Report on the 51st Gem City Open
Report on the 51st Gem City Open
Players came from 8 different states. Primarily from Ohio, but seven other states were represented as well: Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri, Illinois, West Virginia, Virginia, and New York.
Want to take a quick look at the final standings in all sections? Then go to USCF’s website at http://www.uschess.org/msa/XtblMain.php?200906143581.1-12556822 and look through all the sections to your heart’s content. Want to take a look at how FIDE rated the OPEN Section? Go to FIDE’s website at http://ratings.fide.com/view_source.phtml?code=42844#8 and note how a number of players are not rated for rounds 1 and 2. Why? Because the time controls for rounds 1 and 2 of the 2 day schedule were too fast for FIDE rating purposes. However, keep reading to find the winners – some unexpected – in each section below.
In the OPEN Section Kentucky took first place when GM Alex Goldin scored 4.5 points! Clear second went to Indiana NM Jim Dean with 4.0 points. Third/Fourth place was shared by Ohio’s NM Carl Boor and Tennessee’s NM Jerry Wheeler with 3.5 points each. Another, not so obvious winner in the OPEN Section was Missouri’s young Kevin Cao with the longest third round game where he finally drew with NM Jerry Wheeler. NM Wheeler complimented young Kevin Cao saying, “5 or 6 times you saved your game by finding the ‘only move’”. Kevin also picked up 30 rating points – the largest gain in the OPEN Section.
In the U2000 Section Ohio’s (and DCC’s) Les Whorton won clear first with 4.0 points after withdrawing from the OPEN section to join the U2000 where there were only 7 players (where were the A players?). Les Whorton also picked up 32 rating points, the greatest gain in the section. Clear second was taken by NM Carl B. Boor’s father (also from Ohio) Carl R. Boor with 3.5 points helped along by Andre Jaworowski’s last round loss. Nonetheless, Ohio’s Andre Jaworowski tied with Missouri’s Henry Cao for third place. In last place in the section was Missouri’s Margaret Hua – but she won’t be there long – she drew the number 1 seed and the first place finisher and hated the fact she did not win either game. Look out for her in the future.
In the U1800 Section Ohio’s players, James Lake and Joe Roberdeau duked it out in the last round. James Lake won, so he and Joe Roberdeau shared first place with 4 points each. Three Ohio players tied for third with 3.5 points each – Daniel Jones, Jeffrey Baugham, and Robert Dennis. Robert Dennis also gained 78 (!) rating points for his efforts – more than anyone else in the section.
In the U1600 Section, Ohio’s Jose Abutal took first place with a perfect 5.0 score (the only one of the tournament) and picked up an amazing 99 rating points. Way to go Jose! Tied for second/third were Ohio players David Wen and Spencer Carran with 4.0 points each. Spencer Carran also went from a provisional rating of 966 to 1273 as well! William Franklin (New York), John Sefton (Kentucky) and Joshua Mullet (Ohio) all finished back another half point (3.5) just outside of the prize money. Better luck next time fellows.
It was a terrific tournament to direct with only 2 disputes to resolve. We think the tournament numbers will increase to 80+ next year with players from maybe 9 or 10 states. Where were Michigan and Pennsylvania this year?
RileyD, nwJ – TD
C.H.A.T. #1
Chess Here And There
The purpose of this regular column is to share items big and small about chess found around the web on chess that catch my interest and that I believe in turn will be of interest to you and others.
Chessedelic
For instance today, Friday, June 19, 2009, for my first recommendation from Chess Here And There I would like to bring to your attention a website with the improbable name “chessedelic” of all things – inspired by the term “psychedelic”.
It is not the name that has drawn me www.chessedelic.com, but instead a chess video on the site. A lecture if you will on a game between super GM’s Magnus Carlsen and Veselin Topalov at video #37: Carlsen vs. Topalov … the only complaint I have about the lecture is sometimes Waldemar Moes (FIDE 2036 currently) sometimes speaks too quietly. That may be more a function of my hearing rather than my volume settings. Check out the video and let me know what you think.
Chess Shots
Chess Couple
My next recommendation is due to a picture/photograph on GM Alexandra Kosteniuk’s website/blog under the heading Chess Couples showing the Bride and Groom as the King and Queen … does anyone recall an Ohio wedding with a chess motif and written up in the Ohio Chess Bulletin by yours truly?
Next are few of my favorite photos found around the web … two men playing chess next to the Ganges river in India. Then there are two sets from Menton on the French Riviera showing the range of interest in chess with the older and younger alike here and here.
Missing Snap
Then there is the photo that got away, sorry. It appeared somewhat basic with a title “Chess Lesson” with a board and two players up front – one older and one much younger – with 1 or 2 other games going on in the background in some café. What drew me to the photo was the thought the man was instructing the boy until I started a piece count and the boy was clearly giving the man ‘a lesson’ or a whupping. If any of you know of this photo please let me know … I would really like to share the actual photo rather than a description.
Chess and Baby Boomer Fears
Finally (for today) there is Chess and Alzheimer’s published on ChessNinja.com aka “The Daily Dirt Chess Blog” … for those of us ‘baby boomers’ this is an article of real interest and motivation to maintain our “dedicated amateur” status as noted in the article. While I clearly come down on the side of chess or chess like activities may help prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease, the discussion on this topic was very interesting no matter which side of the argument you take.
And now it is time to say goodbye until our next C.H.A.T. Thanks for reading and feel free to send any suggestions you have for C.H.A.T. topics in the future.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver
