SPICE Cup begins on 19th!
The highly-anticipated SPICE Cup tournament will begin on September 19th and touts one of the strongest lineups in U.S. history for a closed tournament. GM Susan Polgar has raised the stakes and improved on last year’s tournament that had an average rating of 2605.5. This year’s field has an array of strong, young talent including several of the world’s top junior players. The strength tips the scale at 2631 or Category 16.
|
Nation
|
Flag
|
ELO
|
|
|
GM Dmitry Andreikin
|
Russia
|
 |
2659
|
|
GM Wesley So
|
Philippines
|
 |
2644
|
|
GM Varuzhan Akobian
|
USA
|
 |
2636
|
|
GM Yuriy Kuzubov
|
Ukraine
|
 |
2636
|
|
GM Rauf Mamedov
|
Azerbaijan
|
 |
2626
|
|
GM Jon Ludvig Hammer
|
Norway
|
 |
2585
|
There is also a Category 11 “B” tournament held in conjunction with the “A” tournament. This tournament also boasts an impressive field with 14-year old phenom IM Ray Robson vying for his last Grandmaster norm. He will have a tough road in facing top seed IM Gabor Papp of Hungary. There is another player vying for his 3rd GM norm and that is IM Benjamin Finegold. The Michigan-based player is arguably the strongest IM in the country and hopes to close the deal in Lubbock.
| Player |
Nation
|
Flag
|
ELO
|
| IM Gabor Papp |
Hungary
|
 |
2562
|
| IM Davorin Kuljasevic |
Croatia
|
 |
2547
|
| GM Eugene Perelshteyn |
USA
|
|
2542
|
| IM Ray Robson |
USA
|
|
2527
|
| GM Andre Diamant |
Brazil
|
 |
2526
|
| IM Ben Finegold |
USA
|
|
2515
|
| IM Gergely Antal |
HUN
|
|
2486
|
| GM Vinay Bhat |
USA
|
|
2474
|
| IM Oliver Barbosa |
PHI
|
|
2451
|
| FM Danny Rensch |
USA
|
|
2388
|
In the past several years, Texas Tech has gone from being a chess desert to a chess oasis under the leadership of Polgar. She has created a thriving chess community and a powerful collegiate team. Her continued success at organizing venues for girls and women’s chess have been commendable. Now she has added elite tournaments to her agenda. Certainly this tournament will bring excitement to Lubbock, Texas. Stay tuned!
Coverage: https://monroi.com/2009-spice-cup-chess-festival-home.html
SPICE Cup reports: https://susanpolgar.blogspot.com/search/label/SPICE%20Cup
I’m hoping for GM Ben Finegold and GM Ray Robson!
Ben will be Michigan’s first native GM.
If Ray earns his last norm in this tournament he will be the youngest American GM in history.
Saturday, 19th September 2009, 2pm
Saturday, 19th September 2009, 2pm
Games: https://www.thechessdrum.net/palview4/spicecup2009-1.htm
Photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/SPICEChess
Sunday, 20th September 2009, 2pm
Sunday, 20th September 2009, 2pm
Games: https://www.thechessdrum.net/palview4/spicecup2009-2.htm
Photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/SPICEChess
Group A
1st-2nd: Andreikin, Hammer 1.5
3rd-4th: Kuzubov, Mamedov 1.0
5th-6th: So, Akobian 0.5
Group B
1st: Antal 2.0;
2nd-3rd: Robson, Finegold 1.5;
4th-7th: Papp, Bhat, Kuljasevic, Perelshteyn 1.0
8th-9th: Diamant, Rensch 0.5
10th: Ippolito 0.0
1 small correction. Kuljasevic was white against Diamant in round 2.
Best wishes,
Susan
Monday, 21st September 2009, 2pm
Monday, 21st September 2009, 2pm
Games: https://www.thechessdrum.net/palview4/spicecup2009-3.htm
Photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/SPICEChess
A Group
1st-2nd: Andreikin, Kuzubov 2.0
3rd-4th: Hammer, Mamedov 1.5
5th-6th: So, Akobian 1.0
B Group
1st: Finegold 2.5
2nd-5th: Bhat, Antal, Perelshteyn, Papp 2.0
6th: Robson 1.5
7th-9th: Diamant, Kuljasevic, Rensch 1.0
10th: Ippolito 0.0
FYI
Vinay Bhat is a Grand Master as of October 2008, Mon Roi still lists him as an IM.
Not sure where they get that record. Bhat had a big post on his blog after he made GM. He put his FIDE profile up to prove that FIDE had awarded him the title. Very nice individual. 🙂
Bhat and Robson is a match between two former record holders for youngest U.S. National Master. Nicholas Nip now owns that record (age nine).
Amazing game by Bhat!! Finegold gets a 15-move miniature… trapping opponent’s queen. Ouch!
Tuesday, 22nd September 2009, 2pm
Tuesday, 22nd September 2009, 2pm
Games: https://www.thechessdrum.net/palview4/spicecup2009-4.htm
Photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/SPICEChess
A Group
1st-3rd: Hammer, Kuzubov, Andreikin 2.5
4th: Mamedov 2.0
5th: So 1.5
6th: Akobian 1.0
B Group
1st-3rd: Antal, Finegold, Perelshteyn 3.0
4th-5th: Bhat, Papp 2.5
6th: Robson 2.0
7th-8th: Rensch, Kuljasevic 1.5
9th: Diamant 1.0
10th: Ippolito 0.0
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2009/09/22/spice-cup-sizzling-in-1st-half/
Tuesday, 23rd September 2009, 2pm
Tuesday, 23rd September 2009, 2pm
Round 5: https://www.thechessdrum.net/palview4/spicecup2009-5.htm
A Group
1st-3rd: Hammer, Kuzubov, Andreikin 3.0
4th: Mamedov 2.5
5th: So 2.0
6th: Akobian 1.5
B Group
1st: Finegold, 4.0 (needs 2/4 for GM norm and title)
2nd-3rd: Bhat, Perelshteyn 3.5
4th: Antal,3.0
5th-6th: Papp (3.5/4 for 2nd GM norm), Robson (3.5/4 for GM norm & title), 2.5
7th-8th: Rensch (2/4 for IM norm & title), Kuljasevic (needs 4/4 for GM norm & title), 2.0
9th: Diamant 1.5
10th: Ippolito 0.5
Thursday, 24th September 2009, 2pm
Games: https://www.thechessdrum.net/palview4/spicecup2009-6.htm
Photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/SPICEChess
B Group
1st: Finegold 5.0 (needs 1/3 for GM norm and title)
2nd-3rd: Bhat, Perelshteyn 4.0
4th: Robson 3.5 (needs 2.5/3 for GM norm and title)
5th: Antal 3.0 (needs 3/3 for GM norm and title)
6th-8th: Papp, Kuljasevic, Rensch (needs 1.5/3 for IM norm and title) 2.5
9th: Diamant 2.0
10th: Ippolito 1.0
Friday, 25th September 2009, 2pm
Friday, 25th September 2009, 2pm
Games: Group A Group B
Photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/SPICEChess
A Group (six rounds)
1st-3rd: Hammer, Kuzubov, Andreikin 3.5
4th: Mamedov 3.0
5th: So 2.5
6th: Akobian 2.0
B Group (seven rounds)
1st: Finegold 5.5 (needs .5 /2 for GM title)
2nd-3rd: Perelshteyn, Bhat 4.5
4th: Robson 4.0 (needs 2/2 for GM title)
5th: Antal 3.5
6th-8th: Papp, Kuljasevic, Rensch 3.0 (needs 1/2 for IM title)
9th: Diamant 2.5
10th: Ippolito 1.5
Saturday, 26th September 2009, 2pm
Saturday, 26th September 2009, 2pm
Games: Group A Group B
Photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/SPICEChess
A Group (seven rounds)
1st-3rd: Hammer, Kuzubov, Andreikin 4
4th: Mamedov 3.5
5th: So 3
6th: Akobian 2.5
B Group (eight rounds)
1st: Finegold, 6 (GM norm!)
2nd-4th: Perelshteyn, Bhat, Robson (needs 1/1 for GM title), 5.0
5th: Papp, 4
6th-8th: Rensch (needs .5/1 for IM title), Kuljasevic, Antal, 3.5
9th: Diamant, 2.5
10th: Ippolito, 2
FM Rensch gets 3rd IM norm!
Quick Flash!
The SPICE “B” group has been the tournament of action. Fighting games, norms on the line and ambitious play has created quite an exciting future for budding GMs. Ben Finegold has scored his last GM norm and Danny Rensch has scored his last IM norm. There was a three way tie for 1st with Finegold, Vinay Bhat and Eugene Perelshteyn scoring 6/9. Bhat was a last-minute replacement for GM Amon Simutowe.
The “A” is competitive, but perhaps a bit too many draws. There is a round in progress and one more round remaining. There is three-way tie for 1st place with Hammer, Kuzubov, Andreikin on +1. With a group of young stars, the play has been relatively even with no breakaway result.
Sunday, 27 September 2009, 2pm
Sunday, 27th September 2009, 10am
Games: Group A Group B
Photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/SPICEChess
A Group (eight rounds)
1st-3rd: Hammer, Kuzubov, Andreikin 4.5
4th: Mamedov 4.0
5th: So 3.5
6th: Akobian 3.0
B Group (Final Standings)
1st-3rd: Finegold, 6 (GM norm!), Perelshteyn, Bhat, 6.0
4th: Robson, 5.5
5th: Papp, 5.0
6th-8th: Rensch (IM norm!), Kuljasevic, Antal, 4.0
9th: Diamant, 2.5
10th: Ippolito, 2.0
Going into the 9th round in Group “A”, 20/24 games have been drawn!
Monday, 28 September 2009, 2pm
Games: https://www.thechessdrum.net/palview4/spicecup2009-9a.htm
Photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/SPICEChess
A Group (nine rounds)
1st-2nd: Kuzubov, Andreikin, 5.0
4th-5th: Mamedov, Hammer, 4.5
5th-6th: So, Akobian, 4.0
Analysis: This will turn out to be an exciting finale despite the high number of draws (22/27). The field is evenly-matched and only one point separates the field with one round remaining. This will be a tournament to analyze. Certainly not a boring tournament, but the players have paced themselves and avoided (at all costs) falling too far behind. There are some crazy mathematical possibilities.
The final pairings are: Hammer-Mamedov, Kuzubov-Akobian and So–Andreikin. If Akobian and So win and Hammar-Mamedov match is draw there could a massive six-way tie!! Wow!
Tuesday, 28 September 2009, 2pm
Games: https://www.thechessdrum.net/palview4/spicecup2009-10a.htm
Photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/SPICEChess
A Group (Final Standings)
1st-3rd: Mamedov, Kuzubov, Andreikin, 5.5
4th-6th: Hammer, So, Akobian, 4.5
A three-way playoff is being played to determine the overall winner. Susan Polgar has reported that Kuzubov has won the championship in the blitz tiebreak.
Game 1: Kuzubov 1-0 Mamedov
Game 2: Mamedov 1-0 Kuzubov
Game 3: Andreikin 1/2 Mamedov
Game 4: Mamedov 0-1 Andreikin
Game 5: Kuzubov 1/2 Andreikin
Game 6: Andreikin 0-1 Kuzubov
Final: Kuzubov 2-1/2, Andreikin 2, Mamedov 1-1/2