US Chess Championship starts

[Wayne Komer]

U.S. Chess Championship 2015

U.S. Chess Championship 2015
St. Louis, MO
Round Nine, April 10, 2015

Nakamura, Hikaru – Gareev, Timur
A04 Reti Opening

1.Nf3 b6 2.e4 Bb7 3.Nc3 e6 4.d4 Bb4 5.Bd3 Nf6 6.Qe2 d5 7.e5 Ne4 8.O-O Nxc3 9.bxc3 Bxc3 10.Rb1 Nc6 11.Qe3 Bb4 12.Qf4 h6 13.Bb5 Be7 14.Qg4 g6 15.c3 Qd7 16.Ne1 a6 17.Ba4 b5 18.Bd1 Na5 19.Nd3 Qc6 20.Qe2 Qxc3 21.Bd2 Qa3 22.Bc1 Qc3 23.Bd2 Qa3 24.Bc1 1/2-1/2

Sevian, Samuel – Robson, Ray
B81 Sicilian, Scheveningen, Keres Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.g4 h6 7.h3 Nc6 8.f4 Qc7 9.Be3 a6 10.Bg2 Be7 11.Qf3 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 e5 13.Be3 exf4 14.Bxf4 Be6 15.O-O-O Rc8 16.Qg3 O-O 17.Kb1 Rfd8 18.Rhe1 b5 19.Rd2 Bf8 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.exd5 Re8 22.Rf1 Ne4 23.Bxe4 Rxe4 24.Rdf2 Rce8 25.Bd2 f6 26.Qd3 Qc5 27.Rf4 Re2 28.a3 R8e5 29.Rd4 Rg2 30.Bb4 Qc7 31.Re4 Rg3 32.Qxg3 Rxe4 33.Re1 Qc4 34.Rd1 Re5 35.Qf3 Be7 36.b3 Qe4 37.Qxe4 Rxe4 38.Rd3 Kf7 39.Rc3 Rd4 40.Rc6 Rxd5 41.Rxa6 h5 42.a4 bxa4 43.bxa4 hxg4 44.hxg4 g5 45.Rc6 f5 46.gxf5 Rxf5 47.Rc4 Ke6 48.Re4+ Kd7 49.c4 Bf6 50.Kc2 Rf2+ 51.Bd2 Be5 52.Kd3 Bf4 1/2-1/2

Naroditsky, Daniel – Holt, Conrad
C18 French, Winawer, Advance (5…Ne7)

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4 O-O 8.Bd3 Nbc6 9.Qh5 Ng6 10.Nf3 Qc7 11.Be3 c4 12.Bxg6 fxg6 13.Qg4 Qf7 14.Ng5 Qe8 15.h4 Bd7 16.Qe2 b5 17.g4 a5 18.h5 gxh5 19.Rxh5 h6 20.Nh3 Qg6 21.Nf4 Qh7 22.Rh1 b4 23.g5 Rxf4 24.Bxf4 bxc3 25.Be3 h5 26.Rxh5 Qg6 27.O-O-O Kf7 28.Rdh1 Ke7 29.Rh7 Rg8 30.Qf3 Qf7 31.Qh3 Qg6 32.Qf3 Qf7 33.Qg4 Be8 34.Rh8 Kd7 35.g6 Rxh8 36.Rxh8 Qxg6 37.Qxg6 Bxg6 38.Rg8 Bf5 39.Rxg7+ Kc8 40.f4 a4 41.Bf2 Kd8 42.Rg3 Na7 43.Be1 Nb5 44.Bxc3 Ke8 45.Kb2 Kf7 46.Rg2 Be4 47.Rd2 Bf5 48.Ba5 Bg6 49.c3 Na7 50.Bd8 Nc6 51.Bf6 Be4 52.Rh2 Ke8 53.Rh8+ Kd7 54.Rg8 Kc7 55.Rg7+ Kb6 56.Be7 Bf5 57.Bc5+ Ka6 58.Rf7 Bg4 59.Kc2 1-0

Ni, Viktorija – Nemcova, Katerina
A28 English, Four Knights, Marini Variation

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.a3 g6 5.d3 Bg7 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bxf6 Bxf6 8.g3 O-O 9.Bg2 Bg7 10.O-O d6 11.Rb1 a5 12.b4 axb4 13.axb4 Be6 14.Nd5 Qd7 15.Nd2 Ra2 16.b5 Nd8 17.Nb3 c6 18.Nb4 Ra8 19.bxc6 bxc6 20.Qd2 Bh3 21.Rfd1 Bxg2 22.Kxg2 f5 23.c5 d5 24.d4 e4 25.f4 exf3+ 26.exf3 f4 27.g4 Ne6 28.Re1 Ra3 29.Nc2 Raa8 30.Qd3 Qf7 31.Re2 h5 32.h3 hxg4 33.hxg4 Rae8 34.Rbe1 Bf6 35.Nb4 Nd8 36.Rxe8 Rxe8 37.Rxe8+ Qxe8 38.Qd2 Ne6 39.Na5 Nxd4 40.Naxc6 Nxc6 41.Qxd5+ Kg7 42.Nxc6 Qe2+ 43.Kg1 Qe1+ 44.Kg2 Qe2+ 45.Kg1 Qe1+ 1/2-1/2

Krush, Irina – Abrahamyan, Tatev
E32 Nimzo-Indian, Classical Variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 O-O 5.Nf3 c5 6.dxc5 Na6 7.g3 Nxc5 8.Bg2 b6 9.O-O Bb7 10.Nb5 Be4 11.Qd1 a6 12.Nd6 Bc6 13.Bg5 Nce4 14.Nxe4 Bxe4 15.Ne5 Bxg2 16.Kxg2 Ra7 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Nd3 Be7 19.e4 Rc7 20.Qb3 Qb8 21.a4 Rfc8 22.Rac1 Rc6 23.Rfd1 Qc7 24.Nf4 Rxc4 25.Rxd7 Qxd7 26.Rxc4 Rxc4 27.Qxc4 b5 28.axb5 axb5 29.Qd3 Qc6 30.f3 b4 31.Kh3 Qc1 32.Qd7 Bf8 33.Qd8 Qxb2 34.Nh5 b3 35.Nxf6+ Kg7 36.Nd7 Qa3 37.Qg5+ Kh8 38.Qe5+ Kg8 39.Nf6+ Kh8 40.Qh5 1-0

Results (Men), Standings after Round Nine

Nakamura-Gareev 0.5-0.5
Sevian-Robson 0.5-0.5
Kamsky-Troff 0.5-0.5
So-Akobian 0-1
Shankland-Onischuk 0.5-0.5
Naroditsky-Holt 1-0


Nakamura 6.5
Robson 6
Kamsky 5
Onischuk 5
Sevian 4.5
Shankland 4.5
So 4.5
Troff 4.5
Akobian 4
Gareev 3.5
Holt 3.5
Naroditsky 2.5

Results (Women) Standings after Round Nine

Ni-Nemcova 0.5-0.5
Krush-Abrahamyan 1-0
Goletiani-Melekhina 0.5-0.5
Paikidze-Yu 1-0
Foisor-Virkud 1-0
Sharevich-Wang 0.5-0.5


Krush 7
Nemcova 7
Paikidze 6
Goletiani 5.5
Foisor 5
Ni 5
Sharevich 4.5
Abrahamyan 4.5
Virkud 3
Melekhina 2.5
Yu 2
Wang 2

Matchups for Last Two Rounds

Round Ten
Robson-Nakamura
Kamsky-So
Onischuk-Sevian
Holt-Shankland
Troff-Gareev
Akobian-Naroditsky

Round Eleven
So-Troff
Naroditsky-Kamsky
Shankland-Akobian
Sevian-Holt
Nakamura-Onischuk
Gareev-Robson

Round Ten
Nemcova-Paikidze
Yu-Krush
Abrahamyan-Goletiani
Foisor-Ni
Melekhina-Sharevich
Virkud-Wang

Round Eleven
Ni-Virkud
Paikidze-Foisor
Krush-Nemcova
Goletiani-Yu
Sharevich-Abrahamyan
Wang-Melekhina

[Jack Maguire]

Re: So-Akobian...

The apposite FIDE rules are:

12.3 a. During play the players are forbidden to make use of any notes, sources of information or advice, or analyse on another chessboard

12.4 The scoresheet shall be used only for recording the moves, the times of the clocks, the offers of a draw, and matters relating to a claim and other relevant data.

12.6 It is forbidden to distract or annoy the opponent in any manner whatsoever.

12.7 Infraction of any part of Articles 12.1 to 12.6 shall lead to penalties in accordance with Article 13.4.

13.4 The arbiter can apply one or more of the following penalties:
a. warning
b. increasing the remaining time of the opponent
c. reducing the remaining time of the offending player
d. declaring the game to be lost
e. reducing the points scored in the game by the offending party
f. increasing the points scored in the game by the opponent to the maximum available for that game
g. expulsion from the event.

[Gary Ruben]

Re: So-Akobian...

The part that gets me is the punishment seems to be discretionary. Still they waited till round 9 and gave the point to a member of the appeals committee if I'm reading it correctly.

[Kerry Liles]

Re: So-Akobian...

Do the rules define what constitutes "notes" or what is relevant data to the player as opposed to the tournament director? I'd have appealed the forfeit as well as the loss of rating points.

I'm sure the FIDE rules don't define every single word - even important ones like "relevant" but rely instead on the common sense of the arbiter. In view of the fact that Wesley So was warned several times in this tournament and apparently had been admonished when he was at Webster for the last several YEARS about this very issue, I think (now) that the arbiter was quite right to forfeit him. My first reaction (in another thread) was to wonder why the arbiter didn't just penalize him on the clock and warn him for the last time, but I see now that he had been given the final warning. I think So probably didn't believe the arbiter would do it and he now has to realize he has to take his lumps - I would expect an appeal will be rejected. I presume the appeal would be based on the harshness of the penalty but that is overshadowed by the warnings. As Naka said: it seems to be his own fault entirely.

[Gary Ruben]

Re: So-Akobian...

Do the rules define what constitutes "notes" or what is relevant data to the player as opposed to the tournament director? I'd have appealed the forfeit as well as the loss of rating points.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: So-Akobian...

U.S. Championship 2015

Chess.com takes up the Round Nine forfeiture:

http://www.chess.com/news/breaking-w...n-round-9-9186

There are photos and comments by just about everyone.

Could this be a career-ending disability?

It is not clear whether Wesley is going to appeal.

From chess.com

"Rich advised So that he had the right to appeal if he wished. Rich said the window for an appeal is 24 hours. At the time of this report, which comes two hours after the forfeiture, Rich said he has had no contact with So.

The appeals committee is comprised of GM Ben Finegold, IM Rusa Goletiani, and GM Varuzhan Akobian. Rich said that in case of an appeal, Akobian would have to recuse himself."

[Wayne Komer]

Re: So-Akobian...

U.S. Chess Championship 2015

Plato is Dear to Me, but...

Friday, April 10, 2015

Wesley So's opponent Varuzhan Akobian discussed the scandalous events in a live transmission almost immediately after they happened. You will recall that So was forfeited for taking notes during his game against Akobian.

"I am also shocked at what happened. Even before the game, I noticed that So had another sheet below his scoresheet. I remembered that he made some sort of notes during his earlier games and that the chief arbiter Tony Rich had warned him that this was against the rules. Then during the game I noticed that after every move, he was writing something on the bottom piece of paper. This struck me as a bit strange: I have been playing chess for many years and have played hundreds of games against very strong opponents, but never saw anything like this. .

I used to be in the habit of writing down my move before playing it, as I was taught by my trainer at the Petrosian School. But in 2007, when I played in Gibraltar, FIDE brought in a new rule that one is not allowed to write anything except the move made, and only after making it. At first I found it difficult to break this habit and remember one opponent pointing out to me that I was not allowed to write the move down first, but eventually, I stopped doing it. But it was not easy. As for So, the chief arbiter had already warned him twice during the tournament, so Tony had no choice.

When did I tell the arbiter? After the first few moves. I did not think it was any form of cheating on So's part, I didn't know what he was writing. I just told the arbiter that it was a bit unusual.

I think the rules are the same for everyone, including the top players. There should not be exceptions for anyone, especially if they have been warned twice already.

Of course, this is not the way I wanted to win. It is just a very unfortunate set of circumstances. Naturally, I wanted to play a normal game, especially as I don't get many chances to play someone of Wesley's class. I played my favourite Tarrasch Defence, which I have played since childhood, and I was ready for a fight.

It is definitely a shock. I am very sad that things worked out this way. So and I are friends, we play in the same team, and have even been sparring-partners... I don't like to say this, but it could be a good lesson for Wesley: the rules must be observed. Even if it is difficult, even if you have to break your old habits, which many players have. I don't know what he was writing down: maybe something psychological, or which helps him concentrate. But I repeat, I never saw such a thing before.

from chessnews.ru

http://chess-news.ru/en/node/18595

[Wayne Komer]

Re: S0-Akobian...

U.S. Chess Championship 2015
Round Nine
April 10, 2015

This note in chessbomb.com

Wesley So was forfeited in round 9 after being reported by his opponent Akobian for illegally making notes during the game. According to the Chief arbiter Tony Rich, So has been warned earlier regarding the note taking, and So's notes were not chess-related but contained "general encouragement and advice to himself".

Round 9, April 10, 2015
So, Wesley – Akobian, Varuzhan
D32 QGD Tarrasch Defence

1. d4 e6 2. c4 d5 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. dxc5 0-1

The arbiter, Tony Rich, said that it was brought to his attention by Varuzhan. Wesley was writing on a piece of paper under and separate from the score sheet. It was verified. I had to mention this to Wesley twice before and this time he was forfeited. It was advice to himself, encouragement – not analysis, not chess moves or opening preparation.

His reaction was shock. He was under the impression that he couldn’t write on his score sheet but could use a separate sheet of paper. He can appeal if he wishes. He can continue playing the next two games, the penalty is for this game.

Tweets

Mark Crowther – Akobian was distracted. I think I would be too.

Mark Crowther – But this is almost certainly something recommended by a trainer. At least So will stop doing it now.

Mark Crowther – But if he had been warned twice before and told he would be forfeited next time. What to do?

Mark Crowther – 12.3 Players are forbidden to make use of any notes – it’s pretty clear he’s using them to motivate himself.

Peter Svidler – Third offence in this tournament seems the point

Mark Crowther – In the league competition I play in, just about every player underlies the time control move before the start of play. Note?

Peter Svidler – I think we’re talking notes to self along the lines of “I must concentrate” “Don’t get into time trouble.” That's my impression.

Peter Doggers – Yes although Wesley So needs to stop doing this immediately and never do it again. Whatever happens.

[Sam Sharpe]

Re: S0-Akobian...

Apparently warned twice before, but still ... wow.
I guess I should have complained back in the '80s when I played the Albin and my opponent wrote on his scoresheet in big bubble letters "Albin sucks wind" after my 2...e5

ps. I won that game (hee hee).

[Ken MacDonald]

Re: S0-Akobian...

Is this real?

Wow! Defaulted for taking notes during the game!

[Ken MacDonald]

S0-Akobian...

Is this real?

[Hans Jung]

Re: US Chess Championship starts

Hikaru Nakamura now has 4 wins and 4 draws and is the only one undefeated. Ray Robson is stubbornly only half a point back and if he does well this round then in the next round after he faces Hikaru for first place. Key game on Saturday.

[Hans Jung]

Re: US Chess Championship starts

Irina Krush is battling back. With a perfect game (according to the chessbase commentator) she has now reduced Kate Nemcovas lead to a mere half point.

[Hans Jung]

Re: US Chess Championship starts

Conrad Holt used a shocking amount of time after Wesley So sacked a piece but then surprisingly Wesley seemed to get move order mixed up (maybe?) He played b5 and Yasser commented that without b5 his attack would have worked. The finish was surprisingly easy for Conrad.

[Hans Jung]

Re: US Chess Championship starts

Ray Robson and Sam Shankland had quite a battle going on. Black had pressure against the king and looked to be trading to a winning endgame but Ray in time pressure defended well. Boy he plays well in time pressure!