Mechanics Institute Chess Room Newsletter #199

"In my opinion Fischer had a dual or split personality. He had great chess talent and charisma but his personality was weak with too many flaws. If you like it was like too much great wine in a small vessel. His personality was too shallow to carry the weight, the burden of being the chess messiah. "

   Garry Kasparov



1) Akobian wins World Open
2) Matikozian first in Pacific Southwest Open
3) DeGuzman heats up in Sacramento
4) Ossipov, Tserendorj and Thornally lead TNM
5) Tserendorj tops Wednesday Night Blitz
6) Here and There
7) MI Advanced Chess Camp
8) Upcoming Events

The Louie Ladow blitz will be held at the Mechanics' this Sunday. Details below under blitz.

1) Akobian wins World Open

Los Angeles based GM-elect Varuzhan Akobian won the 2004 World Open in Philadelphia with a fantastic performance scoring 7.5 from 9. Among his victims were GMs Shabalov, Wojtkiewicz and Golod. He drew with GMs Goldin, Smirin and Nakamura en route to collecting the $14,000 first prize. Tying for second at 7-2 were GMs Nakamura, Najer, Ehlvest, Smirin, Stocek, Novikov, A. Ivanov, Onischuk and Kunte.

The World Open was a qualifier for the US Championship. Very unofficially it looks like Jesse Kraai, Dmitry Zilberstein, Stephen Muhammad and Enkhbat Tegshuren took tie open seeds and Tsagaan Battsetseg and Laura Ross the womens spot but don't quote me. Four players made IM norms including MI-member Dmitry Zilberstein (his second). Other scores for Bay Area players: GM Nick deFirmian 6, GM Walter Browne 5, Paul Gallegos 5, Shivkumar Shivaji 5, IM Walter Shipman 4.5 and Jonathan Frankle 4.5.

For more information go to: http://www.worldopen.com/results2004.htm

Here was the only decisive game by the winner that was available as of this morning.

Akobian,V (2526) - Wojtkiewicz,A (2551) [D13]
2004 World Open Philadelphia, USA (7), 04.07.2004

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bf4 a6 7.Rc1 Qb6 8.Na4 Qa5+ 9.Bd2 Qd8 10.Qb3 e6 11.Nb6 Rb8 12.e3 Ne4 13.Nxc8 Nxd2 14.Nxd2 Bb4 15.a3 Bxd2+ 16.Kxd2 Qxc8 17.Bxa6 0-0 18.Be2 Qd7 19.Rhd1 Qd6 20.g3 e5 21.dxe5 Qxe5 22.Ke1 d4 23.exd4 Nxd4 24.Qe3 Qxe3 25.fxe3 Nc6 26.Rd7 Rfe8 27.Kf2 Re6 28.Bb5 Na7 29.Ba4 Ra6 30.Bb3 Rf6+ 31.Ke2 Nc6 32.Bd5 Kf8 33.Bxc6 bxc6 34.b4 Rh6 35.h4 Rg6 36.h5 Rxg3 37.Rxc6 Rg2+ 38.Kf3 Rg5 39.Rcc7 Rf5+ 40.Ke2 h6 41.a4 Kg8 42.b5 Rxh5 43.Rxf7 Rg5 44.Rb7 Ra8 45.Ra7 Rb8 46.Rfb7 Rf8 47.b6 Rg2+ 48.Kd3 Rf1 49.a5 Rb1 50.a6 h5 51.Rxg7+ 1-0

2) Matikozian first in Pacific Southwest Open

IM Andranik Matikozian of Glendale won the traditional Pacific Southwest Open held over the July 4th weekend at the Hilton near LAX airport with a score of 5.5 -.5, defeating GM-elect Melikset Khachiyan in the last round. Tying for second at 5-1 were IM Vinay Bhat (draws with Khachiyan and Donaldson) and young Expert Ivan Biag. Among those on 4.5 were IMs Donaldson (draws with Bhat and NM Abrahamyan and a last round bye), Jack Peters and Tim Taylor. MI-member Matthew Ho of San Jose had 4-2 including a draw with Peters. Randy Hough directed the event which attracted 133 players.

3) DeGuzman heats up in Sacramento

NM Michael Aigner reports:

IM Ricardo DeGuzman won the Sacramento Chess Championship over the 4th of July weekend, scoring an undefeated 5.0 out of 6 to separate himself from the field. Playing in the 2-day schedule, DeGuzman defeated FM Bela Evans and NM Kenneth Hills but gave up draws to NMs Michael Aigner and Timothy Taylor. Finishing in clear second place with a spectacular performance was high school student Ankit Gupta. Gupta, rated 2083, impressively scored 4.5 out of the first 5 rounds, including a win against FM Kenan Zildzic, before losing a 5th hour time scramble to DeGuzman in the last round. Since Gupta earned the 2nd place overall prize, the under 2200 money winners were Hills, Taylor, and Larry Snyder, each scoring 4.0.

95 players total came to Sacramento for this annual event. Franciso Anchondo won the reserve section with an undefeated score of 5.0 out of 6. Second place and top under 1800 honors went to junior Aaron Garg and Jamshid Alamehzadeh. The amateur section saw a 4-way tie for first between Fredy Ferrer, Michael Gosk, Jojo Zhao, and Jeff Kottcamp after Ferrer and Kottcamp drew each other in last round. Over a third of the players were juniors

The tournament was, as usual, capably organized and directed by John McCumiskey with assistance from Sacramento club President Steve Bickford. Perhaps the biggest story this weekend was the heat. The temperature outside approached 100 degrees, and with so many players crammed into the playing hall, the air conditioning struggled to keep up. Ice water was a valuable and necessary accessory for most players this weekend. On Sunday evening, while chess fireworks erupted approaching the end of the sudden death time control, the real 4th of July fireworks also could be heard.

Full results: http://sacramentochessclub.org/weekend_events/2004scc.htm

P.S. John Donaldson might be as confused with the name Timothy Taylor as I was on Saturday morning. Timothy F Taylor played in Sacramento, not the more well-known IM Timothy W Taylor.

4) Ossipov, Tserendorj and Thornally lead TNM

FM Frank Thornally and NMs Batsaikan Tserendorj and Victor Ossipov lead the 85-player Summer Tuesday Night Marathon with 5-1 scores and three rounds remaining. This Marathon and the next one start in late August are both being FIDE rated allowing many club members their first chance to earn an international rating.

5) Tserendorj tops Wednesday Night Blitz

Batsaikan Tserendorj of Mongolia won the strongest Wednesday Night Blitz in the series ahead of IM Ricardo DeGuzman and NMs Nicolas Yap and Batchimeg Tuvshintugs. The next event is held this evening and provides great practice with only a $5 entry fee.

Louie Ladow Memorial
July 11, 2004
Blitz Chess Tournament
Louie Ladow, a well-known cab driver and blitz chess specialist, passed away on April 7, 2003. His friends would like to remember him with a special blitz (5-minute) tournament at the Mechanics' Institute. Free entry to all cab drivers, $10 for others. Best cab driver $100, best overall $100, best Expert/A $50, best B/C $50, best D/E/Unr. $50.

Format 5 double round Swiss. Registration 11-11:30 AM. Rounds 12:30, 1:30, 2:00 and 2:30 PM.

6) Here and There

NM Macon Shibut of Virginia was able to locate the late Richard Delaune's draw with Viktor Kortchnoi from Toronto 1985, which is not in any databases. It appeared on page 12 of Players Chess News, August 28, 1985. Kortchnoi tries to grind down Richard with no success.

Kortchnoi - Delaune
Toronto 1985
A46 Queen's Pawn Game

1 d4 e6 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 g3 b5 4 Bg2 Bb7 5 0-0 Be7 6 Ne1 Bxg2 7 Nxg2 c5 8 dxc5 Bxc5 9 c3 0-0 10 Bg5 d5 11 Qb3 a6 12 Bxf6 Qxf6 13 a4 bxa4 14 Rxa4 Nc6 15 Nd2 Rfc8 16 Qa2 a5 17 Nf4 Rab8 18 e3 Bb6 19 Kg2 h6 20 Nf3 Rd8 21 Rd1 Bc7 22 Rd2 Rb7 23 h3 Ne5 24 Nxe5 Qxe5 25 Qa3 Bd6 26 Qa1 Bc7 27 Qd1 Rdb8 28 Nd3 Qf5 29 Qg4 g6 30 Qd4 Bb6 31 Qf4 Qxf4 32 Nxf4 Bc7 33 Nd3 Bb6 34 Kf1 f6 35 Ke2 Kf7 36 e4 dxe4 37 Rxe4 Rd8 38 Rc4 Rbd7 39 f4 g5 40 Rc6 Bc7 41 fxg5 hxg5 42 g4 Bf4 43 Rd1 e5 44 Rc4 Ke7 1/2

This Labor Day weekend the largest prize fund event in the country will not be held on the East or West Coasts but in the center of the United States in Stillwater, Oklahoma, featuring 150 Grand Prix points. See details below under national events.

Cal Chess President Elizabeth Shaughnessy, a candidate for the USCF Executive Board, reports the next issue of the California Chess Journal, edited by Eric Hicks of San Francisco, is due out in late July or early August.

International Master Calvin Blocker is available for telephone and in-person chess lessons, coaching, lectures, simuls and camps. IM Blocker has been Ohio champion twelve times and is a multiple winner of the National Open. Very experienced teacher. All levels. $60 per hour; minimum of two hours for phone lessons; minimum of three hours plus travel expenses (if not in Cleveland) for in-person. Call 1 - 216 - 921 - 3774 seven days.

7) MI Advanced Chess Camp

Advanced Players (1200-2200)

This is not a camp for players that want to jump two rating classes in five days. You won't learn how to win against the Sicilian every time using the Grand Prix Attack. So why our camp and not others? At the MI camp you will get a look inside a GM's laboratory and get a feel for how they work on their game from the ground up. You will learn not only the importance of analyzing your own games, but also how to do it properly. You will learn to identify the critical points of the game and to understand when and why things went wrong.

You will learn how to use ChessBase and Fritz efficiently as part of a daily training program as well as utilizing resources on the Internet such as TWIC and the Internet Chess Club. Today chess books are cranked out at an incredible rate. Some of them are very good, many are quite bad. We will help students learn to select that which is truly useful.

On the fun side our instructors have unique experience in international competition. Expect to hear stories and anecdotes about what it's like to play against Kasparov and defend first board in a Chess Olympiad. Instructors: Grandmaster Alex Yermolinsky, International Master John Donaldson, and MI Scholastic Director Anthony Corrales.

Who: Open to all ages from 8 and up.
When : August 2-6, from 10 am to 5 pm
Where: 57 Post Street, 4th floor (Montgomery BART station)
Cost: $320 for Mechanics' members, $355 for junior (under 21) non-members, $405 for adult non-members. All non-members will receive a one year membership in the MI. There is a limit of 40 players for this camp. If you can't attend the whole camp there is a drop in fee of $80 a day.

8) Upcoming Events

Upcoming Tournaments at the MI

Charles Bagby Memorial - July 17

Mechanics' Institute Scholastic Quads 2004 Tournaments: April 17, May 8, June 19 and July 24 Open to players age 18 and under (Limited to first 80 players) Game/45

Rounds : 10:30am, 12:15pm, 2:00pm Late Registration: 9:30am - 10:15am Open: to the first eighty players Note: Quads based on rating. USCF Rated. Unrated players face each other. You must be a USCF member to play in the quads. Time Control: Game in 45 minutes Entry Fee: $20 / $30 day of tournament/ $15 for MI members Checks payable to Mechanics' Chess Club Prizes: Trophies for the winners of each quad.



California Events

9th annual
PACIFIC COAST OPEN
July 15-18, 16-18 or 17-18, 2004

At the luxurious, well lighted Renaissance Hotel, Agoura Hills, CA
(12 miles from Malibu, 26 miles West of Burbank)

$50,000 PROJECTED PRIZES, $30,000 MINIMUM!

July 15-18, 16-18 or 17-18       GPP: 120       So. California
9th annual Pacific Coast Open. 6SS, 40/2, SD/1 (2-day option, rds 1-3 G/60). Renaissance Agoura Hills Hotel, 30100 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills CA 91301 (US-101 to Reyes Adobe Road exit). Adjacent to the Santa Monica Mountains, 26 miles west of Burbank, 12 miles from Malibu, 28 miles from Ventura. Free parking.

$50,000 prize fund based on 400 paid entries; minimum $30,000 (60% each prize) guaranteed. Unrateds count as half entries. In 7 sections.

Open Section: $5000-2500-1500-1000-500, clear winner bonus $300, U2400/Unr $2000-1000. If tie for first, top 2 on tiebreak play speed game (white 7 min, black 5 min and gets draw odds) for title & bonus prize. FIDE rated.

Under 2200 Section: $3000-1500-1000-600-400.

Under 2000 Section: $3000-1500-1000-600-400.

Under 1800 Section: $3000-1500-1000-600-400.

Under 1600 Section: $3000-1500-1000-600-400.

Under 1400 Section: $2500-1200-800-600-400.

Under 1200 Section: $2000-1000-700-600-400.

Unrated may play in any section, with maximum prize U2200 $1200, U2000 $1000, U1800 $800, U1600 $600, U1400 $400 U1200 $200; balance goes to next player(s) in line.

Entry fee: 4-day $159, 3-day $158, 2-day $157 mailed by 7/7, all $156 ONLINE at chesstour.com by 7/12, all $165 phoned by 7/12 (406-896-2038, entries only, no questions), all $180 (no checks, credit cards OK) at tmt. $80 less to unrated. $40 less to juniors under 18 in U1200 Section. SCCF membership ($12, jrs $7.50) required for rated Southern CA residents. Re-entry (except Open) $120.

USCF membership required.
Advance EF $10 less if paid with $49 adult USCF dues. Renew early and save!

4-day schedule: Reg Thu to 6:30pm, rds Thu 7:30pm, Fri 7 pm, Sat 12-7, Sun 10-4:30.
3-day schedule: Reg. Fri to 11am, rds Fri 12-7, Sat 12-7, Sun 10-4:30.
2-day schedule: Reg Sat to 9am, rds Sat 10-1-4-7, Sun 10-4:30.
All schedules: Bye all, limit 2, rd 4-6 byes must commit before rd 3.

Hotel rates: $74-74-74-74, 818-707-1220, reserve by 7/1 or rate may increase.
Car rentals: Avis, 800-331-1600, AWD #D657633, or reserve car online through chesstour.com.
Questions: 845-496-9658.

Entries: Continental Chess, PO Box 249, Salisbury Mills NY 12577. Advance entries will be posted at chesstour.com July 14.



Aug. 28 & 29: Sacramento Chess Club Weekend Swiss #13 GPP: 6 N. California
4SS, 30/90, G/1, SD/5, Full-K. The Learning Exchange, 1111 Howe Avenue, Suite 125, Sacramento, CA. Reg: 8:30-9:30am 8/28/04. Rds: 10 & 3:30. Sections: Master/Expert (2000+), Reserve (1600-1999), Amateur (Under 1600). EF: $45 (Juniors $30) postmarked by 8/21. $55 (Juniors $35) after 8/21. IMs/GMs free. Entrants may play up at $10 per section. $5 discount to CalChess members. Prizes: 1st Place Master/Expert $175 (guaranteed) & trophy, 2nd Place Master/Expert $125 (guaranteed). $$1,570 b/o 50 full paid adult entries and 10 full paid junior entries overall. HR: Best Western Expo Inn, (916) 922-9833 or 1-800-643-4422. Ask for the Sacramento Chess Club rates. Adv. Ent./Info: John McCumiskey (TD), 6700 50th St, Sacramento, CA 95823-1306; e-mail: sactochess@sacramentochessclub.org; phone: (916) 428-5532, checks payable to Sacramento Chess Club. Full flyer including complete prize list at http://sacramentochessclub.org/ on the Weekend Events page. Other Info: 8/04 rating list only. Please bring clocks and equipment. ? point byes available all rounds. ? point byes for round 4 must be requested prior to round 1. Players may only have one bye (? or 1 point) in the event. W.

A Heritage Event!
Sept. 4-6 26th Annual Southern California Open GPP: 100 S. California
40/2, SD/1, 2?-day schedule rds 1-2 G/60. Burbank Airport Hilton, 2500 Hollywood Way, Burbank CA 91505 (adjacent to Burbank Airport). $$20,000 b/300, 50% of each prize guaranteed, U1400/unrated count as 2/3 entry. In two sections: Open: $$T+3000-2000-1600-900-600-400-200, U2400 800-500, U2300 500, U2200 1000-500, U2000 $$1000-500. $200 (G) bonus to clear first. Amateur (Under 1800): $$T+1500-750-500-300, U1600 $$1000-600-300-200, U1400 $$500-300, U1200 300, Unr 250. Unr. may win Unr. prize only in Amateur. Best game prize $50, all sections eligible. All: half-point byes available in rounds 1-4 if requested with entry, limit 2. SCCF membership req. ($12, jr. $7.50), OSA. No checks or credit cards at door. SCCF Annual Membership Meeting: 2:30pm Sept. 5. Reg: 3-day 8-9:30am 9-4, 2?-day closes 6pm 9-4. Rds: 3-day 10:30-5 Sat, 10-4:30 Sun-Mon, 2?-day: 6:30-8:45pm 9-4, then merges. EF: $99 if rec?d by 9/2, $101 on line at http://www.westernchess.com/, $120 door; U1400/unrated $64 by 9/2, $66 on line, $80 door. Ent: SCCF, c/o John Hillery, 835 N. Wilton Pl. #1, Los Angeles CA 90038. HR: $89, (818) 843-6000 or (800) 840-6450. Be sure to mention Western Chess. Parking $7/day. Info: admin@westernchess.com. W, FIDE. State Championship Qualifier.

National Events

Sept. 3, 4, 5, 6 23rd North American FIDE Open GPP: 150 Oklahoma 8SS, G/90+30 sec, Holiday Inn (Holidome) 2515 W. 6th Ave (Hwy-51) Stillwater, OK 1-405-372-0800. HR: 60-60-60-60. EF: $50. Free to FIDE rated players. Reg: Fri 11am-12:30pm. Rds: 1-6, 11-4, 11-4, 9-2. $$G 9,900 will not be lowered. $$G$1,500, $1,300, $1,100, $900, $700, $500. 11 plaques. $$G 600 each class X-E & below. Unr $200-$100. 2 byes rds 1-6. OCF req. Free Parking. Ent: Jim Berry PO Box 351 Stillwater, OK 74076. 1-405-624-2281. jaberrycg@aol.com. LS, W. FIDE. Acc pairings may be used

Return to Index

ChessDryad.Com