News
Amanov Wins Tim Just Winter Open
- Details
- Written by Mark Parnaby Mark Parnaby
- Created: 17 February 2010 17 February 2010
GM Mesgen Amanov swept the Open section of Tim Just's Winter Open XXIV, defeating Hongshun Xu, Gavin McClanahan, Gregory Bungo, Andy Appelbaum and Michael Auger. Experts Auger and Appelbaum shared second at 4 points with NM Eric Rosen.
Bryce McClanahan similarly swept the Reserve Section, with Nathaniel Kranjc, Tony Christian, Joe Delay, Gee Leong and Kevin Davenport tying for second with 4 points. Bryce defeated Adream Liang, Rachel Ulrich, Christopher Girardo, Christian and Davenport.
IM Young is an All Star (of the First Rank)
- Details
- Created: 17 December 2009 17 December 2009
Congratulations to IM Angelo Young of the Chicago Blaze for being named an all-star in U.S. Chess League's first team. The league has first, second, and third all-star teams, and Angelo is Board 3, behind GMs Hikaru Nakamura and Boris Gulko, on the first team. With NM Eric Rodriguez on board four, that's one heck of a team.
That's All, Folks!
- Details
- Created: 28 November 2009 28 November 2009
Blaze draw division-leading Sluggers to end a down-and-up season
The Chicago Blaze finished their 2009 USCL season on November 4 with a 2-2 draw against the division-leading Seattle Sluggers, capping off a late-season mini-surge that gave the team a respectable 4-6 record on the year after a poor start in the first half of the schedule.
With the Blaze officially eliminated from playoff competition by Miami’s draw against Boston the previous week, the pressure was off the Chicago squad, and they were relaxed going into the final round against the heavily favored Sluggers. That and the good turnout of fans at the Holiday Inn Skokie created a festive atmosphere for the night that helped the team hold the Pacific Northwest powerhouse.
One of the Blazers who took full advantage of the circumstances was IM Florin Felecan, who scored his first USCL victory against FM Slava Mikhailuk in a 28-move Sicilian Rossolimo. It took NM Eric Rosen a few more moves to prevail over NM Joshua Sinanan in a Closed Sicilian, but prevail he did, and the two wins secured the draw against Seattle.
Pushing Wood at the 24th North American Masters
- Details
- Created: 19 November 2009 19 November 2009
I think everyone has experienced this feeling, you go to a tournament and you’re the lowest rated player in the event. Your confidence then goes way down and you are in somewhat awe of your fellow opponent’s rating.
Well this is what is happening to me at Sevan’s tournament in January 2010. The field has been set it is a 10 round 5 player double round robin tournament. Five games on a weekend in January and five on a weekend in February.
It is unusual being a Master and all to be the lowest rated player and it hasn’t happened to me for a long time. I will be playing with IM’s Felecan, Pasalic and Vishnuvardhan. FM’s Admason and Shankar. Then me the lowly untitled player.
[game follows . . .]
Karklins Ties for First at Kings Island
- Details
- Created: 16 November 2009 16 November 2009
FM Andrew Karklins scored 4/6 in the Open Section of the 2009 Kings Island tournament last weekend and tied for first place.
Andrew has of course been playing chess for while and despite not playing too often he always seems to do well when he does.
Andrew took a draw in the first round against an Ohio expert. He then proceeded to defeat 3 expert players and draw with an IM.
Congratulations to Andrew for a fine performance. He gained 16 rating points from the tournament to move up to 2263.
In other news from the tournament expert Zach Kasiurak scored 4/6 in the U2100 section to tie for second place. Zach gained 27 rating points to move up to 2061.
Expert from Evanston chess club Matthew Pullin scored 3.5/6 in the U2100 section for a tie for fourth place only losing one game to the section winner. Matthew gained 10 rating points to move up to 2049.