IM norm for Zachary Dukic in Spain

[Victor Plotkin]

A very strong performance for Zach. Especially against women 3.5 / 4. +84 rating points.

http://chess-results.com/tnr577676.aspx?lan=11&art=9&fedb=CAN&fed=CAN&turdet=YES&flag=30&snr=176

[Hans Jung]

It all came together for you Zachary. Congratulations!

[John Coleman]

A good start to the event

Dukic, Zachary (2140) - Saduakassova, Dinara (2477)
VIII Sunway Sitges International Chess Festival - Group A (Hotel Sunway Playa Golf & Spa), 13.12.2021

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 d5 5.a3 Be7 6.e4 dxe4 7.fxe4 c5 8.d5 O-O 9.Nf3 exd5 10.e5 Ng4 11.cxd5 Re8 12.Bb5 Bd7 13.O-O Bxb5 14.Nxb5 Qb6 15.h3 Qxb5 16.hxg4 Nd7 17.Qc2 f6 18.Bf4 fxe5 19.Nxe5 Nxe5 20.Bxe5 Qd7 21.Bxg7 Qxg4 22.Bc3 Qg6 23.Qb3 Bg5 24.Rf3 b6 25.Raf1 Re3 26.Rf7 Qxf7 27.Rxf7 Kxf7 28.d6+ Kg6 29.Qd5 Rf8 30.d7 Re7 31.Qd6+ Kh5 32.Bd2 Bf6 33.Qh2+ Bh4 34.Qh3 Rg7 35.Qe6 Rgg8 36.Qe2+ Kg6 37.Qg4+ Kf7 38.Qxh4 Ke6 39.Qxh7 Rh8 40.Qg6+ Kxd7 41.Qg7+ Kc6 42.Qxa7 Rd8 43.Qa4+ Kb7 44.Bc3 Rhg8 45.Qb3 Rg4 46.Qf7+ Ka6 47.Qf1+ Ka7 48.Qe2 Rdg8 49.Be5 R4g6 50.Qf3 Ka6 51.g3 Ka7 52.Kg2 Ka6 53.Qd3+ Ka7 54.a4 Rg5 55.Bf4 R5g7 56.Qb5 Rc8 57.a5 bxa5 58.Qxa5+ Kb7 59.Qb5+ Ka7 60.Bd6 Rcg8 61.Bxc5+ Ka8 62.Qa6+

1-0
.

[Hans Jung]

Lovely game. 21.Bxg7 enough to rock your socks. and the queen maneuvering later - just wow!

[Frank Dixon]

Great playing, Zach!! Congratulations!! Maybe you can get another norm while you are in Europe!! Strike while the iron is hot!!

[Aris Marghetis]

This is totally awesome news!! Zach has been working so hard for this, CONGRATS MAN!!

[John Coleman]

Can someone show the winning line for white after 21. Bxg7 KxB The best I can see is a repetition.

[Egidijus Zeromskis]

Can someone show the winning line for white after 21. Bxg7 KxB The best I can see is a repetition.

Most likely miscalculation thinking the exposed black king will get a checkmate or a draw (not a bad result for the first round (2140 vs 2477).

After 21. Bxg7


21... Kxg7 (the game move was Qxg4) 22. Rf7+ Kxf7 23. Qxh7 Kf6 24. Qh6 Ke5 (the brave king does not care of anything) 25. Qe3 Kxd5 26. Rd1 Kc6 27. Qf3+ Kc7 28. Rxd7 Kxd7 29. Qxb7+ Kd6



Black pieces are disorganized but probably they shall not loose. White will fight for a draw here.

[Zach Dukic]

Thank you everyone for the congratulations and encouragement! Next up is the Vergani Cup January 2-9. I had played in a previous edition of this tournament back in 2018 - I actually wrote a blog here on Chesstalk about my experience there. I hope I can continue my success in the new year.

I made a lichess study where I've annotated and analyzed in detail my first 5 games of the tournament. You can find the study here: https://lichess.org/study/eGV5znFM

I'm working on annotating the latter half of the tournament now. Hope you enjoy!

[Bob Armstrong]

Hi Zach:

Congratulations!

You've come a long way since we first met!! Don't stop now!

Bob A

[Aris Marghetis]

Thank you everyone for the congratulations and encouragement! Next up is the Vergani Cup January 2-9. I had played in a previous edition of this tournament back in 2018 - I actually wrote a blog here on Chesstalk about my experience there. I hope I can continue my success in the new year.

I made a lichess study where I've annotated and analyzed in detail my first 5 games of the tournament. You can find the study here: https://lichess.org/study/eGV5znFM

I'm working on annotating the latter half of the tournament now. Hope you enjoy!

You're superb man!! Thanks for the great posts!!

[Halldor P. Palsson]

Congratulations on a good tournament. Please repeat in the new year!