Another day, another series of upsets, some big, some small. The biggest surprise of the day for me is the performance of the defending champion Hikaru Nakamura. Jake Kleiman completely outplayed Hikaru and achieved a near winning position. Through a series of series of so so moves, Hikaru managed to get to a pawn down Bishop opposite color Bishop position and offered a draw. I was stunned to see Jake accepting the draw offer with a pawn up. I guess it was intimidating for him to play against the defending champ.
The other surprising results include:
IM Gonzalez 1-0 GM Stripunsky
NM Liu 1/2 GM Kaidanov
GM Gulko 1/2 IM Muhammad
IM Milman 1/2 GM Becerra
WFM Abrahamyan 1/2 GM Browne
IM Florean 1/2 Ross
GM Akobian 1/2 FM I. Schneider
IM D. Schneider 1/2 GM Benjamin
GM Dlugy 1/2 IM Kraai
IM Kritvensov 1/2 GM Yermolinsky
GM Fedorowicz 1/2 IM Ginsburg
I just concluded a survey of approximately 50 random adult chess players (club players to masters) about the rapid championship match to decide the US Championship crown. Below are the results:
84% voted that they do not like the mixed time control at all. Bad idea!
12% voted that they do not mind but still prefer a consistent time control throughout. OK idea!
4% vote that they love the rapid championship match. Great idea! 
Is Kamsky playing??
Michael, he is , and he won..
(saw in twic)
Vinay
15 yr old Elliott Liu is off to an amazing start, having drawn twice against two players about 400 pts higher rated that he is!
I fail to see why Milman-Becerra as a draw is surprising? The games are all hard fought, and no result will surprise me! 🙂 …I guess it is a compliment (oversight?) that me winning with black against Kudrin is not surprising!
BPF
hello ben finegold!
Are you one of the participants? Forgive my ignorance 🙂
– Vinay.
Browne’s result doesn’t surprise me in the least. I’ve watched him draw and lose to many lower rated player’s (200-300 points or more) during the last 4-5 years or so.
During the 70’s and 80’s he was a force to be reckoned with, but those days have long since passed. I think that nervous energy of his finally took its toll, not to mention the aging factor.
“random” or opportunistic?
I’ve been a statistician.
A good idea for a valid survey would be stratified by ratings.
For a true random sample from the universe of USCF members, each should have an equal chance of selection.
The scientific sample provides conclusions that mean something. With that, you could report a +/- sampling error.
Anonymous Frank
Ben,
Of course I expect you to win 🙂 Aren’t you higher rated in both USCF and FIDE? Anyway, good luck. Perhaps you can pick up your final GM norm and win the US Championship at the same time 🙂
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.SusanPolgar.com
http://www.PolgarChess.com
Kleiman chickened out. Too bad! Hikaru got another butt kick.
Are IM or GM norms available in the Championship and, if so, what results would qualify?
Don’t norms require “foreign” players? Are there participants in the US Championship who are still technically part of other national federations?
Go Mr. Six Time Go !!!!!!!
Foreign players are not necessary for making norms. Having rapid games deciding a US championship is a joke, right?
How many Russian (or former Russian)passport holders are participating in the US championship 2006, I would like to ask? America promotes equality, my question is not targeted against anyone, as you may firstly think.
“I fail to see why Milman-Becerra as a draw is surprising?”
I also fail to see how can a 31 move game be a hard-fought one, especially with no information on how much time both of them spent for playing out the 62 half moves. I consider it a premature draw, leaving 99% of the chess fans, including me, dazzled as to why it was made. All the players are additionaly motivated by a cash prizes to play chess, not make draws, where a few would.
You win vs Kudrin was of type to be shown in school classrooms, very high-quality, at first sight, and inspiring to see, whatever you may think of it.
And finally, a word of advice, take off some weight, you’ll live longer, and thus play chess longer, too.