Jorge Sammour-Hasbun: The ICC’s Cinderella Man
Who says lightening doesn’t strike twice? Last year’s Cinderella-story winner of the Internet Chess Club’s annual Dos Hermanas blitz tournament, Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (ICC NECF-InSchools), proved that lightening does indeed strike twice as he retained his title.
Sammour-Hasbun, 28, who lives in Massachusetts, was the only untitled player among the seven-strong grandmasters in the eight-player final, yet he defied the odds again to win the title and $3,4000 (approx. €2,000) first prize.
En route to the title, he beat IM Anton Kovalyov, GMs Timur Gareev, Jobava Baadur and Dmitry Kononenko, before defeating his good friend, GM Ronen Har-Zvi, by a score of 4-1, to take the top prize and online blitz bragging rights for another year.
Ronen Har-Zvi was the first to congratulate Sammour-Hasbun in yet another stylish performance, and was even magnanimous enough to interview the 2008 Dos Hermanas champion for Chess.FM. Recorded LIVE, just minutes after the match, you can listen (free to non-members) to the two finalists’ thoughts on Dos Hermanas (including some amazing analysis of their games) in this exclusive, 36 minute video from Chess.FM. To view the video, click here.
Are there really unrated players out there as strong as GMs????????
This is very shocking!
No….several years ago He was labeled as a (C) on ICC because he cheated. he doesnt even play in OTB he plays in garbage like us chess league and icc where he can cheat. he’s a freakin liar and a cheater. Also, he is not the only one who cheated in the tournament. Nakamura was the strongest player and should have won. Id put all of my money on Nakamura to have won this had the games been played OTB.
ICC is very good with picking up computer assistance…but, there are ways to NOT be detected. It happens all the time! I’m not saying this fellow cheated because I have no basis to say it and no evidence…but it’s quite possible and, it’s not hard to cheat on ICC with computers and not be detected.
Now, I don’t know the history of this man and I will not call him a cheater (because often when someone does really well when they’re not exptected to do so, then suspicions and conspiracy theories arise…not just in chess but in so many aspects of life)….if there is no evidence then drop it.
I’m sure there are some people who are “Unrated GM’s” (i.e. play at a GM’s strength) but for reasons that are none of the public’s business decide not to play in OTB tournaments.
But, just because someone beat Nakamura doesn’t mean they cheated. Nakamura is a great GM but he’s human and can be defeated.
But, it is true that one can get away with cheating on ICC with some very clever methods using computers and the folks at ICC cannot yet detect them because I know it happens all the time.
But, I’m not going to say this fellow did so. Because I’m pretty sure there are some people who can play at GM levels and for whatever reason choose never to play in OTB tournaments.
“lightening”?
http://blogs.technet.com/canitpro/archive/2007/02/21/guest-blogger-who-says-that-lightening-doesn-t-strike-twice.aspx
“Nakamura is a great GM but he’s human and can be defeated.”
Sorry, bro, Naka ain’t human. He’s super-human!!! And, he ain’t a GM, he’s a super-GM!!! Got it?
This man is a former youth world champion (-10) under another name, but has stopped OTB play. When he won Dos Hermanas last years, the same suspicions arose and he played the final with an official in his home, and defeated a strong GM (T.L. Petrosian?) nonetheless.
To Anon 7:51 am:
You said, “Sorry, bro, Naka ain’t human. He’s super-human!!! And, he ain’t a GM, he’s a super-GM!!! Got it?”
He is a very good GM. Don’t get me wrong. But, if he was “superhuman” then he could be Anand, Kramnik, and even Rybka and the world would be dumbfounded.
No. He’s human. All GM’s lose at some point. Nakamura has lost many games in his chess career! So, he’s not “Superhuman.” He’s a super-GM…but even they lose occassionally.
Your statement so defies logic that it is simply nonsense. Every human chess player alive today loses sometimes. No person is perfect.
“Bro”…Got it?
The fellow that won is obviously been thoroughly investigated since he is untitled. He has won two years in a row and it’s getting pretty sickening to keep hearing accusations of “cheating” just because someone’s favorite GM was defeated.
There are ways to cheat on ICC. However, last year when he played with an official watching his every move…he didn’t cheat. He won. And, he defeated the best again this year.
So, he won fairly and beat your “superhuman.” I mean no disrespect to Nakamura…but it seems he accepted his loss with great dignity and he knows who defeated him.
If an ICC official watched this fellow last year and knows he didn’t cheat…then, that’s it. He didn’t.
He’s just playting at a very high level and, for reasons that are his own business, chooses not to play OTB.
It is his right to choose not to play OTB.
And there is no such thing as a “superhuman.” Get real.
And..by the way…there is no official title of “Super-GM”…as this was debated on this blog days ago. It’s just a generally agreed upon adjective.
There are no norms for a “super GM” title. But, that’s a different topic.
Every time Nakamura loses, his opponent is cheating.Grischuk cheated, when beating his ICC record, Nakamura says. Don´t you guys get it? Nakamura isn´t the best and will never be.ICC-players like Leon and Benefactor could both easily beat every record, Nakamura has on ICC, if they invested the huge amount of time, Nakamura has done on ICC, but you see, they play real chess in real tournaments and also have a life outside chess. Get it, Bro? Now stop living your life through Nakamura and get your own!! At the end of the day, he really doesn´t care about any of you!
Ahh…the good ‘ol anonymous cheating accusations. What a joke. Last year there were suspicions and there was an official of Dos Hermanos present when he played the final and he still won the match and the tournament. As someone previously mentioned Jorge was a very very strong junior player and just hasn’t played OTB in many years because he has a family and other obligations.
This does not make him a cheater. Nakamura is an excellent blitz player as well, but they didn’t even play each other.
He also has several IM norms under his belt, but because of time limitations and the fact that he doesn’t play OTB was never titled. It’s not like he just popped up out of nowhere.
Making baseless accusations under an anonymous post is really worse than cheating in my opinion. It shows you have no morals and obviously have no clue what the facts are, and you could care less about what damage you may do to someones reputation without repercussions.
-Richard Rajchel
“Every time Nakamura loses his opponent is cheating…”
You have absolutely NO emperical evidence for this. It isn’t uncommon for some GM’s to accuse other GM’s of cheating (even OTB as we all well know).
You’re speaking as if Nakamura can’t lose unless his opponents are cheating! Well, let him play Anand or Kramnik or Kasparov on ICC and if he loses, then would you say they are “cheating?”
Nakamura is a GM…but he is not and will never be WCC quality. He can be beaten honestly and has been many times. This isn’t to say he isn’t one of the best players…but everyone loses…everyone has bad days, weeks, or even months.
But…you’re right, he’s not complaining…so why should some love-struck admirer of his???
He was defeated on ICC fairly. He is NOT complaining and we should give the winner some credit…after all, could you do what the winner did?
Sorry about my last comment…I misread your post.
Please accept my apology. I agree with your post.
Hello All!
Regarding the Dos Hermanas blitz tournament, I congradulate Jorge Sammour-Hasbun. Job well done! I wish I could say I was as talented a chess player!
To accuse another player of cheating with no evidence is, in my opinion, is the same as slander. It is not proper to make allegations with no evidence to back up your claim.
Of course, it often happens and it is unfortunate. If there is any person who believes there was “cheating” in this ICC tournament, then please…show the world what hard scientific evidence you have to prove it.
If you cannot, then your claims are baseless accusations and mere subjective opinions.
Best Regards to All,
Tim Harris
if a person has time to play chess online they have time to play chess OTB period. quick making excuses for him. he scored 11/12 against grandmasters and fact is he isnt even a titled player regardless. that is not the reason he cheated. he cheated because his play in the past has been good enough to beat computers! that is ridiculous. no player in the world can beat computers in blitz chess with consistency. period!
online chess with never amount to a shit because of (c)heaters. people have high-flying egos and they cant stand to lose. period. online chess will NEVER EVER be REAL chess and the guys at dos hermanas blitz over-the-board tournament will eat jorge Sammour-hasbun’s lunch. for all u who think he is legitimate let’s be wagering some of your $$ to my $$ that he will win the over-the-board
How’s that? 🙂 back it up! Hell, i bet the Cheating fool won’t even play in the OTB tourney in fear of embarrasment. Vishy Anand, Nakamura, Grischuk, players like that would eat his lunch in blitz over-the-board. someone needs to organize a blitz match in the US cuz Has-been said he would play and i wanna see him play. If he doesnt play dos hermanas otb after winning free entry and accomodations he is definitely suspect! why would u choose not to play when u have nothing to lose? only one reason…..cuz ur scared ! scared of truth! which is….that u suck and cheat to win! oh……….. PERIOD!!
I wrote “Every time, Nakamura loses, his opponent is cheating” That is the way, his fans think, not me. I´m no Nakamura fan. Nakamura himself accused Grischuk and Mamedov of ganging up on him. That was, what my post was about. The accusation was posted right here on the site.
“…if a person has time to play chess online they have time to play chess OTB period. quick making excuses for him.”
Not true. I can tell you right now…I’ve got a 9-month old son down stairs asleep…I have time for a quick blitz game but I can’t drive 10 miles to the local club and play a game of chess right now!
No. I couldn’t play in an ICC tournament right now either. However, ICC makes it possible for me to play a quick game for fun when I can!
So, I most certainly have time for ICC because I can sit with my laptop and watch my son at the same time…but I can’t take my 9-month old to a OTB chess club….
So, your comment not true for everyone. It isn’t for me and I love chess! I play on ICC more because I can play a quick game here and there and not have to drive so many miles.
So, I respectfully disagree completely with the comment, “if a person has time to play chess online they have time to play chess OTB period. quick making excuses for him. “
Not true..not for every person.
Best Regards.
Tim Harris
PS But, this is my situation and reason(s) only….I can’t speak for anyone else nor would I ever attempt to generalize to that extent.
Dear Anon 10:33am:
“for all u who think he is legitimate let’s be wagering some of your $$ to my $$ that he will win the over-the-board
How’s that? 🙂 back it up! Hell, i bet the Cheating fool won’t even play in the OTB tourney in fear of embarrasment.”
First, you must come to terms with the fact that this tournament is now history and there isn’t anything you can do about it. To make hypothetical “wagers” about who would win an OTB game (and you have never met the winner) is not logical, nor is it anything but a statement based upon raw emotion and your own perception of how “important” this tournament is.
I end with one statement since your choice of words inidicate that of an irrational side….do this:
PROVE ON THIS BLOG TO THE WORLD WITH SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE, WITH PROOF THAT WOULD STAND UP IN ANY COURT IN THIS NATION, THAT “YOU KNOW” THE WINNER “CHEATED.”
Other than raw and irrational emotion, what “proof” do you have?”
Don’t retort with emotional statements of “I think” and “it must be…”
Where is the PROOF????
If you, some unknown person writing on this blog, hold absolute 100% scientific PROOF that there was cheating in the tournament…then, sir, show it to the world NOW, or be quiet.
There is enough illogical and irrational behavior in this world as it is…if you can’t prove it, then state clearly that it’s your OPINION only.
Most Sincerely,
Tim Harris
P.S. And when I post, I do not hide behind “Anon said…”
Jorge was a child phenom. He was also US Junior champion ahead of Josh Waitzkin besides winning the world U10.
“Polo Mateo said…
Jorge was a child phenom. He was also US Junior champion ahead of Josh Waitzkin besides winning the world U10.”
Was Jorge the snotty evil kid portrayed in the “Searching for Bobby Fischer” movie?
Movie Buff,
Jorge is not Jeff Sarwer of Searching for Bobby Fischer fame.
It looks like Jeff Sarwer is now a Businessman according to his web site. http://www.jeffSarwer.com
Strangely enough Jorge Zamora was also famous at Blitz in Washington Square Park. Is it a Washington Square Park curse or a Bobby Fischer curse that makes these promising players drop out of sight?
You clowns who accuse Jorge Sammour-Hasbun of cheating know nothing about him, nor how strong he is in blitz.
He crushes GMs in OTB blitz play as well. EASILY. I’ve seen him play in Foxwood Blitz and other OTB blitz tournaments, and I’ve seen him crush strong GMs in countless offhand blitz games.
Ask any GM whose played him in blitz, they’ll tell you how strong he is.
And Mr. Wager, I’ll take your bet, and I’ll take your $$$ just like I saw Jorge take Loek Van Wely’s in the New York Open skittles room.
If a tournament official sits next to you while you play an ICC game, how can ANY accusation of cheating stand? Such ungrounded ‘sour grapes’ is not only irrational but sophomoric. Obviously Mr. Anonymous Accuser has never watched Mr. Sammour-Hasbun cut through grandmasters at the Foxwoods (Connecticut) blitz tournaments.