Mechanics' Institute Chess Club News 549

It is sad that such a great master as Botvinnik does not understand modern chess. He withdrew from active chess years ago when you did not need to play nearly as much as now. He exploited the slow spreading of chess news around the world. Having spotted a good idea he was able to use it perhaps for a whole year until other players to defend themselves against it. When I come up with something new, the whole world will know the following week. You have to continue playing in order not to fall behind. I find this development very positive as it forces you towards activity and new research all the time.

Anatoly Karpov (1980) as quoted in Hartston and Wason's The Psychology of Chess (p.46)

1) Mechanics' Institute Chess Club News

2) San Francisco Mechanics' defeat St. Louis Bishops in USCL debut

3) Western States Open

4) Upcoming Events

1)Mechanics' Institute Chess Club News

Berkeley Fide Master Andy Lee remains in first place after five rounds of the Dan Litowsky Tuesday Night Marathon with 4.5 points, just ahead of Hayk Manvelyan, Igor Traub and Demetrius Goins. Four rounds remain to be played for the 57 participants.

Carlos D'Avila won the August 31st edition of the MI Wednesday Night Blitz with 11 from 12, taking home $35 for his efforts. Tying for second at 8.5 in the event were Jules Jelinek and Felix Rudyak.

Grandmaster Sam Shankland of Orinda upset Peter Leko of Hungary, formerly ranked number two in the world, in the first round of the 2011 World Cup in Khanty Mansiysk in Siberia. The 19-year-old Shankland, who was a mainstay of the Mechanics' team in the US Chess League from 2005-2009, made it to the top 64 players in the world before being eliminated from the knockout competition.

Sam Shankland staying flexible at the 2011 World Cup

2) San Francisco Mechanics' defeat St. Louis Bishops in USCL debut

The San Francisco opened its 2011 season last night in successful fashion defeating the St. Louis Bishops 2.5-1.5.

St. Louis vs San Francisco
1.
GM Ben Finegold (STL) vs GM Jesse Kraai (SF) 1-0
2.
IM Daniel Naroditsky (SF) vs FM Joaquin Banawa (STL) 1-0
3.
FM Doug Eckert (STL) vs IM David Pruess (SF) 0-1
4.
NM Samuel Sevian (SF) vs NM Jialin Ding (STL) 1/2-1/2

Finegold- Kraai (board one)

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.0-0 g6 5.c3 Bg7 6.d4 cxd4 7.cxd4 d5 8.Nc3 0-0

Fischer always played 8...Ne4 breaking the symmetry.

9.Ne5 Bf5

Black's second most popular move in this position after 9...e6.

10.Bg5

10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Bf4 followed by Rc1 trying to apply pressure against c6 is the traditional method.

10...Ne4 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Be3 Qd5 14.Qa4

All this has been previously played before but this is the first test between two GMs.

14...Rfd8 15.Rfd1 Qb5 16.Qc2 Rd7 17.Rd2 Rad8 18.Bxe4

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18...Bxd4

Houdini prefers 18...Bxe4 19.Qxe4 e5 judging the position as equal. After the game continuation White has a small but persistent pull.

19.Bxf5 Qxf5 20.Qxf5 gxf5 21.Rad1 c5

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22.b4! Rd6 23.bxc5 Bxc5 24.Rxd6 Bxd6

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25.Rd5! Rc8

Opting for activity as 25...e6 fails to 26.Ra5 Bb8 27.Bxa7.

26.Rxf5 Bb4

To deny White's Rook a5.

27.Rg5+ Kf8 28.Rh5 Kg8 29.Rg5+ Kf8 30.Rh5 Kg8

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31.Bxa7 Ra8 32.Rg5+ Kf8 33.Bd4 Rxa2 34.Rh5 Kg8 35.Rg5+ Kf8 36.Rh5 Kg8 37.e4 f6 38.Rb5 Bd6 39.e5 fxe5 40.Bxe5 Ba3

An important position arises after 40...Bxe5 41.Rxe5.

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How does one evaluate this ending which is not to be found in the usual reference works (Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual, Emms' Survival Guide to Rook Endings, the Encyclopedia of Rook Endings and Batsford Chess Endings )? Put Black's e-pawn on f7 or g7 and the draw would be quite easy but here White would appear to have more practical chances as Black's pawns are widely separated.

Using a crude search in ChessBase the only comparable endgame I could find was Karjakin-Nakamura, Moscow (Tal Memorial) in 2010 but in that game, which was drawn, it was White's f, g, and h pawns versus Black's e and g pawns (i.e. Black's pawns were not as widely separated). Jesse gut told him to avoid this ending while Ben, already down to the 30 second increment was likely playing on instinct as well.

41.Ra5 Re2

The only move.

42.Kf1 Re4 43.Bc3

This begs the question. Why did White not play 43.Rxa3 and head to the Rook ending?

Note that Jesse has a saving resource after 43...Rxe5 44.Re3 in 44...Rh5.

43...Bd6 44.Rg5+ Kf8 45.Bg7+ Kf7 46.Bh6

This looks like it wins a pawn at first glance but...

46...Re6

...saves the day and leads to a bishop ending.

47.Rg7+ Kf8 48.Rg6+ Kf7 49.Rg7+ Kf8 50.Rg6+ Kf7 51.Rxe6 Kxe6 52.Ke2

With the Black pawn on f7 or g7 (instead of e7) this would be an easy draw. Now Ben has some practical chances based on creating a passed pawn on the g or h files. Notivce how Black's e-pawn play's little role in what follows.

52...Kf5 53.Kf3 Bb4 54.h4 Kg6 55.Be3 h5

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This "fixes" White's pawns on dark-squares for the short term but also makes the h-pawn more vulnerable and the advance ...e7-e6 later more or less compulsory. Would it have been better to leave the pawns on e7 and h7?

56.Ke4 e6 57.Ke5 Kf7 58.f3 Be1 59.Bf4 Bf2 60.Ke4 Kg6 61.Bd6 Be1 62.Bb8 Bf2 63.Bc7 Be1 64.Kf4 Bf2 65.Bd8 Bd4

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66.g4

Step one. White creates a passed pawn.

66...Bc3 67.Ke4 Bb2 68.Ba5 Bf6 69.Be1 Bb2 70.Bg3 Bc3 71.Kd3 Ba5 72.Ke4 Bc3 73.Kd3 Ba5 74.Kc4

Step two. He prepares to bring his King to d7.

74...Bb6 75.Kb5 Be3 76.Kc6 Ba7 77.Kb7 Bd4 78.Kc6 Ba7 79.Kd7 hxg4 80.fxg4 Kf7 81.h5 Be3 82.Kd6 Bg5 83.Ke5 Bd8 84.Ke4 Bg5 85.Bf4 Be7 86.g5 Bf8 87.Be5 Kg8 88.Bf6 Bd6 89.g6 1-0

Where did Black go wrong in this ending?

Naroditsky - Banawa (board two)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 e6 7.g4 d5 8.exd5 Nxd5 9.Bg2

9.Nde2 and; 9.Bd2 are more commonly played to avoid the doubled pawns which now follow.

9...Nxc3 10.bxc3 Qc7 11.0-0 Be7 12.Qf3 0-0 13.Rd1 Bd6 14.Qd3 Nd7 15.Nf3 Be7 16.Be3 Nc5 17.Qd4 f6

Black plans ...e5 and ...Be6. How can White stop this?

18.Bf4

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White could of course play a natural move like 18.Rab1 but the text, while maybe not objectively the best move is an excellent practical decision that sets Black concrete problems and that lead him into a big think in which he goes from 16 to 7 minutes on the clock (the time control for this match was G/75 plus 30 seconds a move increment).

18...e5 19.Nxe5 fxe5 20.Bxe5

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20...Qb6?!

20...Qa5! 21.Bxg7 Ne6! the point of having the Queen on a5 and not b6 22.Qe5 Qxe5 23.Bxe5 Nf4 and Black is doing well in the ending.

21.Bd5+ Be6 22.Rab1 Qa5 23.Rxb7

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23...Rfd8??

23...Rae8 or 23...Bf6 were both playable but Black had little time left.

24.Rxe7 Rxd5 25.Rxg7+ Kf8 26.Bd6+!

This could be the move Black missed when he played 23...Rfd8??

26...Ke8 27.Re7+ Kd8 28.Qh8+ 1-0

Eckert - Pruess (board three)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 a6 6.0-0 b5 7.Bb3 Bb7 8.a4 b4 9.a5 Nbd7 10.Nbd2 Be7 11.Qe2 c5 12.Ne5 0-0 13.Ndc4 Rc8 14.Rd1 Qc7

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15.Ba4?!

15.Bd2 completing development looks more natural.

15...cxd4 16.exd4 Nxe5 17.Nxe5 Qxa5 18.Bg5 Qd5 19.f3 Rfd8 20.Qe3?!

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20.Be3 avoids the tactical shot which follows.

20...Ng4!

This is a nice tactical shot that increases Black's advantage to decisive proportions.

21.Nxg4?

21.Qd2 Bxg5 22.Qxg5 Nxe5 23.Qxe5 (23.dxe5 Qc5+ 24.Kh1 Rxd1+ 25.Rxd1 Bd5 with a winning position)23...g6 is tremendous for Black but still a better try for White than what follows.

21...Bxg5 22.Qd3 h5 23.Bb3 Qd6 24.Nf2 Bf6 25.d5 exd5 26.Rd2 Be5 27.g3 h4 28.f4 Bf6 29.Ng4 Qb6+ 30.Kf1 a5! 31.Qf5

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31...Bc3!

David always likes the artistic touch.

32.bxc3 bxc3 33.Bc2 cxd2 34.Qh7+ Kf8 35.Qh8+ Ke7 36.Qxh4+ Kd6 37.Qh7 Qb2 38.Rb1 Qxb1+ 0-1

Sevian - Ding (board four)


1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.0-0-0 Rb8 11.Bb3 Na5 12.h4 b5 13.Bh6 Bxh6 14.Qxh6 e5 15.Nde2 b4 16.Nd5 Nxb3+ 17.axb3 Nxd5 18.Rxd5 Be6 19.h5 Qc7 20.hxg6 fxg6 21.Rxd6 Rfc8

XABCDEFGHY
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The two youngsters have reached a tabiya for the Chinese Dragon.

22.Qxh7+

22.Rc6 draws immediately. For example: 22...Qxc6 23.Qxh7+ Kf8 24.Qh6+ Ke8 25.Qxg6+ Kd8 26.Qf6+ Kc7 27.Qxe5+ Qd6 28.Rh7+ Bd7 29.Qa5+ Kb7 30.Qb5+ Kc7 31.Qa5+ Kb7 32.Qb5+ Kc7 33.Qa5+ ½-½ Abdulla,K. Gaponenko, Tbilisi 2011. Besides the text White has also tried 22.c3; 22.Kb1; 22.c4 and 22.Qd2 with no particular success.

22...Qxh7 23.Rxh7

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23...Kxh7

23...Bxb3! 24.Rhd7 Rxc2+ 25.Kd1 Rxb2+ 26.Ke1 Bf7 27.Rxa7 b3 and Black was winning (though White later managed to escape with a draw) in Lanin-Solovjov, St. Petersberg 2007.

24.Rxe6

Now chances are about equal.

24...Re8 25.Ra6 Rb7 26.Ra5 Kg7 27.Kb1

27.Kd2 was another thought. The idea behind the text is Ne2-c1-d3 but the King on b1 or a2 is vulnerable to Black rook's doubled on the 7th or 8th ranks.

27...Kf6 28.Nc1 Rh8 29.Nd3 Rh1+ 30.Ka2 Rh2 31.g4 Rxc2 32.Nxe5 g5 33.Nc4 Rf2 34.Rf5+ Kg6 35.Ne5+ Kh6 36.Nf7+ Kg6

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37.Ne5+

Something like 37.Nxg5 Rb6 38.Nh3 Rf1 39.Nf4+ Kg7 40.Ra5 Rxf3 41.Rxa7+ Kh6 42.Nd5 Rb5 43.Ra4 Kg5 44.Nxb4 but after 44...Rg3 a draw is just around the corner.

10-year-old Samuel Sevian, in his US Chess League debut, looks at the other boards, sees two teammates are winning, and like an experienced veteran of team competitions decides to force a draw to clinch the match.

37...Kh6 38.Nf7+ Kg6 39.Ne5+ ½-½

3) Western States Open

Oct. 21-23, 2011 GPP: 200 (Enhanced) NEVADA [American Classic & Heritage Event!!] 29th Annual SANDS REGENCY RENO-WESTERN STATES OPEN.6SS.40/2,20/1,G ½. Sands Regency Hotel/Casino, 345 N. Arlington Ave., Reno, NV 89501. 1-800-648-3553 or (775) 348-2200. $$33,200 b/350, Gtd. $$21,750-$3000-2000-1500-1000-800-600-500-400-300-200 in Open Section plus ½ of all other prizes. 6 Sections: OPEN: EF:GMs & IMs free (enter by 10/1 or pay late fee), Masters $147, (2199/below)-$175. $$ Prizes 1-10 listed above, (2399-below) $1000, (2299-below) $1000. If a tie for 1st overall then 2 (G/10) playoff for $100 from prize fund. (Note: GM/IM w/free entry not eligible for class prizes 2399 and below; may elect to pay entry fee and become eligible). EXPERT: (2000-2199) EF: $146. $$2000-1000-500-400-300."A" Sec.(1800-1999) EF: $145, $$2000-1000-500-400-300."B" Sec.(1600-1799) EF: $144, $$1,800-900-500-400-300. "C" Sec.(1400-1599) EF: $143, $$1,600-800-500-400-300."D"/under Sec. (1399/below) EF:$142, $$1,400-700-400-300-200, (under 1200) - $600. (Unrated Players) EF: Free + must join USCF or increase membership for 1 additional year thru this tournament ($49 adults,$25 juniors) Prizes: Top unrated wins 1 yr. USCF membership plus trophy. Note: Unrated will be put in "D" Sect. unless requests to play up. Seniors (65+) additional prizes $$200; (Seniors not eligible: provisionally rated, unrated, masters); Club Championship $$800-400 decided by total score of 10 (and only 10) players from one club or area (not eligible - GMs, IMs, or unrated). Trophies to Top 3 (A-D Sections). ALL:EF $11 more if postmarked after 10/1 and $22 more if postmarked after 10/14 or at site. Do not mail after 10/14 or phone or email after 10/18. $20 off EF to Srs (65+). Players may play up. Unrated players not eligible for cash prizes except Open 1-10. Provisionally rated players may win up to 50% of 1st place money except open Section 1-10. CCA ratings may be used. Note pairings not changed for color alternation unless 3 in a row or a plus 3 and if the unlikely situation occurs 3 colors in a row may be assigned. Reg: (10/20) 5-8 pm, (10/21) 9:00-10 am. Rds 12-7, 10-6, 9:30-4:30. Byes available any round, if requested before 1st round (Open Section - 2 byes max.). SIDE EVENTS: Wed.(10/19) 7pm Clock Simul [40/2, G/1] (Including an analysis of YOUR game.GM Sergey Kudrin $30 (A great value!). Thurs (10/20) 5-7:30 pm "A Celebration of Life, GM Larry Evans" and lecture by IM John Donaldson -Free, 7:30 Simul GM Lubosh Kavalek (only $15!), 7:30 Blitz (5 min)Tourney ($20-80% to prize fund). Sat 10/22 (3-4:30pm)IM John Donaldson Clinic(Game/Position Analysis) - Free. Sun. (10/23) Quick Tourney (G/25) 5 Rd. Swiss ($20) [12 (Noon)-5pm] 80% to prize fund. ENT: Make checks payable and send to: SANDS REGENCY (address above) HR: $29! (Sun-Thurs) & $59! (Fri-Sat) + 13.5% tax. (mention CHESSOCT & reserve by 10/5/10 to guarantee room rates.) INFO: Jerry Weikel wackyykl@aol.com , (775) 747 1405, or website: www.renochess.org/wso (also go here to verify entry). FIDE .W.

4) Upcoming Events


Howard Donnelly Memorial - September 17
J.J. Dolan Memorial - October 8
Carroll Capps Memorial - November 5-6
Pierre Saint-Amant Memorial - November 19
Guthrie McClain Memorial - December 3

September 3-5 2011 Labor Day Chess Festival 6-SS, 30/90, SD/1 (2-day option rds 1-3 G/60). Golden Geteway Holiday Inn. Van Ness at
Pine, San Francisco. $$B 160 paid entries (not counting free or unrated entries). Six Sections: Master $1500-750-400-350 U2300 $300; Expert $700-350-200-150. "A" $700-350-200-150. "B" $700-350-200-150. "C" $700-350-200-150. "D/E" $700-$350-$200 U1200 $200-150. Unr:
Trophy First. Trophy to top finisher (State Champion) in each section. All, EF: postmarked
by 8/29 $115. $125 at site. Unrateds $20 in the D/E section or may play up to the Master
section for the regular fee. $5 discount to CalChess members. USCF memb. req'd. May
play up one section for add'l $10. GM/IM free entry. Reg.: Sat 9/3 8:30-9:30am, Sun 9/4
8-9am. RDS.: Choice of schedules- 3-day, 2-day merge at round 4, all compete for the same prizes. 3-day schedule: Sat 10:00-3:30; Sun 11:00-4:45; Mon 10:00-3:30. 2-day schedule: Sun 9:30-11:45-2:00-4:45; Mon 10:00-3:30. 1/2 pt bye(s) any round(s) if requested in advance
(byes rds 5-6 must be requested before rd 1). 2011 September Ratings List, CCA minimums and Directors discretion will be used to place players as accurately as possible. Please bring
clocks and equipment. HR: Golden Gateway Holiday Inn (415)-441-4000. INFO: Richard
Koepcke (650)-224-4938. Ent: Richard Koepcke, P.O. Box 1432, Mountain View, CA 94042. No Phone entries. Master Section FIDE Rated. Chess Magnet School JG

October 1st - 2011 U.S. Game/60 Championship - Santa Clara 4SS, G/60 - $4,000 b/117 fully paid entries - 75% guaranteed. Hotel rate $99 by 9/16: Hyatt Regency, 5101 Great America Pkwy, Santa Clara, CA 95054. Free Parking. In 3 sections, Open Section: $500-201-105, u2300 $200-110, u2100 $150, u2000 $130, u1900 $100. 1400-1799 Section: $500-201-100, u1700 $200, u1600 $150, u1500 $100. Under 1400 Section: $500-201-100, u1300 $200, u1200 $150, u1100 $100. Unrated may play in any section but maximum prize is $100 except no limit in the Open Section. Trophies for top 3 places in each section. Entry Fee: Mailed by Mon 9/26 or online by Tue 9/27: $60. Online 9/28-29 or onsite: $75. Add $20 to play-up in a higher section. DISCOUNTS: $10 off each event if also registering for G/30 on Oct 2. $10 cash rebate onsite if staying at the hotel under chess rate. Byes: One 1/2 pt bye allowed must commit by start of Rd 2. Reenter with 1/2pt bye in Rd 1 for $39. September 2011 Supp, CCA min, TD discretion used to place players accurately. SIDE KIDS EVENT for K-12 students rated under 1000: 4SSxG/60 in 2 sections, 600-999 and under 600. Prizes: Trophies to Top 10 players and Top 5 teams in each section. Best 4 players count for team score. Also trophies to top u800, top u700 in 600-999 section and top u400, top u300, and top u200 in u600 section. EF by Mon 9/26 or online by Tue 9/27: $39. Online 9/28-29 or onsite: $54. Add $10 to play-up in a higher section. Schedule: Onsite Registration 8:30-9:30am; Round Times: 10:00am, 12:30, 3:00, and 5:30pm. Mail payments to: Bay Area Chess, 1590 Oakland Rd., Suite B213, San Jose 95131. $20 for refunds. T: 408-786-5515. E: ask@BayAreaChess.com, Info/Form/Entries: BayAreaChess.com/usg60g30. NS, NC, W.

October 2nd - 2011 U.S. Game/30 Championship - Santa Clara 4SS, G/30 - $3,006 b/88 fully paid entries - 75% guaranteed. Hotel rate $99 by 9/16: Hyatt Regency, 5101 Great America Pkwy, Santa Clara, CA 95054. Free Parking. In 3 sections, Open Section: $400-200-102, u2300 $101, u2100 $101, u2000 $100, u1900 $99. 1400-1799 Section: $400-200-102, u1700 $101, u1600 $100, u1500 $99. Under 1400 Section: $400-200-102, u1300 $101, u1200 $100, u1100 $99. Unrated may play in any section but maximum prize is $100 except no limit in the Open Section. Trophies for top 3 places in each section. Entry Fee mailed by Mon 9/26 or online by Tue 9/27: $60. Online 9/28-29 or onsite: $75. Add $20 to play-up in a higher section. DISCOUNTS: $10 off each if also registering for G/60 on Oct 1. $10 cash rebate onsite if staying at the hotel. Byes: One 1/2 pt bye allowed must commit by start of Rd 2. Reenter with 1/2pt bye in Rd 1 for $39. September 2011 Supp, CCA min, TD discretion used to place players accurately. SIDE KIDS EVENT for K-12 students rated under 1000: 5SSxG/30 in 2 sections, 600-999 and under 600. Trophies to Top 10 players and Top 5 teams in each section. Best 4 players count for team score. Also trophies to top u800, top u700 in 600-999 section and top u400, top u300, and top u200 in u600 section. EF by Mon 9/26 or online by Tue 9/27: $39. Online 9/28-29 or onsite: $54. Add $10 to play-up in a higher section. Schedule: Onsite Registration 8:30-9:30am; Round Times: 10:00am, 12:30, 3:00, and 5:30pm. Mail payments to: Bay Area Chess, 1590 Oakland Rd., Suite B213, San Jose 95131. $20 for refunds. T: 408-786-5515. E: ask@BayAreaChess.com,

Info/Form/Entries: BayAreaChess.com/usg60g30. NS, NC, W.

2012 Northern California International Presented by NorCal House of Chess

Dates: January 2nd - January 8th


Location: NorCal House of Chess at Northwestern Polytechnic University
47655 Warm Springs Blvd.
Fremont, CA 94539
Rounds: Jan 2nd: 6:00; Jan 3rd, 5th: 11:00 & 6:00; Jan 4th, 6th, 7th: 4:00; Jan 8th: 11:00


Time Control: 40/90, SD/30 with 30 second increment


Organizers:
Arun Sharma <asharma AT math.berkeley.edu> and Ted Castro <ted0712 AT yahoo.com>
Section A (GM-norm Round Robin)


Section B (Swiss)


GM and IM norms possible in both sections!


GMs interested in playing and potentially receiving conditions should contact Arun as soon as possible if they wish to have the best chance of doing so.


The Northern California International begins only a couple of days after the North American Open in Las Vegas ends so is a very convenient event for those who are playing in the latter.

http://dotq.org/chess/