Archive for March 30th, 2010

USCF online has posted some of IM-elect Mackenzie (”Mac”) Molner’s “Macnificent Games” from the recent 25th North American Masters tournament, March 20-24th in Skokie, IL (alongside the World Amateur Championship).  The former New Jersey stand-out and current NYU student tied for first with GM Ben Finegold, securing both his final IM norm and first GM norm.  His games are worth a look, including an interesting example of the Gunsberg Variation of the Two Knights as White (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Bd3!?)

I have added 2 Checkmate Championship games to my PGN Archive for 2010 :

• Minkov 1/2 Kernighan, from round 2; which you can replay &/or download
• Mann 0-1 Sherry, from round 4; which you can copy here.
  

Updated standings & 4th round replay + zip to follow.

Ken Chieu, Don Carrelli & Ted Mann won the Kenilworth Quads #3 held March 11-25th. Chieu’s victory moves him close to the magic 2200 level.

Section 1

1. Ken Chieu (2180) 2.5
2. NM Mark Kernighan (2200) 1.5
3. Arthur Macaspac (2131) 1.0
3. Ari Minkov (1968) 1.0

3/25
Kernighan 0-1 Chieu
Minkov +- Macaspac (colors not chosen)

Section 2

1. Don Carrelli (1866) 3.0
2. Ian Mangion (1923) 1.0
2. Glen Hart (1707) 1.0
2. Joe Demetrick (1660) 1.0

3/25
Mangion 0-1 Carrelli
Demetrick 0-1 Hart

Section 3

1. Ted Mann (1515) 3.0
2. Lou Sturniolo (1507) 2.0
2. Gordon Agress (1331) 2.0
4. Dan Komunicky (1481) 1.0
4. Bert Shiffman (1315) 1.0
5. Jim Cole (1133) 0.0

3/25
Agress 0-1 Mann
Sturniolo +- Komunicky
Shiffman 1-0 Cole

Round 3 Replays
Round 3 PGN

This is not just any event – it took place on the campus grounds of the University of the West Indies at Mona, Jamaica, nestled in a lush valley, one of the most scenic areas in Greater Kingston. On the free day participants could typically scramble up waterfalls or swim with dolphins. The chess action was dominated by Uzbek GM Timur Gareyev from the University of Texas. Big pictorial report.

The world economic crisis is being felt in chess. In Bulgaria the the annual MTel tournament has been cancelled this year, and the very popular Mainz Chess Classic has been reduced to a three-day simul and open. Still, two world champions are part of the former, and a very large elite field of GMs is expected to play in the latter, which carries a prize fund of €30,000. Press release.