Krush Cruises, Kamsky Holds at U.S. Championships
By FM Mike Klein
SAINT LOUIS (May 12, 2013) — In a day in which both leaders could have at least guaranteed themselves a spot in a first-place tiebreak, only one built a safety net. Round eight of the 2013 U.S. Championship and U.S. Womens Championship saw GM Gata Kamsky slip with a complicated position but dwindling clock, while IM Irina Krush snatched a pawn and squashed the limited compensation to maintain her one-point lead.
Both events will need the final round, and perhaps more, to decide a champion.
Due to the complicated FIDE pairing system, Kamsky got white for the second round in a row. GM Timur Gareev lined up for the black pieces. Luckily, he did not assume the pairings and checked them this morning. I was a little surprised, but you still have to play, Gareev said. IA Franc Guadalupe confirmed the colors were accurate according to the FIDE rules, which prioritize color history and equalization more than which player is due a certain color.
Once again, Kamsky got nothing special from his preparation. Obviously I was very happy with the opening, Gareev said. He knew his chances would only come from active play before the game opened up. I was looking for something concrete. Strategically whites position is better with the two bishops. Two of my knights jumping into the center squares; I felt I should be better.
But a few moves later, Kamsky began to think that his sluggish start would be completely flipped into a win. Considering the way I misplayed the opening, I feel a little lucky, Kamsky explained. Once I got the two extra pawns, I got really excited, but I was low on time.
The game turned when Kamskys queen invaded the seventh rank. After Qe7 I knew I am in trouble, Gareev said. He decided to burn his bridges, sacrifice all of his queenside pawns, and hunt down an otherwise safely-guarded white king. Going into the endgame is the least desirable result. I just had to go for it, come what may.
Kamsky got a promotion to a second queen, but Gareev forced a draw by repetition. After opening with four straight wins, Kamsky has come back to the pack by drawing the last four games.
[Event “US Chess Championships”]
[Site “Saint Louis USA”]
[Date “2013.05.11”]
[EventDate “2013.05.03”]
[Round “8”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[White “G Kamsky”]
[Black “T Gareev”]
[ECO “B51”]
[WhiteElo “2741”]
[BlackElo “2674”]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nc6 4. c3 Nf6 5. Qe2 Bg4 6. h3 Bxf3 7. Qxf3 Qb6 8. Na3 g6 9. O-O Bg7 10. Re1 O-O 11. Bf1 Qc7 12. Nc2 c4 13. d4 cxd3 14. Qxd3 Nd7 15. Ne3 Nc5 16. Qc2 e6 17. b4 Nd7 18. Rb1 Rac8 19. Qb3 Nf6 20. Nc4 d5 21. exd5 exd5 22. Ne3 d4 23. Nc4 dxc3 24. Qxc3 Nd5 25. Qf3 Nc3 26. Bf4 Nd4 27. Qxc3 Qxf4 28. Qe3 Qh4 29. Qe7 Qh5 30. Qxb7 Rc6 31. Qxa7 Qg5 32. Kh1 Qf4 33. b5 Re6 34. Rxe6 fxe6 35. b6 Qf5 36. Rc1 Qxf2 37. b7 Qf4 38. Rb1 Nf5 39. b8=Q Ng3+ 40. Kh2 Nxf1+ 41. Kh1 Ng3+ 42. Kh2 Nf1+ 43. Kh1 1/2-1/2
The draw left the door ajar for a pair of players on board two to gain equal footing with Kamsky. GMs Alejandro Ramirez and Alex Onischuk each stood a half-point back going into the round, but a lifeless two-hour draw kept them both nipping at Kamskys heels. Against this guy, you cant get anything, Ramirez said of his opponent. Of course I didnt want a draw with white. Ramirez is seeking his first ever U.S. Championship (this is only his second appearance), while Onischuk is trying for his first title since 2006.
[Event “US Chess Championships”]
[Site “Saint Louis USA”]
[Date “2013.05.11”]
[EventDate “2013.05.03”]
[Round “8”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[White “A Ramirez”]
[Black “Alexander Onischuk”]
[ECO “E15”]
[WhiteElo “2551”]
[BlackElo “2666”]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Bxd2+ 6. Qxd2 Ba6 7. Qc2 Bb7 8. Bg2 c5 9. dxc5 bxc5 10. O-O O-O 11. Rd1 Qe7 12. Nc3 Nc6 13. Rd2 Rfd8 14. Rad1 d6 15. Ne4 Nxe4 16. Qxe4 Ne5 17. Qc2 Nxf3+ 18. Bxf3 Bxf3 19. exf3 Rd7 20. Qe4 Rad8 21. Kg2 g6 22. h4 h5 23. f4 Qf6 24. Qc6 Qe7 25. Qe4 Qf6 26. Qc6 1/2-1/2
Im really looking forward to trying to get into the top six; that would be really exciting, Ramirez said. He was referencing the automatic qualification spots to the 2013 World Cup, a tournament he has not played in since 2004 when he represented Costa Rica.
Joining Ramirez and Onischuk on 5.5/8 is the biggest surprise of the event. GM Conrad Holt, who is now done with all of his college course work, won again today over the fading GM Joel Benjamin. Like the other members of the chase group, Holt is very much alive unless Kamsky wins as black tomorrow.
If only one round has to go right, its a real possibility, Holt, a tournament rookie, said about his chances to win the title. Im having reasonably good form and not blundering too much. He said his biggest mistake of the day was waking up too late, leaving him in time pressure before his first move. He arose at noon, leaving him only one hour to prepare and eat. I didnt go for lunch until 12:40 so I went to Qdoba because theyre the masters at blitz food preparation. He walked up the tournament steps shortly after the opening bell.
[Event “US Chess Championships”]
[Site “Saint Louis USA”]
[Date “2013.05.11”]
[EventDate “2013.05.03”]
[Round “8”]
[Result “1-0”]
[White “C Holt”]
[Black “Joe Benjamin”]
[ECO “E15”]
[WhiteElo “2513”]
[BlackElo “2534”]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Bxd2+ 6. Qxd2 Bb7 7. Bg2 O-O 8. O-O d6 9. Nc3 Ne4 10. Nxe4 Bxe4 11. Qe3 Bb7 12. Qd3 Nd7 13. Ng5 Qxg5 14. Bxb7 Rad8 15. b4 c5 16. Qa3 Qd2 17. dxc5 dxc5 18. Qxa7 cxb4 19. Rad1 Qxe2 20. Bg2 Ne5 21. Rxd8 Rxd8 22. Qxb6 Rf8 23. c5 Qxa2 24. Qxb4 Qa7 25. Qb6 Qe7 26. Rd1 g5 27. c6 Rc8 28. Qb5 Qc7 29. Re1 f6 30. Qb3 Kf7 31. h3 Rd8 32. Qc2 Kg7 33. Rb1 Nf7 34. Rb7 Qd6 35. Bf3 1-0
Kamsky now has 6/8 and has played all of the people who are within striking distance of him, so he will get Olympiad teammate GM Ray Robson in the final round. Robson won his fourth game today, putting him on 4.5/8 after an abysmal .5/3 start to the tournament. Like Ramirez, he said he is eyeing a spot in the World Cup. By his calculation, a win tomorrow would get him one. Everyones beatable, he said on his impending matchup with the top seed. You have chances to get a slight edge in the opening against Gata. The problem is that he defends so well, its really hard to break him. But you have to try.
The pairings are not conventional in the final round since so many players have already faced one another. Ramirez and GM Larry Christiansen will set off some fireworks on board two. Christiansen is still alive for his quest for his fourth title, though so many results have to go his way, that he evaluated his chances at 1,000-1. Gareev gets white in round nine and must win against Holt to have any chance. Of the four players who have 5.5 or six, none is playing each other.
More here: http://www.uschesschamps.com
Irina is best.