13.07.2010 – The Paris Championship is the oldest French Open Abraham Baratz won the first edition in 1925. The leading players in this year's event included GM Tigran Gharamian (2650), GM Alberto David (2622) and GM Sébastien Feller (2611). The Open Tournament took place from July 3rd to 11th, 2010. It was a nine-round Swiss, FIDE rules, 40 moves/1h 30 + 30 sec then 30 mn + 30 sec. Pictorial report.
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Lubomir Ftacnik: 1.d4 - a classical repertoire for White This DVD by Lubomir Ftacnik is an ambitious project, presenting a comprehensive set of ideas and structures in chess openings, arising after the first move 1.d4. In 34 videos (plus intro and conclusion) the author covers all 1.d4 openings - classical ones, like all Queens Gambit lines and the Indian defences, but also many interesting gambits, like the Benko, Blumenfeld and Budapest. The suggested choices are approved and active, but also safe for the first player. Many hours of explanations and suggestions will significantly shorten the time needed for building up a complete and workable set of opening weapons, usually called a repertoire.
Sebastien
Feller wins Paris Championship
Report by Dominique Primel
Sébastien Feller is number 17 on the July
2010 FIDE Top 20 Juniors list. He took clear first place in a amazing way:
with 8/9 and a performance 2859. A strong Indian delegation from Bombay and
New Delhi was participating, and S.P. Sethuramian made one GM norm.
Tigran Gharamian was born in Armenia, but is now playing under the French flag.
He is a rising star and his rating is growing rapidly. In 2002, when he was
18, his it was only 2200, and now 2650!
To read, replay and analyse the PGN games we adivse you to download the free PGN
reader ChessBase Light. This program also gives you immediate access
to the chess server .
13.07.2010 – Remember the Karpov
fund-raiser in New York? A similar extravaganza will take place in London,
in the famous Simpson's-in-the-Strand, where 19th century intellectuals, sitting
on comfortable divans, discussed politics and played chess. Steinitz, Morphy,
Lasker and Zukertort were regulars. On Sept. 8th you can join forces with
Kasparov, Adams, Short and McShane in exhibition games. Invitation.
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Lubomir Ftacnik: 1.d4 - a classical repertoire for White This DVD by Lubomir Ftacnik is an ambitious project, presenting a comprehensive set of ideas and structures in chess openings, arising after the first move 1.d4. In 34 videos (plus intro and conclusion) the author covers all 1.d4 openings - classical ones, like all Queens Gambit lines and the Indian defences, but also many interesting gambits, like the Benko, Blumenfeld and Budapest. The suggested choices are approved and active, but also safe for the first player. Many hours of explanations and suggestions will significantly shorten the time needed for building up a complete and workable set of opening weapons, usually called a repertoire.
Text:
Darwin Strategic
Simpson’s in the Strand, London on 8th September 2010
English Chess Federation President, CJ de Mooi, cordially invites you
to an evening of fundraising for the Karpov 2010 campaign as the FIDE
President and also to raise awareness and funds for British Chess.
Guests of Honour will be former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov,
former World Chess Challenger Michael Adams, former World Chess Challenger
Nigel Short and a host of other world class chess Grandmasters.
Your evening will include
5pm – Reception and Chess portraits art show by Barry Martin
–
The Official Artist of the 1993 and 2000 World Chess Championships
6pm – Seat to watch Grandmaster consultation chess games
8.30pm – Simpson’s Classics Dinner with a Grandmaster at
every table
11.00pm – Thanks and Carriages
The dress code will be Black and White.
I do hope you will be able to attend and please RSVP by 31st July 2010
The "Grandmaster at every table" will include, we are told, Anatoly
Karpov, Garry Kasparov, Nigel Short, Michael Adams, Luke McShane, David Howell,
Stephen Gordon, Daniel King, John Emms and Raymond Keene. Garry v Nigel and
Michael v Luke will be where people can bid to accompany the players in consultation
one hour games, where each person makes alternate moves (similar to the NYC
format). There will also be impromptu blitz simuls by Garry Kasparov and Nigel
Short.
To accompany the grand evening on the 8th of September Barry Martin will be
showing images from the Seventh Staunton Memorial Chess Tournament that was
held at Simpson's-in-the-Strand in August 2009. It will be the first time they
have ever been exhibited. A large drawing (above) from the Kasparov-Short 1993
World Championship, created in the Savoy Theatre where the match was held, will
also make a return.
For more information and tickets please contact CJ
de Mooi, the President of the English Chess Federation. The email address
is .
Simpson’s-in-the-Strand
The Grand Cigar Divan –
The Home of Chess
In 1828, Samuel Reiss, opened the Grand Cigar Divan on the site of the Fountain
Tavern which had been the home of the famous literary association, the Kit Kat
Club.
The establishment soon developed as a coffee house, where gentlemen smoked
cigars with their coffee, browsed over the daily journals and newspapers, indulged
in lengthy conversations about the politics of the day and played chess, sitting
on comfortable divans or sofas. Many of these divans were arranged to form boxes
and these can still be seen today. Regular visitors would pay one guinea a year
for the use of the facilities and cups of coffee. The daily entrance fee for
others was 6d (2½ p) or 1/6d (9p) with coffee and a cigar.
Simpson's-in-the-Strand in London today
The entrance to the Grand Divan (originally the "Grand Cigar Divan")
Historical pictures on the walls of the staircases
Two more recent players whom you might recognise in the paintings on the walls
12.07.2010 – We bring an interview with GM Pavel Eljanov, fresh off an impressive win at the FIDE Grand Prix in Astrakhan, which rocketed him to 8th in the world rankings. He is currently the number one Ukrainian, ahead of stars such as Ivanchuk and Karjakin. He describes his impressions on the Sofia rules, his development as a player, and reveals his fashion consultant. Here is the pictorial profile.
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Lubomir Ftacnik: 1.d4 - a classical repertoire for White This DVD by Lubomir Ftacnik is an ambitious project, presenting a comprehensive set of ideas and structures in chess openings, arising after the first move 1.d4. In 34 videos (plus intro and conclusion) the author covers all 1.d4 openings - classical ones, like all Queens Gambit lines and the Indian defences, but also many interesting gambits, like the Benko, Blumenfeld and Budapest. The suggested choices are approved and active, but also safe for the first player. Many hours of explanations and suggestions will significantly shorten the time needed for building up a complete and workable set of opening weapons, usually called a repertoire.
Interview with Pavel Eljanov
By Anastasiya Karlovich
Pavel Eljanov, current Elo 2755, ranked 8th in the world
He made me an offer I could not refuse!
Born on May 10th, 1983, in Kharkov, Ukraine, Pavel Eljanov has been an International
Grandmaster since 2000. He recently won the Sixth FIDE Grand Prix with an impressive
2809 performance, and was also a member of the Ukrainian team which won the
36th World Chess Olympiad in 2004. He is the winner of many tournaments such
as Poljanitsa-Zdruj, Linares (tournament B), Andorra, Montreal 2006, Wijk aan
Zee (B, 2007), Bosna (2008), and others. We met in a café in Kharkov.
When I came inside Pavel was focused on his mobile searching for tickets to
Croatia where he is to play in the league in September.
Pavel Eljanov, fashionable even when choosing where to be interviewed.
Pavel, do you make your own travel arrangements?
Yes, usually I plan my own trips. I have become so experienced that I am even
ready to open a travel agency (laughs).
More than a month ago you won the Grand Prix in Astrakhan. Do you feel
any changes in your life? Do media and journalists attack you more often?
In general, nothing has changed. I don't feel more attention from journalists,
nor did I see any chess journalist in Astrakhan. Also there was not much attention
in Ukraine. I wrote a couple of articles for chess magazines such as the Russian
"64" and New in Chess. Also I haven't noticed any attention
from the local press either. Just a few days ago a journalist called me from
the local newspaper Time asking for interview. I was busy at that moment
and asked her to call me back in ten minutes, but she never did.
What can you say about your result a month later?
I’m satisfied with my result and with the quality of my games.
Of course it was impossible to plan such success but I had a feeling all the
conditions were good and I would be able to show a good result.
Strolling in Kharkov.
During all the Grand Prix tournaments the Sofia rules were used.
What do you think about them? Do they really work to prevent quick draws?
Well, I never like to make quick draws. When I sign a score sheet with only
twenty moves noted, I have a feeling of incompleteness and guilt, not only in
front of the audience, but in myself. It’s not a good feeling so I try
to fight until the end and usually only take draws in “empty” positions.
If the tournament situation is favorable I can of course take a draw because
it’s the sport. Speaking of the Sofia rules, I must say I have been against
the idea from the beginning because it’s difficult to play all games with
the same energy. I can understand if somebody decides to play for a win and
won’t offer a draw but these rules don’t leave a choice. But I have
to admit there are some tournaments with only six players, Libnares for example,
and often after one and a half hours of play, two out of the three games are
already over. When it comes to the image of chess I think this is unacceptable!
So this is a positive side of the Sofia rules. I think a chess player must display
a game, not quick draws. At the same time, I can say the pressure during tournaments
is increasing and Grand Prix tournaments are exhausting for the players, based
on my own experience. A solution might be to organize more free days during
the events. I can say the fighting spirit also depends on the character of the
player. Some will never accept a quick draw even without the Sofia rules. For
example, during the tournament in Bazna (Romania) most of the games were decided
with a fight.
What is your next goal after entering the top ten players in the world?
After I became 8th in the World rankings I would like to play in the strong
tournaments of course and test my abilities. I was very lucky to get a chance
to participate in Grand Prix tournaments these last two years. Even if
I hadn’t had such a result in Astrakhan I would never have a better chance
to meet such strong players at the board. There aren’t that many strong
tournaments in the chess world and in 2008 I had a kind of a crisis in my career.
Those tournaments helped a lot to maintain my level.
After Astrakhan you participated in the ACP World Cup in Odessa. What
can you say about this tournament and your result there?
I can say that organization of the tournament in Odessa is getting better every
year. This time it was excellent! The main organizer and President of
the ACP, Vadim Marakhovsky, pays a great deal of attention to the organization
and does so with his heart and soul. Unfortunately, in the first round
I had to play against Alexander Moiseenko, who is a friend. Still, I don’t
think that friendship affects the struggle on the board much, so we just had
to play. In my second game I lost fairly against Jakovenko. He played very well
throughout the tournament and in my opinion deserved to win it. The match with
Karjakin was quite unclear, probably with better chances for Dmitry. I can also
say I was too tired after the Grand Prix and of course lacked energy.
Pavel Eljanov at the press conference during ACP World Cup in Odessa.
All the participants in Odessa had a chance to meet a new President of
the Ukrainian Chess Federation, Viktor Kapustin. In your previous interview,
you said you might leave the Ukrainian federation as Karjakin did earlier.
What do you think about the changes in the Ukrainian Chess Federation and
do you still want to find another?
I think it’s now time to “reveal my cards”. The fact
is, I never actually wanted to leave the federation, so it was just a bluff.
For many years, we had grown used to Viktor Petrov as the President of the UCF.
The last two years of his mandate can be judged as very bad. So I just wanted
to threaten the federation with my possible transfer. To be honest, I would
seriously consider it I received such as attractive a proposal as Sergey Karjakin
did, but if we are talking about a transfer to another federation, with only
a slight improvement in my financial situation, then I see no interest. First
of all, I enjoy playing for the Ukrainian National Team because we have a very
good atmosphere, and second, I’m not very happy about the idea of moving
to another country, changing citizenship, etc. I hope Mr. Kapustin’s appearance
will bring some changes, and I can say I have already seen a few. I know he
has already paid all the federation’s debts left over from the previous
president, has changed the location of the UCF’s office, and I hear it
looks more impressive. I hope all the best Ukrainian players will represent
the National Team at the Olympiad and know Mr. Kapustin has taken initiatives
in that direction.
Eljanov in action at the ACP World Cup.
What do you think about the Ukrainian Championship? I heard it was planned
to be in Kharkov, your native city. What prize fund would bring all the best
players to the same playing hall?
I think we should look at the Russian Championship as a good model. They have
a good system which consists of some open tournaments, final and super-final
events. The prize fund is around US$ 100,000 in the Russian Championship Super-Final,
and I think the UCF should consider similar figures. If the best Ukrainian players
participated, then the Ukrainian Championship would be just as strong as the
Russian Championship.
Going back to the beginning of your chess career, can you tell how you
started playing chess?
I was lucky to be born in a chess family and my parents always supported my
wish to play chess, even during the periods when I lacked the desire. My mother
helped me from the beginning, and showed me the rules of chess, and afterwards
we continued to study the basics using the famous book of Ivashenko. I
was probably a good book (laughs).
Do you mean everybody who studies that book can play as well as Pavel
Eljanov?
I think 90% start to study chess from that book... Anyhow, I was quickly improving
at the beginning but lost interest when I was 8-9 years old. The teamwork with
my trainer Anatoliy Astrakhancev (coincidence with Astrakhan?) helped me to
achieve a candidate master norm. Of course during that period my father supported
me financially and helped me improve in chess. In 1995 he got the idea
of publishing Mark Dvoretsky’s books. I studied all those books several
times before they were published, so I was one of their proofreaders as well.
Together with Alexander Moiseenko, we checked variations and read the first
books at least five times, so I can say I drank it in as mother's milk. At the
time I had no trainers, though I studied together with Zakhar Efimenko, Alexander
Moiseenko as well as worked alone. Since 1997 I have been coming to the the
Chess Club of the National Law Academy. I was the youngest one there and it
was a great experience for me to play with more experienced opponents such as
Alexander Zubarev, Eduard Andreev among others.
I know you graduated from the National Law Academy of Ukraine named by
Yaroslav the Wise. When did you decide to become a professional chess player
instead of a lawyer?
Not long ago I was in a meeting with my classmates. And my Russian language
teacher showed me a composition I wrote when I was only 15 years old.
Suddenly I found out that years before I had written I wanted to be a chess
player, and play chess all my life. Of course I don’t remember this composition
and I’m not even sure I wrote in sincerity. I think I decided to take
chess more seriously after I became a GM in 2000. Sure, I was developed step-by-step
and had ups and downs, but even after reaching 2600 I can not say I had studied
chess professionally. In 2004, I won some chess tournaments and got a place
in the National team. In that period the new talented, ambitious and young generation
appeared in Ukraine. So the team which consisted of Ivanchuk, Ponomariov, Volokitin,
Moiseenko, Karjakin and myself only averaged 21 or 22 years of age. At that
time we made a real sensation by winning the Olympiad with no great experience,
just enthusiasm and energy. I must admit the Russian team was more powerful
and strong teams such as Armenia and Azerbaijan hadn’t appeared yet and
could not compete with Russia. After this victory I was strongly motivated to
develop more and more.
Pavel likes to come to the “Law Academy” chess club where he
spends time with
his chess friends playing... Monopoly.
What was the next stage?
In 2004, Boris Gelfand asked me to help him to prepare his matches. He made
me an offer I could not refuse! (laughing) The most important was not even a
financial question but the chance to work with a player of his caliber. Comparing
Gelfand’s attitude to chess and preparation to mine, I would call myself
only a semi-professional chess player at that time, though I must say I learned
a lot from him.
How do you motivate yourself during the game?
Well, I don’t have any anger and I don’t get angry looking at my
opponents. I think my motivation comes from my love of chess. I also like the
different ideas, the struggle of concepts, but of course I play for the result!
So I probably have a killer instinct which helps me win games. I also try to
work a lot at home and find interesting positions where I can just play. I cannot
analyze a position deeper and deeper all the way until the end. I also trying
to find positions unknown to my opponents.
Is it still possible at such a level? As we all can see how often home
preparation decides the result of a game.
Yes, I can say that it’s not so easy to find such dark alleys where one
could lure opponents, I can affirm chess is still inexhaustible and nobody knows
how a game will finish. Even high quality computers cannot predict the result,
and still win and lose playing against each other. So chess can still be called
a puzzle.
What are your interests besides chess?
Spending so much time far from home I try to spend more time with my family
between the tournaments and training sessions. I also have a labrador, Chester.
It’s an English-American breed and I gave him that name because it sounds
aristocratic, as well as close to “chess”.
I think there are also cigarettes and a brand of shoes called Chester…
Well, I didn’t mean to make such subtle advertisement (laughing). I
also go to the gym, swim, and play football. Not long ago my wife and I started
to attend an English course.
Some chess players and fans have commented your very interesting sense
of fashion. Who helps you choose and what do you think about the dress code
during the chess tournaments?
Usually my wife takes care of my image, though she admits most of the clothes
I buy are also acceptable (laughs). In general, I prefer casual wear: jeans,
fashion t-shirts. I don’t like suits and absolutely hate to wear ties,
though I always put on suits and ties when I go to the opening and closing ceremonies.
It is these unwritten rules which are important, though sometimes the dress
code demands are stipulated in the contracts and of course I follow them.
Pavel and his lovely wife, Elena.
Speaking about your wife, can you tell if it’s helpful she was
a chess player in the past?
Of course, it’s important she understands what I’m doing, though
at the same moment I’m very glad she stopped playing chess professionally.
I was the one who helped her to make the difficult decision to quit chess and
choose, frankly speaking, a normal profession. Of course there were many tears
and she wanted to continue playing… She works as a lawyer in a solid
firm and has no regrets about her choice nowadays.
Does she follow your games during the tournaments? Do you discuss your
games afterwards?
Yes, of course she follows my games and usually uses Rybka. Sometimes she will
ask why I chose one move instead of another.
What are your nearest plans? Where are you going to play?
My next tournament will be the “Politiken Cup” open in Denmark.
I played there two years ago for the first time. It’s a big tournament
where many amateur chess players, mostly from Scandinavian countries, participate,
and I like it very much. it’s located in a kind of student camp near the
lake, and has many sports activities, such as golf, table tennis, and pool.
I decided to participate in the event during the winter when the organiser offered
me good conditions, so I accepted his invitation.
But many chess players playing on your level prefer not to participate
in open tournaments.
I believe my high elo is not a reason to quit the tournament. First of all,
it’s not correct because I have an agreement with the organizer, and second,
I’m very glad to play there because it’s very difficult to be without
practice for a long time.
Before the elections in the chess world, many grandmasters go into politics.
Would you like to participate in any political group?
No, I have some chess ambitions and don’t want to spend my time on politics.
In general I have negative opinions of it. I think that after a person goes
into politics he doesn’t belong to himself any more.
About the author
Anastasiya (Nastja) Karlovich was Ukrainian champion and vice-champion
among girls under 16, 18 and 20. She was European Champion with the Ukrainian
team in the Youth Team Championships. She is also
a candidate officer in the National Law Academy “Yaroslav the Wise”,
a member of the chess club “Law Academy”
a member of the German club Grosslehna
one of the organisers of WGM and GM closed tournaments “Cup of Rector”.
12.07.2010 – Two of the most prestigious tournaments in the country, the 2010 U.S. Women's
Championship and the 2010 U.S. Junior Closed Championship, are taking place July
9-20 at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. IM Anna Zatonskih
is looking to defend the crown which
she won two years in succession. In the Junior section Ray Robson is
the top seed.
Report after two rounds.
Advertisement
Lubomir Ftacnik: 1.d4 - a classical repertoire for White This DVD by Lubomir Ftacnik is an ambitious project, presenting a comprehensive set of ideas and structures in chess openings, arising after the first move 1.d4. In 34 videos (plus intro and conclusion) the author covers all 1.d4 openings - classical ones, like all Queens Gambit lines and the Indian defences, but also many interesting gambits, like the Benko, Blumenfeld and Budapest. The suggested choices are approved and active, but also safe for the first player. Many hours of explanations and suggestions will significantly shorten the time needed for building up a complete and workable set of opening weapons, usually called a repertoire.
2010 U.S. Women's and
Junior Closed Championships
In 2007 Krush unseated Zatonskih, the 2006 champion, to claim her second U.S.
Women’s Championship title. The following year, a heated Armageddon match
allowed Zatonskih to reclaim the title and set the stage for a marquis match-up
in St. Louis at the 2009 U.S. Women’s Championship. A slow start by Krush,
however, and an unparalleled performance by Zatonskih allowed for a runaway
victory and gave Zatonskih her third title.
Anna Zatonskih, 2009 US Women's Champion
IM Irina Krush, who won the title in 2006 (and 1998 at the age of 14)
The dramatic and controversial Armageddon final in 2008, on which we reported
extensively:
Armageddon decider more reader feedback 24.06.2008 How does Anna Zatonskih feel about
her sudden-death win of the US Women's Championship earlier this year?
What do other readers think about the comments that have been made on
the subject? The letters keep pouring in, and even BitTorrent inventor
Bram Cohen, who once beat Irina Krush, has weighed in with a proposal
for a
new blitz clock.
US Women's Armageddon reactions from our readers 15.06.2008 The final tiebreak game that decided
the 2008 US Women's Chess Championship in favour of Anna Zatonskih led
to a protest by Irina Krush, who lost in a controversial manner. The critical
phase was caught on video, which our readers could view in slow motion.
"This film has been dissected as much as the Zapruder JFK assassination
film," writes Julian Wan of Ann Arbor, USA. Selected
letters.
Armageddon at the US Women's Championship 09.06.2008 At the 2008 Women's Chess Championship
IMs Anna Zatonskih and Irina Krush tied for first, then played rapid and
blitz tiebreakers, and finally a very dramatic Armageddon game, which
Anna won in the last possible second. Irina has protested in an open letter
that her opponent was making moves before she had completed her own. You
can watch the scene in a forensic video in
slow motion.
Shulman wins US Championship; Zatonskih wins Women's
Title 23.05.2008 GM Yury Shulman won the 2008 Frank
K. Berry U.S. Championship with 7/9, with IM Johhua Friedel completing
his final GM norm. In the Women's Championship IMs Anna Zatonskih and
Irina Krush tied for first, then went into dramatic blitz tiebreaks, which
Anna won in the last possible second. You can watch the scene in a new
version of this dramatic
video.
The 2010 U.S. Women's Championship carries a $65,000 prize fund, the largest
in the history of the tournament. The breakdown is as follows: 1st: $16,000,
2nd: $12,000, 3rd: $9,000, 4th: $7,000 etc. until 10th: $2,000.
Participants IM Anna Zatonskih, Tatev Abrahamyan, WGM Sabina Foisor, WIM
Alisa Melekhina
Women’s Chess in the U.S. Facts
The first unoffcial U.S. women's champion was crowned in 1857. Though her
name was never listed, a description of the chess queen secured her legacy:
"This lady is believed to be the strongest amateur of her sex in the
country, and would certainly be ranked as a first-rate in any club."
The first published game by a U.S. woman player appeared in an eight-page
brochure in 1830.
A Texas man in 1885 publicly offered a $100 bet that his wife could beat
any man in chess.
Mona May Karff won seven titles, topped only by Gisela Kahn Gresser’s
nine wins.
Irina Krush holds the record as the youngest player to win the U.S. Women’s
Chess Championship. She won it in 1998 at age 14.
In 1909 Eliza Foot “placed on the market a series of chess puzzles,”
making her the first female U.S. chess author.
U.S. Junior Closed Championship
The U.S. Junior Closed Championship is the most prestigious tournament in the
country for the nation's top emerging talent. Players under the age of 21 are
competing at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis July 9-20 for
the title of U.S. Junior Champion and an automatic bid to the World Junior Championship.
The 2010 U.S. Junior Championship also features a record-breaking prize fund.
The ten participants are fighting for $10,300 in prizes and will also receive
a laptop computer as a part of their prize. The breakdown is as follows: 1st:
$3,000, 2nd: $2,000, 3rd: $1,500, 4th: $1,000 etc, until 10th: $250.
Contenders NM Parker Zhao (2267), GM Ray Robson (2613)
Previous winners of the United States Junior Closed Championship include Bobby
Fischer, Larry Christiansen, Patrick Wolff, Joshua Waitzkin, Tal Shaked, Hikaru
Nakamura, Robert Hess, and the 2009 Champion GM Ray Robson. Robson has returned
to Saint Louis to defend his title against nine other up-and-coming chess masters,
including the 2009 and 2010 U.S.Championship participant IM Sam Shankland.
Rounds one and two
Round one – July 10, 2010
Zatonskih, Anna
1-0
Rohonyan, Katerina
Zenyuk, Iryna
1-0
Foisor, Sabina-Francesca
Abrahamyan, Tatev
1-0
Baginskaite, Camilla
Marinello, Beatriz M
0-1
Krush, Irina
Marshall, Abby
0-1
Melekhina, Alisa
Round two – July 11, 2010
Krush, Irina
1-0
Abrahamyan, Tatev
Melekhina, Alisa
1-0
Marinello, Beatriz M
Zenyuk, Iryna
1-0
Marshall, Abby
Baginskaite, Camilla
0-1
Zatonskih, Anna
Foisor, Sabina-Francesca
0-1
Rohonyan, Katerina
In round one top seed IM Irina Krush, rated 2476, beat...
Anna Zatonskih, who like Irina Krush, won both her games so far
WIM Alisa Melekhina, rated 2323, also won both her games in rounds one and
two
WGM Sabina Foisor vs WIM Iryna Zenyuk in round one (Zenyuk won in 46 moves)
In this game Abby Marshall got mated by Alisa Melekhina –
"That sucks," said Abby,
who played the King's Gambit, "losing in like 26 moves."
Standings after two rounds
Statistics
After the first two rounds four players lead with perfect scores. so
far this tournament has brought only decisive games, which we need to
celebrate with a pie chart. Of the ten games:
0% (no games) ended in draws
White won six games = 60%
Black won four games = 40%
Juniors
Round one – July 10, 2010
Harper, Warren
1-0
Bryant, John Daniel
Zhao, Parker
1-0
Shankland, Samuel L
Zierk, Steven C
0-1
Yang, Darwin
Rosen, Eric S
½-½
Robson, Ray
Holt, Conrad
½-½
Hughes, Tyler B
Round two – July 11, 2010
Yang, Darwin
1-0
Holt, Conrad
Robson, Ray
1-0
Bryant, John Daniel
Hughes, Tyler B
½-½
Zhao, Parker
Rosen, Eric S
0-1
Zierk, Steven C
Shankland, Samuel L
0-1
Harper, Warren
In round one NM Eric Rosen, rated 2209, had the top seed in a mate net
Ray Robson, rated 400 points higher than his opponent, just managed to avoid
an upset defeat
NM Eric Rosen - GM Ray Robson
2010 U.S. Women's and Junior Closed Cham St. Louis 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.d4 Ngf6 5.Nc3 cxd4 6.Qxd4 g6 7.Bg5 Bg7
8.0-0 0-0 9.Qd2 Nc5 10.Rae1 a6 11.Bd3 Re8 12.Bh6 Bh8 13.h3 b5 14.Ng5 Bb7 15.f4
e6 16.a3 Rc8 17.Qf2 Qb6 18.Kh2 b4 19.axb4 Qxb4 20.Qh4 Qxb2 21.Nd1 Qd4 22.Nf2
Nxd3 23.cxd3 Rc2 24.Nf3 Qc3 25.f5 a5 26.fxe6 fxe6 27.Ng5 a4 28.Ng4 Nxg4+ 29.Qxg4
Bg7 30.Bxg7 Qxg7 31.Kh1 h5 32.Qd1 Rec8 33.Nxe6 Qe5 34.Nf4 Qg5 35.Qf3 Rf8 36.g3
a3 37.d4 Kh7?? (37...Qb5 should win the game for Black)
38.Ne6 Qd2 39.Nxf8+ Kh6. Black is getting mated. 40.Qf4+
Qxf4 41.Rxf4 a2 42.d5 Rb2 43.Rf6 Kg7 44.Rff1. Move by move White has
given up his advantage and now must go for a perpetual: 44...Ba6 45.Ne6+
Kh6 46.Rf8 Kh7 47.Ng5+ Kg7 48.Ne6+ Kh7 49.Ng5+ Kg7 ½-½.
With two wins FM Darwin Yang, rated 2422, is in the lead in the Junior section...
together with Warren Harper, 2388, who also won his first two games
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12.07.2010 – ... is always a good idea was White's reasoning here when he played 37.Re1-e3, covering the threat against f2 while getting the rook into position on the third rank. How is the position to be assessed after this?
A) White wins, his king is safe and there is nothing against the threats 38.d6 and Qh8+;
B) Black can land an immediate counterstrike;
C) Black gets the advantage by also combining attack with defence.
The solution is
but first ponder over it with a larger version of the diagram.
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How is the position to be assessed after 37.Re1-e3?
A) White wins, his king is safe and there is nothing against the threats 38.d6 and Qh8+;
B) Black can land an immediate counterstrike;
C) Black gets the advantage by also combining attack with defence.
Sebastien
