Mechanics Institute Chess Room Newsletter #300

    Chess is an incredibly emotional game. If everything around you is harmonious, when you are feeling good, you are in a creative mood. If something is disturbing you and you are in a bad mood, then it is difficult to be creative. So you have to create the right atmosphere.

Vladimir Kramnik

1) Mechanics' Institute Chess Club News
2) Gata Kamsky wins World Open on tiebreak
3) Varuzhan Akobian Annotates
4) Veselin Topalov tops FIDE rating list
5) Bobby Fischer in Las Vegas, April 22, 1964
6) USCF Election
7) Here and There
8) Upcoming Events

1) Mechanics' Institute Chess Room News

IM Ricardo DeGuzman won the 6th Annual Charles Bagby G/45 on July 1st with a 5-0 score. Tying for second at 4-1 in the 38-player field were Romulio Fuentes, Sam Shankland and Dmitry Vayntraub.

Several Bay Area players made the trip to Philadelphia for the World Open this past weekend, led by six-time US Champion Walter Browne. Walter played well throughout and had a chance to tie for first, but a last round loss to Jaan Ehlvest left him at 6-3. As a consolation Walter received a share of the top under 2500 money.

Teenager Nicolas Yap and 20-year-old Batchimeg Tuvshintugs both had excellent results and might have made IM norms. Nicolas beat GM Rohde and IM Burnett and drew with GM Ivanov , IMs Mulyar and Zlotnikov, and SMs Lopez and Enkhbat , losing only to IM Lapshun enroute to a 5 ½ - 3 ½ score. Batchimeg scored 5-4 numbering among her victims IMs Milman, Burnett and Bonin.

Drake Wang and Shikumar Shivaji had 4 ½ points and Kenan Zildzic finished with 4.

2) Gata Kamsky wins World Open on tiebreak

Gata Kamsky, Ildar Ibragimov, Joel Benjamin, Leonid Yudasin, Alex Wojtkiewicz, George Kachieshvili, Jaan Ehlvest, Vadim Milov and Alexander Ivanov tied for first in the World Open held in Philadelphia from June 28-July 4 with scores of 7-2, Kamsky won the title and a little extra prize money by winning the blitz tiebreaker over Milov. My rough numbers have over 1460 entries (including reentries) and 45 GMs and 25 IMs in the 237 player Open section.

Here is one game that caught my eye and many others.

Benjamin - Stripunsky [B22]
34th Annual WORLD OPEN Philadelphia, 2006

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.Bc4 d6 6.d4 cxd4 7.cxd4 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Re1 dxe5 10.dxe5 Nb6 11.Bd3 Na6 12.Qe2 Nc5 13.Bc2 Nd5 14.Rd1 Bd7 15.Nbd2 Nb4 16.Bb1 Qa5 17.Ne4 Qa6 18.Qe3 Qc6 19.Nd4 Qc7 20.Nf6+ Bxf6 21.exf6 Nd5 22.Bxh7+ Kxh7 23.Qh3+ Kg6 24.fxg7 Kxg7 25.Qg4+ Kh8 26.Qh4+ Kg8 27.Qg4+ Kh8 28.Qh4+ Kg8 29.Qg5+ Kh8 30.Qh5+ Kg8 31.Qg5+ Kh8 32.Qh6+ Kg8 33.Nf3 Ne4 34.Ng5 Nef6 35.Rxd5 exd5 36.Qxf6 Qc2 37.Be3 Qg6 38.Qd4 Rfe8 39.h3 Bc6 40.Rc1 f6 41.Nf3 Re4 42.Qd3 d4 43.Bf4 Rae8 44.Kh2 Qf5 45.Bg3 Kg7 46.Qa3 Rf4 47.Nh4 Rxh4 48.Bxh4 d3 49.Qd6 d2 50.Qxd2 Qe4 51.f4 Qe2 52.Rc2 Qe4 53.Rc3 Kf7 54.Qf2 Rh8 55.Bg3 Qf5 56.Re3 a5 57.a3 a4 58.Qe2 Rd8 59.Re7+ Kf8 60.Rc7 Re8 61.Qd2 Kg8 62.Bh4 Bd5 63.Qf2 Qg6 64.f5 Qh6 65.Qd4 Re5 66.Rd7 Bf7 67.Rd8+ Kh7 68.Rd7 Kg8 69.Qg4+ Kf8 70.Rxb7 Bd5 71.Rb8+ Ke7 72.Qb4+ Kf7 73.Qg4 Ke7 74.Bf2 Re4 75.Qg3 Qf4 76.Bc5+ Kd7 77.Qxf4 Rxf4 78.g4 Rc4 79.Be3 Kd6 80.Kg3 Rc2 81.Rd8+ Kc6 82.Rc8+ 1-0

3) Varuzhan Akobian Annotates (Part three)

GM Varuzhan Akobian (2575) - GM Eugenio Torre (2543) [A41]
2nd San Marino Open (7), 09.06.2006

1.d4 d6 2.Nf3 Bg4 3.c4 Bxf3 4.exf3 c6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be2 Bg7 7.Be3 Nf6 8.g4 Na6 9.f4

Better was 9.Qb3 or 9.a3.

9...Qa5 10.Qd2 d5 11.g5 Nd7 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.Nb5

13.Bb5 Nc7 14.Bxd7+ Kxd7 15.Rc1 e6 16.f5 gxf5 17.Bf4 Rhc8 was unclear.

13...Qb6

Trading Queens would have given White a slight but persistent advantage 13...Qxd2+ 14.Kxd2 0-0 15.Rhc1.

14.Rc1 0-0 15.0-0 Ndb8 16.b4 Nc6 17.a3 e6 18.Nc3! Ne7

The best decision as 18...Nxd4 19.Bd1 Nb3 (19...Rac8 20.Na4 winning) 20.Bxb3 d4 21.Na4 dxe3 22.fxe3 Qb5 23.Rfd1 was slightly better for White and 18...Bxd4 19.Na4 Bxe3 20.fxe3 Qd8 (20...Qc7 21.b5) 21.Bxa6 bxa6 22.Rxc6 was winning for me.

19.Na4 Qd6 20.Rc2 Rac8 21.Nc5 Nxc5 22.bxc5 Qc7 23.Rb1 Nc6

Possibly better was 23...Nf5 24.Bg4 Rb8 25.Bxf5 gxf5 26.Rcb2= with equal chances.

24.Bb5 Kh8 25.h4 h5 26.Bxc6 bxc6

26...Qxc6 27.Rcb2 Rc7 28.Qa5 Ra8 29.Qb5 b6! 30.Qxc6 Rxc6 31.cxb6 axb6 32.Rxb6 Rxb6 33.Rxb6 Rxa3 would offer equal chances.

27.Rcb2 Rb8 28.Rb4 Rxb4

28...f6!? was interesting.

29.Qxb4 e5?

He had to sit still with 29...Kg8 when 30.Kg2 would be slightly better for White as the space advantage counts for more than the slightly weakened structure.

30.fxe5 Qd7 31.Bf4! a5 32.Qd2 Ra8 33.a4 Bf8 34.Bg3 Be7 35.Rb3 Bd8 36.Qf4 Kg8 37.Kh2 Qc8 38.e6!

The decisive break.

38...Qxe6

Or 38...fxe6 39.Rf3 winning.

39.Re3 Qd7 40.Qd6 Qxd6

No better was 40...Ra7 when White is winning after 41.Qxd7 Rxd7 42.Re8+ Kg7 (or 42...Kh7 43.Be5 f6 44.gxf6 g5 45.hxg5 Kg6 46.Rg8+ Kh7 47.f7 Rxf7 48.Rxd8) 43.Be5+ f6 44.Rxd8 Rxd8 45.Bxf6+ Kf7 46.Bxd8.

41.Bxd6

Slightly more accurate was 41.cxd6 Kf8 42.d7 Be7 43.Bc7 f5 44.gxf6 Bxf6 45.Rf3 Kg7 46.Be5 Bxe5+ 47.dxe5 Rd8 48.e6 winning.

41...f5

Or 41...f6 42.Re8+ Kf7 43.Rf8+ Ke6 44.gxf6+- and White wins.

42.Re8+ Kf7 43.Rh8 Rc8 44.Kg2 Ke6 45.Kf3 Ra8 46.Be5 Kd7 47.Rg8 Rc8 48.Rxg6 Be7 49.Rh6 Re8 50.Kf4 1-0

4) Veselin Topalov tops FIDE rating list

The new FIDE rating list is out with young players like Shakhriyar Mamedyarov ( +23 rating points to rise to 12) , David Navarra (+ 61 to 14), 16-year-old Sergey Karjakin from place 45 to 27, and 15-year-old Magnus Carlsen from 63 to 34. GM Gata Kamsky, regaining his past strength game by game, gained 26 points at the Olympiad and MTel and now occupies place 20. He tops list the list of American's rated over 2600 Which also includes: #38 Alex Onischuk 2668, =69 Yasser Seirawan ( semi-retired but playing well in the Dutch league) 2638, #78 Hikaru Nakamura 2632 and #90 Ildar Ibragimov 2624. Rounding out the US top ten are Alex Shabalov 2604, Yury Shulman 2602, Gregory Kaidanov 2596, Jaan Ehlvest 2593 and Alexander Ivanov and Alexander Stripunsky at 2589. FIDE Top 20 1. Topalov (1975, BUL) 2813 14
2. Anand (1969, IND) 2779 26
3. Aronian (1982, ARM) 2761 21
4. Kramnik (1975, RUS) 2743 9
5. Svidler (1976, RUS) 2742 28
6. Leko (1979, HUN) 2738 0
7. Ivanchuk (1969, UKR) 2734 39
8. Adams (1971, ENG) 2732 25
9. Morozevich (1977, RUS) 2731 18
10. Gelfand (1968, ISR) 2729 20
11. Radjabov (1987, AZE) 2728 20
12. Mamedyarov (1985 AZE)2722 27
13. Ponomariov (1983, UKR) 2721 29
14. Navara (1985, CZE) 2719 36
15. Shirov (1972, ESP) 2716 43
16. Akopian (1971, ARM) 2713 21
17. J. Polgar (1976, HUN) 2710 1
18. Grischuk (1983, RUS) 2709 28
19. Bacrot (1983, FRA) 2707 32
20. Kamsky (1974, USA) 2697 29

5) Bobby Fischer in Las Vegas, April 22, 1964

Thanks to Las Vegas Expert Charles McVoy for the following article which was published in the

Las Vegas Review-Journal on Wednesday, April 15, 1964. The exhibition, which was sandwiched in between simuls in Santa Monica (April 19) and Denver (April 26) saw Bobby score + 34, =1, -0. According to the late Ken Smith, who made he only draw, things were over quick as Bobby needed only lasted 1 1/2 hours to finish things off.

Boy Wonder of Chess will compete

As local golf fans anticipate the forthcoming tournament of Champions, Las Vegas will be visited by a champion of the world's most cerebral competition.

Bobby Fischer, current US Chess Champion, will take on all comers in a simultaneous exhibition chess match sponsored by the Las Vegas Chess Club at the Dessert Inn, April 22 at 7 pm.

Chess, originally contrived by Indian Buddhists, as a substitute for war, is more like the real thing to Fischer, six time US Champion.

Edward Lasker, unofficial dean of the American chess community, in his book entitled ½Chess for Fun and Blood½ describes Fischer as belonging to the latter category. ½He always wants to kill his opponent½ Lasker said.

Reported to have a disposition much like that of Attila the Hun, Fischer has electrified the chess world, not only for his daring, slashing play, but also for his occasional disregard for the social amenities compatible with formal chess competition.

The 20-year-old boy wonder is a maverick among the chess elite. Unlike other International Grand Masters - almost all highly educated scholars or mathematicians - he never bothered to finish high school.

Winning his first US title at the precocious age of 14, the ½enfant terrible½ of the American chess community is to many authorities a stronger player than the current World Champion, Tigran Petrosian.

At the US Championships last December in New York the boy from Brooklyn performed an unparalleled feat by winning 11 straight matches - everyone he played.

In Las Vegas, Fischer will probably be playing more than 11 players - simultaneously. Tickets are available through chess club members Jerry Cole, Herman Estrada, Stan Zajac, Art Gamlin, and G. M. Farnham.

6) USCF Election

Newsletter readers on the West Coast, if you have not yet received your ballot, you need to contact Pat Knight (pknight @uschess.org) at the USCF very quickly to request a replacement ballot, as they have to be received in Crossville by Wednesday, July 19th.

7) Here and There

Andranik Matikozian defeated fellow IM Jack Peters in the last round of the 46th Annual Pacific Southwest Open in Los Angeles over July 4th weekend to take first place with 6 from 7. Tying for second at 5 ½ were FM Michael Casella, NM Julian Landaw (who upset Matikozian in round 2) and Expert Christopher De Sa. Only 92 players competed in the Open and Amateur section, which must have unquestionably been a disappointment to he organizers. Unquestionably the World Open and the upcoming Pacfic Coast Open cut into the attendance of this Grand Dame of West Coast chess.

Jeff Siebrandt scored 3.5-.5 to secure his fifth U. S. Blind title June 23-24, 2006, in Buckhannon, WV, at the Hampton Inn, The field of nine players consisted of 4 former champions, including Siebrandt. The event was sponsored by the local Lions Club and organized by Rick Vachetto with Tim Just directing.

8) Upcoming Events

Mechanics' Events

Vladimir Pafnutieff - August 5
Bernardo Smith Amateur - August 19 and 20

July 7-9 2006 Sacramento Chess Championship GPP: 6 California, Northern 5SS, Full-K. SITE: Best Western Expo Inn, 1413 Howe Avenue, Sacramento, CA. ON-SITE REG: 7/7 - 5:15-6pm; 7/8 - 8:45-9:45am. RDS: 3-day: 7/7 - 6:15pm, 7/8 - 10 & 4, 7/9 - 10 & 3:30. 2-day: 7/8 - 10, 1, & 4, 7/9 - 10 & 3:30. TC: 3-day: 30/90 G/1. 2-day: Rounds 1-2, G/75, Rounds 3-5, 30/90 G/1. 5-second delay on all time controls. SECTIONS: Master/Expert (above 1999), Reserve (Under 2000) EF: 3-day $65 (Juniors $35) postmarked by 6/30. $75 (Juniors $40) after 6/30. 2-day $66 (Juniors $36) postmarked by 6/30. $76 (Juniors $41) after 6/30. IMs/GMs free. Entrants may play up one section for $10. $5 discount to CalChess members. Reentry after round 1 of the 3-day schedule: $40. PRIZES: 1st Place in each section $325 & trophy (1st prize guaranteed in the Master/Expert section). Prize fund of $2570 based on 75 full paid adult entries and 10 full paid junior entries overall (with 60 full paid adult entries and 10 full paid junior entries, the prize fund will be $1,900). HR: Best Western Expo Inn, (916) 922-9833 or 1-800-643-4422. Ask for the Sacramento Chess Club rates. ADV. ENT. & INFO: John McCumiskey (TD), 6700 50th St, Sacramento, CA 95823-1306; e-mail: sactochess@sacramentochessclub.org; phone: (916) 524-9479, checks payable to Sacramento Chess Club. Full flyer and advance entries: http://sacramentochessclub.org under Weekend Events. OTHER INFO: NS, NC, W. 06/06 rating list only. Please bring clocks and equipment. Maximum of two ½ point byes and are available in all rounds, maximum 2 byes per entry. ½ point byes for rds 4 & 5 must be requested prior to rd 1.

July 20-23, 21-23 or 22-23 11th Annual Pacific Coast Open GPP: 100 S. California 6SS, 40/2, SD/1 (2-day option, rds 1-3 G/60). Renaissance Agoura Hills Hotel, 30100 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills CA 91301 (US-101 to Reyes Adobe Road exit). Adjacent to the Santa Monica Mountains, 26 miles west of Burbank, 12 miles from Malibu, 28 miles from Ventura. Free parking. Prizes $30,000 based on 280 paid entries (unrateds, U1200 Section players, re-entries count as half entries), minimum $20,000 (2/3 each prize) guaranteed. In 7 sections. Open: $3000-1500-700-500-300, 2300-2399 $1200, U2300/Unr $1200. FIDE. Under 2200: $2000-1000- 500-300-200. Under 2000: $2000-1000-500-300-200. Under 1800: $2000-1000-500-300-200. Under 1600: $2000-1000-500-300-200. Under 1400: $1700-900-500-300-200. Under 1200: $1000-500-250-150-100. Unrated may play in any section, with maximum prize U2200 $1200, U2000 $1000, U1800 $800, U1600 $600, U1400 $400 U1200 $200; balance goes to next player(s) in line. Top 6 sections EF: 4-day $144, 3-day $143, 2-day $142 mailed by 7/12, all $141 online at chesstour.com by 7/17, $150 phoned by 7/17 (406-896-2038, entries only, no questions), $160 (no checks, credit cards OK) at tmt. SCCF membership ($14, jrs $9) required for rated Southern CA residents. Special EF: All $60 less for rated players in U1200 Section. All $90 less to unrateds in any section U1200 through U2200. Re-entry (except Open) $80. Advance EF $10 less if paid with $49 USCF dues. 4-day schedule: Reg Thu to 6:30pm, rds Thu 7 pm, Fri 7 pm, Sat 12-7, Sun 10-4:30. 3-day schedule: Reg. Fri to 11am, rds Fri 12-7, Sat 12-7, Sun 10-4:30. 2-day schedule: Reg Sat to 9 am, rds Sat 10-1-4-7, Sun 10-4:30. All schedules: Bye all, limit 2, Open Section must commit before rd 2, other schedules before rd 4. HR: $78-78-78-78, 818-707-1220, reserve by 7/6 or rate may increase. Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633. Ent: Continental Chess, PO Box 249, Salisbury Mills NY 12577. $10 charge for refunds. Questions: www.chesstour.com, 845-496-9648. Advance entries posted at chesstour.com

3rd California Classic Championship! South Bay - Cupertino, CA July 29: Blitz, Bug; July 29-30: 2-Day Adult; July 30: 1-Day AdultNote: This is not a scholastic event! However, Juniors may sign up provided they can observe the decorum of adult tournaments.20085 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino, CA TDs: Salman Azhar, Jason Gurtovoy Sponsored by USF Chess Club, Alan KirshnerPLACE: University of San Francisco, 2nd floor, 20085 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, CA (between De Anza Blvd & Wolfe Rd) DIRECTIONS: From I-280 N/S take De Anza exit & go South; Take left on Stevens Creek; U-turn @ Blaney & arrive 20085 Stevens Creek. Enter from the parking lot side (North) of the building. AMPLE PARKING AVAILABLEEVENT & SCHEDULE: Three sections: Expert (above 2000), Reserve (U2000) and Amateur (U1600) in a one or two-day schedule. USCF rated four-round Swiss. Ratings will be based only on the June 2006 USCF rating supplement. Registration: 7/29 - 8:30 am - 9:30 am. 7/30 - 7:30am - 8:30am.Rounds: 2-day: 7/29 - 10 & 3:00, 7/30 - 1:30 & 6:30, 1-day: 7/30 - 9, 11:10, 1:30, & 6:30. (1-day and 2-day events merge in round 3).Time controls: 2-day, 30/90 G/60 all rounds. 1-day, Rounds 1-2, G/60; Rounds 3-4, 30/90, G/60. ENTRY FEE: $49 postmarked by 7/24/2006; $64 postmarked after 7/24/2006 & on-site. IMs/GMs free. USCF membership required. Entrants may play up one section for $10. Reentry after round 2 of the 2-day schedule into the 1-day schedule: $20. $5 discount for Juniors (U18) or Seniors (65+). $5 discount for postmark before 7/14. Team: Four or more individuals may compete for a club, team, or school. Multiple club teams allowed. Team discount of $5 per entry. All (four or more) entries must be in 1 package or not counted. Teams may form on-site, but won't receive discount. BYES: ½ point byes available in any round and must be requested before the start of round 1. Maximum one ½ point bye per entry. PRIZES: Expert (2000 and up): 1st - $400 , 2nd - $150, 3rd - $100 Reserve (U2000): 1st - $400 , 2nd - $150, U1900 - $50, U1800 - $50 - U1700 - $50Amateur (U1600): 1st - $400 , 2nd - $150, U1500 - $50, U1400 - $50 - U1300 - $50Club or Team 1st- 3rd receive Club TrophyTop Junior (U18) Highest Score between Juniors - $50 for main event. Blitz Prize 1st - $50, 2nd - $35, U2000 - $20, U1800 - $20, U1600 - $20, U1400 - $20Bughouse Prize 1st - $50, 2nd - $40, 3rd- -$30 4th - $20 (per team) Overall prize fund based on 70 fully paid adult entries. Blitz prize fund based on fully paid 20 entries. Bughouse prize fund based on fully paid 12 teams. Prize fund and/or number of prizes will be increased or decreased based on total entries in each event. Additional Events-Blitz: Blitz Championship (Open) in a 5 round Swiss format. Each game will be played with both colors (10 games played total). Both sides will have 5 minutes to make all moves. This is a G/5 rated event. Event will start following the conclusion of 2nd round play or 8:00pm. Bughouse: Bughouse Championship (Open) in 5 round swiss. Each game will played with both colors (10 games played total). Both sides will have 5 minutes to make all moves. Unrated Event will start following conclusion of Blitz or 9:00pm. (May Sign up individually and td will partner to avoid late fee) (You may pay in advance and then form a team at the tournament.) OTHER: Bring chess clocks and sets (Black chooses equipment); few provided!! Registration will close as scheduled to allow round 1 to start on time. Late entries will be given a ½ point bye or paired against another late entry at the TD's discretion. No computer entries accepted. Wheelchair access to site. USCF rated. MORE INFO: E-mail: sfchessclassic@yahoo.com 2006 California Classic Entry FormName: USCF ID # Rating: . Address: Expiration Date: . City & State: Zip: Phone: ( ) - . E-mail Address: Requested ½ point bye (if any), round . Circle the section being entered: o Expert o Reserve o AmateurMark all that apply: 2-day: $49 postmarked by 7/24/2006 , $64 postmarked after 7/24/2006 & on-site 1-day: $49 postmarked by 7/24/2006 , $64 postmarked after 7/24/2006 & on-site Play up one section for $10. Discount (maximum 2 discounts [$10] per entry) Team Discount of $5 per member. Team Name: ! $5 discount for Juniors (U18) or Seniors (65+). $5 discount Early Registration Postmarked by 7/14/2006 for main event. $10 Bughouse Championship Entry Partner: postmarked by 7/24/2006, $20 after & on-site $15 Blitz Championship Entry postmarked by 7/24/2006, $25 postmarked after 7/24/2006 & on-site Re-Entry 1-day schedule for $20. TOTAL (Make checks payable to Jason Gurtovoy)Mail entries to: Jason Gurtovoy, 34249 Fremont Blvd. #158 Fremont, CA 94555

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