U. S. Junior Closed Championship 2016

[Wayne Komer]

Re: U. S. Junior Closed Championship 2016

U.S. Junior Championship 2016

July 12, 2016

Round Five

The games:

U.S. Junior Championship 2016
St. Louis, Mo.
Round 5, July 12, 2016
Harmon-Vellotti, Luke – Ostrovskiy, Aleksandr
C12 French, MacCutcheon, Lasker Variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 h6 6.Bd2 Bxc3 7.bxc3 Ne4 8.Qg4 Kf8 9.Bd3 Nxd2 10.Kxd2 c5 11.Nf3 c4 12.Be2 b5 13.h4 Nc6 14.h5 a5 15.a3 Bd7 16.Rhb1 Rb8 17.Qf4 Qe7 18.g4 Ke8 19.g5 Kd8 20.gxh6 gxh6 21.Qf6 Kc7 22.Qxe7 Nxe7 23.Nh2 f5 24.exf6 Ng8 25.f7 Nf6 26.Nf3 Ne4+ 27.Ke3 Nxc3 28.Rg1 Rhf8 29.Ne5 Ne4 30.Rg7 Nd6 31.Bg4 c3 32.Kd3 Nc4 33.Ng6 Kd6 34.Nxf8 Rxf8 35.Re1 b4 36.axb4 axb4 37.Rb1 Nb2+ 38.Ke3 Ba4 39.Rg6 Rxf7 40.Rxe6+ Kc7 41.Rxh6 Bxc2 42.Ra1 Nc4+ 43.Ke2 Re7+ 44.Kf3 Kb7 45.Rha6 Na3 46.R6xa3 bxa3 47.Rxa3 Be4+ 48.Kf4 c2 49.Ra1 Kc6 50.Rc1 Kb5 51.h6 Kc4 52.Bd1 Kc3 53.Bxc2 Bxc2 54.Kg5 Kd2 55.Rxc2+ Kxc2 56.f4 Kd3 57.f5 Kxd4 58.f6 Ra7 59.Kg6 Ke5 60.f7 Ra8 61.Kg7 Ra7 62.Kg8 1-0

Round 5, July 12, 2016
Li, Ruifeng – Brown, Michael
C84 Ruy Lopez, Closed

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Nc3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.a3 O-O 9.h3 Nb8 10.d3 c6 11.Ne2 Nbd7 12.Ng3 Nc5 13.Ba2 Be6 14.Bxe6 Nxe6 15.c3 Qc7 16.Re1 Rfe8 17.d4 Bf8 18.Qc2 g6 19.Be3 Bg7 20.Rad1 Nd7 21.Qc1 Rad8 22.Ng5 c5 23.Nxe6 Rxe6 24.dxc5 dxc5 25.Rd5 Rde8 26.Red1 Nb6 27.Rxc5 Qb8 28.b3 Bf8 29.Rcd5 Nxd5 30.exd5 R6e7 31.Ne4 Bg7 32.c4 f5 33.Nc5 Qd6 34.Ne6 Rxe6 35.c5 Rc8 36.Qd2 Qe7 37.dxe6 Qxe6 38.Qd6 Qxd6 39.cxd6 Bf6 40.d7 Ra8 41.Bb6 Bd8 42.Rc1 Kf7 43.Rc8 Bxb6 44.Rxa8 Ke7 45.Rxa6 Bc7 46.Ra8 Kxd7 47.Rh8 Bd6 48.Rxh7+ Ke6 49.a4 1-0

Round 5, July 12, 2016
Liang, Awonder – Checa, Nicolas
D31 QGD, Charousek (Petrosian) Variation

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bf4 c6 6.e3 Bf5 7.Nge2 Nd7 8.Ng3 Be6 9.Nh5 Bf8 10.Bg3 Ngf6 11.Bh4 Qb6 12.Nxf6+ Nxf6 13.Rb1 Bf5 14.Bd3 Bxd3 15.Qxd3 Be7 16.O-O O-O 17.b4 a6 18.a4 Qd8 19.b5 axb5 20.axb5 Ne8 21.Bxe7 Qxe7 22.bxc6 bxc6 23.Qc2 Nd6 24.Na4 Ra6 25.Nc5 Ra7 26.Ra1 g6 27.h3 Rb8 28.Rfb1 Rb5 29.Ra2 Rxa2 30.Qxa2 Rxb1+ 31.Qxb1 Qa7 32.g3 Kg7 33.Kg2 h5 34.h4 Kg8 35.Nd3 Nc4 36.Nc5 Nd6 37.Qb4 Qc7 38.Na6 Qc8 39.Qb6 Qe6 40.Qd8+ Kg7 41.Nc5 Qf6 42.Qxf6+ Kxf6 43.Nd7+ Ke6 44.Nb8 Nf5 45.Nxc6 Kd6 46.Ne5 Ke6 47.Nd3 Ne7 48.Kf3 Nf5 49.Nf4+ Kd6 50.Nxd5 Kxd5 51.e4+ Kxd4 52.exf5 Ke5 53.fxg6 fxg6 54.g4 hxg4+ 55.Kxg4 Kf6 56.Kf4 Kg7 57.Kg5 Kh7 58.Kf6 Kh6 59.f4 Kh7 60.Kf7 Kh6 61.Kg8 1-0

Round 5, July 12, 2016
Bodek, Michael – Chandra, Akshat
B53 Sicilian, Chekhover Variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Bb5+ Nbd7 7.Qd3 h6 8.Nd2 Be7 9.Nc4 O-O 10.Bxd7 Bxd7 11.Nxd6 Qc7 12.Nf5 Bxf5 13.exf5 e4 14.Nxe4 Qe5 15.f3 Rad8 16.Qe2 Nxe4 17.fxe4 Bb4+ 18.Kf2 Rd4 19.Kf3 Re8 20.Bf4 Qf6 21.c3 Rdxe4 22.Qxe4 Rxe4 23.Kxe4 Qc6+ 24.Kd3 Qd5+ 25.Kc2 Qxf5+ 26.Kb3 Bc5 27.g3 g5 28.Bd2 Qd5+ 29.Kc2 Qe4+ 30.Kb3 b5 31.a3 Qa4+ 32.Ka2 Qc4+ 33.b3 Qd3 34.Bc1 a5 35.Bb2 a4 36.Rhc1 Be3 37.Rd1 Bd2 38.bxa4 bxa4 39.Rab1 Qc2 40.Ka1 Bxc3 41.Rd8+ Kg7 42.Rb8 Kg6 43.Bxc3 Qxc3+ 44.Ka2 Qd2+ 45.R1b2 Qd5+ 46.Ka1 Qd3 47.Ka2 f5 48.R8b4 Qd5+ 49.Ka1 Kh5 50.Kb1 Qd6 51.Ka2 Qd7 52.Ka1 Qc6 53.Ka2 Qe6+ 54.Ka1 Qd7 55.Kb1 Qa7 56.Ka1 Qe3 57.Rxa4 f4 58.gxf4 gxf4 59.Ka2 Qe6+ 60.Ka1 f3 61.Rd4 f2 62.Rd1 Qe1 63.Rbb1 Qe2 64.Rdc1 Kg4 65.Rf1 h5 66.Rh1 Kh3 67.Rb3+ Kg2 68.Rbb1 h4 69.h3 Qc2 70.a4 Qxa4+ 71.Kb2 Qc4 72.Rbd1 f1=Q 73.Rdxf1 Qxf1 74.Rxf1 Kxf1 75.Kc3 Kg2 76.Kd2 Kxh3 77.Ke2 Kg2 0-1

Round 5, July 12, 2016
Xiong, Jeffery – Troff, Kayden
A16 English, (Grunfeld, King’s Indian)

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Qb3 Nb6 6.d4 Bg7 7.Bf4 Be6 8.Qa3 c5 9.Qxc5 Nc6 10.e4 Nd7 11.Qa3 Nxd4 12.Nxd4 Bxd4 13.Bb5 O-O 14.O-O Qb6 15.Bxd7 Bxd7 16.Nd5 Qxb2 17.Qxb2 Bxb2 18.Rab1 Ba3 19.Rxb7 Rfd8 20.h4 a6 21.Rfb1 f5 22.R1b3 Bc5 23.Rc3 Bc6 24.Nxe7+ Bxe7 25.Rxc6 Bxh4 26.g3 Rd1+ 27.Kg2 Bd8 28.Re6 Ba5 29.Be5 Rad8 30.Ree7 Bb4 31.Rxh7 1-0

Pairings for Round 6

Ostrovskiy-Troff
Chandra-Xiong
Checa-Bodek
Brown-Liang
Harmon-Vellotti-Li

Ranking After Round 5

1. Xiong 3.5/5
2. Liang 3.5/5
3. Li 3.0/5
4. Chandra 3.0/5
5. Ostrovskiy 3.0/5
6. Harmon-Vellotti 2.5/5
7. Brown 2.5/5
8. Troff 1.5/5
9. Checa 1.5/5
10. Bodek 1.0/5

[Wayne Komer]

Re: U. S. Junior Closed Championship 2016

U.S. Junior Championship

July 14, 2016

Round Six

I am getting more used to Ben Finegold and Aviv Friedman, with Alejandro Ramirez at the computer. It is friendly analysis and kibitzing.

Ben tells the story of a top USCF chess correspondence player, Gary Abram. In the days before computers, you sent your move on a post card to your opponent and received his move in reply. But one of Gary’s opponents would not only send his move but paragraphs of analysis of possible outcomes! Finally Gary sent him his latest move and wrote on the card, “Here’s my move and tell me how the game is going to turn out.”

Ben has all sorts of catch phrases like ‘I’d rather lose than draw’ and ‘a piece is worth nine pawns’.

I cannot understand the last one – I thought it was always 3 pawns. I believe Ben says that to underscore that you do not sacrifice pieces.

The Finegold Rules are given online at:

http://chessconfessions.blogspot.ca/...1_archive.html

I shall give ten of them:

1. Always play Bf1.
2. Castle and avoid a hassle!
3. A piece is worth 9 pawns.
4. Never offer or accept a draw. Fight like a man, and die like a dog!
5. Never sacrifice!
6. Queen + Bishop is better than Queen + Knight.
7. Never capture a pinned knight with your bishop before being provoked.
8. Never play g3 if you can’t fianchetto.
9. Take your time.
10. Always play a4 when they play b5.

If you follow these rules you will never lose. Kasparov lost to Kramnik only because he broke three of these Rules. Recall that principles in chess are exceptionless universal laws and you should never consider violating them.
_________

To make a point about attacking two pieces at once Ben and Aviv quote the game Christiansen-Karpov, which they both know from memory. Wijk aan Zee 1993

Karpov missed a one-move queen fork, on move 12!

Wijk aan Zee
Round 2, January 18, 1993
Christiansen, Larry – Karpov, Anatoly
E12 Queen’s Indian, Petrosian System

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 Ba6 5.Qc2 Bb7 6.Nc3 c5 7.e4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Nc6 9.Nxc6 Bxc6 10.Bf4 Nh5 11.Be3 Bd6 12.Qd1 1-0
_________

All in all, a very comfortable afternoon of watching a relaxed discussion about chess.

The games:

U.S. Junior Championship
St. Louis, Mo.
Round 6, July 14, 2016
Ostrovskiy, Aleksandr – Troff, Kayden
B51 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 a6 6.Bxd7+ Bxd7 7.c4 Nf6 8.Bg5 e6 9.Nc3 Rc8 10.O-O h6 11.Bh4 Qc7 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Qxf6 Rg8 14.Nd2 Qb6 15.Nd5 exd5 16.exd5 Be7 17.Rfe1 Qd8 18.Re3 Kf8 19.Qxh6+ Rg7 20.Qh8+ Rg8 21.Qh6+ Rg7 22.Rae1 Bg5 23.Qxd6+ Kg8 24.f4 Rg6 25.Qe5 Bf6 26.Qe4 Qb6 27.Nb3 Bxb2 28.c5 Qf6 29.Qb4 Qf5 30.Qxb7 Rf8 31.d6 a5 32.R3e2 Bg7 33.c6 Bc8 34.Qe7 Ba6 35.Rf2 Bf6 36.Qe4 Qxe4 37.Rxe4 Bc3 38.Nc5 Rxd6 39.Rc2 f5 40.Rxc3 fxe4 41.Nxa6 e3 42.Kf1 Rc8 43.Rxe3 Rdxc6 44.Nb4 axb4 45.a3 Rc3 0-1

Round 6, July 14, 2016
Chandra, Akshat – Xiong, Jeffery
E60 King’s Indian, 3.g3

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 c6 4.Bg2 d5 5.Qa4 a6 6.cxd5 b5 7.Qd1 cxd5 8.Nf3 Bg7 9.O-O O-O 10.Bf4 Bb7 11.Nbd2 Qb6 12.Rc1 Nc6 13.Nb3 Ne4 14.Ne5 Rfd8 15.Be3 Nb8 16.Qc2 Nd7 17.Bxe4 dxe4 18.d5 Qd6 19.Nc6 Re8 20.Nba5 Bc8 21.Rfd1 Nf6 22.Bc5 Qd7 23.Qd2 Qh3 24.f3 Bf8 25.Qd4 Qf5 26.Qe5 h5 27.Qxf5 Bxf5 28.Kf2 g5 29.Ba3 exf3 30.exf3 g4 31.f4 Be4 32.Re1 Kh7 33.Rcd1 Bxd5 34.Bxe7 Bxe7 35.Rxe7 Rxe7 36.Nxe7 Bf3 37.Rc1 Rd8 38.Nb3 Ne4+ 39.Ke3 Nd6 40.Kf2 Nc4 41.Nf5 Nxb2 42.Rc7 Nd3+ 43.Kf1 Bd5 44.Ne3 Be6 45.Ke2 Nb4 46.f5 Bxb3 47.axb3 Kg7 48.Ng2 Rd5 49.Nf4 Rxf5 50.Ra7 h4 51.Ke3 Re5+ 52.Kd2 hxg3 53.hxg3 Rf5 54.Rd7 Kf6 55.Kc3 a5 56.Kd4 Nc6+ 57.Ke3 Rc5 58.Rc7 b4 59.Ke4 Re5+ 60.Kd3 Ne7 61.Ne2 Nf5 62.Kd2 Rd5+ 63.Ke1 Rd3 64.Rc6+ Ke5 65.Rc5+ Ke4 66.Kf2 Rf3+ 67.Ke1 Rxb3 68.Rxa5 Nxg3 69.Nc1 Rb1 70.Kd2 Rb2+ 71.Ke1 Nf5 72.Ra7 g3 73.Ne2 Ke3 74.Kf1 Rxe2 75.Rxf7 Rf2+ 76.Kg1 Nd4 77.Re7+ Kd3 78.Rd7 b3 79.Kh1 b2 80.Rb7 Rh2+ 0-1

Round 6, July 14, 2016
Checa, Nicolas – Bodek, Michael
A13 English, Neo-Catalan Open

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 dxc4 5.Qa4+ Nbd7 6.Qxc4 c5 7.O-O a6 8.Qb3 Rb8 9.d4 Bd6 10.Rd1 Qe7 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Be3 e5 13.Nbd2 Bxe3 14.Qxe3 O-O 15.Nc4 Ng4 16.Qg5 Ndf6 17.Qc1 Ne4 18.Rf1 Be6 19.Ncxe5 Nexf2 20.Rxf2 Rbc8 21.Qd2 Nxf2 22.Kxf2 Qc5+ 23.Qd4 Rfd8 24.Qxc5 Rxc5 25.Nd3 Rc2 26.Nfe1 Rc7 27.a4 h6 28.a5 g5 29.Ra4 Bc4 30.b4 Bb5 31.Ra2 Rd6 32.Nc5 b6 33.axb6 Rxb6 34.Ned3 Kg7 35.Ke3 Bc4 36.Ra1 Re7+ 37.Kd2 f5 38.Bh3 Kg6 39.Rf1 Rf6 40.Bg2 Bb5 41.Bf3 Rd6 42.Kc3 Kg7 43.Ra1 Rb6 44.Ra2 Kf6 45.Bd5 Rc7 46.Bc4 Bxc4 47.Kxc4 Rcc6 48.e3 Rd6 49.e4 Kg6 50.Kc3 fxe4 51.Ne5+ Kf5 52.Nc4 Kg4 53.Nxb6 Rxb6 54.Rxa6 Rb8 55.Nxe4 1-0

Round 6, July 14, 2016
Brown, Michael – Liang, Awonder
E60 King’s Indian, 3.Nf3

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.b4 O-O 5.Bb2 c6 6.e3 d5 7.Nbd2 a5 8.b5 cxb5 9.cxb5 a4 10.Rc1 Bf5 11.Be2 Qd6 12.O-O Nbd7 13.Rc3 a3 14.Ba1 Nb6 15.Qb3 Na4 16.Rcc1 Nd7 17.Nh4 Be6 18.f4 Ndb6 19.Nhf3 f6 20.Nb1 Nc4 21.e4 Nab6 22.exd5 Na5 23.Qxa3 Qxa3 24.Nxa3 Bxd5 25.Rc2 Rfc8 26.Rfc1 Rxc2 27.Rxc2 e6 28.Nd2 Bf8 29.Nab1 Nb3 30.axb3 Rxa1 31.Kf2 Bd6 32.g3 Kf7 33.Nc3 Bb4 34.Nxd5 Nxd5 35.Ne4 Ke7 36.Bc4 Rh1 37.Kf3 Rd1 38.Bxd5 exd5 39.Nf2 Rb1 40.Rc7+ Kd6 41.Rxb7 Rxb3+ 42.Ke2 Bc3 43.Rxh7 Bxd4 44.Nd3 Rxb5 45.Rh6 Ra5 46.Nc1 Bb2 47.Nb3 Rb5 48.Nd2 Bc3 49.Nf3 Kc5 50.Kd3 Rb3 51.Rxg6 Bd4+ 52.Ke2 Rb2+ 53.Ke1 Rb1+ 54.Kd2 Rb2+ 55.Kc1 Rf2 56.Nxd4 Kxd4 57.Rxf6 Rxh2 58.g4 Rg2 59.g5 Ke4 60.g6 d4 61.f5 d3 62.Rf7 Ke3 63.Rd7 Ke4 64.Rf7 Ke3 65.Rf8 Rg1+ 66.Kb2 d2 67.Rd8 Ke4 68.f6 Rxg6 69.f7 Rf6 70.Re8+ Kd3 71.f8=Q Rxf8 72.Rxf8 d1=Q 73.Rd8+ Ke2 74.Rxd1 Kxd1 1/2-1/2

Round 6, July 14, 2016
Harmon-Vellotti, Luke – Li, Ruifeng
E32 Nimzo-Indian, Classical Variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 O-O 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 b6 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 Bb7 9.f3 d6 10.e3 Nbd7 11.Bd3 e5 12.dxe5 Nxe5 13.O-O-O b5 14.Ne2 bxc4 15.Bxc4 Nxc4 16.Qxc4 Re8 17.e4 d5 18.exd5 Bxd5 19.Qc2 Qb8 20.Rd3 g5 21.Bf2 c6 22.Nd4 Nh5 23.Nf5 Re6 24.Bg3 Nf4 25.Re3 Rxe3 26.Nxe3 Bb3 27.Qd2 Be6 28.Nc2 Bf5 29.Nd4 Bg6 30.Bxf4 gxf4 31.Qc3 c5 32.Nc6 Qd6 33.Ne5 Bf5 34.Rd1 Qf6 35.Rd5 Re8 36.h3 Qe6 37.Nd7 Rc8 38.Nf6+ Kf8 39.Nd7+ Kg8 40.Nf6+ Kf8 41.Qe5 Qxe5 42.Rxe5 Be6 43.Nh5 Bb3 44.Kd2 Ba4 45.Nxf4 Rb8 46.Kc1 c4 47.Ne2 Rd8 48.Nc3 Bb3 49.Rd5 Re8 50.Kd2 Re7 51.g4 Kg7 52.Rd6 a5 53.Ne4 Rb7 54.Nc3 a4 55.h4 Re7 56.h5 Rb7 57.Rd4 Kh7 58.Ne4 Ba2 59.Kc2 Bb3+ 60.Kc3 Re7 61.Nd2 Re3+ 62.Kb4 Kg7 63.Rf4 Re2 64.Nxc4 Rf2 65.Nb6 Rxb2 66.Nxa4 Rb1 67.Nc3 Rb2 68.Na4 Rb1 69.Nc3 Rb2 70.a4 Be6+ 71.Kc5 Rc2 72.Kd4 Rc1 73.Kd3 Bd7 74.Nb5 Ra1 75.Kc3 Ra2 76.Kb3 Be6+ 77.Kb4 Bd7 78.Nc3 Rb2+ 79.Ka3 Rf2 80.Ne4 Rf1 81.Nd6 Ra1+ 82.Kb2 1-0

Ranking After Round Six

1. Xiong 4.5
2. Liang 4.0
3. Harmon-Vellotti 3.5
4. Li 3.0
5. Chandra 3.0
6. Brown 3.0
7. Ostrovskiy 3.0
8. Troff 2.5
9. Checa 2.5
10. Bodek 1.0

Round Seven Pairings

Li-Ostrovskiy
Liang-Harmon-Vellotti
Bodek-Brown
Xiong-Checa
Troff-Chandra
_______

An interesting honour to one of the contestants. Alejandro Ramirez writes on the official site:

Becoming an Eagle Scout is an incredible achievement. It is calculated that only four percent of Boy Scouts are ever granted their maximum rank, and the requirements necessary for this take many years to fulfill. One of the main founders of the Chess Merit Badge, Dr. Jeanne Sinquefield, explained “To make Eagle, you need 21 merit badges of which ten can be a variety of areas. Making chess a merit badge means that is one of the merit badges you can earn on the road to Eagle Scout. “

To be both is truly one of a kind. Yesterday, one of the participants of the 2016 U.S. Junior Closed Championship, an incredibly strong tournament itself with the top ten under 20 players in the entire country, became the first chess grandmaster to reach the rank of Eagle Scout. Kayden Troff, from Utah, was honored with a small, intimate ceremony at the Chess Plaza at Forest Park. Troff said during the ceremony “I started chess and scouts both at a very young age so I can definitely say both have meant a lot in my life.”

[Hans Jung]

Re: U. S. Junior Closed Championship 2016

Eagle scout and grandmaster Kayden Troff. Congratulations to a highly remarkable young man who I admire greatly as much for his personality as for his interesting, high quality chess play!

[Hans Jung]

Re: U. S. Junior Closed Championship 2016

Highly entertaining play in this tournament so far. Very interesting endgames last round. A complete joy to watch.

[Hans Jung]

Re: U. S. Junior Closed Championship 2016

Ben Finegold = grandmaster of chess witticism - proof that you cant keep a good wit down.

[Ed Seedhouse]

Re: U. S. Junior Closed Championship 2016

Ben Finegold = grandmaster of chess witticism - proof that you cant keep a good wit down.

I just wish they would stop with the interminable breaks (featuring awful music). They have three grandmasters and a computer, surely they could take their breaks one or two at a time. I can live with the odd commercial, but really...are they paying these guys minimum wage or something?

[Garland Best]

Re: U. S. Junior Closed Championship 2016

but really...are they paying these guys minimum wage or something?

You do realize we are talking about chess commentators, correct?

[Ed Seedhouse]

Re: U. S. Junior Closed Championship 2016

You do realize we are talking about chess commentators, correct?

What's your point? It certainly escapes me. Do the play by play guys at a baseball game get to skip entire innings?

[Jack Maguire]

Re: U. S. Junior Closed Championship 2016

Talk about fighting chess! The five games today, 4 decisive, went 65, 67, 90, 94, and 98 moves!

[Garland Best]

Re: U. S. Junior Closed Championship 2016

Sigh. My point was that i don't think there is a lot of money made being a chess commentator. Certainly I expect them to be getting less than the palyers. That's why I quoted the minimum wage line. It's not as if they get the same size audience as the baseball games do.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: U. S. Junior Closed Championship 2016

U.S. Junior 2016

July 15, 2016

Round Seven

As usual Ben Finegold and Aviv Friedman are at the commentators’ table. Alejandro’s chess engine is now routinely called Uncle Stockfish.

A discussion begins about beating grandmasters early in their career and never playing them again so you have a plus score against them. Ben says that he beat Caruana in 2004 and will never play him again unless he is invited to the U.S. Championship by mistake.

Alejandro talks about a Paris Pro-Am in which the sponsor got to play as the amateur with Garry Kasparov. He was very nervous before the games and said after, “I guess I can’t play chess. After every move, he yelled at me.” The winner of that was Vachier-Lagrave and his sponsor.

Alejandro then conducts an interview with Robin van Kampen.

He has become the resident grandmaster at the St. Louis Chess Club. He is teaching, reporting on the U.S. Junior and sending out tweets. In a couple of weeks he will be joining Anish Giri and working with him on the Sinquefield Cup Tourney. Usually there is a long stretch in the day doing analytical and preparative work and the bonus is that they have meals together to relax.

He was born in 1994 in the Netherlands.

“Being an only child, I'd often find myself with little to do, and thus in the evenings it was always a joy to play board games with my family. It was when I played chess with my father for the first time that something special happened: I won – and without much of a struggle. And so, my journey as a chess player started at the young age of seven. At the age of eight, my parents brought me to a local chess club in Baarn. This gave me the opportunity to face some of the best local players and have a chance to work with professional chess coaches for the first time.”

"My ultimate crowning came at the age of 14 by matching Jan Timman's record from 1966 and achieving the status of the youngest Dutch International Master in history. From that moment onwards, I was regularly traveling around Europe competing in international tournaments, lecturing at local chess clubs and working with world-renowned coaches with the hope of taking the next step. Whilst trying to balance my new lifestyle with school, I enrolled in a special sports program in early 2010, which ultimately helped me to obtain, in 2011, the highest title in chess at the age of 16: The Grandmaster title.”

I played professional chess for three years after high school. I have just finished my first year as an undergraduate at the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University.

I reached my highest rating when I went back to school – 2640. I am #3 or #4 in the Netherlands after Anish Giri and Loek van Wely.
There are many talented players in Europe and I have stiff competition.

I think the States is showing an upswing in chess with the Sinquefield Cup and the Scholastic Center at the St. Louis Chess Club. You have a number of good players now such as Hikaru, Fabiano. Wesley and I also include Sam Shankland and Jeffery Xiong.

He has known Anish since they were teens and are good friends. He was Best Man at his wedding. They have prepared for tournaments since Robin was 17 but then, with his studies, he couldn’t do anything active but they still kept in touch.

Both Robin and Alejandro speak well and have an infectious enthusiasm for chess.
______

I should just say a word here about featuring commentators in my summaries of tournaments. I feel there is a tremendous amount of chess information, history and humour that is lost when we don’t record what the commentators say. I try to preserve some of that. Sometimes it can be silly. Today writing about Dortmund, there was a long period when the final game was slowly going to an end that and nothing much was happening. A viewer asked about Jan Gustafsson’s haircuts and I wrote that down. He has at other times asked what player in the Top Ten would you take to a desert island with you and which top player would be the best in a knife fight. Trivia – yes. The main focus should be on the players and their games.

I think that Levon Aronian would be the best on the desert island because he would be friendly, do a lot of the work and he is a vegetarian I think, so you would not be troubled with thoughts of cannibalism. Alexander Grischuk would be good in knife fight!
______

The games:

Ostrovskiy’s King moves to c6 on move 15.

Round 7, July 15, 2016
Li, Ruifeng – Ostrovskiy, Aleksandr
A01 Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack, Classical Variation

1.b3 d5 2.Bb2 Bg4 3.f3 Bh5 4.Nh3 e6 5.Nf4 Bg6 6.e3 Nf6 7.Nc3 e5 8.Nxg6 hxg6 9.d4 exd4 10.Qxd4 Nc6 11.Bb5 Qd7 12.O-O-O Nxd4 13.Bxd7+ Kxd7 14.Rxd4 Bc5 15.Rd3 Kc6 16.Na4 Bd6 17.h3 Rhe8 18.Rhd1 Rad8 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.Rc3+ Kd7 21.Rxd5 Kc8 22.Nb2 Ba3 23.Rxd8+ Kxd8 24.Rd3+ Ke7 25.c4 f5 26.Kc2 Bd6 27.Na4 b6 28.Kd2 c6 29.Ke2 Ke6 30.Nc3 Bb4 31.Kf2 Bc5 32.f4 Ke7 33.Kf3 Bb4 34.Ne2 Bc5 35.Nd4 Rc8 36.Rd2 a5 37.a4 Bxd4 38.Rxd4 Rb8 39.e4 fxe4+ 40.Kxe4 Ke6 41.Kd3 Rh8 42.Kd2 Rb8 43.Kc3 Ke7 44.Re4+ Kd6 45.Re3 Rh8 46.b4 axb4+ 47.Kxb4 Rh4 48.g4 f5 49.gxf5 gxf5 50.Rf3 c5+ 51.Kb5 Kc7 52.a5 bxa5 53.Kxc5 a4 54.Kd5 Kb6 55.c5+ Kb5 56.c6 Kb6 57.Rc3 Kc7 58.Ke5 Rh6 59.Ra3 Kxc6 60.Rxa4 Kd7 61.Kxf5 Ke7 62.Ra3 Kf7 63.Kg4 Rb6 64.Ra1 Kg7 65.h4 Rb5 66.h5 Rc5 67.Rh1 Ra5 68.h6+ Kh7 69.f5 Ra8 70.Kg5 Rg8+ 71.Kf6 Rf8+ 72.Ke6 Re8+ 73.Kf7 Ra8 74.Ke7 Ra7+ 75.Kf6 Ra8 76.Re1 Ra6+ 77.Kg5 Ra7 78.Rd1 Rb7 79.Ra1 Rf7 80.f6 Rb7 81.Rf1 Kg8 82.Re1 Rb2 83.Re8+ Kh7 84.Re7+ Kh8 85.f7 Rf2 86.Kg4 Rf6 87.Re8+ Kh7 88.f8=Q Rg6+ 89.Kh4 Rg5 90.Qf7+ 1-0

One player was wearing a baseball cap and a hoodie. That was Luke Harmon-Vellotti.

Round 7, July 15, 2016
Liang, Awonder – Harmon-Vellotti, Luke
A25 English, Closed System

1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.e3 d6 6.Nge2 f5 7.d4 e4 8.Nf4 Nf6 9.O-O O-O 10.f3 g5 11.Nfd5 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 exf3 13.Qxf3 Be6 14.Bd2 Qd7 15.Rae1 Rae8 16.b3 h6 17.h4 Qd8 18.hxg5 hxg5 19.Qd1 Nb8 20.Ba5 b6 21.Bc3 c6 22.Nb4 d5 23.cxd5 cxd5 24.Qh5 a5 25.Nd3 Nd7 26.Bb2 Rf7 27.g4 fxg4 28.Rxf7 Bxf7 29.Qxg4 Qe7 30.Qf5 Nf6 31.Qxg5 Ne4 32.Qxe7 Rxe7 33.Rc1 Bh6 34.Rc8+ Re8 35.Rxe8+ Bxe8 36.Bc1 Bg6 37.Ne5 Bf5 38.Kf1 Bg5 39.Ke2 Kg7 40.Nf3 Nc3+ 41.Kd2 Ne4+ 42.Ke1 Be7 43.a3 Kf6 44.Nd2 Nxd2 45.Kxd2 Ke6 46.Bf1 Be4 47.Bh3+ Kd6 48.Bb2 Kc7 49.Bf1 Bd6 50.Bd3 Bf3 51.Kc2 Kc6 52.Bc1 Be4 53.Bxe4 dxe4 54.a4 b5 55.Bd2 bxa4 56.bxa4 Bc7 57.Be1 Kd5 58.Kc3 Bb6 59.Bh4 Bc7 60.Bg5 Bd6 61.Bf4 Bb4+ 62.Kb3 Be1 63.Kc2 Kc4 64.Bd6 Bf2 65.Bf4 Be1 66.Bc7 Bb4 67.Bb6 Bc3 68.Bc5 Bb4 69.Bxb4 Kxb4 70.Kb2 Kxa4 71.Kc3 Kb5 72.Kb3 Kb6 73.Kc4 Kc6 74.Kc3 Kb5 75.Kb2 Kb4 76.Kc2 Kc4 77.Kb1 Kb4 78.Kb2 a4 79.Kb1 a3 80.Kc2 Kc4 81.Kc1 Kb3 82.Kb1 Kb4 83.Ka2 Ka4 84.d5 Kb5 85.Kxa3 Kc5 86.Kb3 Kxd5 87.Kb4 Ke6 88.Kc5 Ke7 89.Kd4 Kd6 90.Kxe4 Ke6 91.Kd4 Kd6 92.Ke4 Ke6 93.Kd4 Kd6 94.Ke4 1/2-1/2

Round 7, July 15, 2016
Bodek, Michael – Brown, Michael
A18 English, Mikenas-Carls, Flohr Variation

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 Qxf6 7.Nf3 Nc6 8.Rb1 e5 9.Bd3 Be7 10.Qc2 h6 11.O-O O-O 12.Re1 Qd6 13.Be4 Bf6 14.Rb5 Re8 15.Rd5 Qf8 16.Qb1 a6 17.h3 Rb8 18.Nh2 Be6 19.Rd3 Bg5 20.Rf3 Bxc4 21.d3 Be6 22.Bxg5 hxg5 23.Qc1 Qe7 24.Rg3 f6 25.Qd1 Nd8 26.Nf3 Nf7 27.Bg6 Red8 28.d4 c5 29.Qe2 cxd4 30.cxd4 Bd5 31.dxe5 Bxf3 32.Bxf7+ Qxf7 33.Rxf3 Rd4 34.exf6 gxf6 35.Qe7 Rf8 36.Qc5 Rd5 37.Qb6 Rb5 38.Qd4 Rd5 39.Qb6 Rb5 40.Qd4 Rd5 41.Qc3 Rd6 42.Rfe3 Rd7 43.Re6 Qg6 44.Qb3 Kg7 45.Re7+ Rf7 46.Re8 Qd3 47.Qe6 Qd6 48.Qe2 Qd3 49.Qh5 Qh7 50.Qg4 Qd3 51.h4 Rd4 52.Qc8 Rxh4 53.Rg8+ Kh6 54.Rh8+ Rh7 55.Qf8+ Kg6 56.Qe8+ Kh6 57.Qf8+ Kg6 58.Qe8+ Kh6 59.g3 Rh3 60.Qf8+ Kg6 61.Qe8+ Kh6 62.Qf8+ Kg6 63.Qg8+ Kh6 64.Kg2 g4 65.Re7 Qf3+ 0-1

Round 7, July 15, 2016
Xiong, Jeffery – Checa, Nicolas
D15 QGD Slav Accepted

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.e3 Bf5 6.Qb3 Ra7 7.Nh4 Bg6 8.Nxg6 hxg6 9.g3 e6 10.Bg2 Nbd7 11.O-O Be7 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Bxe4 Nf6 15.Bf3 Qd7 16.Be3 Ra8 17.a4 a5 18.Rfd1 Bb4 19.Rd3 O-O 20.Rad1 Rfd8 21.Bf4 Qe7 22.Re3 Qf8 23.Red3 Qe7 24.Bg5 Rd7 25.h4 Rad8 26.Bg4 Qf8 27.Bh3 Be7 28.Be3 Bb4 29.Qc2 Ne4 30.Qe2 Be7 31.Bf4 Nf6 32.Qf3 Bd6 33.Be3 Be7 34.Bc1 Rc7 35.Bf4 Bd6 36.Be3 Be7 37.Bf4 Bd6 38.Bg5 Be7 39.Qe2 Rcd7 40.Kh2 Ne8 41.Bf4 Bf6 42.Be3 Nd6 43.d5 Nxc4 44.dxe6 Rxd3 45.Rxd3 Rxd3 46.Qxd3 Nxe3 47.Qxe3 fxe6 48.Bxe6+ Kh7 49.b3 Qd6 50.Kg2 Qe5 51.Qxe5 Bxe5 52.Kf3 b5 53.Kg4 bxa4 54.bxa4 Bd4 55.f4 Bf2 56.Bd7 c5 57.Be6 Be1 58.Ba2 Bf2 59.Kf3 Be1 60.Bc4 Bc3 61.Kg2 Be1 62.Bb3 Bd2 63.Kf2 Bc1 64.Ke2 Kh6 65.Bg8 Kh5 66.Kf3 Bd2 67.Kg2 Kh6 68.Kf2 Kh5 69.Bf7 Kh6 70.Ke2 Bc1 71.Kf3 Kh5 72.Bc4 Bd2 73.Kg2 Kh6 74.Bg8 Bc1 75.Kh3 Bd2 76.Kg4 Be1 77.Kf3 Bd2 78.Kf2 Bc1 79.Kf1 Bd2 80.Kg2 Bc1 81.Kg1 Be3+ 82.Kh1 Bd2 83.Kh2 Be1 84.Kh3 Bd2 85.g4 Bxf4 86.g5+ Bxg5 87.hxg5+ Kxg5 88.Kg3 Kf5 89.Kf3 Ke5 90.Ke3 g5 91.Kd3 g4 92.Kc4 g3 93.Bd5 Kd6 94.Bg2 g5 95.Kb5 g4 96.Kc4 Ke5 97.Kxc5 Kf4 98.Kd4 1-0

Round 7, July 15, 2016
Troff, Kayden – Chandra, Akshat
D20 QGA, 3.e3

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 e5 4.Bxc4 exd4 5.exd4 Bd6 6.Nf3 Nf6 7.Qe2+ Qe7 8.Qxe7+ Bxe7 9.O-O Nbd7 10.Nc3 c6 11.Re1 Nb6 12.Bb3 Nfd5 13.Ng5 h6 14.Nge4 O-O 15.Bd2 Rd8 16.a4 a5 17.Nc5 Bf6 18.Ne2 Kf8 19.Rad1 Nb4 20.Nf4 N6d5 21.Ne4 Be7 22.Nc3 Nf6 23.Be3 Bf5 24.d5 g5 25.dxc6 gxf4 26.cxb7 fxe3 27.bxa8=Q exf2+ 28.Kxf2 Rxa8 29.Kg3 Bg6 30.Re3 Bh5 31.Rd2 Bg6 32.Kf3 h5 33.h3 h4 34.Re5 Nd3 35.Rb5 Bb4 36.Bc4 Nc5 37.Rd4 Bh5+ 38.Kf4 Re8 39.Kg5 Kg7 40.Kxh4 Bg6 41.Kg3 Nce4+ 42.Nxe4 Nxe4+ 43.Kf4 Be1 44.Bd5 Bg3+ 45.Kf3 Bh5+ 46.Ke3 Nd6+ 47.Kd3 Bg6+ 48.Kd2 Be1+ 49.Kc1 Nxb5 50.axb5 Bf2 51.Bc6 Re2 52.Kd1 Rxb2 53.Rd2 Rb1+ 54.Ke2 Bb6 55.Ra2 Kf6 56.Ra3 Rb4 57.g4 Be4 58.Rc3 Ke5 59.Be8 Rb2+ 60.Kd1 Bd5 61.h4 Rg2 62.Bd7 a4 63.h5 Bb3+ 64.Kc1 Rg1+ 65.Kd2 Ba5 66.b6 Rg2+ 67.Kd3 Rg3+ 0-1

Standings after Round Seven

1. Xiong 5.5/7
2. Liang 4.5/7
3. Harmon-Vellotti 4.0/7
4. Chandra 4.0/7
5. Li 4.0/7
6. Brown 4.0/7
7. Ostrovskiy 3.0/7
8. Troff 2.5/7
9. Checa 2.5/7
10. Bodek 1.0/7

Round Eight Pairings

Ostrovskiy-Chandra
Checa-Troff
Brown-Xiong
Harmon-Vellotti-Bodek
Li-Liang

[Jack Maguire]

Re: U. S. Junior Closed Championship 2016

Ruifeng Li certainly seems to relish gambit play. (:

He drew Caruana with an Evans Gambit at the Millionaire Chess 2015 and today he's playing the Urisov Gambit. (:

http://www.chessbomb.com/arena/2016-...-Liang_Awonder

[Wayne Komer]

Re: U. S. Junior Closed Championship 2016

U.S. Junior 2016

July 16, 2016

Round Eight

The games:

U S Junior 2016
St. Louis, Mo
Round 8, July 16, 2016
Ostrovskiy, Aleksandr – Chandra, Akshat
C07 French, Tarrasch, Open Variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.dxc5 Nf6 6.Ngf3 Bxc5 7.Bc4 Qh5 8.Qe2 Nc6 9.Nb3 Bb6 10.Bf4 Qg4 11.Bg3 Qe4 12.O-O Qxe2 13.Bxe2 Bd7 14.Nfd2 O-O-O 15.Nc4 Bc7 16.Nd6+ Bxd6 17.Bxd6 Ne4 18.Ba3 Kc7 19.Bd3 Nf6 20.Nc5 Bc8 21.Rad1 Rhe8 22.b3 e5 23.Ne4 Nxe4 24.Bxe4 Nd4 25.Bb2 g6 26.f3 f5 27.Bd3 e4 28.Bc4 Nc6 29.Rxd8 Rxd8 30.Bc1 Nb4 31.fxe4 fxe4 32.Bg5 Rd7 33.Be6 Rd6 34.Rf7+ Bd7 35.Bf4 Kc6 36.Bxd6 Bxe6 37.Bxb4 Bxf7 38.Kf2 b5 1/2-1/2

Round 8, July 16, 2016
Checa, Nicolas – Troff, Kayden
A22 English, Bremen, Reverse Dragon

1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 e5 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bg2 Nb6 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.O-O Be7 8.a3 O-O 9.b4 Be6 10.d3 a5 11.b5 Nd4 12.Nd2 c6 13.bxc6 Nxc6 14.Rb1 a4 15.Bb2 Na5 16.f4 exf4 17.gxf4 Bf6 18.Kh1 Nd5 19.Nxd5 Bxb2 20.Rxb2 Bxd5 21.Rb4 Bxg2+ 22.Kxg2 Qd5+ 23.Nf3 Nb3 24.e4 Qd6 25.f5 Qf4 26.Ng1 Qe5 27.Qg4 Ra6 28.Kh1 Qb2 29.Rxb7 Rh6 30.Nf3 Qe2 31.Rg1 g6 32.Qf4 Nc5 33.Ne5 Nxd3 34.Nxd3 Rxh2+ 35.Qxh2 Qf3+ 36.Rg2 Qd1+ 37.Rg1 Qf3+ 38.Qg2 Qh5+ 39.Qh2 1/2-1/2

Round 8, July 16, 2016
Brown, Michael – Xiong, Jeffery
D85 Grunfeld, Exchange Variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bd2 Bg7 6.e4 Nb6 7.Be3 O-O 8.Be2 Nc6 9.Nf3 Bg4 10.e5 Qe8 11.Ng5 Bxe2 12.Qxe2 h6 13.Nge4 f5 14.exf6 exf6 15.d5 f5 16.dxc6 Qxc6 17.Rc1 fxe4 18.Nb5 Qd7 19.Rxc7 Qd3 20.Qxd3 exd3 21.Kd2 Nd5 22.Rxb7 Nxe3 23.fxe3 Rf2+ 24.Kxd3 Rxb2 25.Rxa7 Rxa7 26.Nxa7 Rxa2 27.Nc6 Rxg2 28.Ke4 Kf7 29.Kf3 Rb2 30.h3 Rc2 1/2-1/2

Round 8, July 16, 2016
Harmon-Vellotti, Luke – Bodek, Michael
B76 Sicilian, Dragon, Yugoslav Attack, Rauser Variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 O-O 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.O-O-O d5 10.Qe1 e5 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Bc4 Be6 14.Kb1 Re8 15.Ne4 Qc7 16.Bc5 Nf4 17.Bxe6 Nxe6 18.Bd6 Qb6 19.g4 Rad8 20.g5 Nd4 21.h4 Rxd6 22.Nxd6 Rb8 23.b3 Qc5 24.c3 Qxd6 25.cxd4 exd4 26.Rd3 c5 27.Ka1 Qa6 28.Qd2 c4 29.bxc4 Qxc4 30.Rc1 Qe6 31.Qf4 Re8 32.Qe4 Qd7 33.Qc6 Qe7 34.Qe4 Qd7 35.Qc6 Qe7 36.Qc7 Qe2 37.Qc2 Qe5 38.Qc5 Qe2 39.Qc2 Qe5 40.Qc5 Qe2 1/2-1/2

Round 8, July 16, 2016
Li, Ruiffeng, - Liang, Awonder
C24 Bishop’s Opening, Urosov Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Qxd4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.Qh4 Be7 8.Bg5 d6 9.O-O-O Bf5 10.Rhe1 O-O 11.Qf4 Bg6 12.g4 h6 13.Bxh6 Nh7 14.h4 Bxh4 15.Nxh4 Qxh4 16.Rh1 Qf6 17.Nd5 Qxf4+ 18.Bxf4 Be4 19.Rh3 g5 20.Be3 Ne5 21.Ne7+ Kg7 22.Bd5 Bxd5 23.Nxd5 c5 24.f3 Ng6 25.Bd2 Rh8 26.Bc3+ f6 27.Rdh1 Ne5 28.Ne7 Rad8 29.Nf5+ Kg8 30.Rh6 Rd7 31.Nxd6 Nd3+ 32.cxd3 Rxd6 33.Kc2 b5 34.b3 b4 35.Bb2 Re6 36.R1h2 Kg7 37.R6h5 Kg6 38.Rh6+ Kg7 39.Kd1 Re3 40.Bxf6+ Nxf6 41.Rxh8 Rxf3 42.Ke2 Rg3 43.Ra8 Nxg4 44.Rxa7+ Kf6 45.Rh8 Ne5 46.Rd8 Rg2+ 47.Ke3 Kf5 48.Rc7 Rg3+ 49.Kf2 Kf4 50.Ke2 Rg2+ 51.Kf1 Kg3 52.Ke1 Nf3+ 53.Kd1 Rg1+ 54.Kc2 Rg2+ 55.Kc1 Rg1+ 56.Kb2 Rg2+ 57.Kb1 Rg1+ 58.Kc2 Rg2+ 59.Kd1 Rg1+ 1/2-1/2

Standings after Round Eight

1. Xiong 6.0/8
2. Liang 5.0/8
3. Harmon-Vellotti 4.5/8
4. Li 4.5/8
5. Chandra 3.5/8
6. Brown 4.5/8
7. Ostrovskiy 3.5/8
8. Troff 3.0/8
9. Checa 3.0/8
10. Bodek 1.5/8

Pairings for Round Nine

Liang-Ostrovskiy
Bodek-Li
Xiong-Harmon-Vellotti
Troff-Brown
Chandra-Checa

[Hans Jung]

Re: U. S. Junior Closed Championship 2016

Awonder drew that game???!!! Hats off to him! - hes a great fighter - and with that he deserves second place. Youngest player there by far and he doesnt take a back seat to anyone!

[Hans Jung]

Re: U. S. Junior Closed Championship 2016

GM Jeffery Xiong has won the US Junior with one round to go - an expected result. - another feather in the cap of a great player! Next achievement top 100 in the world!