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Chess Life Online 2009 July College Chess in America: Luciana Morales on Final Four Secrets
Chess Life Online 2009 July College Chess in America: Luciana Morales on Final Four Secrets | College Chess in America: Luciana Morales on Final Four Secrets |
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| By WIM Luciana Morales | |
| March 24, 2009 | |
WIM Luciana Morales
Since one of the missions of the UTB/TSC chess program is to become the top choice for Latin American titled players, it is no wonder that a talented player like Mauricio was recruited. Last year, our coach, GM Gilberto Hernandez, established contact with the eventual champion of U18 during the Pan-Ams held in Argentina. Other titled players haven chosen UT Brownsville as their home in the recent years—for example, Axel Bachman from Paraguay, who became GM while studying here. This charming kid was recommended by the very own IM Dan Fernandez, our emblematic captain and sports coordinator. Another fresh addition is my fellow countryman FM Max Cornejo. On a side note, I bet that we are the fastest Spanish speakers in the team. Peruvian gift, huh? 
IM Maurizio Flores, standing, with his new UTB pals
But hey, not only international students compose the team of the southern-most city in Texas. Local talents are part of it as well. Starting with Arturo Gracia, Collegiate Champion of Under 2100 in 2008 and NM Bradley Sawyer, our rising star, we can brag about having a team that balances both national and foreign players. Of course, there is a third group, too. IM Alfonso Almeida and Daniel Hung, the youngest team member, were born in the United States but play for Mexico and Taiwan respectively. Trivia: did you know that the very first international recruit in the team was a girl? Mexican WFM Nelly Estrada in 2003 was a trailblazer for the foreign team members that followed. More ladies would arrive later, too, like WIM Nadya Ortiz, the top female player from Colombia, and yours truly. 
The UTB campus
When I came to Brownsville in 2007 I discovered things I couldn’t have imagined before. First of all, the campus is so beautiful. Every day I have to walk across a bridge that connects the dorms with the rest of the university. Tall palms, a large diversity of birds and a peaceful sight of green make for dream scenery for an amateur photographer like me. Besides, as a border city, Brownsville displays the best of two cultures. The most visible example for this is certainly the food. I think there isn’t anyone on the team that doesn’t like the traditional Mexican tacos. But the most impressive revelation to me was how prominent chess is in the Rio Grande Valley area. Here hundreds of children compete in weekly tournaments. I have not heard of many places where playing chess makes you cool instead of nerdy. Here chess is that popular. Also, how many universities in the United States offer full scholarships if you happen to be good at chess? Besides the power houses UT Dallas and UMBC, only UT Brownsville and Texas Tech do. Contributing to the promotion of chess in the area, members of the team offer free instruction to children on a monthly basis as part of the community outreach goal. It never ceases to amaze me how the youngsters overcome their fatigue (classes are held on Friday afternoons, give me a break) and get so into the lectures. One dad said, “I’d be crazy if I didn’t bring my kids to learn from these guys.” 
Dan Fernandez giving a simul
Rusty Harwood, Daniel Fernandez, Nadia Ortiz, Luciana Morales, Brad Sawyer, Art Gracia and Coach Gilberto Hernandez
What got us into the Final Four Initially we were ranked 10th in the 2008 Pan-American Championships because of our rating. So how did we manage to get 3rd in the final standings in Dallas? I was not supposed to tell you about our secret, but here it goes. Now don’t tell anyone. · INFRASTRUCTURE. Our chess team is at the top of the university’s list of assets. As a result, a few months ago our general headquarters moved to the Student Union, generally used for enhancing the college students’ lives. Specifically, we are now in possession of a huge office that makes our guests woo. You can tell we now have some extra motivation to train harder. · TEAM SPIRIT. One day Dan Fernandez came up with an idea and nominated himself for the position of Sports Coordinator. His initiative started paying its fruits since the team grew more united. And healthy as well, I assume. Now every Sunday you can see us playing tennis. I know that there are other days for intramural activities like basketball, “Wii” sports and videogames. Personally, I prefer the more sedentary game “Risk” but my pals do not like it anymore since it brings out the Machiavellian side of some (golden moment: “I will not attack you in Europe”—and later, “I didn’t say I wouldn’t attack you in Asia”) and besides, it takes forever to finish a game. · GIRLS. Is there any other team with two ladies on its roster that made it to the Final Four? · SAWYER. Our killing machine. Awarded top player on 3rd board with 5.0 points out of 6.0 possible. Without doubt, there are more factors and people involved in our success. One such person is our coach, Gilberto Hernandez, who has been the top Mexican player for many years. As our trainer, he is responsible for our improved chess. Also, Russell Harwood, director of the program, is responsible for its good management. Perhaps our new label as local heroes makes me subjective, but I think chances are that you may hear of UTB clinching the top places in upcoming Pan-Ams. Don’t forget that next edition will be held in South Padre Island, and hence we will be the local players. Of course, the power houses are adding more players to their lineups as well and the race will be even more difficult. Meanwhile, the next touchstone is coming soon: the Final Four (Dallas, April 4-5) is the ultimate arena to determine the Collegiate Champion in America. As you can see from the following games the Brownsville Scorpions are up to any challenge. And until the final Four, we will continue to analyze and practice. Wish us luck! 2980 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 The Chigorin defense, favorite of creative players like Moro... or our Arturo 3.e3 e5 4.cxd5 Qxd5 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.a3 The most popular continuation is 6.Bd2 Bxc3 7.bxc3 Nf6 8.c4 Qd6 9.d5 Ne7 10.Qb1 0–0! 11.Bb4 c5 12.dxc6 Qc7 Black has a good compensation for the pawn. 6...Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 Qd6 Art prefers not to play the main lines like 7...Nf6 8.Bb5 Nge7 9.Nf3 e4 10.Ne5 More solid was 10.Nd2 Qg6 11.Qc2 Bf5 12.0–0. 10...0–0 11.Nxc6  11....bxc6! Good decision. Arturo damages his pawn structure to gain a tempo and from now on he will have the initiative. 12.Be2 Qg6 13.g4? This will allow the opening of the line "f" and the subsequent pressure on the weakness f2. [13.Kf1 Nf5] 13...f5 14.h3 Qf6! The bishop on c8 already deals with the light squares; now the queen controls the dark squares and also keeps an eye on h4. 15.Rh2 Qh4 16.a4 Nd5! 17.Ba3 Rf7 18.gxf5 Bxf5?! OK. Arturo didn't see the decisive 18...Nxe3 19.Qb3 Bxf5 Black has an extra pawn and a strong attack. 19.Qd2 Rb8 The last piece goes to work 20.c4 Ne7 20...Nf6! 21.Qc2 Qg5 22.0–0–0 Ng6! 23.Bc5 Nf4 24.h4 Qh6 25.Bxa7 Ra8 26.Bc5 Nxe2+ 27.Qxe2 Qe6 More simple is 27...Rxa4 keeping the initiative. 28.Qc2 Bg4 29.Re1 h5 30.Kd2 Ra5 31.Bb4 Raf5 32.Kc1 
Position after 32.Kc1
32...c5!? 33.d5? 33.Bxc5 leads to complications after 33...Rxc5 34.dxc5 Qe5 35.Reh1! 35.Rhh1 Rxf2! 36.Qxf2 Qa1+ 37.Kc2 Qa2+ 38.Kc3 Qxf2–+. 35...Qa1+ 36.Qb1 Qxa4 Of course, there is perpetual check but Black can risk more since his pieces are more active and the doubled rooks on h1 and h2 don't look that nice. 36...Qc3+ 37.Qc2 Qa1+=37.Qb5 Qa1+ 38.Kc2 Qa2+ 39.Kc1 Rd7 Who wants to play with White? I don't; 33.dxc5 Qe5 34.f3 exf3 35.Rf2 Qa1+ 36.Qb1 Qxa4 37.Qb2 Re7. 33...Qd6! The last detail. After this White's position is hopeless and cannot avoid losing material. 33...Qe5 would be inaccurate because White can hold the position for a few more moves.. . 34.f4 exf3 35.Bc3 Qe7 36.e4 Rf4 37.Kb2. 34.f3 exf3 35.e4 f2 36.exf5 Qxh2 37.Re8+ Kh7 38.f6+ g6 
Position after 38...g6
No more checks, game is over 39.Kb2 cxb4 40.Re7 Rxe7 41.fxe7 Qe5+ 42.Kb3 f1Q 0–1 Vaidya,Chaitanya (2343) - Sawyer,Bradley (2167) 08 PanAm Championships Fort Worth (5), 29.12.2008 
White to Move
In an even position Black has just played Qf6 49.a4?? 49.h4 and Brad, who kept the lead in the game for many moves, would have to accept a draw. [49...Qxh4 50.Qb6+ Kg7 51.Qc6 Rf7 52.Qxd5 Qf2+ 53.Kh2 Qh4+=] 49...c3! 50.h4 50.Qxc3 Re7 50...c2 51.Rg5+ Qxg5 52.hxg5 c1Q+ Winning 53.Kh2 Qc7+ 54.Kg1 Kxg5 55.Qh8 Qd6 56.Qe8 Qe7 57.Qg8+ Qg7 58.Qe6 Re7 59.Qxd5+ Qe5 60.Qg8+ Kh4 61.Qd8 Kg3 62.Qg8+ Rg7 63.Qa2 Qf6 64.b5 Rf7 0–1 Find out more about the Final Four of College Chess (April 4-5) on the University of Texas at Dallas website. For more of Luciana Morales's writing and photos, check out her University of Texas at Brownsville blog , and photos on CLO from Merida, Mexico. Also check out the first installment of College Chess in America, Making a Team in Miami: A Pan-Am Preview |