Fischer will be remembered as the Mozart of chess, taking Capa's style and sharpening it. He was my childhood inspiration and is the reason I
play chess today. We must separate the man who had repugnant views from the artist.
IM Cyrus Lakdawala
1) Mechanics' Institute Chess News
2) Peoples Replacement Open by Michael Aigner
3) Eric Schiller on the Peoples Replacement Open
4) Here and There
5) New England Masters
6) Upcoming Events
GM Gregory Kaidanov will be at the Mechanics' on Sunday, March 2. He will give a free lecture open to all from 2 to 3 pm. Don't miss this chance to listen to one of the top players in the US!
1) Mechanics' Institute Chess News
The Winter
Tuesday Night Marathon had an exciting finish as NM Sam Shankland defeated World Under 12 Champion Daniel Naroditsky to finish alone in first with 6.5 from 8. There was a five-way-tie for second at 6-2 between IM John Grefe, FM Frank Thornally, and Experts Nicholas Nip, Steve Gaffagan and James Jones. The next Marathon starts March 18th.Two key games from round seven
Thornally,Frank - Naroditsky,Daniel [B26]
Winter TNM San Francisco (7) 2008
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2 g6 5.d3 Bg7 6.Be3 e6 7.Qd2 Nge7 8.Bh6 0-0 9.h4 Bxh6 10.Qxh6 f6 11.Qd2 d5 12.h5 g5 13.h6 d4 14.Nd1 e5 15.f4 exf4 16.gxf4 Ng6 17.Ne2 Bg4 18.f5 Nge5 19.Nf2 Bf3 20.Kf1 Bxe2+ 21.Kxe2 Qd6 22.Bf3 c4 23.Rag1 c3 24.Qc1 cxb2 25.Qxb2 b6 26.Qb3+ Kh8 27.Bh5 Rac8 28.Rc1 Rc7 29.Rhe1 Rfc8 30.a3 Na5 0-1
Shankland,Sam - Grefe,John [C85]
Winter TNM San Francisco (7) 2008
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.d3 Nd7 8.Nbd2 0-0 9.b3 Re8 10.Bb2 Bf8 11.Nc4 f6 12.Qe1 Nc5 13.h3 Be6 14.Ne3 a5 15.Nd2 a4 16.f4 exf4 17.Rxf4 axb3 18.axb3 Rxa1 19.Bxa1 Bd6 20.Rf1 Nd7 21.Kh1 Nf8 22.Ndc4 b5 23.Nxd6 Qxd6 24.Qa5 Nd7 25.Bc3 Nb6 26.Qb4 c5 27.Qxb5 Bd7 28.Qa5 Ra8 29.e5 fxe5 30.Nc4 Qe7 31.Nxb6 Rxa5 32.Nxd7 Ra2 33.Rf8+ Qxf8 34.Nxf8 Kxf8 35.Bxe5 Rxc2 36.Bxc7 Ke7 37.Bb6 g6 38.d4 c4 39.bxc4 Rxc4 40.Kh2 Ke6 41.Kg3 Rc2 42.Kf3 Kf5 43.g4+ Ke6 44.h4 h6 45.d5+ Kxd5 46.Be3 Rc3 47.Kf2 h5 48.gxh5 gxh5 49.Bg5 Ke4 50.Kg2 Kf5 51.Kf2 Kg4 52.Bd8 Ra3 53.Bg5 ½-½
Nine year old Nicholas Nip will be around 2185 after the Tuesday Night Marathon is rated. The past two weekends he played six game matches at a G/60 time control against Expert Romulo Fuentes (2113) and NM Emmanuel Perez (2282), beating Fuentes by a score of 5.5-0.5 and Perez 4.0-2.0. The lack of tournaments in the Western US is something that Nicholas's mother, Sophia, is acutely aware of. There is no USCF Grand Prix tournament within 1000 miles of San Francisco the next two weeks so Nicholas will be likely be playing more matches at the Mechanics' the next few weeks in his quest to reach 2200 before he turns 10. He would have likely made it already if he had not had a sub par result at Agoura Hills in January while playing with the flu.
Should Nicholas beat Hikaru Nakamura's record for youngest Master he will be in good company. As Michael Aigner points out if he is successful he will become the third local youngster to hold this esteemed record. Back in 1995, young rivals Jordy Mont-Reynaud (10 years and 209 days) and Vinay Bhat (10 years and 176 days) both became the youngest USCF master in short succession. Jordy earned the FIDE Master title but never managed to maintain a rating much above 2300. Vinay now holds the Grandmaster title and is still active as a player.
2) Peoples Replacement Open by Michael Aigner
The annual People’s Chess Tournament in February is one of the oldest traditions of Northern
California chess. Its history dates back to the topsy-turvy era of free speech and free love in
Berkeley around the early 1970s. Normally the tournament takes place in magnificent Pauley
Ballroom looking out at Sproul Plaza and the Campanile (Sather Tower) on the campus of UC
Berkeley. The spirit of the counterculture remains alive today, symbolized by the incessant noise
generated by the bongo drummers that spend each afternoon in the plaza.
Unfortunately, a scheduling snafu robbed us chess players of this tradition in 2008, for the
second time in three years. When it appeared there would be no People’s Tournament at all, South
Bay organizer Salman Azhar stepped up to the plate despite only three week’s notice. The People’s
Replacement Tournament was definitely not the Real Thing, but it would have to suffice. The event
was moved 50 miles south to the library of a grade school in Santa Clara. Only four rounds were
played over two days, instead of the usual three-day schedule. And at least one veteran player
complained about the lack of drums. On the bright side, the new venue allowed easy freeway access
and plenty of free parking.
About 80 players showed up for the 1200+ sections while another 40 kids played in the one-day side
event restricted to players rated under 1200. These attendance figures allowed Dr. Azhar to
increase the advertised prize fund slightly to $2500, a respectable 71% of last year’s payout in
Berkeley despite having 45 fewer players. Players competed in four sections: Master/Expert, Class
A, Class B and Class C/D. In an era of G/30, G/45 and G/60 tournaments, the People’s time control
was slow enough for classical chess: 30/90, G/60. In fact, some parents remarked how pleased they
were to see their kids actually take their time to think while playing chess!
The top section featured local IM Ricardo DeGuzman as the top seed, followed by two FMs and two
NMs. Upsets began rolling in as early as the first round: fifth grader Yian Liou (1900) crushed
FM Eric Schiller’s anti-Dutch system within 20 moves and high school student NM Sam Shankland
could only draw against extensive opening preparation by adult expert Brendan Purcell (2023). In
the third round, reigning world U12 champion FM Danya Naroditsky calmly held DeGuzman to a draw.
That left this reporter as the only player with a perfect 3-0 score going into the final round,
with DeGuzman, Shankland and Naroditsky tied for second at 2.5 each.
That set up my critical round 4 pairing with IM DeGuzman. We had played many times before, with
DeGuzman scoring a lopsided 23.5/27 = 87%. I had never won, achieving just seven draws despite
several completely winning positions. Our typical game saw DeGuzman overcoming an opening
disadvantage through his creative and aggressive middle and endgame play.
Aigner, Michael (2242) vs IM DeGuzman, Ricardo (2457)
1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 e6 6. Be3 Nd4 7. Nce2 Ne7 8. c3 Nxe2 9. Nxe2 d6 10.
d4 cxd4 11. Bxd4 e5 12. Be3 O-O 13. Qd3 Qc7 14. Rd1 Rd8 15. c4 Be6 16. b3 Qa5+ 17. Qd2 Qc7 18. O-O
a6 19. Nc3 Qa5 20. Nd5 Qxd2 21. Nxe7+ Kf8 22. Nxg6+ hxg6 23. Rxd2 b5 24. c5 dxc5 25. Bxc5+ Ke8 26.
Rxd8+ Rxd8 27. Be3 Bf8 28. h4 Ba3 29. Kh2 Rc8 30. Rd1 Rc2 31. Rd2 Rc8 32. Re2 Bc1 33. Bb6 Rc6 34.
Ba7 f6 35. Bh3 Bf7 36. Kg2 a5 37. Bg4 a4 38. bxa4 bxa4 39. Re1 Bxa2 40. Be2 Rc3 41. Bb5+ Kf7 42.
Bxa4 Be6 43. Be3 Bxe3 44. Rxe3 Rxe3 45. fxe3 Bg4 46. Bb3+ Ke7 47. Kf2 Kf8 48. Ke1 Bf3 49. Bc2 Ke7
50. Kf2 Bg4 51. Bd3 Kf8 52. Be2 Bd7 53. Ke1 Bc6 54. Bd3 Kg7 55. g4 Kh6 56. Kd2 Bb7 57. Kc3 Bc8 58.
Be2 Bb7 59. Bf3 Kg7 60. Kc4 f5 61. g5 Kf7 62. Kd3 Ba6+ 63. Kd2 Bb7 64. Ke2 fxe4 65. Bg4 Bd5 66.
Bc8 Ke7 67. Kf2 Bb3 68. Bb7 Bc2 69. Ke2 Ke6 70. Kd2 Bb1 71. Kc3 Bd3 72. Bc6 Ke7 73. Kb4 Bb1 74.
Kc5 Ba2 75. Bxe4 Bf7 76. Bd5 Be8 77. Bg8 Ba4 78. Bc4 Bd7 79. Bd3 1-0
The game in Santa Clara was no different; I achieved a huge opening advantage from the white side
of the Maroczy bind. The veteran IM meekly lost a pawn with 19… Qa5 allowing the thematic tactic
20.Nd5, but the game had just begun. Surely a clear pawn up should be enough to win. However,
after two inaccuracies (I should have played 32.Bh3 instead of Re2 and 34.Ba5 instead of Ba7),
history was well on its way to repeat. Was this the DeGuzman Curse?
Fortunately, history would not repeat itself. Known for impeccable play in the late middlegame
and endgames, the sly magician blundered with the greedy 39… Bxa2 when the pawn push a3 would have
sufficed for an advantage. The brilliant retreat 40.Be2 threatens three black targets on the
a5-e8 diagonal and, from this point forth, black was in trouble. The bishop of same color endgame
up a pawn that resulted from further trades on moves 44 and 45 was merely a matter of technique
despite white’s doubled pawns. After nearly seven years since our first meeting, the monkey is
off my back!
Approximately a quarter of the players in the tournament won a part of the prize fund. Much has
been said about the rise of scholastic chess in our area, with many adults dropping out simply
because they no longer can keep up with the tactical skill of underrated kids. In fact, the three
players who tied for second place in the Master/Expert section were age 12, 14 and 16. But there
is still a glimmer of hope for the older generation: the Class A and Class C winners were all
adults! Hopefully this success by George Mandrusov, Harold Parker and Kenneth Voss can inspire
players at their age not to quit but rather to keep fighting on.
List of Winners
Master: 1st NM Michael Aigner; 2nd NM Sam Shankland and FM Danya Naroditsky
Expert: Rohan Agarwal
Class A: George Mandrusov
Class B: Kartik Chillakanti and Chris Tsai
Class C: Harold Parker and Kenneth Voss
Class D: Muhammed Mohideen
U1200: Daniel Liu, Stephen Leung and Rahul Swaminathan
U900: Linus Wang and Malik Khalil
U500: Muzammil Khan
Results:
3) Eric Schiller on the Replacement Peoples Open
This is a sacrifice of a tempo to encourage White to weaken the queenside by advancing the c-pawn. I like it a lot.
A typical theme in this variation.
Hoping for tricks at f7 and e6 after Re1.18.a3 is probably best. Nxh5 19.Be5 Nf6 20.d5!? cxd5 21.cxd5 Nxd5 22.Bxg7 Rg8 23.Be5 Rxg2 - Black is ahead, Hungaski vs. Vescovi, 2005
.18...
Qxa2 19.Rhe1 O-O 20.g4Attack? I think I will! The Caro-Kann can be as exciting as any Sicilian, when Black castles on the opposite wing from White.
My opponent forgot that my bishop owns a3.21.g5 was the move that had to be played. No time for defense! 21...hxg5 22.Bxg5 a4 23.Ng6 ! It doesn't work, but causes Black the most problems.23...Bb4 ! (Only this! 23...fxg6 24.Qxe6+ Kh8 25.hxg6 Nh5 26.Qxe7a3 ! 27.bxa3 Qxc4+ 28.Kb2 Qb5+ 29.Kc1 Rxf2 30.Qe8+ ! Rf8 31.Qe7 and Black might have to settle for a perpetual check draw)
28.Rxa1 Rxa1+ 29.Kd2 Bg5+30.Ke2 Ra4 -White has serious problems but can resist for some time.
29.Kd3 would have led to a spectacular finish.29...R8a3+ 30.Ke4 Nf6+ 31.Kf4 Rxf2+!! 32.Bxf2 Nxh5+!! 33.gxh5 Bg5+ 34.Kg4 f5# ) ( 29.Kd1 Nc3+ 30.Kc1 Nxb1 31.Kxb1 Ra1+ 32.Kc2 Rxe1 ) ( 29.Kc1 Bg5+ ) 0-1
4) Here and There
Congratulations to former Mechanics' member IM Jeremy Silman for winning the ChessCafe book of the year award for Silman's Complete Endgame Course.
NM Michael Aigner has just started a very good blog. Check it out at
http://fpawn.blogspot.com/MI Chess Director John Donaldson tied for first with NM Carl Haessler at 4.5 from 5 in the 67 player David Collyer Memorial last weekend in Spokane
IM Josh Friedel turned in a good result in the A2 group section of the Aeroflot Open, scoring 5.5 from 9.
5) New England Masters
Dear Chess Player,
The New England Masters 2008 will take place over the week of August 11-15, 2008, in Pawtucket (near Providence), Rhode Island, USA.
The tournament will be a 9 round Swiss open to players with a FIDE rating of at least 2100. The time control for all rounds will be 40/2 hours, SD/30 minutes. Round times will be at 11:00 am and 6:00 pm each day, apart from the first day which will have only one round at 6:00 pm.
This year's event will see a distinct push to try and attract more non-USA players to our shores in an attempt to increase the norm opportunities for everyone. For instance, non-USA IMs will receive a free entry and a discounted rate on accommodation (just $200 for a half-room), while all non-USA players receive a $100 discount off their relevant entry fees!
Talking about entry fees, all of them have been reduced from last year's event! This is thanks to allowing a new class of players (2100-2199) to participate in the event, benefiting all of the players above, especially those rated 2500 or higher who can now also play for free!
The event will be held at the To Kalon Club, 65 Main Street, Pawtucket. The To Kalon Club is home to the Blackstone Chess Academy who will be holding their own open weekend Swiss straight after the Masters event. (Further details to be announced.)
The Comfort Inn in Pawtucket has given us an $89/night room rate, which is a significant discount off their regular rates. They also include a free breakfast, free wireless internet, exercise room and a heated indoor pool. What more could a chess player need?
For more details on this exciting event, please visit the New England Masters 2008 website at
6) Upcoming Events
Events at the Mechanics'
http://main.uschess.org/content/view/8042/365/ A. J. Fink Amateur Championship - March 1-2Mar. 21-23
Reno Far West Open VIII GPP: 150 Enhanced Nevada5 Sections. F.I.D.E. 40/2,20/1,G/30. Sands Regency Hotel/Casino, 345 N. Arlington Ave., Reno, NV. 8950. 1-866-FUNSTAY, HR: Sun-Thurs $27!, Fri-Sat $54 (Code CHE 320). $$25,000 b/250 ($16,500 Gtd.); Rds.: 12-7, 10-6, 9:30-4:30. Open Section: EF: GM/IMs free (must enter by Mar.1 or pay late fee), Masters/Experts- $119, (1999-below)- $201, $$2,000-1,200-1,000-800-700-600-500-400-400-400, (2300-2399)-$1,000-500, (2299-below)- $1,000-500; (2199/below)- $1,000-500-300-200-100; "A" Section (1800-1999)- EF: $118, $1000-500-300-200-100-100-100-100-100-100; "B" Section (1600-1799)-EF: $117, $1,000-500-300-200-100-100-100-100-100-100; "C" Sect.(1400-1599) EF: $116, $900-500-300-200-100-100-100-100-100-100; "D/under" Sect. (1399/below) EF: $115, $800-400-300-200-100-100-100-100-100-100; (1199-below) $500-$300-$200-$100; Top Sr. (65+) $200, Club Champ. $400-200. Top Unrated 1 yr USCF membership; Unrated free entry but must join USCF for 1 yr. thru this tournament (Adults-$49, Sr.-$36, Jrs.U25-$25, U16 -$19, U13-$17). Discounts- Sr (65+) and Jrs. (under 20)-$10. Players may play up. Side Events: Thurs. 3/20 (6:00-7:15pm) GM Larry Evans Lecture (Free), GM TBA Simul 7:30pm ($15), Blitz (5 min)Tourney 7:30 pm EF: $20 (80% of entries returned as prizes), Sat (3/22) GM Larry Evans Clinic Game/Position Analysis (Free) 3-4:30pm, Sun (3/23) Quick Tourney (G/25) ($20) 5Rd Swiss, (80% of entries returned as prizes) Reg. 11-11:30am, Rds-12-1-2-3-4pm. Enter: Send checks and make out to Sands Regency at above address postmarked by Mar.1 ($11 late fee after 3/1), ($22 late fee at site). Do not mail after Mar.14. Questions and enter by e-mail or phone to Jerry Weikel at (775-747-1405) or (
wackyykl@aol.com). Credit card +$5. W. NS. (775-348-2200). JGP.Bay Area organizer Salman Azhar writes
Thanks for your regular newsletters… they have become my main source of local chess information. I would appreciate any comments or suggestions you have on a Journal that my son and I plan to publish every quarter. You can see the first attempt at
http://www.bayareachess.com/newsletter/08-1-BayAreaJournal.pdf.I will be running the following events in the first half of 2008.
Mar. 8 Bay Area Chess Tournament (Adult/Regular)
4SS G/60. 3003 Scott Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95054. EF: $39, Juniors $35. $16 more after 3/4, $1 Cal Chess Discount, Additional discount if combined with other tournament entries. $850 b/40: Open 200-100, U1800 50, highest rating increase 50. Reserve (u1600): 200-100 U1400 50, U1200 50, highest rating increase 50. Reg: Sat 9:15-9:45 AM, Rds: 10:15-12:15, lunch, 12:50-2:50 PM, 3:00-5:00 PM, 5:10-7:10 PM. Ent: Online at
http://www.bayareachess.com/pay_online.php or mail to Azleena Azhar, 1551 Garvey Pl. San Jose, CA 95132. Payable to Azleena Azhar or paypal to sazhar@yahoo.com. Info: http://www.bayareachess.com/. NS NC WMay. 24 Bay Area Chess Tournament (Adult/Regular)
4SS G/60. 3003 Scott Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95054. EF: $39, Juniors $35. $16 more after 5/20, $1 Cal Chess Discount, Additional discount if combined with other tournament entries. $850 b/40: Open 200-100, U1800 50, highest rating increase 50. Reserve (u1600): 200-100 U1400 50, U1200 50, highest rating increase 50. Reg: Sat 9:15-9:45 AM, Rds: 10:15-12:15, lunch, 12:50-2:50 PM, 3:00-5:00 PM, 5:10-7:10 PM. Ent: Online at
http://www.bayareachess.com/pay_online.php or mail to Azleena Azhar, 1551 Garvey Pl. San Jose, CA 95132. Payable to Azleena Azhar or paypal to sazhar@yahoo.com. Info: http://www.bayareachess.com/. NS NC WMay. 24-26 or 25-26 Bay Area Chess Tournament (Adult/Regular)
6SS 30/90 G/60 (2-day option first 3 rounds G/60 merges in round 4). 3003 Scott Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95054. EF: $55, Juniors $49. $16 more after 5/20, $1 Cal Chess Discount, Additional discount if combined with other tournament entries. $1475 b/55: OPEN 300-150, u2000 100-75, u1800 100-75, highest rating increase 50. RESERVE (u1600): 200-100 u1400 100, 75, u1200 100, 75, highest rating increase 50. Reg: Sat 10-10:30 AM, Sun 8:15-8:45 AM, Rds: 3-day = 5/24 11am, 4pm; 5/25 11am, 4:30pm; 5/26 10am, 3pm. 2-day = 5/25 9:20, 11:30am, 2pm, round 4 merges with 3-day schedule. Ent: Mail to Azleena Azhar, 1551 Garvey Pl. San Jose, CA 95132. Payable to Azleena Azhar or paypal to
sazhar@yahoo.com. Info: http://www.bayareachess.com/. NS NC W2008 U.S. CHAMPIONSHIP
QUALIFIER DETAILS ANNOUNCED
You too may qualify for the 2008 U.S. Chess Championship! Seven invitations will be up for grabs in a special Qualifier Open tournament slated for March 28-30, 2008, in Tulsa , Oklahoma .
In recent years the system allowing any player to win qualification into the U.S. Championship via other major tournaments throughout the year has been quite popular. Last year over half of the 36 championship contenders were qualifiers.
That tradition continues for 2008, but without qualification events throughout 2007 the championship committee has announced a new format — a single special QUALIFIER OPEN, 7-round Swiss System, at which seven players will earn an invitation to the 2008 Frank K Berry U.S. Chess Championship.
These 7 qualifiers will join 17 top-rated GMs and seeded players including defending champion GM Alex Shabalov to form a field of 24 contenders at the 2008 FKB U.S. Chess Championship to be held May 13-21 in Tulsa . Also, the top female finisher in the Qualifier Open will receive an invitation to the 2008 Frank K. Berry U.S. Women’s Chess Championship, to be held alongside the U.S. Championship.
To win a qualification spot a player must be eligible to play in the U.S. Championship, of course, which means he/she must be a U.S. citizen or resident with federation listed by FIDE as " USA ". (American USCF players without FIDE rating are also eligible.)
Unlike some previous years there is no additional $75 fee to be considered for qualification. Players simply enter and compete in the Qualifier Open just as in any regular large event (see details below).
The top 7 finishers each receive $1000 (Guaranteed) plus a qualification spot (which is itself of value in addition to its prestige; remember that all players in the Championship receive prize money there.).
The event is open to all players, regardless of rating, though of course it is to be expected that masters will be the primary contenders for the top spots. There are also prizes of $1000 (Guaranteed) for top U2400, top U2200, top U2000, and top female finishers.
The Entry Fee is $25 for all masters, $100 for experts, and $200 for anyone rated below 2000. But to get this low EF your entry must be received in advance by March 13. All EFs received after that or at the door cost $100 more. Send entries to:
Frank K. Berry, 402 S. Willis St , Stillwater , OK 74074 .The venue is the Best Western Trade Winds Central, ($55/60;
918-749-5561 or 800-685-4564) with free airport shuttle available. See http://www.tradewindstulsa.com/. It is expected that the hotel will sell out, but note that there are three other motels within a very short walking distance of the venue — the Ramada ($60; 918-743-9811), the Howard Johnson ($55; 918-794-5156), and the Trade Winds East ($45; 800-254-7449). Ask for the chess rate.The Time Control for the Qualifier Open will be Game/90, with 30-second delay. Two half-point byes are available for rounds 1, 2, or 5, if requested in advance. Of course, if there are players tied for the qualification places the prize money will be split normally but the qualification spots themselves will be awarded by mathematical tiebreaks.
Additional info on the Qualifier Open will be available online at
www.uschess.org or in Chess Life TLA announcements. Please direct questions to FKimBerry@aol.com.As far as is known, this is the first time a dedicated Qualifier Open event of this type has ever been held for the prestigious U.S. Championship. We are hoping for an exciting event!
Further details on the 2008 Frank K Berry U.S. Chess Championship, including the details of the new venue and the participant lists, etc., will be forthcoming. It will be a 9-round Swiss, with 24 players and at least a $50,000 prize fund. The 2008 FKB U.S. Women’s Chess Championship will be held at the same time and place, as a 10-player round robin. (The organizing committee for the championship is Frank K. Berry, Jim Berry, and Tom Braunlich)