Dynako Grandmaster Dmitry Gurevich was the clear winner atthe Illinois Open, where about 200 chess players spent at least part of abeautiful Chicago Labor Day weekend in the basement of the Oak Brook DoubletreeHotel. The main event drew 135players in two sections, open and U1800, with a choice of either a 2-day or3-day schedule. A separate 1-dayscholastic event on Saturday with U1200 and U700 sections attracted almost 60players, and a G/25 side event Saturday night drew 17 players, some who camejust for the evening and others who decided that 3 full days just wasn'tenough.  GMs Dmitry Gurevich and Yury Shulman, Photo Betsy Dynako 4852 1.d4 e6 2.c4 d5 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3 Nbd76.Bd2 Bd6 7.Bd3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 b5 9.Bb3 Bb7 10.0-0 0-011.e4 e5 12.Bg5 b4 13.Na4 Qa5 14.dxe5 Bxe5 15.Be3 Rfd8? Now White has a strong attack. The problem isthat the position is extremely complex! 16.Ng5 16.Bxf7+!? Kxf7 (16...Kh8!?) 17.Qb3+17...Kg6 (17...Nd5!?) 18.Nh4+! Kh5 19.Qf7+ Kxh4 20.f4+- 16...Rf8 17.f4 Bc7  18.Rc1! 18.Nxf7 Rxf7 19.Bxf7+ Kxf7 20.a3; 18.e5 Nd519.Qd3 g6 20.Bd4 c5 (20...Rfe8 21.e6) 21.Qh3 (21.Bf2) 21...h522.f5; 18.a3 18...h619.Nxf7 Rxf7 20.Bxf7+ Kxf7 21.Qb3+ Kg6 21...Ke8 22.Nc5 22.e5 22.Nc5 Nxc5 23.Rxc5 Qa6 24.e5 Ng4 25.Qc2+ Kf726.Qf5+ Kg8 27.Qxg4 22...Nd5 23.Qd3+? White was doing well for a while, but now beingshort on time he finds himself on the ropes 23.Nc5! Bb6 24.Qd3+ Kf7 25.e6++- 23...Kf7 24.Qf5+? 24.e6+! Kxe6 25.Qg6+ Ke7 26.Nc5! I didn't seethis move. 24...Kg8 25.Qxd7 Nxe3 26.Rf3 Rd8 27.Qe6+ Kh828.Nc5 Bc8 28...Rd1+! 29.Rxd1 Qxc5 30.Re1!! (30.Qe8+ Kh731.Re1 Ng4+ 32.Kh1 Nf2+ 33.Kg1 Bb6!?) 30...Ng4+ 31.Kh1 Nf2+ 32.Kg1 Nd3+33.Kh1 Nf2+= (33...Nxe1? 34.Qe8+ Kh7 35.Rg3!+-) 29.Qxc6 29.Qe7 Nf5 29...Nf5 29...Bb6 30.Rxe3 Bd7 31.Qd6 Bf5 32.Qe7 Rc8 30.Rd3 Rxd3 31.Nxd3 Bb6+ 32.Kh1 Ba6 33.Qd7 33.Qa8+ Kh7 34.Qe4 g6 35.Nxb4; 33.Qe4 33...Nd4 33...Qb5 34.Rc8+ 34.f5Qb5 35.Qxb5 Bxb5 36.Nxb4 Nxf5  After 36...Nxf5 37.e6?! 37.Nd5! 37...Ne7 38.b3 a5 39.a4 Be8 40.Nd3  The position is still unclear, but White was ableto win in the time scramble. 1-0 Competition in the open section was especiallyfierce, with 3 GMs, 2 IMs, and at least 10 NMs. One reason behind that may have been a concerted effort by theIllinois Chess Association to attract top players. The ICA offered all Illinois GMs an appearance fee of $250, andall Illinois IMs an appearance fee of $100, not deducted from prize money. "It'simportant to create a structure of support for titled players. They raise chess to the level of art and deserve our respect," said ICA PresidentTom Sprandel. "Illinois is fortunate tohave several world class players. Sponsoring them in the 2010 Illinois Open brings prestige to the state,and lets us return something to them." In addition to providing incentives for the titledplayers, everyone with a plus score at the tournament received a $20 giftcertificate to the tournament's bookseller, Checkmate Chess Supply, fundedjointly by the ICA and Peter Spizzirri, the company's owner. All tournament participants were offered afree 3-month extension of their ICA membership. While overall attendance for the main event was notsignificantly higher than in 2009, the number of players in the open sectionincreased from 69 to 48 the year before, but the number of players in the U1800section decreased from 76 to 66. "It was aclassier event this year," said organizer and Chief TD Tim Just, who with WayneClark has run the event for the last four years. The North American Chess Association provided all players withboards, sets and clocks to use during the tournament, and the top 6 boards wereseated at a roped off section at the front of the playing area.  Florin Felecan, Photo Betsy Dynako 4851 Annotations by Felecan 1.e4 d6 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bc4 Nxe46.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.Nxe4 Rf8 7...h6?! weakens the kingside a bit too much. 8.0-0Kg8 9.d3 9.d4 Bf5 10.Re1 and the position is about equal. 9...Nc6 10.c3 d5 11.Ng3 d4!? 11...Qd6 12.d4 b6!?= 12.Qb3+ e6 12...Kh8?! Originally I thought that12...Kh8 might have been better than 12...e6 as it seemed White had nothingbetter to play than 13.c4 when 13...e5 is good for Black, but it turns out thatWhite has 13.Bd2! followed by Rae1 with a good game. 13.Qc2?! A dubious move, the natural 13. c4 would keepthe position level. 13...dxc3 14.bxc3 Nb4 15.Qb3?! 15.Qd2 c5!? (15...Nd5 16.Ne2 c5=) 16.d4 (16.cxb4Bxa1 17.bxc5 e5) 16...Nd5 17.Ne2 cxd4 18.cxd4 b6 15...Nd5?!  Position after 15...Nd5 I lost a lot of time on whether to acceptthe pawn on d3 or not, finally deciding against it and going with a saferroute. The move 15...Nxd3 is quite playable and is the only way to maintain aslight lead for Black even though it may lead to some dangerous positions. 15...Nxd3 16.Ba3 c5! 17.Rad1 b5 (17...Qc7?! my original plan which only leadsto equality 18.Rxd3 c4 19.Qd1 (19.Bd6 Qxd6 20.Rxd6 cxb3 21.axb3 Bxc3) 19...cxd320.Bxf8 Bxf8 21.Qxd3 Bd7=) 18.Qxb5 Qb6!! this is the move that I missedin my calculations. 16.Ne5 c5 16...Bxe5 17.fxe5 Rxf1+ 18.Nxf1 b6= 17.Bd2b6 18.Rae1 Ba6 19.Rf3 Qc7 20.d4?! This took me by surprise. I was expecting 20.Qa4!? Bb7 21.Ne4 (21.Qd7? Qxd7 (21...Rae8 22.Qxc7 Nxc723.Ne4) 22.Nxd7 Rfd8 23.Ne5 Bxe5 24.fxe5 Nxc3! 25.Bxc3 Bxf3 26.gxf3 Rxd327.Ne4 Rf8) 21...Bxe5 22.fxe5 Rxf3 23.gxf3 Bc6 24.Qc4= 20...cxd4 21.cxd4 Rac8 22.Rc1? 22.Ne4! Qc2 23.Qa3 keeps the balance and thegame level. 22...Qxc1+ Now the moves are more or less forced givingBlack a dangerous initiative; White has to play creatively to avoid mating nets. 23.Bxc1 Rxc1+ 24.Kf2! 24.Nf1? Rxf4!-+ 24...Nxf4 25.Ne4? 25.Rxf4? Rxf4+ 26.Ke3 Bh6 27.Qxe6+ Kg7-+(27...Rf7+?? 28.Ke4 Bb7+ 29.Kd3 Ba6+ 30.Ke4 Bb7+ 31.Kd3= (31.d5? Re1+ 32.Kd4Rd1+ 33.Kc3 Bxd5 34.Qc8+ Rf8-+) ) ; 25.Ne2! this is the hidden defensiveresource that both Eric and I missed 25...Bxe2 26.Rxf4! Rxf4+ 27.Kxe2 Rf6nothing better 28.Nd7 Rf7 29.Qxe6 Rc7 30.Qe8+ Bf8 31.Ne5 Rfe7 and altoughBlack is better White's position is not hopeless 25...Bxe5!26.dxe5 Rf1+ 27.Kg3 27.Ke3 Nxg2+ 28.Kd2 R8xf3 29.Qxe6+ Kg7-+ Blackhas too much material for the queen. 27...Nh5+ 28.Kh4!  After 28.Kh4 28.Kh3? R1xf3+ 29.gxf3 Bf1+ 30.Kg4 Rf4+ 31.Kg5Kg7 32.Qxe6 h6# 28...R1xf329.Qxe6+ Kg7 29...R3f7?! 30.Ng5 Nf4 31.Qb3 Nxg2+ 32.Kg3 Nf4still winning but 29...Kg7 is more effective. 30.Ng5 30.gxf3 Rf4+ 31.Qg4 Bc8! is not really a betteralternative; 30.g4? Rh3+! 31.Kxh3 Nf4+ 32.Kg3 Nxe6-+ 30...R3f4+ 31.g4 Bc8 31...Kh6!? something suggested by Eric after thegame 32.Qd7 Ng7 33.Kg3 Bc8-+ 32.Qe7+ R8f7 33.Ne6+ 33.Nxf7 Rxg4+ 34.Kh3 Nf4# 33...Bxe6 34.Qxe6 Rf3 35.Qc6 h6  andWhite has to give up his queen to avoid mate leaving Black with overwhelmingmaterial advantage. 0-1  Eric Rosen, Photo Betsy Dynako In the reserve section, Alan Lee Davenport tookclear first with 5.5 out of 6. Twojunior players, high school sophomore Rafeh Qazi 4th-grader Chetan Reddy, hadnotable performances in that section, each scoring 4 out of 6 and increasingtheir rating by more than 100 points. SouthWest Open The Southwest Open was held on the top floor (11th) of the Best Western Marina Grand Hotel, Corpus Christi, Texas from September 3rd-6th. The playing had full-glass walls on two sides, giving the 110 players in attendance a great view of the marina and the bay!  Tying for first were GM Alejandro Ramirez and Max Cornejo with 5.5/7. Tying for 3rd-5th were Marko Zivanic, Ioan Cristian Chirila and Julio C. Sadorra with 5/7 each.  GMs Ramirez and Chirilia, Photo Franc Guadalupe Here are some key games from the event: 4855 4853 4854 Franc Guadalupe, in addition to keeping CLO updated with games and photos, was the Chief Tournament Director. See the full crosstable and USCF rated results onMSA. Saint Louis District Championship Doug Eckert and Mark Ferber both started the day a half-point out of the lead, but finished strong to share first place. Three players finished just behind them with 4/5: Josh Frank, Spencer Finegold, and Jeffrey Kovalic. The Under 1600 Section was taken by storm when Class D Player Tom Morrell upset one expert, drew another, and rocketed into clear first (netting himself over 200 rating points!) And the Under 1200 title was split between two rapidly improving players with rating in the 700s, Clark Berry and Michael Kelly. Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to everyone for a great turnout! See full crosstable on the Chess Club and Scholastic Center website. On Friday, the Chess Club and Scholastic Center ofSaint Louis will host a viewing party to celebrate the G-star Raw Challenge inNew York, where World #1 ranked player Magnus Carlsen will take on the World. New England Open The 70th New England Open was held Saturday, September 4, through Monday, September 6 at the Sheraton Bradley Airport in Windsor Locks, CT. A total of 49 participants participated in the three day, six round main event. The tournament was organized by Relyea Chess. The chief tournament director was Alex Relyea, assisted by Nita Patel, Bob Messenger, and Ken Ballou. In the main event, GMs Alexander Ivanov and EugenePerelshteyn tied for first with 5/6. Here is one of Eugene's games from the event: 4856 See full crosstable and results on the MSApage. Chess for Change by Polly Wright David Berman and his family hosted a lovely partySunday evening at their home to share information on his organization Chess For Change. Among the guests were Bruce Pandolfini, SunilWeeramantry and GM Maurice Ashley.  Bruce Pandolfini, David Berman, Sunil Weeramantry and GM Maurice Ashley David showed a video from a televisionshow filmed in South Africa about chess programs in SouthAfrica. There was a number of terrific interviews with David Mac Enultywith footage from The Knights the South Bronx. The guest of honor wasJeremy Guthrie, starting pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles. He's an avidchess player. He played in the National Elementary Championships inHollywood, FL (1990) and Rye, NY (1991) His rating from that period is1475. I directed at both those events, but can't say I met him.  Jeremy Guthrie faces Joshua Berman As a long time Baltimore Oriole fan I was delightedto get to meet him and be able to talk about both chess and baseball.  Sacramento CalChess Open GM Jesse Kraai won clear first in the 2010 CalChessLabor Day tournament in San Francisco, picking up the State Championship title and$1200.  GM Jesse Kraai (left) at the CalChess Labor Day tournament, Photo Masako Uesugi Tied for 2nd-3rd were young stars Steven C. Zierkand Shinsaku Uesugi, who earned $525 each. Kraai told CLO that his games werenot particularly aesthetic at this tournament, "I was a fighter not an artist."  Shinsaku Uesugi and IM Walter Shipman, Photo Masako Uesugi The event was memorable for Shinsaku, who cracked the 2400 mark forthe first time. Here is his win over IM Walter Shipman. 4850 See complete standingson the website. Another New York State Gem We reported on the New York State Championship inour first Labor Day round-up. Expert Bruce Altschuler also sent in the followingromantic game. 4849 See our first Labor Day wrap-up here and look for a final round-up tomorrow which includes information on the Florida Open, the Southern California Open and more. |