Tournament Bulletin #10 Shabalov wins back-to-back US Open Championships

US Open Logo Design by Northwest Design (used with permission)

Armageddon playoff victory over Popilski clinches 7th lifetime open title

Grandmaster Alexander Shabalov took the first place trophy in the 2016 U.S. Open chess championship as well as a seat in next year’s U.S. Closed championship with an exciting Armageddon playoff victory over Grandmaster Gil Popilski. Both players finished the nine-round schedule undefeated with 8-1 scores, besting a strong field of 389 players. All of Shabalov’s games were decisive, losing only in round 5 against IM Zurab Javakhadze, while Popilski scored seven wins plus a draw vs. GM Illia Nyzhnyk after a half-point bye in the first round. Shabalov is a back-to-back winner following his clear first last year in Phoenix with a score of 8.5-0.5.

Aleksandr Lenderman vs. Alexander Shabalov during their critical round 9 encounter (photo by Anne Buskirk)

This was the seventh U.S. Open title for Shabalov going back 23 years to his initial championship in Philadelphia in 1993. He also won the title outright in 2003 in L.A. and was co-champion in 1999, 2007 and 2008.

Alexander Shabalov (2634) - Gil Popilski (2642)
US Open Armageddon Playoff, Indianapolis, IN
August 7, 2016 [B42]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 Bc5 6.Nb3 Be7 7.f4 d6 8.Be3 Nd7 9.N1d2 Ngf6 10.g4 h6 11.Qf3 g5 12.e5 dxe5 13.fxg5 hxg5 14.Bxg5 Rg8 15.h4 Nd5 16.Ne4 f6 17.Bh6 Nf4 18.0-0-0 Qc7 19.Kb1 Nb6 20.Bxf4 exf4 21.g5

21...f5 22.Qh5+ Kf8 23.Qh6+ Ke8 24.Be2 Bd7 25.Nf6+ Bxf6 26.Qxf6 1-0

Dramatic final round victories by Shabalov over GM Alex Lenderman and by Popilski over GM Joel Benjamin set the stage for the playoff. International Master Ruifeng Li, the early leader in the tournament, was held to a 100-move draw in the last round by GM Vasif Durarbayli. As a result, Li and GM Fidel Corrales Jimenez shared the third place price with 7.5 points. A pack of 13 players finished a point behind the leaders at 7-2.

Alex Lenderman (2700) - Alexander Shabalov (2634)
Indianapolis, IN (9), August 7, 2016 [D12]
1.c4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Be4 7.f3 Bg6 8.Qb3 b5 9.cxd5 exd5 10.g3 Bd6 11.Bg2 0-0 12.Nxg6 hxg6 13.0-0 Nbd7 14.Bd2 Re8 15.Kh1 b4 16.Na4 c5 17.dxc5 Nxc5 18.Nxc5 Bxc5 19.Rfe1 Qb6 20.Rad1 Re7 21.Bc1 a5 22.Rd3 Rae8 23.a4 Qa7 24.Re2 Bb6 25.Bh3 Qa6 26.Qd1 g5 27.Bf1 Qa7 28.b3 g4 29.Bg2 d4 30.e4 gxf3 31.Bxf3 Nxe4 32.Kg2 Nc3 33.Rxe7 Qxe7 34.Qc2 Qe6 35.Bd2 Ne4 36.Qd1 Nc3 37.Qc2 Rc8 38.Bxc3 bxc3 39.Rd1 Re8 40.Rf1 g6 41.Rc1 Re7 42.Qd1 Bc5 43.Bg4 Qe3 44.Rc2 d3 45.Rxc3 Qf2+ 46.Kh3 f5
0-1

Gil Popilski (2642) - Joel Benjamin (2627)
Indianapolis, IN (9), August 7, 2016 [E32]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d6 5.Bd2 c5 6.dxc5 dxc5 7.e3 Nc6 8.Nf3 Qe7 9.a3 Bxc3 10.Bxc3 e5 11.0-0-0 Bg4 12.Be2 0-0 13.h3 Bh5 14.Nxe5 Nxe5 15.Bxh5 Nxh5 16.Bxe5 Qxe5 17.Rd5 Qe6 18.Rxh5 g6 19.Rd5 b5 20.Rhd1 bxc4 21.Qxc4 Rfc8 22.Kb1 Rab8 23.R1d2 a5 24.Ka1 h5 25.Rc2 Rc7 26.Rg5 Qd6 27.Rxc5 Rxc5 28.Qxc5 Qd1+ 29.Ka2 Qf1 30.f3 Qd3 31.Qc3 Qd5+ 32.Qc4 Qe5 33.Qd4 Qb5 34.e4 Qe8 35.Qd5 Ra8 36.Rc6 Kg7 37.Rd6 a4 38.Rd7 Ra6 39.Qd4+ Kh6 40.Rd8 Qe6+ 41.Kb1 1-0

GM Popilski (left) defeated GM Benjamin in Round 9 to force a playoff with defending champion GM Alexander Shabalov

Ruifeng Li (2624) - Vasif Durarbayli (2706)
Indianapolis, IN (9), August 7, 2016 [C56]
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.0-0 Nxe4 6.Re1 d5 7.Bxd5 Qxd5 8.Nc3 Qh5 9.Nxe4 Be6 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bf6 Qg6 12.Nh4 Qh7 13.c3 Be7 14.Bxe7 Nxe7 15.Qa4+ Nc6 16.Nc5 0-0 17.Nxe6 fxe6 18.Qb3 g5 19.Rxe6 gxh4 20.Rxc6+ Kh8 21.Qxb7 dxc3 22.Qb4 cxb2 23.Qxb2+ Kg8 24.Qb3+ Qf7 25.Qc2 Qf5 26.Rxc7 Qxc2 27.Rxc2 h3 28.Rd1 Rab8 29.gxh3 Rf7 30.Rd3 Rb6 31.Rdc3 Kg7 32.Kg2 Rbf6 33.a3 Rf5 34.Rc4 Rf3 35.a4 Kh7 36.R4c3 R3f5 37.Rc5 Rf4 38.R5c4 R4f5 39.Kg1 Rf3 40.Kg2 R3f5 41.Rd2 a5 42.Rcd4 Rf4 43.h4 h5 44.h3 Kg6 45.Rd5 Rxa4 46.Rg5+ Kh7 47.Rxh5+ Kg7 48.Rg5+ Kh7 49.Rg4 Raf4 50.Rxf4 Rxf4 51.Rd7+ Kg8 52.Ra7 Rxh4 53.Rxa5 Kf7 54.Kg3 Rb4 55.h4 Kg6 56.f3 Rc4 57.Ra6+ Kh5 58.Ra5+ Kg6 59.Rg5+ Kf6 60.Rg8 Rc1 61.Rb8 Rc4 62.Rb5 Kg6 63.Rb1 Ra4 64.f4 Ra2 65.Rb6+ Kf5 66.Rb5+ Kg6 67.h5+ Kh6 68.Rg5 Ra1 69.Kg4 Rg1+ 70.Kf5 Ra1 71.Rg8 Ra5+ 72.Kg4 Ra6 73.Re8 Rb6 74.Re1 Ra6 75.Re2 Rb6 76.Re3 Ra6 77.Re4 Rb6 78.f5 Rb1 79.Re6+ Kg7 80.h6+ Kf7 81.Rc6 Rg1+ 82.Kf4 Rf1+ 83.Ke5 Re1+ 84.Kd6 Rh1 85.Kd5 Rd1+ 86.Ke4 Re1+ 87.Kd4 Rd1+ 88.Ke3 Re1+ 89.Kd3 Rd1+ 90.Ke2 Rh1 91.Ke3 Re1+ 92.Kd2 Rh1 93.Kd3 Rd1+ 94.Ke4 Re1+ 95.Kd5 Rd1+ 96.Ke5 Re1+ 97.Kd4 Rd1+ 98.Kc4 Rc1+ 99.Kd5 Rd1+ 100.Ke5 ½-½

Timur Gareyev (2685) - Fidel Corrales Jimenez (2598)
Indianapolis, IN (9), August 7, 2016 [A11]
1.c4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.b3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Bb2 0-0 8.h3 a6 9.g4 b5 10.g5 Nh5 11.Be2 g6 12.d4 bxc4 13.bxc4 Rb8 14.h4 dxc4 15.0-0 Qa5 16.Rab1 Bb7 17.Nd2 Qc7 18.Nce4 c5 19.Bf3 cxd4 20.Bxd4 Bh2+ 21.Kg2 Be5 22.Bxh5 Bxd4 23.Bf3 Bg7 24.Qxc4 Qa5 25.Rfc1 Rfc8 26.Rxb7 Rxc4 27.Nxc4 Qd8 28.Ncd6 Rxb7 29.Nxb7 Qb6 30.Rc8+ Nf8 31.Nbc5 h6 32.Nd7 Qb4 33.Nef6+ Kh8 34.Nxf8 Bxf8 35.h5 hxg5 36.Nd7 g4 37.Bc6 gxh5 38.Nxf8 Kg7 39.Nd7 Qd6 40.Nb6 h4 0-1

Scott Ramer (2322) - Mark Dejmek (2191)
Indianapolis, IN (9), August 7, 2016 [A70]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 a6 8.a4 Bg4 9.Qb3 Bxf3 10.Qxb7 Nbd7 11.gxf3 Bg7 12.Qb3 Nh5 13.Ne2 0-0 14.Bg2 Rb8 15.Qc2 Qh4 16.Rb1 f5 17.Be3 Ne5 18.0-0 fxe4 19.Qxe4 Rb4 20.Qxh4 Rxh4 21.Bg5 Rxa4 22.Ra1 Rxa1 23.Rxa1 Nxf3+ 24.Bxf3 Rxf3 25.Rxa6 Rf5 26.Ra8+ Kf7 27.Ra7+ Kg8 28.Ra8+ Kf7 29.Ra7+ Kg8 ½-½

John Bryant,J (2550) - Walker Griggs (2340)
Indianapolis, IN (9), August 7, 2016 [B04]
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 dxe5 5.Nxe5 c6 6.Be2 Bf5 7.0-0 Nd7 8.Nf3 e6 9.c4 N5b6 10.Nc3 Be7 11.Be3 0-0 12.Rc1 Bg4 13.Qb3 a5 14.a4 Bb4 15.Rfd1 Qe7 16.c5 Nd5 17.Nxd5 exd5 18.Qc2 Rae8 19.Ng5 Qxg5 20.Bxg5 Bxe2 21.Qf5 Bxd1 22.Rxd1 Re6 23.h4 b6 24.cxb6 Nxb6 25.Rc1 h6 26.Bf4 Nxa4 27.Qc2 Nb6 28.b3 Rfe8 29.Be3 Nd7 30.Qf5 Nf6 31.Bf4 Ne4 32.Be5 c5 33.h5 Nc3 34.Kh2 cxd4 35.f4 Bd6 36.Bxd6 Rxd6 37.Qd3 Rf6 38.Rf1 Re4 39.Qd2 Rf5 40.g4 Rf6 41.Rf2 Rb6 42.Rg2 Rxb3 43.Qd3 Rb6 44.g5 hxg5 45.Qg3 Re2 46.fxg5 Ne4 47.Qe5 Rxg2+ 48.Kxg2 Rb2+ 49.Kh3 Rb3+ 50.Kh4 Rg3 51.Qxd5 Rxg5 52.Qxe4 Rc5 53.Qe8+ Kh7 54.Qxf7 Rc6 55.Qf5+ Kh8 56.Qxa5 Rf6 57.Qd8+ Kh7 58.Qxd4 Kg8 59.Kg5 Kh7 60.Qxf6 ½-½

Clifton Ford (1816) - Jonah Romero (1984)
Indianapolis, IN (9), August 7, 2016 [D74]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.Nf3 0-0 7.0-0 c6 8.e4 Nb6 9.Nc3 Bg4 10.Be3 Nc4 11.Qb3 Nxe3 12.fxe3 Qd7 13.Ng5 Bf6 14.Nf3 e5 15.d5 Na6 16.dxc6 bxc6 17.Rad1 Qc7 18.Qc4 Qb7 19.b3 Rad8 20.Na4 Bxf3 21.Bxf3 Bg5 22.Qc3 Qb5 23.Rf2 Rxd1+ 24.Bxd1 Qb4 25.Rc2 Qxe4 26.Kf2 Nb4 27.Nc5 Qf5+ 0-1

Akshat Chandra (2562) - Yaroslav Zherebukh (2668)
Indianapolis, IN (9), August 7, 2016 [C84]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.d3 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.Nc3 d6 9.a3 Be6 10.Nd5 Nd7 11.c3 Kh8 12.Ne3 Nb6 13.d4 exd4 14.Nxd4 Nxd4 15.cxd4 d5 16.exd5 Nxd5 17.Re1 Nf4 18.d5 Bd7 19.Nf1 Bd6 20.Qf3 Ng6 21.Bd2 f5 22.Qh5 Be8 23.Qg5 Qd7 24.Qe3 Bf7 25.Bc3 f4 26.Qd4 Bg8 27.Nd2 Nh4 28.Bd1 Rae8 29.Bh5 Rd8 30.Nf3 Nf5 31.Qd3 Ne7 32.Ne5 Bxe5 33.Bxe5 Nxd5 34.Rac1 c6 35.Qc2 Rc8 36.h3 Be6 37.Bf3 Ne7 38.Qe2 Nf5 39.Rcd1 Qf7 40.Bh5 Qb7 41.Bxf4 Bd5 42.Bg4 Qf7 43.Bxf5 Qxf5 44.Bg3 Qg6 45.Qg4 Qf7 46.Re5 Rce8 47.Rde1 h6 ½-½

Dakota Dixon (2146) - John Fedorowicz (2481)
Indianapolis, IN (9), August 7, 2016 [D58]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 0-0 7.e3 b6 8.Be2 Bb7 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.cxd5 exd5 11.b4 a6 12.0-0 Re8 13.Qb3 c6 14.a4 b5 15.a5 Bc8 16.Na2 Qd6 17.Nc1 Bf5 18.Nd3 Nd7 19.Rfc1 g5 20.Qc3 Rac8 21.Qd2 Bg7 22.Nfe1 Bg6 23.Nc5 Nxc5 24.Rxc5 f5 25.Rac1 f4 26.Bf3 fxe3 27.fxe3 Qe6 28.Qc3 Qxe3+ 29.Qxe3 Rxe3 30.Bxd5+ Kh7 31.Nf3 Rd8 32.Bxc6 Rxd4 33.Nxd4 Bxd4 34.Kh1 Bxc5 35.bxc5 b4 36.Bd5 Rc3 37.Re1 Rxc5 38.Bb3 Rxa5 39.Re7+ Kh8 40.Kg1 Ra3 0-1

Daniel Gater (2206) - Michael Mulyar (2486)
Indianapolis, IN (9), August 7, 2016 [C78]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.a4 Rb8 8.d3 h6 9.Nc3 0-0 10.Be3 d6 11.Bxc5 dxc5 12.axb5 axb5 13.Nd5 Qd6 14.Qe2 Nxd5 15.exd5 Nd4 16.Nxd4 exd4 17.Rfe1 Bd7 18.Qe7 Ra8 19.Qxd6 cxd6 20.c3 dxc3 21.bxc3 Rfb8 22.Kf1 Kf8 23.Ke2 Bc8 24.Kd2 Bb7 25.Kc2 Rxa1 26.Rxa1 Ra8 27.Re1 Re8 28.Re3 Ba6 29.Kd2 Rc8 30.Re4 c4 31.Ba2 Rc5 32.Ke3 cxd3 33.Kd2 f5 34.Rf4 Ke7 35.Rxf5 b4 36.c4 Bxc4 37.Bxc4 Rxc4 38.Rf3 Rc2+ 39.Kd1 b3 0-1

Ruth Haring (1954) - Hal Terrie (2208)
Indianapolis, IN (9), August 7, 2016 [D00]
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bf4 c6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Bd3 e6 6.Bxf5 exf5 7.Qd3 g6 8.Nge2 Nbd7 9.f3 Bg7 10.h4 h5 11.Bg5 Qa5 12.0-0 0-0 13.b4 Qc7 14.Bf4 Qd8 15.Rab1 a6 16.a4 b5 17.Bg5 Qc7 18.a5 Rfe8 19.Bf4 Qd8 20.Bg5 Qe7 21.Nd1 Qd6 22.Nf2 Nf8 23.Bf4 Qe7 24.Rb3 N6h7 25.g3 Ne6 26.Nh3 Nxf4 27.Nexf4 Qd6 28.Kf2 Re7 29.Ng2 Rae8 30.Qd2 Bh6 31.Nhf4 Nf6 32.Rh1 Rd8 33.Re1 Rde8 34.Rh1 Rd8 ½-½

Eli Karp (2127) - Bryant Lohr (1905)
Indianapolis, IN (9), August 7, 2016 [A41]
1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bg5 Qd7 6.d5 Ne5 7.e4 Nxf3+ 8.Qxf3 Nf6 9.Bd3 0-0 10.h3 h6 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.0-0 Qd8 13.Qe3 Bg7 14.f4 c6 15.e5 Qb6 16.Qxb6 axb6 17.Rae1 Kh7 18.Re2 Bd7 19.b3 Ra5 20.a4 cxd5 21.Nxd5 Bc6 22.Nxe7 dxe5 23.fxe5 Rd8 24.Bc2 Be8 25.Nd5 Raxd5 26.cxd5 Rxd5 27.e6 f5 28.Rd1 Rxd1+ 29.Bxd1 Bd4+ 30.Kf1 Kg7 31.Rd2 Bc5 32.Rd8 Bc6 33.Bf3 Be4 34.Bxe4 fxe4 35.Rd7+ Kf6 36.Rxb7 Kxe6 37.b4 Bxb4 38.Rxb6+ Bd6 39.Ke2 Kd5 40.Rxd6+ 1-0

Matt Helfst (2081) - Phillip Chase (1869)
Indianapolis, IN (9), August 7, 2016 [E08]
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 d5 4.d4 Be7 5.Bg2 0-0 6.Qc2 Nbd7 7.0-0 a6 8.Nbd2 c5 9.cxd5 Nxd5 10.a3 b5 11.Ne4 Qb6 12.dxc5 Nxc5 13.Nfg5 g6 14.Nxc5 Qxc5 15.Qxc5 Bxc5 16.Rd1 Bb7 17.b4 Be7 18.Ne4 Rac8 19.Bh6 Rfd8 20.Rac1 Rc4 21.Nc5 Bxc5 22.bxc5 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 Rc8 24.Bg5 Kg7 25.e4 h6 26.exd5 hxg5 27.d6 Bxg2 28.Kxg2 1-0
Sandra Hoffman (1393) - Jack Silver (1640)
Indianapolis, IN (9), August 7, 2016 [B45]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Bd2 d5 8.exd5 cxd5 9.Bb5+ Bd7 10.Bxd7+ Qxd7 11.0-0 Nf6 12.a3 Bd6 13.Ne2 Qe7 14.Bg5 Bxh2+ 15.Kh1 Be5 16.c3 0-0 17.f4 Bc7 18.Nd4 h6 19.Nc6 Qd6 20.Bxf6 Qxc6 21.Qg4 g6 22.Qh4 Kh7 23.Bg5 h5 24.Bf6 Bd8 25.g4 Bxf6 26.Qxf6 d4+ 27.Kh2 Qb5 28.Qxd4 Qxb2+ 29.Kh3 Rac8 30.Rae1 Rxc3+ 31.Re3 Rxe3+ 32.Qxe3 Rc8 33.Kh4 Qh2+ 34.Kg5 Rf8 35.Kf6 Qb2+ 36.Ke7 Qb8 37.Kf6 Qd8+ 38.Ke5 f6+ 39.Ke4 Qd5# 0-1

Drew Hollinberger (1967) - Rithwik Mathur (2193)
Indianapolis, IN (9), August 7, 2016 [C77]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d4 Nxe4 6.Qe2 Nd6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qe4 Nfe7 9.Ng5 h6 10.Nh7 d5 11.exd6 Qxd6 12.Nxf8 Bf5 13.Qf4 Rxf8 14.Qxd6 cxd6 15.Bf4 0-0-0 16.Nd2 Nd5 17.Bg3 Rfe8+ 18.Kd1 Nb6 19.Bxc6 bxc6 20.a4 d5 21.a5 Nc4 22.b3 Bg4+ 23.Nf3 Ne5 24.Ra4 c5 25.Rf4 Re6 26.Kc1 g5 27.Nxe5 gxf4 28.Nxg4 fxg3 29.hxg3 Rg8 30.Ne3 d4 31.Nd5 Rge8 32.Rh5 Kb7 33.Nf4 Rc6 34.Rf5 f6 35.Nd3 c4 36.bxc4 Rxc4 37.Nc5+ Ka7 38.Rd5 Re2 39.Rd7+ Kb8 40.Nxa6+ Kc8 41.Rd5 Rcxc2+ 42.Kb1 Kb7 43.Nc5+ Kc6 44.Rh5 Rxc5 45.Rxh6 Rxf2 46.a6 Kb6 47.g4 Kxa6 48.Rh3 Re5 0-1

Keaton Kiewra (2533) - Petros Karagianis (2281)
Indianapolis, IN (9), August 7, 2016 [D00]
1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 c5 3.e3 Nc6 4.c3 Nf6 5.Nd2 Bf5 6.Qb3 Qd7 7.Ngf3 c4 8.Qd1 e6 9.Be2 b5 10.Nh4 Bd6 11.Ndf3 0-0 12.Ne5 Qc7 13.Nxc6 Qxc6 14.0-0 a5 15.f3 Bxf4 16.exf4 b4 17.Nxf5 exf5 18.Qc2 g6 19.Rfe1 Qd6 20.g3 Rfb8 21.Bf1 a4 22.b3 cxb3 23.axb3 bxc3 24.bxa4 Qb4 25.Red1 Qb2 26.Rdc1 Qxc2 27.Rxc2 Ra5 28.Raa2 Rb4 29.Bb5 Ra7 30.Kf2 Rxd4 31.Rxc3 Rb4 32.Rac2 d4 33.Rc4 Rb1 34.Rxd4 Ra1 35.Rdd2 R1xa4 36.Bxa4 Rxa4 37.Rc7 Ra8 38.Rb2 Kg7 39.Rbb7 Rf8 40.Kg2 h5 41.Kh3 h4 42.g4 Nd5 43.Rc4 Rh8 44.Rd4 Nf6 45.Rc4 Nd5 46.Rb5 fxg4+ 47.fxg4 Nf6 48.Rb7 Nd5 49.Rd4 Nf6 50.g5 Nh5 51.Kg4 Rc8 52.Rdd7 Rf8 53.Ra7 h3 54.Rab7 Kg8 55.f5 Rc8 56.Rxf7 1-0

Nikhil Kumar (2097) - Mohak Agarwalla (1519)
Indianapolis, IN (9), August 7, 2016 [A80]
1.d4 f5 2.Bg5 h6 3.Bh4 g5 4.e4 Nf6 5.e5 gxh4 6.exf6 d6 7.Qh5+ Kd7 8.d5 exf6 9.Qxf5+ Ke7 10.Qe4+ Kf7 11.Qxh4 Qe7+ 12.Be2 Ke8 13.Nc3 Bd7 14.0-0-0 Kd8 15.Nf3 Na6 16.Nd4 Nc5 17.Rhe1 Qf7 18.b4 Na4 19.Nxa4 Bxa4 20.Bh5 Qh7 21.Qxf6+ Kc8 22.Be8 b5 23.Bc6 1-0

Shreya Mangalam (1946) - Isaac Ewing (1745)
Indianapolis, IN (9), August 7, 2016 [C65]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 d6 5.h3 Bd7 6.a3 a6 7.Bc4 Be7 8.Be3 0-0 9.0-0 h6 10.Nfd2 Nh7 11.f4 exf4 12.Bxf4 Bg5 13.Bxg5 Qxg5 14.Nf3 Qe3+ 15.Kh1 Be6 16.Nbd2 Ng5 17.Nxg5 Qxg5 18.Nf3 Qe3 19.Qd2 Qb6 20.b3 Rad8 21.Nh4 d5 22.exd5 Bxd5 23.Bxd5 Rxd5 24.Nf5 Re5 25.Qf4 f6 26.Qg4 g5 27.Nxh6+ Kg7 28.Nf5+ Kf7 29.d4 Rxf5 30.Qxf5 Nxd4 31.Qh7+ Ke8 32.Rfe1+ Ne6 33.Rad1 Qc6 34.Rd2 Rf7 35.Qg8+ 1-0

Grant Oen (2099) - Kyle Jain (1843)
Indianapolis, IN (9), August 7, 2016 [E61]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Nf3 0-0 5.Bg5 d6 6.e3 Nbd7 7.Be2 e5 8.0-0 Re8 9.Qc2 c6 10.Rfd1 Qe7 11.d5 Nf8 12.Qa4 Bd7 13.Qa3 c5 14.b4 b6 15.Rab1 h6 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.bxc5 e4 18.Nxe4 Rxe4 19.cxb6 Qd8 20.b7 Rb8 21.Qxd6 Re8 22.c5 Bf5 23.Qxd8 Rexd8 24.Rb4 Bc3 25.Rc4 Ba5 26.c6 Bc7 27.g4 Bxg4 28.Rxg4 Rd6 29.Ra4 a5 30.e4 Rbd8 31.Nd4 Rf6 32.Nb5 Bb6 33.Rf1 Nh7 34.c7 Bxc7 35.Nxc7 Rd7 36.b8Q+ Nf8 37.Rxa5 Re7 38.Ra8 Re8 39.Qxe8 Kh7 40.Qxf8 g5 41.Qg8# 1-0

Robert Shibata (1857) - Aren Emrikian (1400)
Indianapolis, IN (9), August 7, 2016 [C89]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.a4 Be6 11.axb5 axb5 12.Rxa8 Qxa8 13.d4 exd4 14.Nxd4 Nxd4 15.Qxd4 c5 16.Qe4 c4 17.Bc2 Nf6 18.Qe5 Bd5 19.Qg3 Re8 20.Kf1 Ne4 21.Qg4 f5 22.Qh3 Bd6 23.f3 Nf6 24.Rxe8+ Qxe8 25.Bxf5 g6 26.Bc2 Be6 27.Qh4 Qf7 28.Qg5 Bxh2 29.Qxb5 Qa7 30.Qg5 Nh5 31.Be3 Qb7 32.Qd8+ Kf7 33.Qb6 Qd7 34.Qd4 Qxd4 35.Bxd4 Ng3+ 36.Ke1 Nf5 37.Bf2 Ke7 38.Nd2 Bc7 39.b4 cxb3 40.Bxb3 Bd7 41.Ne4 Ba5 42.Bc5+ Kd8 43.g4 Ne7 44.Kd2 Bc6 45.Ng5 h6 46.Nf7+ Ke8 47.Ne5 Ba8 48.Ba4+ Kd8 49.Nf7+ Kc7 50.Bxe7 Bxf3 51.Bd6+ Kc8 52.Ne5 Bb7 53.Nxg6 Kd8 54.Ne5 Bb6 55.Nf7+ Kc8 56.Nxh6 Kd8 57.Nf7+ Kc8 58.g5 Bd8 59.Nxd8 Kxd8 60.g6 Be4 61.g7 Bd5 62.Bc6 Bc4 63.Ke3 Bg8 64.Kd4 Kc8 65.Bd5 Bh7 66.g8Q+ Bxg8 67.Bxg8 Kd8 68.Be6 Ke8 69.c4 Kd8 70.c5 Ke8 71.c6 Kd8 72.c7+ Ke8 73.c8R# 1-0

Mark Pinto (2200) - Jason Luchan (2003)
Indianapolis, IN (9), August 7, 2016 [E69]
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0-0 5.0-0 d6 6.c4 Nbd7 7.Nc3 e5 8.e4 c6 9.h3 Qb6 10.d5 Nc5 11.Qc2 a5 12.Be3 Qc7 13.Rfd1 cxd5 14.Nxd5 Nxd5 15.cxd5 Bd7 16.Rac1 Rfc8 17.b3 b5 18.Ne1 Qb7 19.Qd2 Bf8 20.f4 f6 21.Qf2 Na6 22.Nd3 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 Bg7 24.f5 gxf5 25.exf5 Rc8 26.Rxc8+ Qxc8 27.g4 Qc3 28.Qd2 Qc7 29.a3 Be8 30.b4 a4 31.Nf2 Bf7 32.Ne4 Qd7 33.Nc3 Qb7 34.Ne4 Qd7 35.h4 Nc7 36.Nc3 h5 37.Qe2 hxg4 38.Qxg4 Kh7 39.Qe2 Be8 40.Qd2 Bh5 41.Be4 Bg4 42.Qf2 Bh5 43.Qg3 Bf8 44.Kf2 Qf7 45.Qg2 Qd7 46.Bd3 Bg7 47.Ke1 Kh8 48.Bd2 Kh7 49.Qf2 Bf7 50.Qa7 Be8 51.Qb7 Kg8 52.Be3 Bf8 53.Bb6 Qg7 54.Qxc7 Qg3+ 55.Kd2 Bh6+ 56.Kc2 Qe1 57.Be2 Qd2+ 58.Kb1 Qc1+ 59.Ka2 Qc2+ 60.Ka1 Bd2 61.Nb1 Qb3 62.Nxd2 Qxa3+ 63.Kb1 1-0

Kayden Troff (2630) - Illia Nyzhnyk (2718)
Indianapolis, IN (9), August 7, 2016 [D27]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 Nf6 4.Bxc4 e6 5.Nf3 c5 6.0-0 a6 7.Bb3 Nc6 8.Nc3 cxd4 9.exd4 Be7 10.a3 0-0 11.Bf4 Na5 12.Ba2 b5 13.d5 exd5 14.Bxd5 Bb7 15.Bxb7 Nxb7 16.Ne5 Qxd1 17.Rfxd1 Bd6 18.Bg3 Rfe8 19.Nc6 Bxg3 20.hxg3 Re6 ½-½

John Watson (2279) - Zurab Javakhadze (2546)
Indianapolis, IN (9), August 7, 2016 [D00]
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.e3 Nbd7 4.Nd2 e5 5.Ngf3 exd4 6.exd4 Be7 7.Bd3 Nf8 8.0-0 Ne6 9.Be3 Ng4 10.c3 g6 11.Ne5 Nxe3 12.fxe3 0-0 13.Qc2 Bd6 14.Nef3 c5 15.Kh1 cxd4 16.exd4 Nf4 17.Ne5 Qg5 18.Ndf3 Qh5 19.Qd2 f6 20.Qxf4 fxe5 21.Qg3 e4 22.Qxd6 exf3 23.Qg3 Bg4 24.gxf3 Bxf3+ 25.Kg1 Rf7 26.Rae1 Raf8 27.Re5 Qh6 28.Rg5 Qg7 29.Qe5 Rf6 30.Bc2 Qd7 31.Bb3 h6 32.Rg3 Re6 33.Rgxf3 Rxf3 34.Qxd5 Rxf1+ 35.Kxf1 Qf7+ 36.Kg2 Re2+ 37.Kg3 Qxd5 38.Bxd5+ Kf8 39.Bxb7 Rxb2 40.Be4 Rxa2 41.c4 Rd2 0-1

Evan Park (1675) - Joseph Felber (2000)
Indianapolis, IN (9), August 7, 2016 [B16]
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ gxf6 6.Nf3 Bf5 7.Bd3 Nd7 8.Bxf5 Qa5+ 9.c3 Qxf5 10.Be3 0-0-0 11.0-0 Rg8 12.Re1 e5 13.Qe2 Bd6 14.a4 Rg4 15.a5 a6 16.c4 e4 17.Nd2 Bxh2+ 18.Kf1 Rdg8 19.f3 Bg3 20.Reb1 Rh4 21.Bg1 c5 22.Nxe4 cxd4 23.Nxg3 Rxg3 24.Qf2 Qd3+ 25.Ke1 Qg6 26.Kf1 Qd3+ 27.Ke1 Re4+ 28.fxe4 Re3+ 29.Qxe3 dxe3 30.Rd1 Qxe4 31.Ra3 e2 32.Rda1 Ne5 33.Rc1 Qxg2 34.Kd2 e1Q+ 35.Kxe1 Qxg1+ 36.Kd2 Qf2+ 37.Kd1 Nf3 38.Rd3 Nd4 39.b4 Qe2# 0-1

Final Standings in the 2016 U.S. Open Chess Championship
[GM Shabalov won tie-break playoff vs. GM Popilski]

Plan Now for the 118th Annual U.S. Open in the Norfolk/Virginia Beach, VA Area next August

US Chess is pleased to announce that the 2017 US Open Chess Championship will take place at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel, Norfolk, VA, from July 29 to August 6, 2017. The hotel rate will be $114 and complimentary self-parking will be provided for overnight guests, otherwise $5 per day.

This waterfront hotel provides stunning views of the Elizabeth River and is right in the center of many great things to do in Norfolk, including harbor cruises, shopping, theaters and galleries. More than half of the 468 guest rooms and suites feature private balconies overlooking the harbor. From the hotel, you may stroll down the waterfront esplanade to Town Point Park and within minutes arrive at the Nauticus and Hampton Roads Naval Museum and take a tour of the USS Wisconsin. In addition to hotel dining, the soon-to-be-completed Norfolk VALife! Waterside facilities, right next to the hotel, will offer additional eating, shopping and entertainment options.

Additional information about the 2017 US Open will be posted on the uschess.org website as the event gets closer.

Charles Whitmer (1639) - Avinash Rajendra (2174)
Indianapolis, IN (9), August 7, 2016 [C63]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 4.Nc3 fxe4 5.Nxe4 Nf6 6.Qe2 d5 7.Nxf6+ gxf6 8.Nh4 Bd6 9.Qh5+ Ke7 10.Qh6 Qf8 11.Qxf8+ Kxf8 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.d3 Rg8 14.Be3 Rb8 15.0-0-0 Be6 16.Kb1 Rg4 17.g3 Rgb4 18.b3 a5 19.Bd2 R4b5 20.a4 R5b7 21.Ka2 d4 22.Rb1 Kf7 23.Rhg1 Bb4 24.Bxb4 Rxb4 25.Ka3 c5 26.Nf3 c4 27.dxc4 Bxc4 28.Nd2 Be6 29.f3 Bd5 30.g4 c5 31.h4 c4 32.Rg3 c3 33.Ne4 d3 34.Nc5 dxc2 35.Rc1 Rxb3+ 0-1

Andrew Teh (1313) - Nika Arnold(1455)
Indianapolis, IN (9), August 7, 2016 [D46]
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 Nf6 4.c4 c6 5.Bd3 Nbd7 6.0-0 Bd6 7.Nc3 0-0 8.Bd2 e5 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Be2 a6 12.Rc1 Bf5 13.Qb3 Nd3 14.Bxd3 Bxd3 15.Rfd1 Bc4 16.Qc2 Rc8 17.Qf5 a5 18.Be1 g6 19.Qh3 Bb4 20.Qh6 Ng4 21.Qf4 Nf6 22.e4 Qb6 23.b3 Nh5 24.Qh6 Ba6 25.Ng5 1-0

Xiexin Wang (2191) - Roland Feng (2434)
Indianapolis, IN (9), August 7, 2016 [E13]
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.d4 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.Nf3 b6 6.Bg5 Bb7 7.e3 h6 8.Bh4 c5 9.Be2 cxd4 10.exd4 d5 11.cxd5 Bxd5 12.0-0 Bb7 13.Rad1 Be7 14.Bc4 Na6 15.a3 Nc7 16.Ne5 Ncd5 17.Ba2 Rc8 18.Bb1 Nxc3 19.bxc3 Be4 20.Qb3 Bxb1 21.Rxb1 Ne4 22.Bxe7 Qxe7 23.Qb2 Nxc3 24.Rbc1 Nd5 25.a4 Qb7 26.a5 Nf4 27.f3 Rxc1 28.Rxc1 f6 29.Nc4 Nd3 30.Qc2 Nxc1 31.Qxc1 0-1

US Chess Tournament Staff

Director of Events - Francisco Guadalupe
Assistant Director of Events - Boyd Reed
Chief Tournament Director - Brian Yang

Bulletin Information

Full color digital set of ten bulletins: $10.
In addition, a complete electronic file of games from the 2016 U.S. Open, in ChessBase format, will be E-mailed, upon request, within a few weeks after the completion of the tournament to all bulletin subscribers. For your convenience, you may send payment via paypal to the bulletin editor, Frank Niro:
paypal.me/FNiro
E-mail: ChessSafari@Yahoo.Com

USCF Executive Board (standing, l. to r.) Randy Bauer, Jean Hoffman - Executive Director, Charles Unruh, Michael Nietman; (seated, l. to r.) Mike Hoffpauir, Gary Walters - President, Allen Priest and Anjelina Belakovskaia.

Bill Hall passes away at age 46

I am very sad to learn of the passing of Bill Hall, US Chess Executive Director from 2005-2013. He died early Tueday morning of complications from Diabetes. Rest in Peace, my friend. My sincere condolences to his family as well as his many friends in the chess community and elsewhere.

We first met at the Crossville Chess Club, held weekly at the Dairy Queen, in October 2002, when I held the position that he assumed three years later. This photo was from my last visit with him in Crossville, Tennessee, in 2011. During the visit, we played a consultation match with two young chess players from the local community. The game ended in a draw and was refereed by Alan Kantor (with the red shirt). I stopped in Crossville last month hoping to visit with him, but was told by Harry and Jay Sabine that he was quite ill. Even though we didn't agree on every subject, Bill was uniformly gracious, respectful and kind to me whenever we met... a professional in every sense of the word.

Services for Bill Hall will be held at Bilbrey Funeral Home in Crossville, TN. Visitation will be held Thursday from 5-7 PM and Friday morning from 9-10 AM. The Funeral will be held at 10 AM with burial to follow in Clarkrange, TN.
In lieu of flowers the family is accepting donations towards funeral expenses. Donations can be made directly to Bilbrey Funeral Home. Just let them know it is for Bill Hall's funeral.

I will be heading to the funeral this morning and staying at the Best Western in Cookeville, TN, tonight, in case anyone in the area would like to meet up for dinner after visitation hours.

BEST WESTERN Thunderbird Motel
900 S Jefferson Avenue,
Cookeville, TN, 38501, United States
Phone: 931/526-7115

The game score from our consultation game is on the US Chess web site. Follow this link to play over the game and read the original story.

Additional photos here.

2016 KENTUCKY SENIOR OPEN

2016 KENTUCKY SENIOR OPEN CHESS TOURNAMENT
Open to age 50 and older (born before July 16, 1966)
Prize Fund: $500 based on a minimum of 20 players –additional prizes as entries permit
July 16-17, 2016

Sponsored by Kentucky Chess Association and the Powell County Chess Club
- At the beautiful Brookside Cottage clubhouse (pictured above),
277 Brookside Drive at Willlowbend Way, Stanton, Kentucky 40380.
Directions: Mountain Parkway Exit 22 – Stanton. Go North on Main Street. Turn left onto Railroad Street (across from old railroad depot). Turn left on Willowbend Way. Building is on your left. If lost, call Brian Charles, 606-481-4700 and he will lead you in.

Rounds: 5 Round Swiss System
Time Control: G/90;d5
Schedule: Saturday at 10 AM, 1:30 PM and 5 PM; Sunday at 9:30 AM and 2 PM
Byes: Unlimited half point byes available if declared before start of round 2
Entry Fee: $25.00 if mailed before July 9, $35 later and at site, $10 EF for new players
{Include name, address, USCF ID # and e-mail. July ratings will be used.}

Registration: Saturday from 9:00 to 9:45 AM. Players may enter late with a bye in round 1.
USCF membership required; KCA dues $5 (optional). Sets will be provided. Bring a clock, if possible.

Advance entries to: Frank Niro, tournament director, 637 Stratford Drive, Lexington, KY, 40503 (checks payable to TD please) [Cell # 503-347-0750]
E-mail questions to: ChessSafari@yahoo.com

Prizes: 1st Place $150, 2nd Place $100, Class A/B $50, Class C/D $50, Class E & below $50, 1st Place age 65 to 79 $50, 1st place age 80 and over $50. Top Kentucky resident will receive an engraved plaque, and also have their name engraved on a permanent Steve Dillard memorial trophy.

Open to all, regardless of residence

Chess City of the Year - Louisville, Kentucky

Photo was taken this past November at the Susan Polgar Foundation World Open held at the Brown Hotel in Louisville. Pictured are, l. to r., Susan Polgar, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, Tony Perugini, Frank Niro and Daro Mott.

Congratulations to the chess community of Louisville, KY, for being named "chess city of the year" by US Chess. Also to Larry Bell for his Outstanding Career Achievement Award. Very well deserved! I anticipate that Daro Mott or Ryan Velez will let Mayor Fischer know. The formal recognition will be at the awards luncheon in Indianapolis during the 2016 US Open in August.

The official US Chess announcement is located here.

LARRY BELL {photo courtesy of Kentucky Chess Association}

2016 SPICE Cup set for October

2016 SPICE Cup

$15,000 Guaranteed!

Free Entries to GMs, IMs, WGMs, WIMs, 2300+, Etc.

Sponsored by Webster University and the Susan Polgar Foundation

St. Louis, Missouri
October 17–22, 2016

GM/IM norm opportunity – Minimum rating (FIDE) 2100
Limited to first 50 entries. October 2016 rating will be used.

Time Control: G/90 + 30 second increment from move 1

Prizes: $15,000 guaranteed

$5,000-$2,500-$2,000-$1,500-$1,000-$500
U/2400 FIDE $500-$250-$125
U/2300 FIDE $500-$250-$125

Top Woman $500-$250

Limited FREE hotel accommodation (double occupancy) at the Clayton Plaza Hotel available to foreign GMs.

Entry Fees: Free to GMs, IMs, WGMs, WIMs, FIDE rated players over 2300, and all foreign players with 2100+ FIDE (must complete all 9 rounds), if registered by September 30, 2016. $50 later or on site. The rating minimums are to be met at the time of registration (or at any time starting April 2016 until the start of the tournament).

$100 to FIDE 2200-2299, $200 to FIDE U-2200 if received by September 30, 2016. Additional $50 later or on site.

Venue: Clayton Plaza Hotel
7750 Carondelet Ave, St Louis, MO 63105 (FREE shuttle from the Lambert–St. Louis International Airport)
$109/night, FREE Breakfast/Internet/Parking

For reservations guests should call 314-726-5400 and ask for “In House Reservations”
Group Name is SPICE Cup; Group Code is CPP

Send entries to: Webster University – SPICE
470 E. Lockwood Ave
St. Louis, MO 63119

Questions or registration for titled players: Email: spice@webster.edu or call 314-246-8075

Schedule

Monday, October 17
5 pm – Round 1

Tuesday, October 18
10 am – Round 2
5 pm – Round 3

Wednesday, October 19
10 am – Round 4
5 pm – Round 5

Thursday, October 20
5 pm – Round 6

Friday, October 21
10 am – Round 7
5 pm – Round 8

Saturday, October 22
10 am – Round 9

All Rounds played at the Clayton Plaza Hotel

Announcing the 2016 BLUEGRASS STATE GAMES – CHESS

2016 BLUEGRASS STATE GAMES – CHESS

Event Date: Saturday, July 23, 2016
Entry Fee: $30 for one event; $35 for two events
Sport Commissioner: Frank Niro; chesssafari@yahoo.com; TD: Ryan Velez; chessperformance@gmail.com

VENUE: YUSSMAN CHESS CENTER
Steve Dillard Playing Hall
Lower Level – Suite 079
173 Sears Ave.
Louisville, KY 40207

REGISTRATION: Use separate individual entry form for each player. Printable entry form is located at the following url: http://bgsg.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Individual-Entry-Form.pdf.

If you plan to register at the site, you need to bring completed paperwork by 9:30 am. Your information must be added to tournament software before the matches can begin. USCF identification number is essential to have the tournament rated and needs to be known in advance in order to put players in appropriate division. Include the expiration date or if new, write “new” in the space. Students – List school or organization name on entry form (Example: Scout Troop #8 or PL Dunbar H.S. and grade.)

FORMAT: Swiss for the adults and teams; Modified for the scholastic. Each player will have 45 minutes with a delay of 5 seconds to play each game. Four rounds: first round starts at 10 am. Second, third, and fourth rounds will start as soon as possible after the previous match. The day’s events will last from 10 am-4 pm followed by an opportunity to register for Quick Chess.

RULES: United States Chess Federation tournament rules (6th. edition).

EQUIPMENT: Sets and boards will be provided. Please bring digital chess clocks with delay options, if you have them.
{more information on reverse side}
SANCTION: United States Chess Federation, membership required for rating purposes. Discounted single tournament annual memberships will be available at the site. Expired memberships should be renewed online at uschess.org prior to the tournament.

AGE: Age as of July 22, 2016

AWARDS: Gold, Silver & Bronze will be given in the following categories:
Open/Beginner: Overall, 50 & Over, 20 – 49, 19 & Under, Women
High School: Overall, Senior, Junior, Sophomore, Freshman, & Team consisting of 4 players
Middle High School: Overall, 8th grade, 7th grade, 6th grade, & Team consisting of 4 players
Elementary School: Overall, 5th grade, 4th grade, & Team consisting of 4 players
Primary School: Overall, 3rd grade, 2nd grade, 1st grade, Kindergarten, & Team consisting of 4 players

QUICK CHESS EVENT INFORMATION BELOW
REGISTRATION: On-site registration for this event from 4:00-4:30 pm.
FORMAT: 4 rounds at 10 minutes/game. Double Swiss Pairings.
RULES: USCF Quick Chess Rules in force. All players required to use a chess clock.

PUZZLE SOLVING: (new section this year) A special puzzle solving contest in memory of Steve Dillard will be held during the event. Entry fee: $5, payable on the day of the tournament.
________________________________________

Send entry forms for by email:
aratliff@bluegrasssports.org

by mail:
Bluegrass State Games
162 E. Main, Suite 210
Lexington, KY 40507

by fax:
859-286-5158

at site on day of event:
Blank paperwork will be available. See further instructions under REGISTRATION (above).

We are sorry, but checks and credit cards cannot be accepted at site. Cash only on day of event.

2016 SPF Girls Invitational

Rules & Conditions for the 13th Annual Susan Polgar Foundation Girls’ Invitational – the richest all-girls championship in the world!

($200,000+ in scholarships + $7,500 cash prizes)
July 23 (arrival day) – 28, 2016 at Webster University (St. Louis, Missouri)

The Annual SPF Girls’ Invitational, in its 13th year, is the most prestigious All-Girls event in the United States. It is also the first All-Girls event approved and sanctioned by the USCF back in 2003. It is an invitational event, and will once again be held at Webster University (St. Louis, Missouri).

Each state, as well as each country in the American Continent (South, Central, and North America) is allowed to nominate one representative. Each Canadian province is allowed one representative to be nominated. In addition, automatic qualifying spots will be awarded to the reigning winners in each section of the annual Susan Polgar Foundation National Open for Girls and the Susan Polgar Foundation World Open for Girls.

Webster University will provide complimentary room and meal accommodation on campus for all qualifiers!

• There will be an intense training session with Susan Polgar and members of the SPICE team, followed by a 6 round (g/90+30) FIDE rated championship tournament.
• The traditional Blitz, Puzzle Solving, Bughouse events will stay the same as in previous years.
• There will be many chess prizes awarded, as well as scholarships to Webster University.

Official representatives should be nominated by June 10, 2016. Official representative alternates may be substituted no later than July 11, 2016. (Susan Polgar and/or the Polgar Committee may allow the host state / country to enter an additional qualified player.) Susan Polgar and/or the Polgar Committee may allow exceptions to the June 10 entry/alternate deadline. Should the state / country affiliate fail to respond to the notice for this tournament, Susan Polgar and/or the Polgar Committee may determine the candidate from that state / country.

Players must have been enrolled in a school (up to 12th grade) located in the state or country they represent, also of the year in which the tournament is held. Home-schooled students who are under the age of 19 on July 22nd of the year in which the event is held or students who have never attended college on a full time basis prior to June 1 of the year in which the tournament is held, are eligible to represent the state / country in which they reside.

Exception: If a player graduates from high school early and is already attending college, she may still represent her state if nominated. This is the decision of each state affiliate or country.

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: The participants of the Susan Polgar Girl’s Invitational DO NOT have to be high school students (they can also be in kindergarten, elementary, or middle school). All qualifiers must be under the age of 19 (by July 22nd of the year in which the tournament is held)!

Special invitation for this year: All past participants of the SPNI and SPFGI (Susan Polgar National Invitational/Susan Polgar Foundation Girls’ Invitational 2004-2015) are invited to participate in the 2016 SPFGI. The idea is to have the past participants learn my method of training so they can go back home and share their knowledge with the younger players. However, registration MUST be made ASAP since space is limited. There will be mutual training sessions for all, however separate section & prizes for alumni participants over the age of 19.

Players are required to furnish the organizer an emergency phone number and the e-mail address of a parent/guardian.

There is no entry fee to participate in the 2016 SPFGI; however, players are responsible for their own travel.

For alumni participants, wild card/special invites, coaches, parents, or other family members, inexpensive accommodations are available for housing and dining on Webster’s campus. Please note that all reservations and registrations MUST be made (and accommodation expenses prepaid) no later than June 15, 2016.

Prizes: Trophies / plaques will be awarded to the winners of the Susan Polgar Foundation Girl’s Invitational Puzzle Solving, Blitz, Bughouse and the SPFGI Championship. Co-champions are recognized in the case of a tie, with each champion receiving a Champion’s Plaque or Trophy.

The Champion (or Co-Champions) of the main event will automatically be invited to defend her/their title (must meet age requirement).

Champion: Webster University scholarship* (full tuition and fees approximately $25,000 + per year x 4 years)

2nd place: Webster University scholarship (approximately $14,000 + per year x 4 years)

3rd place: Webster University scholarship (approximately $12,000 + per year x 4 years)

(In case of a tie, a playoff will used to determine the level of scholarships)

* The scholarships to Webster University must be exercised no later than Fall of 2019, and are not transferable. In addition, these scholarships cannot be combined with other academic scholarships, or stacked. If players won scholarships in past events, they can choose to exercise the highest one.

Additional CASH SCHOLARSHIP this year!

1st place = $2,500
2nd place = $1,500
3rd place = $1,000

Top under 13 = $500
Top under 10 = $500

Triple-crown champion (main event, blitz, and puzzle solving) = $1,000

Biggest upset prize (each round) = $50 x 6 = $300 gift certificate

Best dressed player = $100 gift certificate

Best written essay about the SPFGI experience = $100 gift certificate

There will also be additional surprised prizes which challenge intellect and wit!

(In case of a tie, cash prizes will be shared)

The Polgar Committee’s goal is to have all 50 states (including two representatives for California, two for Texas, and two for Missouri), the District of Columbia, as well as each country in the American Continent (South, Central, and North America) represented. We strongly encourage each state and the District of Columbia affiliate to hold a scholastic championship tournament to determine each state’s champion and representative. Failing this, rating criteria may be acceptable. A scholastic girls’ champion or the highest rated girls’ scholastic player in a state who has no state affiliate of the USCF should contact the Polgar Committee as soon as possible.

Susan Polgar and/or the Polgar Committee and its members may elect to award a limited number of wild cards each year for the Susan Polgar Girl’s Invitational.

Special qualifying events: The Polgar Committee will award automatic qualifying spots to the reigning winners in each section of the annual Susan Polgar Foundation National Open for Girls and the Susan Polgar Foundation World Open for Girls.

The SPFGI Chairperson is Martha Underwood (AZ).

NOTICE TO ALL STATE OFFICIALS: Please send the nomination from your state to the Polgar Committee (PolgarCommittee@gmail.com).

Contact info: Polgar Committee (PolgarCommittee@gmail.com)

The Susan Polgar Foundation can be contacted at 806-281-7424 or through info@PolgarFoundation.org.

Pairings for Round 1. 2015 SPF Girls Invitational

Bd	Res	White	Res	Black
1		THAIS CASTILLO MORALES (1614)		DANITZA VAZQUEZ (2107)
2		LILIA POTEAT (2044)		EMMA CHENG (1581)
3		SHIMERA PAXTON (1553)		NOZIMA ARIPOVA (1967)
4		THALIA CERVANTES (1967)		CASSIE PARENT (1549)
5		SOFIA STANESCU-BELLU (1531)		VERONIKA ZILAJEVA (1901)
6		RACHAEL ENG (1887)		EVELYN CHEN (1508)
7		CHLOE WONG (1501)		SERAFINA SHOW (1879)
8		SAITHANUSRI AVIRNENI (1861)		NIGINA ARIPOVA (1456)
9		NEHA DIAS (1426)		ELLA PAPANEK (1839)
10		MAGGIE LUO (1815)		KAREN SALZGEBER (1400)
11		PEISHANIKA ARNOLD (1385)		SHAYNA PROVINE (1804)
12		NAOMI BASHKANSKY (1803)		SKYLAR HSU (1384)
13		SARAH FAITH CARSON (1347)		ANDREA BOTEZ (1803)
14		SASHA KONOVALENKO (1795)		SARVAGNA VELIDANDLA (1337)
15		BEATRICE LOW (1326)		NASTASSJA MATUS (1785)
16		AIYA CANCIO (1775)		WILLOW KATRINA LETARD (1320)
17		CHARITY CARSON (1285)		TRINA CHATTERJEE (1753)
18		KIANA HAJIARBABI (1729)		TRIYA VENKATARAJA (1268)
19		IOANA MURGULET (1228)		IRIS ZHOU (1727)
20		YASSAMIN EHSANI (1725)		RUI YANG YAN (1224)
21		MEGHANA KANCHARLA (1175)		RACHEL TAO (1719)
22		ANNAPOORNI MEIYAPPAN (1702)		ALLYSON WONG (1139)
23		ELENA ALLEN (1088)		ELVIA NATARENO (1675)
24		ANASTACIA LOPEZ SANCHEZ (1658)		TEMILOLUWA ADEROGBA (1014)
25		SHAHRZAD HAJIARBABI (953)		AINE CAROLINA LIMA (1646)
26		DIAMOND ABDUS-SHAKOOR (1638)		EMILY HOGUE (836)
27		GISELLE KIMBALL (793)		ASHLEY TAPP (1625)
28		KATHRYN THOMAS (1619)		CHARITY FARELL (unr.)

2015 SPFGI Bughouse Championship
Sunday, July 26, 2015

1st Place
ARIZONA: Aiya Canco (AZ) & Rachael Eng (AZ), 10-0

2nd Place
CHOCOLATE: Danitza Vasquez (Puerto Rico) & Serafina Show (CA), 7-3
MINIONS: Diamond Abdus-Shakoor (OH) & Lilia Poteat (NY), 7-3
NOBODY: Thalia Cervantes (MO) & Ashley Tapp (Canada), 7-3
CASSANDREA: Andrea Botez (Canada) & Cassie Parent (IL), 7-3

3rd Place
CIA: Ella Papanek (NY) & Yassi Eshani ((NY), 6-4
NOTHING: Sasha Konovalenko ((MI) & Chloe Wong (WI), 6-4
MAGIC: Nastassja Matus (MN) & Iris Zhou (MO), 6-4
HAJIBARBIS: Kiani Hajibarbi (KS) and Shahrzad (KS), 6-4
DIAMONDS: Neha Dias (SC) & Peishanika Arnold (IN), 6-4
CV: Veronika Zilajeva (OK) & Charity Farell (OK), 6-4

4th Place
TEX MEX: Anastacia Lopez (Mexico) & Ioana Murgulet (TX), 5-5
CARSONS: Sarah Faith Carson (IA) & Charity Carson (IA), 5-5
CALIFORNIA: Evelyn Chen (GA) & Trina Chatterjee (CA), 5-5

6th Place
BUBBLES: Willow Letard (NM) & Maggie Luo (VA), 4-6
OREGON: Elena Allen (OR) & Thais Castillo Morales (Costa Rica), 4-6
MUSTANGS: Allyson Wong (CA) & Annapoorni Meiyappan (CA), 4-6
LUCKY: Skyler Hsu (MD) & Emma Cheng (OH), 4-6
MARVEL: Shayna Provine (IL) & Giselle Kimball (NV), 4-6
CHAMPIONS: Sarvagna Velidanda (AL) & Meghana Kancharla (NH), 4-6

7th Place
PEPPERMINT: Beatrice Low (CT) & Rui Yang Yan (CA), 3-7

8th Place
438ERS: Katie Thomas (KY) & Karen Salzgeber (MS), 2-8
SPARK: Emily Hogue (UT) & Aine Lima (Brazil), 2-8

9th Place
ELEPHANT-MONKEYS: Temi Aderogba (ID) & Triya Venkataraja (NC), 0-10

2015 Bluegrass State Games - Chess

Medal Winners – 2015 Bluegrass State Games
Big Sandy Community & Technical College
Mayo Campus, Paintsville, KY
July 18, 2015

Game in 45 minutes per player with 5 second delay

Open

Gold – Christopher Coleman
Silver (tie) – Tyler Mainous & Shane Ward
Bronze – John Biliter & Larry Greer

Christopher Coleman & Shane Ward during their crucial final round game

Under 1400

Gold – Adam Wheeler
Silver (tie) – Steve Phillips & Allen Maddix
Bronze – Jackie Ward & Paul Childers

Kindergarten through 5th Grade

Gold – Kyle Wheeler

6th through 8th Grade

Gold – Linden Wheeler

High School

Gold – Sean Howard

Action Game in 10 minutes

Gold (tie) – Taylor Mainous & Sean Howard
Silver (tie) – Christopher Coleman, Shane Ward & Adam Wheeler

Staff

Jason Kretzer, Ricky Hamilton, Katerina Nemcova & Natasha Niro

Organizer

East Kentucky Chess Club, Pikeville, KY

Adam Wheeler & John Biliter

Special Thanks

Mike Mackenzie & John Biliter

Respectfully submitted,
Frank A. Niro, Commissioner

U.S. Chess Federation rated tournament cross tables for this event

Tournament directors Jason Kretzer & Frank Niro

12th Annual SPFGI details announced

Rules & Conditions for the 12th Annual Susan Polgar Foundation Girls' Invitational
(Over $200K in prizes and scholarships)
July 25 (arrival day) – July 30, 2015 at Webster University (St. Louis, Missouri)

The Annual SPF Girls' Invitational, in its 12th year, is the most prestigious All-Girls event in the United States. It is also the first All-Girls event approved and sanctioned by the USCF back in 2003. It is an invitational event, and will once again be held at Webster University (St. Louis, Missouri).

Each state, as well as each country in the American Continent (South, Central, and North America) is allowed to nominate one representative. In addition, automatic qualifying spots will be awarded to the reigning winners in each section of the annual Susan Polgar Foundation National Open for Girls and the Susan Polgar Foundation World Open for Girls.

Webster University will provide complimentary room and meal accommodation on campus for all qualifiers!

• There will be an intense training session with Susan Polgar and members of the SPICE team, followed by a 6 round (g/90+30) FIDE rated championship tournament.
• The traditional Blitz, Puzzle Solving, Bughouse events will stay the same as in previous years.
• There will be many chess prizes awarded, as well as scholarships to Webster University.

Official representatives should be nominated by June 8, 2015. Official representative alternates may be substituted no later than July 6, 2015. (Susan Polgar and/or the Polgar Committee may allow the host state to enter an additional qualified player.) Susan Polgar and/or the Polgar Committee may allow exceptions to the June 8 entry/alternate deadline. Should the state affiliate fail to respond to the notice for this tournament, Susan Polgar and/or the Polgar Committee may determine the candidate from that state or country.

Players must have been enrolled in a school (up to 12th grade) located in the state or country they represent, also of the year in which the tournament is held. Home-schooled students who are 19 or under on the year in which the event is held or students who have never attended traditional college on a full time basis prior to July 1 of the year in which the tournament is held, are eligible to represent the state or country in which they reside.

Exception: If a player graduates from high school early and is already attending college, she may still represent her state if nominated. This is the decision of each state affiliate.

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: The participants of the Susan Polgar Girl’s Invitational DO NOT have to be high school students. Any qualifier who is 19 or under (on the year in which the tournament is held) is eligible!

Special invitation for this year: All past participants of the SPNI and SPFGI (Susan Polgar National Invitational/Susan Polgar Foundation Girls’ Invitational 2004-2014) are invited to participate in the 2015 SPFGI. The idea is to have the past participants learn my method of training so they can go back home and share their knowledge with the younger players. However, registration MUST be made ASAP since space is limited. There will be mutual training sessions for all, however separate section & prizes for alumni participants over the age of 20.

Players are required to furnish the organizer an emergency phone number and the e-mail address of a parent/guardian.

There is no entry fee to participate in the 2015 SPFGI; however, players are responsible for their own travel.

For alumni participants, wild card/special invites, coaches, parents, or other family members, inexpensive accommodations are available for housing and dining on Webster’s campus. Please note that all reservations and registrations MUST be made (and accommodation expenses prepaid) no later than June 15, 2015.

Prizes: Trophies / plaques will be awarded to the winners of the Susan Polgar Foundation Girl’s Invitational Puzzle Solving, Blitz, Bughouse and the SPFGI Championship. Co-champions are recognized in the case of a tie, with each champion receiving a Champion’s Plaque or Trophy.

The Champion (or Co-Champions) of the main event will automatically be invited to defend her/their title (must meet age requirement).

Champion: Webster University scholarship* (full tuition and fees approximately $24,000 + per year x 4 years) Champion's Cup. (In case of a tie, a playoff will used to determine the level of scholarships)

2nd place: Webster University scholarship (approximately $14,000 + per year x 4 years)

3rd place: Webster University scholarship (approximately $12,000 + per year x 4 years)

Additional prizes this year!

Top under 16: $1,000 scholarship to help defray expenses to the 2015 World Youth (if participating**)

Top under 14: $1,000 scholarship to help defray expenses to the 2015 World Youth (if participating**)

Top under 12: $1,000 scholarship to help defray expenses to the 2015 World Youth (if participating**)

Top under 10: $1,000 scholarship to help defray expenses to the 2015 World Youth (if participating**)

* The scholarships to Webster University must be exercised no later than Fall of 2018, and are not transferable. In addition, these scholarships cannot be combined with other academic scholarships, or stacked. If players won scholarships in past events, they can choose to exercise the highest one.

** After flight ticket has been purchased, a $1,000 reimbursement check will be sent to the winners.

The Polgar Committee’s goal is to have all 50 states (including two representatives for California, two for Texas, and two for Missouri), the District of Columbia, as well as each country in the American Continent (South, Central, and North America) represented. We strongly encourage each state and the District of Columbia affiliate to hold a scholastic championship tournament to determine each state’s champion and representative. Failing this, rating criteria may be acceptable. A scholastic girls’ champion or the highest rated girls’ scholastic player in a state who has no state affiliate of the USCF should contact the Polgar Committee as soon as possible.

Susan Polgar and/or the Polgar Committee and its members may elect to award a limited number of wild cards each year for the Susan Polgar Girl’s Invitational.

Special qualifying events: The Polgar Committee will award automatic qualifying spots to the reigning winners in each section of the annual Susan Polgar Foundation National Open for Girls and the Susan Polgar Foundation World Open for Girls.

The SPFGI Chairperson is Martha Underwood (AZ).

NOTICE TO ALL STATE OFFICIALS: Please send the nomination from your state to the Polgar Committee (PolgarCommittee@gmail.com).

Contact info: Polgar Committee (PolgarCommittee@gmail.com)

The Susan Polgar Foundation can be contacted at 806-281-7424 or through info@PolgarFoundation.org.

Local Chess Calendar

Here is a list of the upcoming chess tournaments in the local vicinity during the next several months. The events that I am planning to play in are in bold. Thanks to Robert Chenault of Cincinnati as well as the Kentucky Chess Association for the source information.

FEB. 27 - (Friday/Columbus) 3 Rounds - G/45;d5 - www.buckeyechess.com

Next Cincy Tornado
Saturday, Feb. 28th Cincy Tornado Chess Tournament "Pawn Gambits"
New!! 2 Sections. OPEN SECTION and Under 1600
Last Saturday of the month...every month. www.chessearth.com

FEB. 28 - (Saturday/Columbus) Chess-N-Chili - all Pre-Registered players get a FREE bowl of Chili!!! www.buckeyechess.com

MAR. 1 Sunday Blitz Weekly & Chess at Cancun's "casual play and chess matches"
- 1:00pm blitz tournament; $20EF - www.chessearth.com

MAR. 6 - Friday Nite Quick/DCC - 7:30pm - www.daytonchessclub.com

MAR. 7 - Arnold Schwarzenegger Scholastic Chess Classic - www.buckeyechess.com

MAR. 7 - (Saturday) Sycamore High School - 7400 Cornell Rd. Montgomery, OH 45242 www.chesscincinnati.com

MAR. 7 - (Saturday) Lexington 1st Saturday G/60 - lexchess.com

MAR. 8 Sunday Blitz Weekly & Chess at Cancun's "casual play and chess matches"
- 1:00pm blitz tournament; $20EF - www.chessearth.com

MAR. 13 - Friday Nite Quick/DCC - 7:30pm - www.daytonchessclub.com

MAR. 13-15 OR 14-15 19th annual Mid-America Open
TROPHIES PLUS GRAND PRIX POINTS: 120 (ENHANCED)
5SS, 40/110, SD/30 d10 (2-day option, rds. 1-2 G/60 d10). Crowne Plaza Hotel St. Louis-Clayton, 7750 Carondelet Ave., St. Louis, MO 63105 (I-64 W/US 40-W Exit 32B, 1.2 miles north on Hanley Rd). $$ 20,000 GUARANTEED PRIZE FUND. In 7 sections: Open: $2000-1000-500-300, clear winner or 1st on tiebreak $100 bonus, top U2300/Unr $800-400. Under 2100: $1400-700-400-200. Under 1900: $1400-700-400-200. Under 1700: $1400-700-400-200. Under 1500: $1200-600-300-200. Under 1300: $1000-500-300-200. Under 1000: $500-300-200-100, plaques to first 3, top U800, U600, Unrated Prize limits: Unrated may not win over $200 in U1000, $400 U1300, $600 U1500, or $800 U1700. Mixed doubles bonus prizes: best male/female 2-player “team” combined score among all sections: $800-400-200. Team average must be under 2200; teammates may play in different sections; teams must register at site (no extra fee) before 2 pm 3/14; teammate pairings avoided but possible. Top 6 sections EF: $109 online at chessaction.com by 3/11, $115 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 3/9 (entry only, no questions), 3-day $113.50, 2-day $112.50 mailed by 3/4, $130 online until 2 hours before game or at site. GMs free; $90 deducted from prize. U1000 Section EF: all $50 less than above. Online EF $3 less to MCA members. No checks at site, credit cards OK. Unofficial uschess.org ratings usually used if otherwise unrated. Special 1 yr USCF dues with magazine if paid with entry: Online at chessaction.com, Adult $30, Young Adult $20, Scholastic $15. Mailed, phoned or paid at site, Adult $40, Young Adult $30, Scholastic $20. Re-entry $60; not available in Open Section. 3-day schedule: Reg ends Fri 6 pm, rds. Fri 7 pm, Sat 11 & 5, Sun 10 & 3:30. 2-day schedule: Reg ends Sat 10 am, rds. Sat 11, 2 & 5, Sun 10 & 3:30. Byes: OK all, limit 2; Open must commit before rd. 2, others before rd. 3. HR: $95-98, includes free full hot buffet breakfast and free parking, 888-303-1746, 314-726-5400, request chess rate, reserve by 3/6 or rate may increase. Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633, or reserve car online through chesstour.com. Ent: chessaction.com or Continental Chess, Box 8482, Pelham, NY 10803. Questions: DirectorAtChess.US, chesstour.com, chesstour.info, 347-201-2269. $15 service charge for refunds. Advance entries posted at chessaction.com (online entries posted instantly). Blitz tournament Saturday 9:30 pm, enter by 9:16pm.

MAR. 15 Sunday Blitz Weekly & Chess at Cancun's "casual play and chess matches"
- 1:00pm blitz tournament; $20EF - www.chessearth.com

MAR. 14-15 MOTCF: Midwest Open Team Chess Festival - www.daytonchessclub.com

MAR. 14-15 2015 Ohio High School Middle School Championship - www.progresswithchess.org

MAR. 14 (Saturday) Toledo March Swiss (University of Toledo) James Jagodzinski 419-367-9450. (see Chess Life)

MAR. 20 - Friday Nite Quick/DCC - 7:30pm - www.daytonchessclub.com

MAR. 21 - 14th Annual Queen City Classic Chess Tournament - www.queencityclassic.org

MAR. 21 (Saturday/Cleveland) CWRU March Magnus; Free Pizza & Drinks for players! www.progresswithchess.org

MAR. 22 (Sunday/Columbus) - North Market Swiss - www.centralchessclub.com

MAR. 22 - Sunday Blitz Weekly & Chess at Cancun's "casual play and chess matches"
- 1:00pm blitz tournament; $20EF - www.chessearth.com

MAR. 27 - Friday Nite Quick/DCC - Games Start at 7:30pm - www.daytonchessclub.com

MAR. 28 (Last Saturday of Month) Cincy Tornado - "Zugzwang"
2 Sections: OPEN & Under 1600 - www.chessearth.com

MAR. 29 - Sunday Blitz Weekly & Chess at Cancun's "casual play and chess matches"
- 1:00pm blitz tournament; $20EF www.chessearth.com

APR. 3 - Friday Nite Quick/DCC - Games Start at 7:30pm - www.daytonchessclub.com

APR. 4 - (Saturday) Lexington 1st Saturday G/60 - lexchess.com

APR. 5 - Sunday Blitz Weekly & Chess at Cancun
- 1:00pm blitz tournament; $20EF - www.chessearth.com

APR. 10 - Friday Nite Quick/DCC - Games Start at 7:30pm - www.daytonchessclub.com

APR. 10-12 (In Columbus) 2015 National High School (K-12) Championship -www.uschess.org/tournaments/2015/hs/

APR. 12 Sunday Blitz Weekly & Chess at Cancun "casual play and chess matches"
- 1:00pm blitz tournament; $20EF - www.chessearth.com

APR. 11 (Saturday) “Diamonds Forever” Pawn Storm XXX - www.daytonchessclub.com

APR. 11 (Saturday) Toledo April Swiss (University of Toledo) James Jagodzinski 419-367-9450. (see Chess Life)

APR. 11 (Saturday) Parma Open - email:grubber@adelphia.net or www.parmachessclub.org/

APR. 12 (Sunday/Columbus) - North Market Swiss - www.centralchessclub.com

APR. 17 - Friday Nite Quick/DCC - 7:30pm - www.daytonchessclub.com

APR. 17-19 - 51st Cincinnati Open and 2nd Cincinnati Open Scholastic - www.chesscincinnati.com

APR. 25 (Last Saturday of Month) Cincy Tornado "En Passant"
2 Sections: OPEN & Under 1600 - www.chessearth.com

APR. 24-25 & May 1-2 Dayton Chess Club Championship - www.daytonchessclub.com

APR. 26 Sunday Blitz Weekly & Chess at Cancun "casual play and chess matches"
- 1:00pm blitz tournament; $20EF - www.chessearth.com

MAY 2 - (Saturday) Lexington 1st Saturday G/60 - lexchess.com

MAY 3 Sunday Blitz Weekly & Chess at Cancun "casual play and chess matches"
- 1:00pm blitz tournament; $20EF - www.chessearth.com

MAY 8 - Friday Nite Quick/DCC - 7:30pm - www.daytonchessclub.com

MAY 9 - Toledo May Swiss (University of Toledo) James Jagodzinski 419-367-9450 (see Chess Life)

MAY 10 Sunday Blitz Weekly & Chess at Cancun "casual play and chess matches"
- 1:00pm blitz tournament; $20EF - www.chessearth.com

MAY 15 - World A Fair. Pay Entry Fee at Dayton Chess Club and receive ticket to the World Affair. Walk 1/2 block
and play Friday Nite Quick chess tournament at the Dayton/Montgomery County Convention Center. Games start 7:30pm

MAY 17 Sunday Blitz Weekly & Chess at Cancun "casual play and chess matches"
- 1:00pm blitz tournament; $20EF - www.chessearth.com

MAY 21-25 - 24th Chicago Open - www.chesstour.com/chio15.htm

MAY 24 Sunday Blitz Weekly & Chess at Cancun "casual play and chess matches"
- 1:00pm blitz tournament; $20EF - www.chessearth.com

MAY 29-31 - 2015 Gem City Open - www.daytonchessclub.com

MAY 30 - Cincy Tornado CANCELLED FOR GEM CITY being held at Dayton Chess Club

June 6 - (Saturday) Lexington 1st Saturday G/60 - lexchess.com

Play an online correspondence chess game with me:

Play online chess

USCF to open second office in St. Louis; core functions will remain in Crossville, TN

The U.S. Chess Federation (USCF) has announced that it has opened a corporate office in St. Louis, Missouri, effective February 18, 2015. The USCF St. Louis office, currently located in the CIC St. Louis Building in the Cortex Innovation Community, will immediately serve to support the organization's marketing and development efforts, while the USCF's customer and membership services departments will continue to operate out of its office in Crossville, Tennessee.

"St Louis' central location and vibrant chess community make it an ideal location for the USCF to launch new initiatives as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization," says USCF Executive Director Jean Hoffman. The City's broad-based support for chess was highlighted by USCF President Ruth Haring, explaining that "it is important for the USCF to develop a presence here given the impressive extent of the support and commitment the entire community has exhibited towards promoting chess."

Over the past few years, St. Louis has emerged as both a national and international center for chess. In May of 2014, the United States Senate passed an official resolution recognizing St. Louis as the National Chess Capital. Last September, the St. Louis Chess Club and Scholastic Center hosted the Sinquefield Cup, the strongest chess tournament in the history of chess. For the seventh consecutive year, in April, St. Louis will host the United States Chess Championship.

The USCF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people through chess one move at a time. The USCF serves as the organizing body for chess in the United States for over 80,000 members.

Source: USCF Press release dated February 18, 2015 via Chess Life Online.

Happy Birthday Hunter!

Happy 17th birthday to my son, Hunter, a Yankee fan at heart, but very tolerant of his dad's proclivities (or so it seems). Photo taken at Fenway Park, April 2013.

A Peek Ahead at 2015 March Madness

I don't usually get caught up in NCAA basketball's March Madness. But, living in Kentucky this year, I can't escape. So here's an estimate of what the tourney lineup would look like if the selections were made today. Source: my own interpretation of the statistics found here as of this evening (2/23/15, 11:00 PM). Note that the source data will change as more games are played. The teams will be announced on March 15 and the round of 64 begins on March 19.

League and overall records are shown
#1 seeds
Kentucky (1) 14-0 27-0
Virginia (2) 13-1 25-1
Gonzaga (3) 16-0 28-1
Duke (4) 11-3 24-3

#2 seeds
Wisconsin (5) 13-1 25-2
Villanova (6) 12-2 25-2
Arizona (7) 12-2 24-3
Kansas (8) 11-3 22-5

#3 seeds
Notre Dame (9) 12-3 24-4
N. Iowa (10) 15-1 26-2
Wichita St(11) 15-1 25-3
Iowa St. (12) 10-4 20-6

#4 seeds
Utah (13) 11-3 21-5
Maryland (14) 10-4 22-5
N.Carolina (15) 9-5 19-8
Oklahoma (16) 10-5 19-8

#5 seeds
Louisville (17) 9-5 21-6
Arkansas (18) 11-3 22-5
Baylor (19) 8-6 20-7
W.Virginia (20) 9-5 21-6

#6 seeds
SMU (21) 13-2 22-5
VCU (22) 11-3 21-6
Butler (23) 9-5 19-8
S.Diego St(24) 12-3 22-6

# 7 & 8 seeds
Providence (25) 9-5 19-8
Valparaiso* 12-2 25-4
Murray St.* 14-0 24-4
S.F. Austin 12-1 22-4
UC Davis* 11-1 21-4
Colorado St. 10-5 23-5
Sam Houston* 13-1 22-5
Cent.Michigan* 10-4 20-5

Lower seeds #9 thru #16 and play-ins
Harvard* 9-1 19-5
Iona* 16-2 23-6
Wofford* 14-2 23-6
N.C. Central* 13-0 21-6
Wyoming 10-4 21-6
Dayton 10-4 20-6
Rhode Island 11-3 19-6
Davidson 10-4 19-6
Georgia So.* 12-4 19-6
Fla Gulf Coast*11-1 21-7
High Point* 12-4 21-7
Louisiana Tech*12-3 21-7
St. Mary's 12-4 20-7
Boise St. 10-4 20-7
Tulsa 12-2 19-7
Texas A&M 10-4 19-7
UTEP 11-3 19-7
Alabama St.* 11-2 15-7
BYU 11-5 21-8
S. Dakota St.* 12-3 21-8
Oregon 10-5 20-8
N. Dakota St. 12-3 20-8
Mississippi 10-4 19-8
Albany* 13-1 19-8
LSU 8-6 19-8
Michigan St. 10-4 19-8
Ohio St. 8-6 19-8
Georgetown 10-5 18-8
Sacramento St.*12-3 18-8
St.Francis(NY)*14-2 20-9
Chattanooga 13-3 20-9
Indiana 9-6 19-9
Purdue 10-4 18-9
Northeastern* 11-5 19-10
N. Mex. St.* 11-1 19-10
Bucknell* 12-4 17-12

On the bubble (NIT-bound unless they finish strongly or at least one of the teams listed above crashes)
Georgia St. 12-4 19-8
St. John's 7-7 18-9
La. Monroe 12-4 18-9
Georgia 8-6 17-9
Stanford 8-6 17-9
Xavier 8-7 18-10
Pittsburgh 7-7 18-10
Iowa 8-6 17-10
Miami (FL) 7-7 17-10
Oregon St. 8-7 17-10

*denotes probable league champion with automatic bid

Answer to January 29 chess puzzle:
55.Rxa2! Bxa2 56.Bd3+ Bc4 57.Bxf1 Bxf1=

‘Where Hope Grows’ Set for May 15 Release

Only three more months to wait...

Link to the movie preview

FEBRUARY 12, 2015 | 05:00AM PT
Dave McNary
Film Reporter
@Variety_DMcNary

Roadside Attractions and Godspeed Pictures have set May 15 for the theatrical release of inspirational drama “Where Hope Grows.”

The film won the Heartland Film Festival Audience Choice Award last year.

Kristoffer Polaha stars as a former a professional baseball player sent to an early retirement due to panic attacks. He struggles with the challenge of raising his teenage daughter but finds himself invigorated by a young man with Down syndrome (played by David DeSanctis) who works at the local grocery store.

The film also stars Billy Zabka, Brooke Burns, McKaley Miller, Alan Powell and Danica McKellar. Chris Dowling directed from his own script. Producers are Steve Bagheri, Simran Singh, Jose Pablo Cantillo and Milan Chakraborty.

The film has over 200,000 Likes on its Facebook page. It will open against Warner’s “Mad Max: Fury Road” and Universal’s “Pitch Perfect 2.”

Original source of this article is here.

The Facebook page for this movie is here.

My previous blog posts concerning this movie:

11/13/13 Produce, the Movie
11/21/13 You Never Know Where Hope Grows

New SPICE training site

I had the honor and privilege of being invited to visit the brand new SPICE Chess Office at Webster University on its first day open to the public February 9, 2015. The training space (pictured) is about 2,095 sq. ft. and the playing hall is 8,847 sq. ft. It is also a FIDE Training Academy and is located in Webster Groves, Missouri. Plans are in the works for the facility to house a special collection of chess research books and papers. Congratulations to Webster University president Beth Strobel, Provost Julian Schuster and all others involved.

Play chess online

Missed opportunity to save the game

White to move and draw. Here's an opportunity I missed last weekend in Columbus, Ohio. It took the computer search engine about a second to find it. How long did it take you? I am sure I would have found it in a correspondence game, but I thought for 22 minutes staring at this position during the tournament and didn't even consider the key move. After all these years, I still don't understand why the difference. Perhaps I was just tired. Sigh.

I will post the answer in February.

Subsequent note: answer is located here

Letter from FIDE President concerning Chess Research initiative

Click on image to enlarge

Gone awry: instructive loss in the Rossolimo Sicilian

My first chess coach, FM John Curdo, liked to call this variation the "Awry Lopez."

Position after 6...Nd5

To open analysis board with game score move by move, click here.

Niro, Frank (2240) – Phillips, Paul (2381) [B31]
Gameknot.com, September 17, 2010 to October 8, 2010

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.0–0 Bg7 5.Re1 Nf6 6.e5 Nd5

[see diagram above]

7.c3

More popular and less risky is 7.Nc3!?

7...0–0 8.d4 cxd4 9.cxd4 d6 10.Nc3 Be6

11.exd6

The stem game, with 11...exd6, is Gabor Kadar (2280) vs. Lajos Seres (2430), Hungarian Championship 1994/95: 11...exd6 12. Ne4 Qb6 13. Bxc6 Qxc6 14. Bg5 Qb6 15. Qd3 Rfe8 16. Nfd2 h6 17. Bh4 f5 18. Nc3 Nb4 19. Qb1 Qxd4 20. Nf3 Qc4 21. Bg3 Nd3 22. Re3 f4 23. Bxf4 Bf5 24. Bg3 Rxe3 25. fxe3 Qc5 26. Qd1 Qxe3+ 27. Kh1 Kh8 28. Qb3 Nxb2 29. Qxb7 Rc8 30. Qxb2 Bxc3 31. Qc1 Qxc1+ 32. Rxc1 Bb4 33. Rd1 Kg8 34. h3 a6 35. Nh4 Be4 36. Bxd6 Rd8 37. Rd4 Rxd6 38. Rxb4 Bc6 1/2-1/2. To play over the game, go here.

A new attempt by Julian Estrada Nieto (2285) vs. Misa Pap (2512) Budapest, May 5, 2011, continued 11.Bg5 (instead of 11.exd6) 11...dxe5 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.Nxe5 Rc8 14.Nf3 Re8 15.h3 Nxc3 16.bxc3 c5 17.Be3 Bd5 18.Ne5 Qa5 19.Nd3 cxd4 20.Bxd4 Rxc3 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.Nf4 Bc6 23.Qd2 Ra3 24.Qb2+ Qc3 25.Qe2 Qf6 26.Qg4 Kh8 27.Rac1 Rxa2 28.Qg3 Ra4 29.Nd3 Ra3 30.Re3 Ra1 31.Rxa1 Qxa1+ 32.Kh2 Bd5 33.Qc7 Qf6 34.Qxa7 Qd6+ 35.Kg1 f6 36.Qd4 e5 37.Qc3 Rb8 38.Qc2 Kg7 39.Re1 Be6 40.Ra1 Rb3 41.Ra7+ Kf8 42.Ra8+ Rb8 43.Qc5 Qxc5 44.Rxb8+ Qc8 45.Rxc8+ Bxc8 46.f3 g5 47.g4 Ke7 48.Kg2 Kd6 49.Nf2 f5 50.gxf5 Bxf5 51.h4 gxh4 52.Nh3 Ke7 53.Ng5 0-1. To play over the game, go here.

11...Qxd6N 12.Bg5

Nieto's novelty delayed a move. I wasn't aware of the Nieto-Pap game, of course, since it was played seven months after this encounter. I believe the game is still playable at this point, although I will probably choose 7.Nc3 from now on.

12...h6 13.Nxd5

The proper follow-up is 13.Bh4 keeping the tension in the position. I did not fare well after the upcoming exchanges.

12...hxg5 14.Bxc6 bxc6 15.Nc3 Bg4 16.Ne4= Bxf3 17.Qxf3 Qxd4 18.Nxg5 Qxb2 19.Qxc6 Qf6 20.Qb5 Rab8 21.Qa5 Qc3 =/+ 22.Qa6 Qc5 23.Ne4 Qc8 24.Qxc8 Rfxc8 25.Rac1 Rxc1 26.Rxc1 Bh6 27.Ra1 f5 28.Nc3 Rb2 29.Rb1

If 29.Nd5 Kf7 (29...e6 30.Ne7+ Kf7 31.Nc6 Kf6 32.g3 and black is better) 30.Kf1 e6 31.Ne3 Bg7 32.Rc1 favoring black.

29...Rd2 30.Rd1 Rc2 31.Nd5 Kf7 32.Nb4

The material is even, but the a-pawn is vulnerable and will soon be lost. With an open board and pawns on both wings, the bishop supported by the more active rook is much more effective. My opponent will not give me any chances for counterplay.

32...Rb2 33.a3 Rb3 34.Nc6 Rxa3 35.g3 Bg5 36.Rd7 a6 37.Rd5 Bf6 38.Kg2 Rb3 39.Nd8+ Ke8 40.Ne6 Rb6 41.Nc5 e6 42.Rd2 Be7 43.Na4 Rb4 44.Ra2 a5 45.f4 Kd7 46.Kf3 Kc6 47.Rc2+ Kd5 48.Nc3+ Kd6 0-1

The position is hopeless due to the outside passed pawn. Black can also make the e-pawn a passer without allowing my g- and h-pawns to safely advance, so I resigned rather than wait for the inevitable. Since this was a correspondence game, I spent a couple of days looking for tricks. The following line took away all of my optimism: 49.Ke2 g5 50.fxg5 Bxg5 51.Ra2 Bf6 52.Na4 Rb3 53.Rd2+ Kc6 54.Rc2+ Kb5 55.Nc5 Rb4 56.Nd3 Rc4 57.Ra2 a4 58.Kd2 Bc3+ 59.Kc1 Bd4+ 60.Kb1 e5 61.Rg2 a3 62.Ka2 Rc3 63.Ne1 Kc4 64.Nc2 Bc5 65.Ne1 f4 66.gxf4 exf4 67.Rg4 Be3 -+.

As a result of this game I undertook a serious study of rook and minor piece endgames, not only to learn how to play them better, but more importantly to understand when the position may devolve into an inferior endgame of this type. Such positions are more common than I previously understood. Knowing when to steer away from materially equal but theoretically inferior lines, or encourage an unaware opponent to drift into the kind of superficial liquidation that I demonstrated in this game, is critical to overall chess improvement. It will require work, but will be worth the time invested.


Additonal games in this variation:

Niro,F (2154) - nyctalop {Romania} (1961) [B31]
Gameknot.com, March 26, 2010 to June 27, 2010
Play along on the analysis board for this game
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.0-0 Bg7 5.Re1 Nf6 6.e5 Nd5 7.c3 0-0 8.d4 cxd4 9.cxd4 Nc7 10.Nc3 Nxb5 11.Nxb5 a6 12.Nc3 d6 13.exd6 exd6 14.Bg5 Qb6 15.Nd5 Qa5 16.Nf6+ Bxf6 17.Bxf6 Be6 18.d5 Qxd5 19.Qxd5 Bxd5 20.Ng5 h6 21.Rad1

Even in Internet based correspondence games, notation errors still happen. Here I played 21.Red1! on my board at home intending 21...Bxa2 22.Rxa2 hxg5 23.Rxd6 Rae8 24.Kf1. Instead, I moved the a-rook rather than the e-rook and has to struggle to hold the draw.

21...Rae8 22.Rxe8 Rxe8 23.f3 Bxa2 24.Ne4 d5 25.Nc5 b6 26.Nxa6 Re6 27.Bh4 g5 28.Bf2 Re2 29.Bxb6 Bc4 30.Rc1 Rxb2 31.Be3 f6 32.h3 Kf7 33.Nc5 Kg6 34.Bf2 h5 35.h4 gxh4 36.Ne6 h3 37.gxh3 Ne5 38.Rc3 Rd2 39.Nd4 h4 40.f4 Nd3 41.f5+ Kh5 42.Be3 Rd1+ 43.Kh2 Re1 44.Bg1 Re4 45.Ra3 Ne1 46.Bf2 Rxd4 47.Bxd4 Nc2 48.Bc5 Nxa3 49.Bxa3 d4 50.Bc5 d3 51.Be3 Bd5 52.Bd2 Be4 53.Bf4 Bxf5 54.Kg2 Be6 55.Bd2 Kg6 56.Be1 Kg5 57.Bd2+ Kh5 58.Be1 Bg4 59.Bd2 Bc8 60.Bf4 Kg6 61.Bd2 Kh5 62.Bf4 Bg4 63.Bd2 f5 64.Bf4 Kg6 65.Bd2 Kf6 66.Bf4 Ke6 67.Bg5 Ke5 68.Kf2 f4 69.Ke1 Ke4 70.Bxh4 Bxh3 71.Kd2 Bf5 72.Bf2 Kf3 73.Ba7 Be4 74.Ke1 Kg2 75.Bb8 f3 76.Ba7 Kg3 77.Bf2+ Kf4 78.Kd2 Kg4 79.Bc5 Kg3 80.Ke1 Kg2 81.Ba7 ½-½


Niro,F (2165) - Aleksei V. (1924) {Ukraine} [B31]
Gameknot.com, April 8, 2010 to June 10, 2010
Analysis board for this game
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.0-0 Bg7 5.Re1 Nf6 6.e5 Nd5 7.c3 Nc7 8.Bf1 0-0 9.d3 d6 10.exd6 exd6 11.Bf4 Nd5 12.Bg3 Qb6 13.Qb3 Qxb3 14.axb3 Rd8 15.Nbd2 Bg4 16.Ng5 Bh6 17.Bh4 f6 18.Nge4 Bxd2 19.Nxd2 g5 20.Bg3 f5 21.h3 Bh5 22.Bh2 Rd7 23.Be2 Bxe2 24.Rxe2 Rad8 25.Nf3 Rg7 26.Re6 f4 27.h4 gxh4 28.Nxh4 Rf7 29.Nf3 b6 30.Re4 Rdd7 31.Rae1 Rfe7 32.Bxf4 Nxf4 33.Rxf4 Rxe1+ 34.Nxe1± Rf7 35.Rxf7 Kxf7 36.Kf1 Na5 37.b4 cxb4 38.cxb4 Nc6 39.Nc2 a6 40.Ke2 h5 41.Ke3 d5 42.b5 axb5 43.Nd4 Nxd4 44.Kxd4 Ke6 45.Kc3 Ke5 46.Kb4 Kd6 47.g3 Ke5 48.Kxb5 1-0


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Games with 7.Nc3 instead of 7.c3
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Niro,F (2205) - Ghezzi, C {Italy} (1794) [B31]
Gameknot.com, March 26, 2010 to May 17, 2010
Analysis board for this game
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.0-0 Nf6 5.Re1 Bg7 6.e5 Nd5 7.Nc3 Nc7 8.Bxc6 dxc6 9.Ne4 Ne6 10.d3 0-0 11.Be3 b6 12.Qd2 Nd4 13.Nxd4 cxd4 14.Bh6 c5 15.Qf4 Bb7 16.h4 Bxh6 17.Qxh6 Qd5 18.f3 Qxe5 19.Ng5 Qg7 20.Qxg7+ Kxg7 21.Rxe7 Bd5 22.Rae1 Rfb8 23.a4 h6 24.Ne6+ Bxe6 25.R1xe6 Kf8 26.Re4 a5 27.Kh2 b5 28.axb5 a4

28...Rxb5 29.b3 a4 30.bxa4 Rxa4 31.Rc7

29.Rc7 Rxb5 30.Ree7 Rxb2 31.Rxf7+ Kg8 32.Rg7+ Kh8 33.Rxg6 a3

If 33...Rxc2 34.Rxh6+ Kg8 35.f4 a3 (35...Rf8 36.Rg6+ Kh8 37.Ra6) 36.Rg6+ Kh8 (36...Kf8 37.f5) 37.f5 Rf2 38.f6 a2 39.Rh6+ Kg8 40.Rg7+ Kf8 41.Rh8#

34.Rxh6+ Kg8 35.f4 a2 36.f5 a1Q 37.f6 Qa2 38.Rg7+ Kf8 39.Rh8+ Qg8 40.Rhxg8# 1-0


Niro,F (2200) - artal (1855) [B31]
Gameknot.com, February 1, 2011 to February 11, 2011
Analysis board for this game
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.0-0 Bg7 5.Re1 Nf6 6.e5 Nd5 7.Nc3 Nb6 8.a4 a6 9.Bxc6 dxc6 10.Ne4 Nd7

10...c4 11.a5 Nd5 12.d4 cxd3 13.Qxd3 0-0 14.h3 b5 15.axb6 Qxb6 16.Bd2

11.e6± fxe6 12.Nfg5 Ne5 13.Nxc5 Qd5 14.d4 0-0

14...b6 15.Nce4

15.a5 h6 16.f4 Nd3

16...Nd7 17.Ngxe6 Nxc5 18.Nxg7 Rd8 19.Re5± Qxd4+ 20.Qxd4 Rxd4 21.Be3 Re4 22.Bxc5 Rxe5 23.fxe5 Kxg7 24.Bxe7 Bf5 25.c4

17.Qxd3 Bxd4+

17...Qxd4+ 18.Qxd4 Bxd4+ 19.Be3 Bxe3+ 20.Rxe3 hxg5 21.fxg5 Rf5 22.Nd3± (22.Ne4 Bd7±) 22...Rxg5 23.Ne5+-;
17...hxg5 18.Re5 Bxe5 (18...Qd8 19.Qxg6) 19.fxe5 Kg7 20.Bxg5±

18.Be3 Bxc5

18...Bxe3+ 19.Rxe3 Qxd3 (19...Qxc5? 20.Qxg6+ Kh8 21.Qh7#) 20.Rxd3 hxg5 21.fxg5

19.Qxg6+ Black resigned Kh8 20.Qh7# 1-0


Niro,F (2207) - wwgia (1772) {Italy} [B31]
Gameknot.com, August 16, 2011 to August 30, 2011
Analysis board for this game
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.0-0 Bg7 5.Re1 Nf6 6.e5 Nd5 7.Nc3 Nxc3 8.bxc3 0-0 9.d4 cxd4 10.cxd4 d5 11.exd6 Qxd6 12.c3 Bg4 13.h3 Bf5 14.a4 Rac8 15.Ba3 Qf4 16.Re3 Bf6 17.Qe1 a6 18.Bxc6 Rxc6 19.Bxe7 Bxe7 20.Rxe7 Rxc3 21.Qxc3 1-0


Niro,F (2247) - blacklab {Trumbull, CT} (2315) [B31]
Gameknot.com, August 28, 2013 to August 31, 2013
Analyis board for this game
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.0-0 Bg7 5.Re1 Nf6 6.e5 Nd5 7.Nc3 Nc7 8.Bxc6 dxc6 9.Ne4 Ne6 10.d3 b6 11.Be3 Qc7 12.a3 0-0 13.Qd2 Rd8 14.b4 Nd4 15.Bxd4 cxd4 16.Qf4 h6 17.h4 Be6 18.h5 g5 19.Nexg5 hxg5 20.Nxg5 Qd7 21.Nf3 Bf8

21...a5 22.h6 Bf8 23.Re4 c5 24.bxc5 bxc5 25.Qh4=

22.h6 a5 23.Re4 axb4

23...c5 24.bxc5 bxc5 25.Qh4=

24.Rxd4 Qc7 25.Rxb4 c5 26.Qg3+ Kh8 27.Rf4= Qc6 28.Re1 Ra4 29.Re3 Rxf4 30.Qxf4 Bd5

30...c4 31.Ng5 cxd3 32.cxd3 Ra8 33.Rg3 Rc8 34.Nxf7+ Bxf7 35.Qxf7 Bxh6 36.Kh2 Rf8 37.Qxe7 Qa4 38.Rf3 Rxf3 39.gxf3 Qd4 40.Kg2 Qxd3 41.Qf6+ Bg7 42.Qxb6 Bxe5 43.Qh6+ Qh7 44.Qxh7+ Kxh7=

31.Ng5 f6 32.e6 fxg5 33.Qe5+ Kh7

33...Kg8? 34.h7+ Kxh7 35.Qf5+ Kh8 36.Rh3+ Bh6 37.Rxh6+ Kg7 38.Qxg5+ Kf8 39.Rh8#

34.Qf5+ Kh8 35.Qe5+ Kh7 36.Qf5+ Kh8 37.Qe5+ ½-½


Niro,F (2247) - guardiao {Portugal} (2497) [B31]
Gameknot.com, August 13, 2013 to September 24, 2013
Analysis board for this game
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. e5 Nd5 7. Nc3 Nc7 8. Bxc6 dxc6 9. d3 O-O 10. h3 Ne6 11. Ne2 Nd4 12. Nexd4 cxd4 13. Bd2 c5 14. Qc1 b6 15. Bh6 Bb7 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Qf4 Qd7 18. Ng5 Qf5 19. Qxf5 gxf5 20. h4 Rac8 21. b3 Rg8 22. Nh3 Kh6 23. Nf4 Rg4 24. g3 Rxf4 25. gxf4 Rg8+ 26. Kf1 Bf3 27. Rec1 Rg4 28. Ke1 Rxf4 29. Kd2 Rxh4 30. c3 Rh2 31. cxd4 cxd4 32. Rf1 Kg5 33. Rac1 Kf4 34. Rc7 e6 35. Rxa7 h5 36. Rxf7 Bg2 37. Re1 Bf3 38. Rf1 Bg2 39. Re1 1/2-1/2


Niro,F (2207) - wwgia (1772) {Italy} [B31]
Gameknot.com, April 2, 2013 to April 16, 2013
Analysis board for this game
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. e5 Nd5 7. Nc3 Nc7 8. Bxc6 dxc6 9. Ne4 b6 10. Nf6+ exf6 11. exf6+ Kf8 12. fxg7+ Kxg7 13. b3 Ne6 14. Rxe6 Bxe6 15. Bb2+ f6 16. Ng5 Qd5 17. Qe1 Rae8 18. Ne4 Rhf8 19. Qe3 Bd7 20. d3 Kg8 21. Qf4 Bf5 22. Nxf6+ Rxf6 23. Bxf6 Qe6 24. Bc3 b5 25. h3 Rf8 26. Re1 Qd5 27. Re7 1-0


Niro,F (2207) - wwgia (1772) {Italy} [B31]
Gameknot.com, October 6, 2013 to October 9, 2013
Analysis board for this game
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. e5 Nd5 7. Nc3 Nc7 8. Bxc6 dxc6 9. Ne4 b6 10. Nf6+ exf6 11. exf6+ Kf8 12. fxg7+ Kxg7 13. b3 Ne6 14. Re4 Re8 15. Bb2+ f6 16. d3 Bd7 17. Qd2 Qc7 18. Rae1 Rad8 19. Qc3 Nd4 20. Nxd4 cxd4 21. Qxd4
1-0

And finally, one that ends with the "Philidor Position."

Niro,F (2235) - Todorov,D {Bulgaria} (1905) [B31]
Gameknot.com, May 18, 2014
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.0-0 Bg7 5.Re1 Nf6 6.e5 Nd5 7.Nc3 Nc7 8.Bxc6 dxc6 9.Ne4 Ne6 10.d3 0-0 11.Be3 b6 12.Qd2 Nd4 13.Nxd4 cxd4 14.Bh6 c5 15.Qf4 Bb7 16.h4 Qd5 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.f3 h6

18...Rae8 19.Nf6 Lutz 19...exf6 20.exf6+ Kh8 21.Qh6; 18...Rad8 19.h5 Timman

19.Nf2=

19.Nf6? exf6 20.exf6+ Kh7!-+

19...Qe6 20.a4 Rad8 21.a5 b5 22.Ng4 Rh8 23.a6 Bd5 24.b3 Qc6 25.Qg3 Be6 26.Nf2 Kh7 27.Ne4 Rb8 28.Qf2 Rhc8 29.f4 Bd5 30.f5 gxf5 31.Qxf5+ Qg6 32.Qxg6+ fxg6 33.Ng3 Be6 34.Rf1 Rc6 35.h5 Rg8 36.Ra5 Rb6 37.hxg6+ Rxg6 38.Ne4 Bd5 39.Rf8 h5 40.Kf2 Kg7 41.Rd8 Bxe4 42.dxe4 Rg4 43.Rd7 Kf7 44.g3 h4 45.gxh4 Rxe4 46.Rxa7 Rg6 47.Rxe7+ Kxe7 48.a7 Rf4+ 49.Ke2 Rg2+ 50.Ke1 Rxh4 51.Kf1 Rg8 52.a8Q Rxa8 53.Rxa8 Kd7 54.b4 c4 55.Ra6 Ke7 56.Rd6 Rh2 57.Rxd4 Ke6 58.c3 Rc2 59.Rd8 Kxe5 60.Re8+ Kf4 61.Ke1 Rxc3 62.Rb8 Re3+ 63.Kd2 Re5 64.Kc3 Ke4 65.Rc8 Rd5 66.Re8+ Kf5 67.Re3 Rd1 68.Kc2 Rf1 69.Re8 Rh1 70.Rb8 Ke4 71.Rxb5 Kd4 72.Rg5 Rh2+ 73.Kc1 Kc3 74.Rg3+ Kxb4

75.Rf3 (position above) Philidor ½-½

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Here's what can happen if Black plays 5...e5 instead of Nf6 (from coach Curdo's games):
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Curdo,John - Wolk,Elliot [B31]
Wethersfield, CT, July 25, 1981
Notes by FM John Curdo (originally published in the Boston Globe)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.0-0 Bg7 5.Re1 e5 6.c3 Nge7 7.d4!? exd4 8.cxd4 Nxd4 9.Nxd4 Bxd4? 10.Nc3 0-0 11.Bg5 f6

11...Bg7 12.e5!; 11...d6!?

12.Bh6 Re8 13.Ne2! Nc6 14.Qb3+ Kh8 15.Qf7 Rg8 16.Bxc6 dxc6 17.Nxd4 Qxd4

17...cxd4 18.e5

18.Rad1 Qe5

19.Rd8!

Black resigned 19...Be6 20.Bg7# 1-0

Curdo,J - Mishkin,P [B31]
Tewksbury, MA, October 6, 2002
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.0-0 Bg7 5.Re1 e5 6.c3 Nge7 7.d4 cxd4 8.cxd4 exd4 9.e5 0-0 10.Bg5 Qb6 11.Na3 Nf5 12.Qd2 d5 13.Bxc6 bxc6 14.g4 Ne3 15.fxe3 Bxg4 16.Rf1 Bxf3 17.Rxf3 Bxe5 18.Rb1 dxe3 19.Bxe3 Qc7 20.Nc2 Qd7 21.Rf2 f5 22.Bc5 Rf7 23.Nd4 Bc7 24.Re1 Bb6 25.Qc3 Re8 26.Rxe8+ Qxe8 27.Re2 Qd7 28.Bxb6 axb6 29.Qxc6 Qxc6 30.Nxc6 Rd7 31.Kf2 Kf8 32.Kf3 Rc7 33.Re6 b5 34.Kf4 b4 35.Ke5 b3 36.axb3 d4 37.Nxd4 Kf7 38.b4 Rc1 39.Rf6+ Ke7 40.Rc6 Re1+ 41.Kd5 Rd1 42.b5 Kd7 43.Rf6 Ke7 44.Ra6 f4 45.b6 f3 46.b7 f2 47.b8Q f1Q 48.Qc7+ 1-0

Curdo,John - Mishkin,Paul [B31]
Natick, MA, November 5, 2002
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.0-0 Bg7 5.Re1 e5 6.c3 Nge7 7.d4 cxd4 8.cxd4 Nxd4 9.Nxd4 exd4 10.e5 0-0 11.Bg5 Qe8 12.Nd2 Nc6 13.Ne4 Qe6 14.f4 d5 15.exd6 Qf5 16.Bd3 Qg4 17.Qd2 f6 18.Bc4+ Kh8 19.Nxf6 Bxf6 20.Bxf6+ Rxf6 21.Re8+ Kg7 22.Rg8+ Kh6 23.f5+ g5 24.Rf1 Ne5 25.Be2 Rxf5 26.Bxg4 Rxf1+ 27.Kxf1 1-0

John Curdo lives in Massachusetts and will turn 83 on November 14.