2009 U.S. Chess Championship (St. Louis, USA)

The first round of the U.S. Championship has begun and it is in progress now. Hikaru Nakamura and Alexander Shabalov will be an interesting battle. Several players will make their debut including hometown favorite, Charles Lawton.

There is nothing strange about the Casino de Barcelona tournament, except the way it is presented on the MSA page. What happens is, if a USCF member plays in a foreign tournament, he has the option of submitting that foreign performance for USCF rating purposes. It is possible it is no longer optional, and now mandatory. In any case, for other examples that should make this process clear, look up Hikaru Nakamura on MSA, and look at the pages for the Gibraltar Open, Olympiad, Montreal Open, and Japan League. You will see that only USCF members are listed.

Magistral Casino de Barcelona 2008

Final standings:

1. GM Alexey Dreev (RUS 2670) – 7.0
2. GM Kiril Georgiev (BUL 2644) – 6.5
3. GM Baadur Jobava (GEO 2664) – 5.5
4. GM Boris Gulko (USA 2552) – 5.0
5-6. IM Fidel Corrales (CUB 2551) and GM Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL 2550) – 4.5
7. GM Josep Manuel López (ESP 2547) – 4.0
8. GM Holden Hernández (CUB 2580) – 3.0
9-10. GM Marc Narciso (ESP 2511) and GM Artur Kogan (ISR 2561) – 2.5

This US Championship is said to be the strongest in history. One poster on Mig’s Daily Dirt stated that this was hard to believe given that players such as Alexander Ivanov, Alexander Yermolinsky and Alexander Lenderman are not playing. I believe we’ve seen Ivanov and Yermolinsky play in this tournament for 20 years and it refreshing to see players like Robert Hess, Michael Brooks and Charles Lawton get in through the wildcard.

This is a way of rewarding obscure players who have done a lot for chess in their local communities. Brooks was once one of the strongest young talents in the country. IM Enrico Sevilliano is also an interesting addition and is the first Filipino to compete in the U.S. Championship. These stories add intrigue to the event.

We all remember the 80s when the same permutation players seem to be playing for the U.S. Championship every year and became a routine that fans grew tired of. With names like Julio Becerra, Josh Friedel and Ray Robson, it presents a representative cross section of where the talent lies in the U.S.

Two games left. Friedel seems to be winning against Kaidanov. Lawton is still battling with Sevilliano… seems drawn although 70.h4 was an interesting try. Check this game!

I should have been in St. Louis. I just read in the LA Chronicle that America Idol participant Aloha Mischeaux from a few seasons ago performed at the opening ceremonies of the U.S. Chess Championship.

One poster said 20…Nf4 was a blunder in the Sevilliano-Lawton game. He suggests 20…Nxd4, but of course when you’re facing pressure (king in center), simplest moves don’t come easy.

Still no word yet on the ending of game.

Reading the account given in the link above, and the cited sections from both the USCF and FIDE rule books, the final score of that game is a travesty. The fair step at this point would be for the arbiter to apologize for incorrectly interfering with the game, and then set the result 1/2-1/2.

I am following the discussion of the Sevilliano-Lawton+Arbiter situation, however I am confused about what the actual last move, and end position was. A) I have seen accounts that white’s Rc7 was the last move with the Black Bishop already on f6. B) And I have seen accounts of the last move being Black’s bishop to f6 with white’s Rc7 already played. I do understand that the reported account of the arbiter’s clear error affected the outcome of this game, but without a clear statement of the game account, and mention of when the arbiter’s interference occured, I find the game assessment a little unclear. Obviously, in a stand alone format without an arbiter, A) above is a clear draw, but B) indicates that maybe Black was outplayed in an equal position. Of course both A) and B) could also be positions that occur as a result of the arbiter’s mistake and influence. By all appearances, the arbiter’s enforcement of the rules was applied somewhat subjectively or punitively as to the question of ‘legibility’ as Mr. Lawton clearly followed her instruction by all reported accounts. In any case, I would like to know the true game account. My references include both this site and the official championship site or Monroi aided game presentations, and all text linked to this site concerning this incident. Thanks in advance for any clarity you can provide. Peace – Kimani A. Stancil

Chess fans will notice a change in the pairings. Anna Zatonskih had to withdraw from the tournament due to having to undergo an emergency surgery. She’ll be fine. Organizers scrambled to find a replacement and found FM Doug Eckert of Missouri. I remember Eckert being a top junior in the 80s.

Standings

1st-5th: Kamsky, Nakamura, Shulman, Friedel, Akobian, 3.0
6th-10th: Onischuk, Ehlvest, Hess, Khachiyan, Shakland, 2.5
11th-16th: Becerra, Kaidanov, Benjamin, Brooks, Robson, Hughes, 2.0
17th-20th: Sevillano, Krush, Christiansen, Shabalov, 1.5
21st-22nd: Ibragimov, Gulko, 1
23rd-24th: Eckert, Lawton, 0

Zatonskih, .5 (withdrew)

Good games today! Kamsky and Nakamura mixed it up in an exciting battle but would agree to a draw after 35 moves. Ehlvest sacrificed his queen with the speculative 20.Qxc5!? He seemed to have gotten play with his minor pieces, but ended with little compensation. Black had a material advantage and a formidable pawn center to boot.

Another exciting game was Sevillano-Brooks. The Missouri native played a solid Alekhine while the Cuban native played an attacking setup. Black played the interesting 27…b6 getting the two bishops after 28.Bxa5 bxa5. This bishop would become a terror and decide the game. Black won a central pawn and took over the game. Out of desperation, Becerra sacked an exchange, but got little for his investment. Brooks finished the game nicely.

Shulman and Akobian will play tomorrow as the games will start to heat up!

Standings

1st-2nd: Shulman, Akobian, 4.0
3rd-6th: Kamsky, Nakamura, Onischuk, Hess, 3.5
7th-9th: Friedel, Benjamin, Brooks, 3.0
10th-15th: Ehlvest, Shakland, Khachiyan, Kaidanov, Robson, Sevillano, 2.5
16th-19th: Becerra, Christiansen, Krush, Hughes, 2.0
20th-22nd: Ibragimov, Gulko, Shabalov, 1.5
23rd: Eckert, 1
24th: Lawton, 0

Zatonskih, .5 (withdrew)

This tournament is shaping up as anticipated. The three highest-rated players hold the top three positions, but the surprise of the tournament has to be GM-elect Robert Hess (right). While he already has the norms for the title, it is always good to gain additional norms to squelch any ideas one’s worthiness.

Other contenders are defending champion Yury Shulman and Varuzhan Akobian. Five of the top six positions are held by members of the 2008 bronze medal Olympiad team. Hess will definitely have future chances to win his own Olympiad medals. In round 7, he took the full point from Josh Friedel.

This tournament has been so competitive that upsets are becoming common. Hess, Robson are shining while Sam Shankland and Tyler Hughes have gained valuable experience. Michael Brooks is having a phenomenal tournament and is on course for a GM norm. He is on +1. His long-time friend Lawton is still looking to break the goose egg.

Standings

1st-4th: Kamsky, Nakamura, Onischuk, Hess, 5.0
5th-6th: Shulman, Akobian, 4.5
7th-11th: Friedel, Ehlvest, Brooks, Benjamin, Sevillano, 4.0
12th-14th: Kaidanov, Robson, Ibragimov, 3.5
15th-20th: Krush, Christiansen, Becerra, Hughes, Gulko, Shabalov, 3.0
21st-22nd: Shankland, Khachiyan, 2.5
23rd: Eckert, 1
24th: Lawton, 0

Zatonskih, .5 (withdrew)

Robert Hess enroute to his victory over defending champion Yury Shulman.
Photo by Daaim Shabazz.

Things get a bit more interesting with the victories of Robert Hess and Hikaru Nakamaru over Yury Shulman and Michael Brooks, respectively. Hess is having perhaps his best performance and is now on stage to win the tournament! Hikaru Nakamura put Brooks’ GM norm chances in jeopardy by winning in convincing manner in a Sveshnikov. Brooks stumbled in the complications and Nakamura deftly wrapped up the point.

Fourteen-year old Ray Robson is still in the hunt for a GM norm and crushed Enrico Sevillano and will need to win his last round to earn the norm. Despite his loss, Brooks will need to win his last game to get his first GM norm. His other Missouri comrades were more fortunate.

Local product Doug Eckert won against Melikset Khachiyan. The tax accountant is serving as an alternate for Anna Zatonskih and told The Chess Drum that he never dreamt he’d have a chance to play in this tournament. With three kids and and a busy schedule, Eckert lives in Quincy and has little time to work on his game. Charles Lawton got on the board today by playing an exciting game with Samuel Shankland.

Charles Lawton opening against Samuel Shankland.
Photo by Daaim Shabazz.

After game ended in a draw, Lawton breathed a sign of relief and flashed a bright smile. Later he seen socializing with local kids and giving autographs. It was a great sight to see a local legend interacting with kids. Clearly the young guns are firing off in this tournament. Nakamura, Hess, Friedel and Robson all represent the future of U.S Chess and this tournament may represent the coming of a new era.

Standings

1st-2nd: Nakamura, Hess, 6.0
3rd-5th: Kamsky, Onischuk, Akobian, 5.5
6th: Friedel, 5.0
7th-8th: Shulman, Robson,
9th-16th: Ehlvest, Brooks, Benjamin, Sevillano, Christiansen, Ibragimov, Kaidanov, Shabalov, 4.0
17th-18th: Becerra, Gulko, 3.5
19th-21st: Krush, Shankland, Hughes, 3.0
22nd: Khachiyan, 2.5
23rd: Eckert, 2
24th: Lawton, .5

Zatonskih, .5 (withdrew)

I just finished chatting with him for a few minutes. I will do an interview with him later on. I posted to pics on Picasa…

https://picasaweb.google.com/daaimshabazz/2009USChessChampionship02#

I sent him a “don’t give up” message yesterday. I hope it helped him. 😉

Just posted some pics in a separate post…

https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2009/05/16/spirit-of-st-louis-chess/

Hess is certainly a talent. I’ve watched him ever since I played him years back. All the young guns are doing well. Nakamura, Friedel, Hess, Robson are all products of U.S. chess which seems to indicate a changing of the guard.

Final Standings

1st: Nakamura, 7.0
2nd-3rd: Hess, Onischuk, 6.5
4th-5th: Kamsky, Akobian, 6.0
6th-9th: Friedel, Shulman, Ibragimov, Christiansen, 5.0
10th-15th: Ehlvest, Robson, Benjamin, Kaidanov, Shabalov, Gulko, 4.5
16th-19th: Brooks, Sevillano, Becerra, Hughes, 4.0
20th: Krush, 3.5
21st-22nd: Shankland, Khachiyan, 3.0
23rd: Eckert, 2
24th: Lawton, 1

Zatonskih, .5 (withdrew)

HIKARU NAKAMURA… 2009 U.S. CHESS CHAMPION

Hikaru Nakamura topples Josh Friedel and is the new U.S. Champion!
Photo by Daaim Shabazz.

NAKAMURA is amazing.just when everyone thought he was going to Texas University ,he went to probably Dickinson college ,now when all think he wont maintain 2700,he grows stronger ,Haha Smallville aka Star Wars stares fortune directly in the face always,brave taking risks.