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Re: US Chess Championship starts
Holt flagged in that position? How is that possible?
Holt flagged in that position? How is that possible?
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"Tom is a well known racist, and like most of them he won't admit it, possibly even to himself." - Ed Seedhouse, October 4, 2020. -
Re: US Chess Championship starts
It was a French Winawer defence.Originally posted by Tom O'Donnell View PostGary Ruben
CC - IA and SIM
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Re: US Chess Championship starts
Maybe bathroom problems. 30 seconds at the board is sufficient for chess moves but not if there are other pressing needs. Not that I know the real answer.Comment
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Re: US Chess Championship starts
Maurice Ashleyism of the round: This is beginner chess (and at the highest levels). Describing Timur Gareevs opening as white against Ray Robson where Gareev played a4 and then Ra3 (check it out). When we first start playing we play h4 or a4 and then Rh3 or Ra3.Comment
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Re: US Chess Championship starts
Why did Timur Gareev feel he needed to play that way against Ray Robson? Isnt it obvious? Look at the hairstyle. The funky clothes. The weird openings. The blindfold experience. He craves attention. Spectators are always going to remember this game for the horror. Who was that idiot who played that opening against Ray Robson in the last round of the 2015 US Championship. Oh that was Timur Gareev.Comment
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Re: US Chess Championship starts
Hikaru Nakamura wanted revenge against Alex Onischuk. Same opening he played against him in the 2007 US Championship (where Naka lost). 8 years is a long time when one is very active in tournament chess.Comment
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Re: US Chess Championship starts
However Hikaru didnt win because of the opening. The game was actually equal for a time before Onischuk went wrong and then ultimately blundered.Comment
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Re: US Chess Championship starts
In the postgame interview Maurice said to Hikaru: Now dont use words like moronic, or mickey mouse or horrible to describe your game. Hikaru grimaced and said well it wasnt very good and then said that Alex Onischuk achieved equality and then was deciding how to continue. It looked dead even until Hikaru found Bb3, a trappy strategical move, and suddenly there was hope. The commentators said Hikaru kept up relentless pressure and then all of a sudden Onischuk blundered with Nxf2. That doesnt really explain the blunder nor does the time situation. Hikaru had an immediate threat of Nd4 forking both rooks easy enough to see. It strikes me as Onischuk was playing hope chess. Hard to believe.Comment
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Re: US Chess Championship starts
Irina Krush got an easy draw against her opponent. Only explanation was that her opponent was trained in the Soviet classical school of chess. As Black you always play for a draw and unless your opponent risks it will be a draw. Disappointing - no fight. So both championships ended with a little disapointment. No playoffs. But sill great entertainment throughout!Comment
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Re: US Chess Championship starts
Wesley So ended with another crush, two in a row! Clear third place! Imagine what he would have done without distractions.Comment
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Re: US Chess Championship starts
Sam Shankland ended on a disappointing note. A draw against V Akobian in a winning ending.Comment
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Re: US Chess Championship starts
Daniel Naroditsky chose the Maroczy Bind against Gata Kamsky who played the Hedgehog. Gata is too old a hand to allow anything but a draw.Comment
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Re: US Chess Championship starts
Sam Sevian won a crazy game against Conrad Holt. Conrad played the French Winawer (his favorite) for the second time to the exact same postition where Sevian varied and then missed the incredible Nf5! winning the house. Conrad then pushed his B pawn to queen and was up two pawns in a basically winning endgame but couldnt find a way to make progress. They played 100 moves and Conrad flagged. How do you flag with 30 seconds a move in such a position?Comment
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Re: US Chess Championship starts
Kudos though to Sam Sevian who battled his way to an equal score in the US Championship with a very good score against the top 3 and Kamsky. The irony is that last round marathon and winning on time qualified him for the World Cup.Comment
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Re: US Chess Championship starts
Only 4 players finished with a plus score. Hikaru Nakamura was the only one who was undefeated although he had more draws than wins in a tough field. He was still a class above all the others (except Wesley So if he was in good form). Congratulations to Ray Robson who had a breakthru tournament finishing second only a half point back of Hikaru and with a post tournament rating of 2680. He's making great strides and will soon be 2700+. Wesley So showed his strength and I hope he gets back on track soon.Comment
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