Cascla (K+|N-) or (<<+|N-): Nickoloff vs Lesiege, Canadian Zonal, Hamilton 1994

[Frank Dixon]

Cascla (K+|N-) or (<<+|N-): White castles Kingside, Black doesn't castle, White wins.

This event saw teenaged IM Alexandre Lesiege as the defending champion from Kingston 1992 (an event where I served as head organizer and deputy arbiter), in what was likely the strongest field -- Hamilton 1994 -- seen to that stage in any Canadian championship. IM Brian Hartman had been joint runner-up in Kingston, tied with GM Kevin Spraggett. But Hartman didn't play this time, instead taking on the lead organizer's role for this Zonal in his hometown, putting together a super event with substantial sponsorship support and a strong team of assistants. The 1994 Zonal was won by GM Kevin Spraggett. But IM Nickoloff, finishing a tied second, played perhaps the best game of the tournament when he defeated the defending champion with outstanding precision from start to finish, a hallmark of his best games. :)

Bryon Nickoloff vs Alexandre Lesiege
Canadian Zonal, Hamilton 1994
Queen's Gambit Accepted, D29
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1479333

[Brad Thomson]

Re: Cascla (K+|N-) or (&lt;&lt;+|N-): Nickoloff vs Lesiege, Canadian Zonal, Hamilton 1994

I believe that Nick finished tied for third, Deen Hergott was alone in second place. There were a lot of great games in this tournament. Nick liked his game against Fletcher Baragar. Here is my own personal favourite:

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1251795

[Hugh Brodie]

Re: Cascla (K+|N-) or (&lt;&lt;+|N-): Nickoloff vs Lesiege, Canadian Zonal, Hamilton 1994

1994 crosstable:

CAN-ch Hamilton CAN  1994

                                    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 
1   Spraggett,Kevin     2530   +19  * 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 1 1 1 1  11.5/15
2   Hergott,Deen        2430   +66  0 * ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 1 0 ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1  10.5/15
3   Nickoloff,Bryon     2390   +82  ½ ½ * ½ 1 ½ ½ 0 1 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1  10.0/15  68.25
4   Day,Lawrence        2370  +103  ½ 0 ½ * ½ 0 1 1 1 ½ 0 1 1 1 1 1  10.0/15  64.25
5   Lesiege,Alexandre   2460    +7  ½ ½ 0 ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 1  10.0/15  63.75
6   Spraggett,Grant     2320  +131  ½ 0 ½ 1 ½ * 1 0 ½ 1 ½ 1 0 1 1 1   9.5/15
7   Livshits,Ron        2370   +29  ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 * 1 1 1 ½ 0 1 0 1 1   8.5/15
8   Koliada,Timour      2345   +33  0 0 1 0 ½ 1 0 * 0 1 1 0 1 1 ½ 1   8.0/15  50.75
9   Berry,Jonathan      2285   +97  ½ 0 0 0 ½ ½ 0 1 * 0 1 1 1 1 1 ½   8.0/15  49.75
10  Leveille,Francois   2380   -50  ½ 1 0 ½ 0 0 0 0 1 * 1 ½ 1 1 ½ 0   7.0/15
11  O'Donnell,Tom       2410  -105  0 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 0 0 0 * 0 1 ½ ½ 1   6.5/15
12  Piasetski,Leon      2365   -81  0 0 ½ 0 0 0 1 1 0 ½ 1 * 0 0 1 1   6.0/15
13  Hamilton,Robert     2330   -94  0 ½ ½ 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 * 0 1 1   5.0/15
14  Baragar,Fletcher    2285   -73  0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 ½ 1 1 * 0 1   4.5/15
15  Gardner,Robert      xxxx        0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 0 1 * 1   3.5/15
16  MacDonald,Jonathan  xxxx        0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ½ 1 0 0 0 0 0 *   1.5/15

Average elo: 2354 <=> Category: 5