U.S. Championship, St. Louis 2016

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  • U.S. Championship, St. Louis 2016

    U.S. Championship, St. Louis 2016

    February 10, 2016

    Details are emerging about the 2016 U.S. Championship:

    http://www.uschesschamps.com/2016-us...ion/overview-0

    It is a 12-player round robin taking place from April 13-30, 2016 at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis. Prize fund is $194,000

    Schedule

    Thu Apr 14 Round 1
    Fri Apr 15 Round 2
    Sat Apr 16 Round 3
    Sun Apr 17 Round 4
    Mon Apr 18 Round 5

    Tue Apr 19 Rest Day

    Wed Apr 20 Round 6
    Thu Apr 21 Round 7
    Fri Apr 22 Round 8
    Sat Apr 23 Round 9
    Sun Apr 24 Round 10
    Mon Apr 25 Round 11
    Tue Apr 26 Playoff (if necessary)

    Each round to start at 1 p.m. CDT

    Prize Fund

    1st $50,000
    2nd $35,000
    3rd $25,000
    4th $20,000
    5th $15,000
    6th $10,000
    7th $9,000
    8th $8,000
    9th $7,000
    10th $6,000
    11th $5,000
    12th $4,000

    The Field

    1. Hikaru Nakamura
    2. Fabiano Caruana
    3. Wesley So
    4. Ray Robson
    5. Alex Onischuk
    6. Gata Kamsky
    7. Alex Lenderman
    8. Sam Shankland
    9. Varuzhan Akobian
    10. Jeffrey Xiong
    11. Alexander Shabalov
    12. Akshat Chandra

    Bios of Xiong, Shabalov and Chandra

    Jeffrey Xiong, Grandmaster, 2675, Age 15
    Alexander Shabalov, Grandmaster, 2622, Age 48
    Akshat Chandra, IM, 2608, Age 15

    Jeffery Xiong of Coppell, Texas, has shown tenacity well beyond his years. At 15, he already has had an impressive list of results: the 2010 Under-10 North America Continental Champion, a silver medalist in the 2010 Under-10 World Youth Chess Championships, and the 2013 MVP of the entire United States Chess League for his undefeated play for the Dallas Destiny. But it is his creativity on the board and his maturity in defeat that has caught the eye of some of the most renowned chess grandmasters.

    Xiong's impressive play in 2015 has confirmed his status as one of the most promising junior players in America. He competes for the first time in this year's U. S. Championship.
    _______

    Alexander Shabalov realized chess would be his profession after winning the Latvian junior championship at the age of 11. He went on to win the Under-16 Championship of the Soviet Union in 1982. The four-time U. S. Champion is known for no-holds barred chess, and he thrives on wild moves.

    Shabalov is always a serious contender to take the crown. He will arrive again in Saint Louis looking to capture a fabulous, fifth title in the 2016 U. S. Champions
    ________

    International Master Akshat Chandra started learning chess at the age of 9 , during a visit to India - a relatively late start compared to most leading chess players who learn the game at the age of 5 or 6. When his family relocated there for nearly four years, Akshat was unable to play his favorite sports of basketball and football, so chess filled the competitive void.

    In January 2010, Akshat received a starting FIDE rating of 1548 and, in just four years and ten months, improved his FIDE rating to 2490. His accelerated progress from such a late start is believed to be the largest and quickest rating increase in the world.

    Away from the board, Akshat is an avid writer and the youngest Chessbase author. He doesn't believe in doing anything half-heartedly. In fact, as a fan of the New York Jets, his outlook echoes the words of former quarterback Joe Namath: "If you're not gonna go all the way, why go at all? " He indeed has come a long way. Winning the 2015 United States Junior Closed tournament, Chandra earned his place among this year's field, and his shot to call himself the U. S. Champion.

    http://www.uschesschamps.com/2016-us...ip/player-bios
    Last edited by Wayne Komer; Wednesday, 10th February, 2016, 01:42 PM.

  • #2
    Re: U.S. Championship, St. Louis 2016

    U.S. Championship, St. Louis 2016

    April 11, 2016

    Round 1 of the Championships starts on Thursday, April 14 at 2 p.m. Toronto/Montreal time and the live play can be viewed at

    http://www.uschesschamps.com/2016-us-championship/live

    The Commentators:

    (Excerpted from the official web site)

    Yasser Seirawan

    Seirawan is a highly respected teacher, commentator and author and has written several books including Chess Duels, the 2010 Chesscafe.com's book of the year. He is regularly featured as the Resident Grandmaster for the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis.

    Jennifer Shahade

    Jennifer Shahade is a chess champion, author, commentator, and poker player. For her the essentials of life involve chess and art. As an author of multiple chess books and writer for Chess Life, Shahade has communicated her passion for both to a broad audience, and has been a strong advocate for greater female participation in chess. Her over-the-board chess career has been just as successful. She is two-time U.S. Women’s Champion winning in 2002 and 2004.

    Maurice Ashley

    Through chess, Maurice Ashley has not only made history as the first African-American International Grandmaster in 1999, but has translated his talents to others as a three-time national championship coach, two-time author, ESPN commentator, iPhone app designer, puzzle inventor and motivational speaker. Ashley now works as a Research Affiliate at MIT’s Media Lab to bring the benefits of chess and other classic games to a wider educational audience through the innovative use of technology.

    Ben Finegold (Live Audience Commentator)

    A familiar face around the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis and a popular name within the Club's Resident Grandmaster rotation, Finegold has offered outstanding commentary - both live and on the broadcast - for several of the Club's elite events, including the U.S. Championships, the U.S. Junior Championships and the Sinquefield Cup. Still active as a tournament player, GM Finegold is currently enjoying a 15 month undefeated streak in over-the-board chess.

    Alejandro Ramirez

    Alejandro Ramirez has become a frequent face the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, through roles as both the Club’s Resident Grandmaster and as a player in the nation’s elite events. He currently serves as the chess coach for Saint Louis University and is recruiting its inaugural team to start play in Fall of 2016.

    Ramirez studied video game design at the University of Texas at Dallas, earning a master’s degree in Arts & Technology, and he now currently serves as an editor for the popular chess news website ChessBase. His personal familiarity with both fields of the 2016 U.S. Championships, coupled with his outstanding, plain-talk understanding of the King’s game, makes Ramirez an outstanding commentating option for the live audience at the 2016 U.S. Chess Championships

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: U.S. Championship, St. Louis 2016

      Starts tomorrow! (first round) Can't wait! Double dosage of coffee for sure!

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: U.S. Championship, St. Louis 2016

        U. S. Championship, 2016

        April 13, 2016

        When the tournament is over, there is Blitz scheduled for Thursday, April 28 and Friday, April 29.

        This is how chess24.com announces it:

        That’s not all, though! Garry Kasparov will be back – this time playing in a 2-day blitz event against some of the world’s best current players. In the dream scenario we’ll get to see the Beast from Baku, who turned 53 today, fighting it out against Nakamura, Caruana and So.

        On the official site, this is the way that was declared back in January:

        The U.S. Championship will culminate with the top three players competing in a special blitz round robin format against legendary chess champion Garry Kasparov. The round robin matches will take place over two days upon the conclusion of the Championships.

        http://www.uschesschamps.com/news/20...-championships

        Dennis Monokroussos is a slight bit cynical about the timing:

        Coming soon to a U.S. Championship near you, or right after it. Garry Kasparov will join the top three finishers from that event in a two-day round-robin blitz event upon the Championship's conclusion. It will be interesting to see Kasparov take on someone more or less his own size (assuming the top three is populated by the likes of Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, and Wesley So), even if he's strategically scheduling it so they'll be pre-exhausted by the tournament.

        http://www.thechessmind.net/blog/201...-in-blitz.html

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: U.S. Championship, St. Louis 2016

          U.S. Championships, 2016

          April 14, 2016

          Schedule

          Round 1, April 14, 2016

          Caruana-Akobian
          Shankland-Chandra
          So-Kamsky
          Nakamura-Lenderman
          Shabalov-Robson
          Onischuk-Xiong

          Round 2, April 15, 2016

          Akobian-Xiong
          Robson-Onischuk
          Lenderman-Shabalov
          Kamsky-Nakamura
          Chandra-So
          Caruana-Shankland

          Round 3, April 16, 2016

          Shankland-Akobian
          So-Caruana
          Nakamura-Chandra
          Shabalov-Kamsky
          Onischuk-Lenderman
          Xiong-Robson

          Round 4, April 17, 2016

          Akobian-Robson
          Lenderman-Xiong
          Kamsky-Onischuk
          Chandra-Shabalov
          Caruana-Nakamura
          Shankland-So

          Round 5, April 18, 2016

          So-Akobian
          Nakamura-Shankland
          Shabalov-Caruana
          Onischuk-Chandra
          Xiong-Kamsky
          Robson-Lenderman

          Round 6, April 20, 2016

          Akobian-Lenderman
          Kamsky-Robson
          Chandra-Xiong
          Caruana-Onischuk
          Shankland-Shabalov
          So-Nakamura

          Round 7, April 21, 2016

          Nakamura-Akobian
          Shabalov-So
          Onischuk-Shankland
          Xiong-Caruana
          Robson-Chandra
          Lenderman-Kamsky

          Round 8, April 22, 2016

          Akobian-Kamsky
          Chandra-Lenderman
          Caruana-Robson
          Shankland-Xiong
          So-Onischuk
          Nakamura-Shabalov

          Round 9, April 23, 2016

          Shabalov-Akobian
          Onischuk-Nakamura
          Xiong-So
          Robson-Shankland
          Lenderman-Caruana
          Kamsky-Chandra

          Round 10, April 24, 2016

          Akobian-Chandra
          Caruana-Kamsky
          Shankland-Lenderman
          So-Robson
          Nakamura-Xiong
          Shabalov-Onischuk

          Round 11, April 25, 2016

          Onischuk-Akobian
          Xiong-Shabalov
          Robson-Nakamura
          Lenderman-So
          Kamsky-Shankland
          Chandra-Caruana

          US Women’s Championship

          Round 1, April 14, 2016

          Abrahamyan-Bykovtsev
          Yu-Eswaran
          Yip-Gorti
          Paikidze-Zatonskih
          Nemcova-Krush
          Folsor-Melekhina

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: U.S. Championship, St. Louis 2016

            Why are some pairings bold?

            E

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: U.S. Championship, St. Louis 2016

              U.S. Championships, 2016

              April 14, 2016

              Question: Why are some pairings bold?

              Answer: I just bolded the pairings which I thought would be premier games. These are days not to miss; but of course that is just personal preference.

              Gata Kamsky is the first to go down, to Wesley So.

              21…Kh7 and 25…Bf6 did him in.

              Round 1, April 14, 2016
              So, Wesley – Kamsky, Gata
              C96 Ruy Lopez, Closed, Breyer, Borisenko Variation

              1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. Bg5 h6 16. Bd2 Bg7 17. a4 c6 18. axb5 axb5 19. Rxa8 Qxa8 20. Nh4 Qd8 21. Qc1 Kh7 22. Nhf5 gxf5 23. Nxf5 Re6 24. Bxh6 Ne8 25. Bg5 Bf6 26. Bxf6 Qxf6 27. d5 Re7 28. g4 1-0

              Gata is surprisingly mild in the post game interview with Maurice. He says he is still suffering a bit of jet lag, just got in to town yesterday. Also he prepared for d4 and Wesley played e4, for which he had no preparation, so he played the Breyer and then realized that Wesley was going to have preparation for that!

              I like his long hair – he looks a bit like Tarzan in a suit.

              So comes in separately for his interview. He said he just saw a few moves ahead and it was not preparation. Ashley says that you should only look at the present position and not try to look 10 to 15 moves ahead, that is for the computer to do.

              Wesley did not expect to win against such an opponent in just two hours.

              He plays the young ‘un, Chandra, tomorrow. So says that when he turned 16 he realized that he was growing older and there was no looking back.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: U.S. Championship, St. Louis 2016

                U.S. Championship 2016

                April 14, 2016

                Jennifer Shahade and Yasser Seirawan are in the commentators chairs. Maurice Ashley is at the computer display board.

                Yasser said that at the drawing of lots, So, Nakamura and Caruana all got the extra white.

                Tony Rich, the executive director, gives some announcements before play begins – among them that players have to hand in their signed tax forms. The participants are also told there is a confessional booth. Let the arbiter know you are going in so that he can see it is vacated.

                Comment online: I don’t think Seirawan will ever learn how to pronounce Caruana. Better just get used to it.

                Games

                US Championships, St. Louis
                Round 1, April 14, 2016
                Caruana, Fabiano – Akobian, Varuzhan
                B01 Scandinavian

                1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bc4 Bg4 5.f3 Bf5 6.Nc3 Nbd7 7.g4 Nb6 8.b3 Bc8 9.Bb2 Nfxd5 10.Nxd5 Nxd5 11.Qe2 e6 12.O-O-O b6 13.Nh3 Bb7 14.f4 Bd6 15.f5 Qe7 16.Bxg7 Rg8 17.Bb2 O-O-O 18.Rhf1 Rde8 19.f6 Qf8 20.g5 h6 21.Rg1 hxg5 22.Nxg5 Rh8 23.h3 Rh6 24.Rdf1 a5 25.Kb1 Kb8 26.Rg4 Rd8 27.h4 Ka7 28.Be5 Rd7 29.Bb5 Rd8 30.Bxd6 cxd6 31.Bc4 Nc7 32.Nxf7 Qxf7 33.Rg7 Qf8 34.Rxc7 Rxf6 35.Rxf6 Qxf6 36.Qxe6 Qxh4 37.Bd5 Rb8 38.Qf7 Qe1+ 39.Kb2 Qe5+ 40.c3 1-0

                Round 1, April 14, 2016
                Nakamura, Hikaru – Lenderman, Alex
                D43 QGD, Semi-Slav

                1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 c6 5.g3 dxc4 6.Bg2 b5 7.O-O Bb7 8.b3 cxb3 9.Qxb3 Be7 10.Ne5 a6 11.Rd1 O-O 12.Ne4 Qc7 13.Ng5 a5 14.Bh3 a4 15.Qc2 Bc8 16.Bf4 Qd8 17.Ng4 g6 18.Nxf6+ Bxf6 19.Ne4 Bg7 20.Bg2 Qb6 21.Bd6 Re8 22.Rac1 Qd8 23.Bc5 Ba6 24.Bb4 Qc7 25.d5 exd5 26.Nd6 Qd7 27.Nxe8 Qxe8 28.e4 d4 29.e5 h5 30.f4 f6 31.Rxd4 fxe5 32.fxe5 Bc8 33.Rcd1 Bd7 34.Rd6 Qxe5 35.Qxg6 Qf5 36.Bc3 Qf7 37.Rf1 Qxg6 38.Rxg6 1-0

                Round 1, April 14, 2016
                Shankland, Sam – Chandra, Akshat
                C07 French, Tarrasch, Open Variation (Shamkovich)

                1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.Ngf3 cxd4 5.exd5 Qxd5 6.Bc4 Qd6 7.O-O Nf6 8.Nb3 Nc6 9.Nbxd4 Nxd4 10.Nxd4 a6 11.Re1 Qc7 12.Bf1 Bd6 13.Nf5 Bxh2+ 14.Kh1 Kf8 15.Qd4 exf5 16.Qxf6 h6 17.Qd4 Bd6 18.Bc4 Bd7 19.b3 Qc5 20.Qh4 b5 21.Be3 Qc7 22.Bd5 Bc6 23.Rad1 Kg8 24.Qh5 Bxd5 25.Rxd5 g6 26.Qd1 Bf8 27.Bd4 Rh7 28.Bf6 Qb6 29.Bd4 Qc6 30.Bb2 f6 31.Rd8 Rxd8 32.Qxd8 Rf7 33.Re8 Qxc2 34.Ba3 b4 35.Bxb4 Qc1+ 36.Re1 Qc7 37.Qxc7 Rxc7 38.Re8 Rf7 39.Ra8 Kg7 40.Bxf8+ Rxf8 41.Rxa6 g5 42.b4 Rd8 43.b5 Rd2 44.b6 Rb2 45.g3 Kg6 46.Kg2 h5 47.a4 f4 48.gxf4 g4 49.a5 h4 50.Ra8 Kf5 51.Rh8 h3+ 52.Kg3 Rb3+ 53.Kh2 Rb2 54.a6 Rxf2+ 55.Kg1 g3 56.Rxh3 Kg4 57.Rh8 Rb2 58.a7 Rb1+ 59.Kg2 Rb2+ 60.Kf1 g2+ 61.Kg1 Kg3 62.Rg8+ Kh3 63.a8=Q 1-0

                Round 1, April 14, 2016
                Onischuk, Alex – Xiong, Jeffrey
                D20 QGA, 3.e3

                1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 b5 4.a4 b4 5.Bxc4 Nf6 6.Qf3 c6 7.Ne2 e6 8.e4 Bb7 9.Bg5 Be7 10.Nd2 h6 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.e5 Be7 13.Ne4 O-O 14.Rd1 Ba6 15.Bb3 Nd7 16.Nf4 Qa5 17.Qg3 Nxe5 18.Nxe6 Nd3+ 19.Rxd3 fxe6 20.Re3 Kh8 21.Qe5 Qxe5 22.dxe5 Rad8 23.Bxe6 Rd3 24.Rxd3 Bxd3 25.Nd6 Bxd6 26.exd6 Rf6 27.Kd2 Rxe6 28.Kxd3 Rxd6+ 29.Kc2 c5 30.Rd1 b3+ 31.Kc1 Ra6 32.Rd8+ Kh7 33.Kd2 Rxa4 34.Kc3 Ra1 35.Rd2 a5 36.Kxb3 a4+ 37.Kc4 a3 38.bxa3 Rxa3 39.Kxc5 h5 40.Kd4 Ra5 41.Ke4 g6 42.f4 Kg7 43.h3 Kf7 44.Rd6 Ra2 45.g4 hxg4 46.hxg4 Ra7 47.g5 Rb7 48.Ke5 Ra7 49.Rf6+ Kg7 50.Rc6 Re7+ 51.Kd6 Re4 52.Rc7+ Kg8 53.Rc8+ 1/2-1/2

                Round 1, April 14, 2016
                Shabalov, Alexander – Robson, Ray
                D43 QGD, Semi-Slav

                1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.g3 dxc4 6.Bg2 b5 7.O-O Bb7 8.e4 Be7 9.e5 Nd5 10.Ne4 Nd7 11.Bg5 O-O 12.Nd6 Bxg5 13.Nxb7 Qe7 14.a4 Bh6 15.axb5 cxb5 16.Nd6 N7b6 17.Nxb5 Qb4 18.Nd6 Qxb2 19.Ra5 Nc3 20.Qa1 Bc1 21.Qxb2 Bxb2 22.Nd2 Ne2+ 23.Kh1 Rab8 24.N2xc4 Nxc4 25.Nxc4 Bxd4 26.f4 g6 27.Ra2 Nc3 28.Rd2 Bc5 29.Rd3 Na4 30.Rd2 Rfd8 31.Rc2 Bb4 32.Ra1 Nc3 33.Bf1 Nb5 34.Kg2 Rbc8 35.Rca2 Rc7 36.Ra4 Bc5 37.Ra5 Nc3 38.Rc1 Bb4 39.Ra6 Rd4 40.Nd6 Rd2+ 41.Kh3 h5 42.Ne8 Ne2 0-1

                The game So-Kamsky was given in a previous post.
                ______

                They are taking telephone calls from viewers. One caller asks if it is time to create a class called super grandmaster for those in the top ten.
                Yasser says that when Kasparov created the Grandmaster Association in 1987, there were 120 grandmasters worldwide and about one-quarter of those were retired. It was an exclusive club.

                Today, there are about 1400 and the title has been downgraded somewhat. Perhaps a category could be created for those that have participated in the Candidates but he is not sure. Jennifer and Maurice think the title is still difficult to achieve and no further change with it is needed.

                Gata’s hair is shoulder-length now and is much commented on. One on-line kibitzer says: If Gata lost 20 pounds the hair would look great!

                Despite losing, Gata seemed to be a good mood. I guess just being put in the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame mellows you.
                ______

                There is a confessional booth and Caruana goes in and says to the camera, “I am here to confess my undying love for Lawrence Trent.”
                Everyone laughs because Fabiano and his manager, Lawrence Trent, are always arguing and betting and they are sure this “confession” is the result of a bet lost by Fabiano, though he says not.

                Later on, Hikaru states that he has tried the confessional at two tournaments before but finds it distracting and won’t use it here.

                Both Fabiano and Hikaru are asked by Maurice if it is really a three-horse race for first place. They won’t say that after just one round but do say that Ray Robson has the potential to be a winner.

                Fabiano says the Scandinavian was played and he was a bit puzzled at first. He had not analyzed it since he was eight years old!

                The Women’s Championship is played alongside the Open and one of the winners is Carissa Yip, who is just 12 years old. She set the record for the youngest female player to beat a Grandmaster for her win against GM Alexander Ivanov in the New England Open a few days before her 11th birthday. Her goal this year is to finish in the top five teens. If she does this her mother is going to buy her a new phone.

                Jeffrey Xiong comes in for an interview. He is just fifteen and the event and the lights and fact that he is starting against this field with two blacks was intimidating but he settled down and like Nakamura, “just wants to play good chess”. I think he pulled his hood over his head to keep out distractions during play.

                Alex Onischuk has won the event before but found that the top three had won their games so easily that his goal should be to stand fourth!

                Sam Shankland never wins in the first round of the Championship but did today.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: U.S. Championship, St. Louis 2016

                  Yes the US Champs 2016 are finally happening! First round games exciting and commentary sooo enjoyable! Check out Ray Robson's final move Ne2! and So's and Naka's finishes. My magic moment from the past has finally evolved. I did a trip to see Susan Polgar in Texas and met and played Jerry Xiong in October 2011 when he was still unknown: http://forum.chesstalk.com/showthrea...entures-Part-1 I really enjoyed watching him yesterday holding the draw as Black against GM Onischuk! Congratulations Jerry! Good start!

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: U.S. Championship, St. Louis 2016

                    The reference to Jerry Xiong is post 23 in the link above.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: U.S. Championship, St. Louis 2016

                      U.S. Championships, 2016

                      April 15, 2016

                      Round Two

                      The commentators talk a bit about eating at the chessboard during a game. Carissa Yip is eating her second fruit cup while playing. Jennifer thinks it is all right to eat something like a power bar or fruit cup at the board. Yasser thinks this is against all etiquette. Sip your water or your coffee but no food. Maurice chimes in with the same. Jennifer, in her defence, says that a square of chocolate or two is all right if you offer some to your opponent!

                      Maurice says that he had two warn two grandmasters – Nakamura and Lenderman to take their food off the chess table at the Millionaires. He goes one step too far, as he usually does, and talks ironically about offering food with poison or a soporific!

                      The first game to finish has Kamsky in it again:

                      Round 2, April 15, 2016
                      Kamsky, Gata – Nakamura, Hikaru
                      D02 Queen’s Bishop Game

                      1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 e6 3.e3 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nd2 d5 6.Ngf3 Bd6 7.Bg3 O-O 8.Bd3 b6 9.e4 Be7 10.Ne5 Nxe5 11.dxe5 Nxe4 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Bxe4 Qxd1+ 14.Rxd1 Rb8 15.Ke2 Ba6+ 16.Ke3 Rfd8 17.f4 Rxd1 18.Rxd1 Rd8 19.Rxd8+ Bxd8 20.Bf2 h5 21.b3 Bb5 22.c4 Bd7 23.h3 g6 24.g4 hxg4 25.hxg4 Kg7 26.g5 Be7 27.Kd3 Kf8 28.a4 a5 29.Be3 Ke8 30.Bf2 Kd8 1/2-1/2

                      After losing his first game, Gata is cautious in this one. Hikaru says that Gata is a member of the Russian School, which teaches that, after a loss, you stop the bleeding at all cost. Kramnik is a prime example of this.

                      Maurice asks Hikaru about katzenjammer chess as a way of lowering the number of draws. Hikaru is unfamiliar with the concept, which appears to have the players changing colours and continuing with the same time limit. Can any ChessTalker give details on katzenjammer?

                      The other games:

                      U.S. Championship Open 2016
                      Saint Louis, Round 2, April 15, 2016
                      Caruana, Fabiano – Shankland, Sam
                      C18 French, Winawer

                      1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 Ne7 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5 7.Qg4 O-O 8.Bd3 Nbc6 9.Qh5 Ng6 10.Nh3 Qc7 11.Be3 c4 12.Bxg6 fxg6 13.Qg4 Qf7 14.Nf4 Ne7 15.h4 h6 16.Qe2 Bd7 17.g4 b5 18.f3 a5 19.Kf2 Rab8 20.Kg3 Be8 21.Bd2 b4 22.axb4 axb4 23.Rhb1 Nc6 24.Qe3 b3 25.Bc1 Bd7 26.Ba3 bxc2 27.Rc1 Rfc8 28.Rxc2 Ra8 29.Rca2 Be8 30.Bd6 Rxa2 31.Rxa2 Qd7 32.Qc1 Bf7 33.Qb1 Qe8 34.Qb7 Kh7 35.Ra6 Kg8 36.Bc7 Ne7 37.Bd6 Nc6 38.Kg2 Kh7 39.Kh3 Kg8 40.Kg3 Kh7 41.Nh3 Kg8 42.g5 h5 43.Nf4 Kh7 44.Ng2 Bg8 45.Ne3 Bf7 46.Nc2 Bg8 47.Na3 Bf7 48.Kf2 Bg8 49.Ke3 Bf7 50.Kd2 Bg8 51.Kc2 Bf7 52.Kc1 Kg8 53.Nb5 Ne7 54.Na7 1-0

                      Fabiano thought he was in control from the first and eventually got to a position where Sam couldn’t do anything. He felt that 49.Ke3 was a mistake on his part and could have led to a draw. He was surprised to hear that he is the only player to have used the confessional!

                      Tomorrow he plays another co-leader, Wesley So.

                      Round 2, April 15, 2016
                      Chandra, Akshat – So, Wesley
                      B12 Caro-Kann, Advance Variation

                      1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4 h5 5.c4 e6 6.Nc3 Ne7 7.Nge2 Nd7 8.Ng3 Bg6 9.cxd5 Nxd5 10.Be2 Qa5 11.Bd2 Nb4 12.O-O Qb6 13.Bg5 Nc2 14.Rc1 Nxd4 15.Bxh5 Bxh5 16.Nxh5 Nxe5 17.Re1 Nef3+ 18.gxf3 Rxh5 19.f4 g6 20.Na4 Qb4 21.Re4 Bg7 22.Nc5 Qxb2 23.Rc4 Rxg5+ 24.fxg5 O-O-O 25.Nb3 Nxb3 26.Qxb3 Qa1+ 27.Kg2 Rd1 28.Qc2 Kd8 29.Kf3 Ke8 30.Rb4 Rc1 31.Qe2 b5 32.Rb3 Rh1 33.Kg4 Kf8 34.Rg3 Kg8 35.Ree3 Qd4+ 36.Re4 f5+ 37.gxf6 Qxf6 38.f4 Qxh4+ 39.Kf3 Rh2 40.Qd3 Qh5+ 0-1

                      Akshat could have won his game against Wesley with 33.Rxe6+ but instead played Kg4 with less than a minute left.

                      Round 2, April 15, 2016
                      Robson, Ray – Onischuk, Alex
                      D02 Queen’s Bishop Game

                      1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 e6 3.Bf4 d5 4.e3 c5 5.c3 Nc6 6.Nbd2 Bd6 7.Bg3 Qe7 8.Ne5 Bxe5 9.dxe5 Nd7 10.Bb5 a6 11.Bxc6 bxc6 12.Qa4 Bb7 13.Bh4 f6 14.exf6 gxf6 15.c4 Rg8 16.O-O h5 17.Qd1 Rg4 18.Bg3 Qh7 19.Rc1 a5 20.Re1 Ba6 21.cxd5 cxd5 22.e4 d4 23.Qa4 Bb7 24.Qb3 1-0

                      Ray beats his old teacher Alex and is a co-leader at 2-0.

                      Round 2, April 15, 2016
                      Akobian, Varuzhan – Xiong, Jeffery
                      D83 Grunfeld, Grunfeld Gambit, Capablanca Variation

                      1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3 O-O 6.Rc1 Be6 7.b3 c5 8.cxd5 Bg4 9.Nge2 cxd4 10.Qxd4 Bxe2 11.Kxe2 Nbd7 12.g3 Nh5 13.Qb4 Nb6 14.Bg2 Bxc3 15.Qxc3 Nxd5 16.Qc5 Ndxf4+ 17.gxf4 Rc8 18.Qd5 Qb6 19.Qxb7 Qe6 20.Be4 Rfd8 21.Rxc8 Rxc8 22.Rd1 Nf6 23.Bf3 Rc2+ 24.Rd2 Rc1 25.Rd1 Rc2+ 26.Rd2 Rc1 27.Rd1 Rc2+ 1/2-1/2

                      Round 2, April 15, 2016
                      Lenderman, Alex. – Shabalov, Alexander
                      D45 QGD, Semi-Slav

                      1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Bd2 O-O 8.O-O-O b5 9.cxb5 c5 10.Kb1 Bb7 11.dxc5 Nxc5 12.Nd4 Qe7 13.f3 Rfc8 14.Be1 Qe8 15.g4 Bf8 16.g5 Nh5 17.Be2 g6 18.f4 a6 19.Rc1 axb5 20.Bxb5 Qd8 21.Qe2 e5 22.fxe5 Qxg5 23.Bd2 Qxe5 24.Rcf1 Bg7 25.Be1 Ne4 26.Nxe4 dxe4 27.Rhg1 Nf6 28.h4 Nd5 29.Bg3 Qe7 30.Rc1 Nb4 31.Rxc8+ Rxc8 32.h5 Qc5 33.hxg6 hxg6 34.a3 Nd5 35.Bf2 Qb6 36.Ka1 Bxd4 37.exd4 e3 38.Bg3 Qxd4 39.Rd1 Qe4 40.Bd3 Qa4 41.Bb1 Nf4 42.Qg4 f5 43.Bxf5 e2 44.Rb1 Rc3 45.Be6+ Kg7 46.Qxf4 Rxa3+ 47.bxa3 Qxa3+ 48.Ba2 Qc3+ 49.Rb2 e1=Q+ 50.Bxe1 Qxe1+ 51.Bb1 Qa5+ 52.Ba2 Qe1+ 1/2-1/2

                      It looked like Black was winning, then it was posted as a Black win and then as a draw and Shabalov said that he thought he was lost at one point. Confused? I am. Have to see the detailed annotations on this one.

                      In the Women’s, Carissa Yip, the youngest player, is 2-0.

                      The standings at the end of Round Two:

                      Open Championship

                      1. Robson 2
                      2. So 2
                      3. Caruana 2
                      4. Nakamura 1.5
                      5. Xiong 1
                      6. Shankland 1
                      7. Lenderman 0.5
                      8. Shabalov 0.5
                      9. Kamsky 0.5
                      10. Onischuk 0.5
                      11. Akobian 0.5
                      12. Chandra 0

                      Women’s Championship

                      1. Yip 2
                      2. Abrahamyan 2
                      3. Krush 1.5
                      4. Paikidze 1.5
                      5. Zatonskih 1
                      6. Nemcova 1
                      7. Foisor 0.5
                      8. Eswaran 0.5
                      9. Melekhina 0.5
                      10. Yu 0.5
                      11. Bykovtsev 0
                      12. Gorti 0
                      Last edited by Wayne Komer; Friday, 15th April, 2016, 09:42 PM.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: U.S. Championship, St. Louis 2016

                        Rd 2 Another excellent result by Jerry Xiong. Draw as Black. So he survives the first two rounds and gets by his start with two Blacks. However alot more interesting chess to come. Ray Robson another huge scalp from Onischuk (his former teacher!) and Wesley So allowed a tactical shot in his opponents time pressure which his opponent luckily did not see. Sam Shankland played a French Winawer against Fabiano Caruana (a French at the highest level!) The opening plan was good, Sam just went astray with his middlegame plan. 3 way tie for first Caruana, Robson and So with Naka a half point back after round 2 with much more interesting chess to come!

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: U.S. Championship, St. Louis 2016

                          U.S.Championships, 2016

                          April 17, 2016

                          Round Three

                          The two premier games seem to be So-Caruana and Yip-Abrahamyan.

                          Chess doctor Seirawan on Caruana's 13...a5?! : "Korchnoi would walk through the Gobi desert for a pawn, but he would never take that pawn"

                          US Open Championship 2016
                          St. Louis
                          Round 3, April 16, 2016
                          So, Wesley - Caruana, Fabiano
                          D40 QGD, Semi-Tarrasch, Symmetrical

                          1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.e3 e6 5.d4 d5 6.a3 a6 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.b4 Bd6 9.Bb2 O-O 10.cxd5 exd5 11.Be2 Be6 12.O-O Qe7 13.Rc1 a5 14.Nb5 axb4 15.Nxd6 Qxd6 16.axb4 Qxb4 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Rb1 Qe7 19.Rb5 Rfd8 20.Nd4 Kg7 21.Re1 Nxd4 22.Qxd4 Bf5 23.Rxd5 Rxd5 24.Qxd5 Be4 25.Qd1 Qb4 26.Rf1 Ra2 27.Qd7 Bg6 28.Bf3 b5 29.h4 Rd2 30.Qh3 h5 31.Qg3 Qd6 32.Qxd6 Rxd6 33.Rd1 Rb6 34.e4 b4 35.Rd2 f5 36.exf5 Bxf5 37.Bxh5 b3 38.Rb2 Bc2 39.Bf3 Rb5 40.Be2 Rb4 41.Bf3 Rxh4 42.Bd5 Rb4 43.Kf1 f5 44.Ke2 Kf6 45.f4 Ke7 46.Bg8 Kf8 47.Bd5 Kg7 48.Ke3 Kg6 49.Bf3 Kf6 50.Bd5 Kg6 51.Bf3 Rc4 52.g4 Rc3+ 53.Kf2 Bd3 54.Bd1 Bc4 55.Ke1 Rg3 56.Kf2 Rh3 57.Ke1 Be6 58.Re2 Bc4 59.Rb2 Kf6 60.Kd2 Rd3+ 61.Kc1 Rc3+ 62.Kd2 Rg3 63.gxf5 Kxf5 64.Kc1 Kxf4 65.Rh2 Ke3 66.Kb2 Kd4 67.Rh4+ Kc5 68.Ka3 Bd5 69.Rh5 Kd4 70.Rxd5+ Kxd5 71.Bxb3+ Kd4 72.Kb2 Rg2+ 73.Ka1 Kc3 74.Ba2 Rg7 75.Bb1 Rb7 76.Ba2 Kc2 77.Bd5 Re7 78.Bg8 Re1+ 79.Ka2 Rh1 80.Bd5 Rh4 81.Bb3+ Kc3 82.Be6 Rf4 83.Bg8 Rf2+ 84.Kb1 Rb2+ 85.Ka1 Kc2 86.Bh7+ Kc1 87.Bg8 Rb1+ 88.Ka2 Rb8 89.Bf7 Rb2+ 90.Ka1 Rb7 91.Bd5 Ra7+ 92.Ba2 Kc2 1/2-1/2

                          Round 3, April 16, 2016
                          Xiong, Jeffery - Robson, Ray
                          D00 Queen's Pawn, Mason Variation

                          1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 c5 4.dxc5 g6 5.c3 Bg7 6.Nd2 O-O 7.Ngf3 Nbd7 8.Nb3 Ne4 9.Qxd5 Ndxc5 10.Qxd8 Rxd8 11.Nxc5 Nxc5 12.Bc7 Rd7 13.Be5 Bxe5 14.Nxe5 Rd5 15.f4 Be6 16.Nf3 Na4 17.Nd4 Nxb2 18.Rb1 Na4 19.Nxe6 fxe6 20.Bc4 Rd6 21.Rxb7 Nxc3 22.O-O Kf8 23.Rc1 Nd5 24.Bb3 Rb6 25.Rxb6 axb6 26.Kf2 Nb4 27.Kf3 b5 28.Rc5 Nxa2 29.Rxb5 Nc3 30.Rb6 Ra1 31.Bc4 Nd5 32.Rxe6 Nf6 33.Rb6 Rc1 34.Be6 Rf1+ 35.Ke2 Rg1 36.Kf2 Rh1 37.g4 Rxh2+ 38.Kg1 Re2 39.g5 Rxe3 40.gxf6 exf6 41.Kf2 Re4 42.Kf3 f5 43.Rb8+ Kg7 44.Rb7+ Kf6 45.Bd5 Re7 46.Rb6+ Kg7 47.Rd6 Kf8 48.Be6 Kg7 49.Rc6 Kf6 50.Bc4+ Kg7 51.Rd6 Rc7 52.Be2 Re7 53.Rc6 Kf8 54.Kf2 Kg7 55.Bf3 Kf8 56.Kg3 Kg7 57.Kh4 h6 58.Kg3 Kh7 59.Bd5 Kg7 60.Kf3 Kh7 61.Kf2 Kg7 62.Bc4 Kh7 63.Be2 Kg7 64.Rc4 Kf6 65.Rc8 Kg7 66.Rd8 Kh7 67.Bf3 Kg7 68.Bd5 Kh7 69.Rd6 Kg7 70.Be6 Kf6 71.Bd5+ 1/2-1/2

                          Round 3, April 16, 2016
                          Nakamura, Hikaru - Chandra, Akshat
                          A13 English Opening, Agincourt Variation

                          1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 dxc4 4.Bg2 a6 5.O-O Nf6 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Qxc4 b5 8.Qb3 Bb7 9.a4 c5 10.d3 Bd5 11.Qc2 Nbd7 12.Nc3 Bc6 13.Ne1 Bxg2 14.Nxg2 Rb8 15.axb5 axb5 16.Ra6 Qc7 17.Qb3 b4 18.Nb1 Nb6 19.Bg5 Nfd7 20.Nd2 O-O 21.Ne4 h6 22.Be3 Be7 23.Rfa1 Ra8 24.Rxa8 Rxa8 25.Rxa8+ Nxa8 26.Qa2 Nab6 27.Nd2 Qc6 28.Ne1 Qa4 29.Qxa4 Nxa4 30.b3 Nc3 31.Kf1 f5 32.Nc4 Kf7 33.Bd2 Nb5 34.Nc2 Bf6 35.e4 Ne5 36.exf5 exf5 37.Be3 Nd7 38.h4 Ke6 39.Ne1 Nd4 40.Bxd4 Bxd4 41.Nf3 Bf6 42.Ke2 1/2-1/2

                          Round 3, April 16, 2016
                          Shakland, Samuel - Akobian, Varuzhan
                          C10 French, Rubinstein Variation

                          1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Bd3 c5 7.Nxf6+ Nxf6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.Qd2 Nd5 10.c3 c4 11.Bc2 Bd6 12.Qe2 b5 13.Bd2 Bb7 14.O-O O-O 15.Qe4 g6 16.Qh4 Bf4 17.Be4 Bxd2 18.Nxd2 Rab8 19.g3 a5 20.Rfc1 Nb6 21.Re1 b4 22.Qh6 Nd5 23.Rac1 bxc3 24.bxc3 Nf6 25.Bxb7 Rxb7 26.Qg5 Kg7 27.Qe5 Qxe5 28.Rxe5 Nd5 29.Nxc4 Rc7 30.Nxa5 Ra8 31.Nb3 Rxc3 32.Re2 Rd3 33.Rb2 Nb4 34.a4 Nd5 35.a5 Rb8 36.Rcb1 Ra8 37.a6 Rxa6 38.Nc5 Raa3 39.Rb7 Rd2 40.Nxe6+ Kf6 41.Nd8 Kf5 42.Rxf7+ Ke4 43.Re1+ Kxd4 44.Ne6+ Kc4 45.Rc1+ Nc3 46.Rxh7 Kb5 47.Rb7+ Kc6 48.Rxc3+ Rxc3 49.Rc7+ Kd6 50.Rxc3 Kxe6 51.Rf3 Rd4 52.h4 Ke5 53.Kg2 Ke6 54.Kh3 Ke5 55.g4 Rd1 56.g5 Rd6 57.h5 1-0

                          Round 3, April 16, 2016
                          Shabalov, Alexander - Kamsky, Gata
                          A05 Reti, King's Indian Attack

                          1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.b3 Bg7 4.Bb2 O-O 5.Bg2 d6 6.d4 c6 7.Nbd2 a5 8.a4 d5 9.O-O Bf5 10.Ne5 Nbd7 11.Nd3 Ne4 12.Nf3 Nd6 13.Rc1 Qb6 14.Nfe5 Rfd8 15.e3 Nxe5 16.dxe5 Ne8 17.Qe2 Nc7 18.f4 f6 19.exf6 exf6 20.Nf2 Re8 21.Rce1 Re7 22.Qd2 Ne8 23.Bd4 Qc7 24.c4 dxc4 25.bxc4 Be6 26.Rc1 Rd8 27.Qe2 f5 28.Bxg7 Kxg7 29.Qb2+ Kg8 30.e4 fxe4 31.Nxe4 Bf5 32.Nf2 h5 33.Qc3 Qb6 1/2-1/2

                          Round 3, April 16, 2016
                          Onischuk, Alexander - Lenderman, Aleksandr
                          D10 QGD Slav Defence

                          1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 Bf5 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.Qb3 Qc7 6.Nc3 e6 7.Nf3 Nc6 8.Nh4 Be4 9.Bd2 Be7 10.Nxe4 dxe4 11.d5 exd5 12.Nf5 g6 13.Nd4 Qd7 14.Bb5 Bf6 15.Bc3 Kf8 16.O-O Kg7 17.f3 Nxd4 18.exd4 Qd6 19.fxe4 dxe4 20.Rae1 Rc8 21.Rxe4 Rc7 22.Bb4 Bxd4+ 23.Kh1 Qb6 24.Rxd4 Qxd4 25.Bc3 Rxc3 26.bxc3 Qd6 27.Qxf7+ Kh6 28.Qf8+ Qxf8 29.Rxf8 Kg7 30.Rb8 b6 31.Rb7+ Kh6 32.Rf7 g5 33.Bd3 g4 34.Kg1 Kg5 35.Rf8 Kh6 36.Ra8 a5 37.Rb8 Kg7 38.Rb7+ Kf8 39.Rb8+ Kg7 40.Rb7+ Kf8 41.Rxb6 Ne7 42.Rb8+ Kg7 43.Rxh8 Kxh8 44.Be4 Kg7 45.Kf2 Kf6 46.Ke3 Ke5 47.Bxh7 Nd5+ 48.Kd2 Kf4 49.Kd3 g3 50.hxg3+ Kxg3 51.Be4 1-0

                          U.S. Women's Championship, 2016
                          St. Louis
                          Round 1, April 14, 2016
                          Yip, Carissa - Gorti, Akshita
                          C04 French, Tarrasch, Guimard Main Line

                          1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nc6 4.Ngf3 Nf6 5.e5 Nd7 6.c3 f6 7.exf6 Qxf6 8.Nb3 Bd6 9.Be2 O-O 10.Bg5 Qf7 11.Bh4 h6 12.O-O e5 13.dxe5 Ndxe5 14.Bg3 Bd7 15.Nfd4 Nxd4 16.cxd4 Nc4 17.Nc5 Bxg3 18.hxg3 Nxb2 19.Qb3 Nc4 20.Bxc4 dxc4 21.Qxb7 Bf5 22.Rac1 Rad8 23.Qb2 Qd5 24.Rfd1 Bg4 25.Rd2 Bh5 26.Qb7 Qg5 27.Ne4 Qa5 28.Rxc4 Bf7 29.Rc5 Qa4 30.Nc3 Qa3 31.Rxc7 Rde8 32.Rd1 a5 33.Qc6 Rb8 34.Qc5 Qb2 35.Rb1 Qd2 36.Rxb8 Rxb8 37.Rc8+ Rxc8 38.Qxc8+ Kh7 39.d5 Qe1+ 40.Kh2 Qxf2 41.d6 Bh5 42.d7 Bf3 43.Qh8+ Kg6 44.Qe8+ Kh7 45.Qg8+ Kxg8 46.d8=Q+ Kf7 47.Qd7+ Kg8 48.Qc8+ 1-0

                          Round 2, April 15, 2016
                          Eswaran, Ashritha - Yip, Carissa
                          B92 Siclian, Najdorf, Opocensky Variation

                          1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Ng4 7.Bc1 Nf6 8.Be2 e5 9.Nb3 Be7 10.a4 O-O 11.O-O Be6 12.Bf3 Nbd7 13.Bg5 Bc4 14.Re1 b5 15.Bxf6 Nxf6 16.Nd2 Rc8 17.Nxc4 bxc4 18.Qd2 Rc5 19.Nd1 Qb8 20.Qc3 Bd8 21.Qa3 Ba5 22.c3 Qc7 23.Ne3 Bb6 24.Qa2 g6 25.Qb1 Rc6 26.Qc1 Bxe3 27.Rxe3 Rb8 28.Qd2 Rcb6 29.Ra2 Qb7 30.h4 h5 31.Re2 Kg7 32.g3 Qc6 33.Bg2 Qc5 34.Kh1 Qc8 35.a5 Rc6 36.Ra4 Rb5 37.Re1 Qc7 38.Rea1 Rcc5 39.f3 Rxa5 40.Rxa5 Rxa5 41.Rxa5 Qxa5 42.Qxd6 Qa1+ 43.Kh2 Qxb2 44.Qxe5 Qb5 45.Qd4 Qd7 46.Qxc4 a5 47.e5 Ng8 48.f4 Nh6 49.Qd4 Ng4+ 50.Kg1 Qxd4+ 51.cxd4 a4 52.Bd5 a3 53.Bb3 Ne3 54.d5 Kf8 55.d6 Nc2 56.d7 Ke7 57.Bxf7 Kxd7 58.Kf2 Nb4 59.Kf3 a2 60.Bxa2 Nxa2 61.g4 Ke6 62.f5+ gxf5 63.gxh5 Nb4 64.Ke3 Kxe5 65.h6 Nd5+ 66.Kf3 Nf6 67.h5 f4 68.Ke2 Ke4 69.Kf1 Kf3 70.h7 Nxh7 71.h6 Nf6 0-1

                          Round 3, April 16, 2016
                          Yip, Carissa - Abrahamyan, Tatev
                          C03 French, Tarrasch

                          1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 h6 4.Ngf3 Nf6 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Bd3 c5 7.c3 Nc6 8.O-O g5 9.Qe2 Qb6 10.dxc5 Nxc5 11.Bc2 Bg7 12.h3 Nd7 13.Ba4 O-O 14.Bxc6 bxc6 15.Re1 Ba6 16.Qe3 Nc5 17.c4 dxc4 18.Qc3 Nd3 19.Re3 Qb5 20.a4 Qd5 21.Re4 c5 22.Qa5 Bb7 23.Qc3 f5 24.exf6 Bxf6 25.Qxc4 Qxc4 26.Rxc4 Bd5 27.Rc2 Rab8 28.Rb1 Rfc8 29.Nf1 Nxc1 30.Rbxc1 Bxb2 31.Rb1 Ba3 32.Rxb8 Rxb8 33.Ne5 Bb3 34.Rc3 Bb2 35.Rxc5 Bxa4 36.Ng4 Bg7 37.Ra5 Bc6 38.Rxa7 Rb1 39.Nh2 Be5 40.g3 Rb2 41.Ng4 Bg7 42.Rc7 Bf3 43.Rc1 Bxg4 44.hxg4 Bd4 45.Ne3 Bxe3 1/2-1/2

                          Maurice winding up the interview with Tatev after she drew from a promising position, "We'll let you go ahead and self-flagellate."

                          Mike Klein on Round Three

                          https://www.chess.com/news/virus-in-...-s-champs-8834

                          How to describe a day in which three men sacrificed pawns in the opening, while three women blew easily-winning games? After five hours at the 2016 U. S. Championships where the unpredictable became the expected, commentator GM Yasser Seirawan put it this way: "There's a virus in the air!" If there was germ warfare it spread quickly.
                          _______

                          Standings After Round Three

                          U.S. Open

                          Caruana 2.5
                          So 2.5
                          Robson 2.5
                          Nakamura 2
                          Shankland 2
                          Xiong 1.5
                          Onischuk 1.5
                          Kamsky 1
                          Shabalov 1
                          Chandra 0.5
                          Akobian 0.5
                          Lenderman 0.5

                          U.S. Women's

                          Abrahamyan 2.5
                          Yip 2.5
                          Paikidze 2.5
                          Krush 2
                          Zatonskih 1.5
                          Bykovtsev 1.5
                          Gorti 1
                          Melekhina 1
                          Folsor 1
                          Nemcova 1
                          Yu 1
                          Last edited by Wayne Komer; Sunday, 17th April, 2016, 10:57 AM.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: U.S. Championship, St. Louis 2016

                            U.S. Championships 2016

                            April 17, 2016

                            Round Four

                            Round 4, April 17, 2016
                            Caruana, Fabiano – Nakamura, Hikaru
                            B90 Sicilian, Najdorf

                            1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 e6 7.Be3 h5 8.a4 Nc6 9.Bc4 Qc7 10.Qe2 Be7 11.O-O Ne5 12.Bb3 Bd7 13.f4 Neg4 14.Kh1 Nxe3 15.Qxe3 Qc5 16.Rad1 g6 17.Qe2 O-O-O 18.f5 e5 19.Nf3 gxf5 20.Ng5 f4 21.Rd3 Kb8 22.Nxf7 h4 23.Nxh8 Rxh8 24.Qf2 Qb4 25.Nd5 Nxd5 26.Bxd5 Bxa4 27.Ra3 h3 28.c3 Qb5 29.b3 Bh4 30.bxa4 Qd3 31.g3 1-0

                            Round 4, April 17, 2016
                            Shankland, Samuel – So, Wesley
                            D37 QGD, Hastings Variation

                            1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.d4 Be7 5.Bf4 O-O 6.e3 Nbd7 7.a3 c5 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Nxd5 exd5 10.dxc5 Nxc5 11.Be5 Bf6 12.Be2 Bf5 13.O-O Be4 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.Nd4 Ne6 16.Rc1 Nxd4 17.Qxd4 Qxd4 18.exd4 Rac8 19.f3 Bc2 20.Kf2 Rfd8 21.Ke3 Rc7 22.Kd2 Rdc8 23.Rfe1 Kf8 24.Bb5 a6 25.Re8+ Rxe8 26.Bxe8 Kxe8 27.Rxc2 Rxc2+ 28.Kxc2 Kd7 29.Kd3 Ke6 30.Ke3 Kf5 31.g3 h5 32.b4 b5 33.Kf2 1/2-1/2

                            Round 4, April 17, 2016
                            Akobian, Varuzhan – Robson, Ray
                            D45 QGD, Semi-Slav

                            1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Bd3 O-O 8.O-O dxc4 9.Bxc4 b5 10.Bb3 Bb7 11.Rd1 Rc8 12.a3 a6 13.e4 c5 14.Bg5 cxd4 15.Rxd4 Qc7 16.Bxf6 Nxf6 17.Rxd6 Qxd6 18.e5 Qc5 19.exf6 Bxf3 20.fxg7 Rfd8 21.gxf3 Qg5+ 22.Kh1 Rd2 23.Qe4 Rxf2 24.Rg1 Qh5 25.Rg2 Rf1+ 26.Rg1 Rf2 27.Rg2 Rf1+ 28.Rg1 Qxf3+ 29.Qxf3 Rxf3 30.Bc2 Rf2 31.Bb1 h6 32.Ne4 Rf4 33.b4 Rd8 34.Nc5 Rf3 35.Be4 Rf2 36.Bb1 Rf3 37.Be4 Rf2 38.Bb1 1/2-1/2

                            Round 4, April 17, 2016
                            Kamsky, Gata – Onischuk, Alexander
                            A45 Queen’s Pawn Game

                            1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 d5 3.e3 c5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Nbd2 cxd4 6.exd4 Bf5 7.c3 e6 8.Qb3 Qc8 9.Nh4 Be4 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 11.Bd3 Bd6 12.Bxe4 Bxf4 13.Bd3 g5 14.Nf3 g4 15.Ng1 h5 16.Ne2 Bh6 17.Bb5 a6 18.Bxc6+ Qxc6 19.Nc1 Bxc1 20.Rxc1 Qb5 21.Qc2 O-O-O 22.a4 Qc4 23.b3 Qc7 24.O-O Kb8 25.Qd2 Rd6 26.c4 dxc4 27.Rxc4 Rc6 28.Rfc1 Rxc4 29.Rxc4 Qd6 30.Qg5 f5 31.g3 e5 32.dxe5 Qd1+ 33.Kg2 Qf3+ 1/2-1/2

                            Round 4, April 17, 2016
                            Lenderman, Aleksandr. – Xiong, Jeffery
                            D83 Grunfeld, Grunfeld Gambit, Capablanca Variation

                            1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3 O-O 6.Rc1 Be6 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Nxd5 Qxd5 9.b3 Qa5+ 10.Qd2 Qxd2+ 11.Kxd2 c6 12.Nf3 Bd5 13.Bc4 Bxf3 14.gxf3 e6 15.b4 a6 16.a4 Nd7 17.Rhd1 Rfc8 18.a5 Bf8 19.Kc3 Nf6 20.e4 Nd5+ 21.Bxd5 exd5 22.exd5 cxd5+ 23.Kb3 f6 24.Re1 Kf7 25.Bc7 Re8 26.Rxe8 Rxe8 27.Bg3 g5 28.Rc7+ Re7 29.Rc5 Re8 30.Rc7+ Re7 31.Rc1 Re2 32.Rc7+ 1/2-1/2

                            Round 4, April 17, 2016
                            Chandra, Akshat – Shabalov, Alexander
                            B19 Caro-Kann, Classical, Spassky Variation

                            1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6 11.Bd2 Ngf6 12.O-O-O Bd6 13.Kb1 Qb6 14.Ne4 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Nf6 16.Qe1 Qc7 17.Qe2 O-O-O 18.c4 Rhe8 19.Bc3 Kb8 20.Ne5 Ka8 21.g4 Nh7 22.Rd3 Nf8 23.Rhd1 f6 24.Ng6 Nxg6 25.hxg6 Qd7 26.Re3 Re7 27.Re1 Rde8 28.Re4 a6 29.Qd3 Kb8 30.R1e3 Kc8 31.Qe2 Kd8 32.Qf3 Kc8 33.Qe2 Kd8 34.a3 f5 35.gxf5 exf5 36.Rxe7 Rxe7 37.d5 cxd5 38.cxd5 Bc5 39.Re5 Qd6 40.b4 Ba7 41.Rxe7 Qxe7 42.Qxe7+ Kxe7 43.Bxg7 h5 44.Be5 h4 45.d6+ Ke6 46.g7 Kf7 47.d7 Bb6 48.Kc2 h3 49.Kd3 f4 50.Bxf4 Kxg7 51.Ke2 Kf7 52.Be3 Bc7 53.Bf4 1/2-1/2

                            There are lots of telephone calls from viewers all over the world. The online kibitzers have mixed emotions about them:

                            - way too many phone calls

                            - Stories can be interesting, but we have a national championship going on. Please analyze that.

                            - OK, I have to admit that some of these phone calls are real... But some fake too

                            Yasser had talked, on request, about Viktors Pupols, the players known as Uncle Vik at the Tacoma Chess Club. Viktors has won the Keres Memorial in Vancouver in 1980 and once beat Bobby Fischer on time (1955)!
                            _____

                            Another question was about selling chess to the public by having trash-talking masters – something of the order of trash-talking in wrestling. This prompted the showing of a video of Maurice Ashley playing in Washington Square Park, against NYC trash-talker and legend, Vinnie Livermore.
                            _____

                            And another interesting video was shown:

                            There used to be a television quiz show called To Tell the Truth. It began in 1956 and ran for years. In this game show there were three people who claim to be someone, whose statement is read out and then the people questioned by a panel of celebrities. One of them is the real person while the other two are just impostors. The panelists take turns questioning the people about their subject and then try to guess which of the three people is the truth teller.

                            I remember one show where Robert Byrne was one of the imposters. It was a thrill recognizing him and telling my family that he was the imposter.

                            Well, forward to the present. Steve Harvey is a comedian and game show host, who also has his own show. Hillary Clinton was going to be on, so his producer set up a To Tell the Truth episode, where three ladies each claimed to be Irina Krush – the real Irina and two others. Hillary and he would try to figure out if Number One, Number Two or Number Three was the real one.

                            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJhAvo3F5Ms

                            The imposters were outstanding. I think they were convincing and made no mistakes. Each was asked three questions and in the end Hillary was not sure who the real one was. Steve said that he has had great experience in telling lies and was confident that the real Irina was Number Three, so Hillary deferred to him and he was right.

                            A great deal of fun.
                            _______
                            In the big game of the day, Caruana beat Nakamura. The losing moves appeared to have been 24…Qb4 and 26…Bxa4. This prompted three remarks and a reply:

                            Maurice – Bad moves come in pairs

                            Jannifer – I thought it was “bad things come in threes”?

                            Yasser – When it pours, it rains

                            Obviously, tiredness was hitting the commentators at the end of the day.

                            Lawrence Trent, Fabiano’s manager, came in to talk to the guys. He finds it very difficult to watch his games in progress. He used to watch all the games but after Moscow, he cannot watch them until they are completed. Fabiano is relaxed and playing very well. He has left the Moscow Candidates behind him. He is 23 years old and has another shot coming up. Trent says that the game was super interesting today and Fabiano handled himself well. Although he doesn’t wear his emotions on his sleeve, he has just as much drive and ambition as Hikaru.

                            He can still improve his play a lot and could become “unplayable” – Trent’s word.
                            _______

                            Jeffery Xiong, the youngest player in the Open still plays with his hood on and hasn’t been beaten yet and continues to grow in confidence. When will he have his first win?

                            Comment from one viewer: I want to see the boy in the hoodie crush them all!
                            _____

                            All the other games in the Open were draws. In the Women’s Yu beat Yip, Krush beat Bykovtsev, Zatonskih beat Melekhina and Foisor beat Gorti.

                            The Standings after Round Four

                            US Championship Open

                            1. Caruana 3.5, 2. Robson 3, 3. So 3, 4. Shankland 2.5, 5. Xiong 2, 6. Onischuk 2, 7. Nakamura 2, 8. Kamsky 1.5, 9. Shabalov 1.5, 10. Akobian 1, 11. Lenderman 1, and 12. Chandra 1.

                            US Championship Women’s

                            1. Paikidze 3, 2. Abrahamyan 3, 3. Krush 3, 4. Zatonskih 2.5, 5. Yip 2.5, 6. Foisor 2, 7. Yu 2, 8. Nemcova 1.5, 9. Bykovtsev 1.5, 10. Melekhina 1, 11. Eswaran 1 and 12. Gorti 1.

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                            • #15
                              Re: U.S. Championship, St. Louis 2016

                              Not to overlook Ray Robson who is having a fantastic tournament so far (his 9th US championship and he's only 21!) with 3/4, no losses and having already had 3 Blacks! Akshrat Chandra, the bottom rated by a long shot, finally broke his 0/2 score by drawing Naka, missing a win against Wesley So, and then drawing Shaba from a winning position and is looking for his first win. Jerry Xiong has survived 3 Blacks in four games and is also looking for his first win and is undefeated! Good Luck Jerry!

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