Ramirez Joins Chase, Abrahamyan Inches Closer
By FM Mike Klein
SAINT LOUIS (May 10, 2013) — A pair of largely uneventful draws by the two leaders protected their respective leads, but a host of other players jockeyed for position just beneath them in round six of the 2013 U.S. Championship and U.S. Womens Championship. Many crucial games were decided into the sixth hour of play.
The marquee matchup so far of the mens tournament, GM Gata Kamsky and GM Alex Onischuk, played a relatively short two-hour draw on the top board. The split point allowed three-time champion Kamsky (5/6) to retain his half-point lead over Onischuk (4.5/6), who is seeking his first title since 2006. The result is okay, Onischuk said. Gata was better prepared. He knew this line better than I did. I didnt expect f5. I was out of my book. Kamsky played the first dozen moves in negative time thanks to the increment.
[Event “US Chess Championships”]
[Site “Saint Louis USA”]
[Date “2013.05.09”]
[EventDate “2013.05.03”]
[Round “6”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[White “Al Onischuk”]
[Black “G Kamsky”]
[ECO “D15”]
[WhiteElo “2666”]
[BlackElo “2741”]
[PlyCount “60”]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. e3 g6 6. Qb3 Bg7 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O e6 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 f5 12. Bc2 c5 13. dxc5 Nc6 14. Be3 e5 15. Rad1 Qe7 16. Rd6 e4 17. Nd4 Nxd4 18. Bxd4 Bxd4 19. Rxd4 Qxc5 20. Qe3 Be6 21. a3 f4 22. Qc3 e3 23. fxe3 fxe3 24. Rxf8+ Rxf8 25. Qxe3 Bxc4 26. Bd3 Bxd3 27. Rxd3 Qxe3+ 28. Rxe3 Rd8 29. Kf2 Kf7 30. Ke2 1/2-1/2
I think its still not over, Onischuk said about the chances to finish atop the standings. One game can change everything.
Since no one won, GM Alejandro Ramirezs win over GM Joel Benjamin makes him joint second with Onischuk. After a poor 2012 Championship in which he scored only 4/11, Ramirez now has surpassed that mark in only six games. Benjamins unlikely run for his first title in more than a dozen years took a major setback when he missed the clever 62 h5+ in severe time pressure. Instead, if the king is less brave and walks backward, white has some chances to hold. We were really tired by that point, Ramirez said. It still looks really bad for white. Ramirez had about four minutes while Benjamin was under one minute. I havent played on increment yet in this tournament, and I think it has really helped my chess.
[Event “US Chess Championships”]
[Site “Saint Louis USA”]
[Date “2013.05.09”]
[EventDate “2013.05.03”]
[Round “6”]
[Result “0-1”]
[White “Joel Benjamin”]
[Black “Alejandro Ramirez”]
[ECO “A43”]
[WhiteElo “2534”]
[BlackElo “2551”]
[PlyCount “128”]
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 d6 6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. a4 O-O 8. O-O Bg4 9. Re1 Na6 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Nc7 12. Bf1 Nd7 13. Bg5 a6 14. Qg3 h6 15. Bd2 Rb8 16. a5 b5 17. axb6 Rxb6 18. Na4 Rb8 19. Ba5 Qc8 20. c4 Ne8 21. Rab1 Nef6 22. Kh1 Nh5 23. Qe3 g5 24. g3 Ne5 25. Qe2 g4 26. hxg4 Nxg4 27. Bc3 Bd4 28. Bxd4 cxd4 29. Kg1 Nhf6 30. b3 Ne5 31. f4 Ng6 32. Qf3 Qg4 33. Be2 Qxf3 34. Bxf3 Rb4 35. c5 dxc5 36. Nxc5 Rc8 37. Nd3 Rb5 38. b4 Rc3 39. Rbd1 a5 40. bxa5 Rxa5 41. Re2 Raa3 42. Red2 Nd7 43. Be2 Nb6 44. Rb2 Nc4 45. Rb8+ Kg7 46. e5 Ra2 47. Bf1 Nd2 48. Kg2 Ne4+ 49. Kf3 Nf2 50. Rbb1 f5 51. exf6+ Kxf6 52. Rbc1 Nxd1 53. Rxd1 Rca3 54. Rb1 Ra1 55. Rb6+ Kg7 56. Be2 Ra6 57. Rb4 R1a4 58. Rb8 Rd6 59. Rb5 e6 60. Rb7+ Kf6 61. Nc5 Ra3+ 62. Kg4 h5+ 63. Kxh5 Rxd5+ 64. Kh6 Rxc5 0-1
If somebody told me before this tournament, Youre going to win four games, I would have told them, Youre joking, Ramirez said.
Boards 3-5 all contained their own interesting story lines as well. FM John Bryant held second-seeded GM Timur Gareev to a solid draw, prompting another grandmaster to comment, I guess the U.S. Open wasnt a fluke. Bryant won the 2013 automatic qualification from the 2012 event. I had a good position out of the opening, Bryant said. I let him trade his dark-squared bishop. That might have been where I let the advantage slip away. Opponents are starting to appreciate Bryants talent.”He told me one day I could be like him, if I’m lucky,” Bryant said Gareev told him after the game.
[Event “US Chess Championships”]
[Site “Saint Louis USA”]
[Date “2013.05.09”]
[EventDate “2013.05.03”]
[Round “6”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[White “J Bryant”]
[Black “T Gareev”]
[ECO “A42”]
[WhiteElo “2442”]
[BlackElo “2674”]
[PlyCount “76”]
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. c4 d6 4. Nc3 e5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bg5 f6 7. Be3 Nh6 8. h3 Nf7 9. g4 O-O 10. d5 Ne7 11. Bd3 Bh6 12. Bxh6 Nxh6 13. Qd2 Nf7 14. O-O-O c5 15. Rdg1 g5 16. h4 Ng6 17. Rh2 h6 18. Ne2 a6 19. hxg5 hxg5 20. Ne1 Kg7 21. f3 Rh8 22. Ng3 Bd7 23. Nc2 Rxh2 24. Qxh2 Nf4 25. Bf1 Qa5 26. a3 Rh8 27. Qd2 Qxd2+ 28. Kxd2 Rh2+ 29. Be2 Nh8 30. Ne3 Nhg6 31. Rh1 Rxh1 32. Nxh1 Kf7 33. Ng3 Ke7 34. Bd1 Nh4 35. Nef5+ Nxf5 36. exf5 b5 37. b3 a5 38. a4 1/2-1/2
Like Benjamin, another tournament veteran faltered in round six. GM Larry Christiansen, who combined with Benjamin has more than 50 U.S. Championship appearances, stated previously that he worried about his energy in the later rounds. Christiansen lost his second game in a row, though GM Conrad Holt admitted that he benefitted from some good fortune.
I was afraid I was doing very badly, but then I liked my position, Holt said. I wasnt calculating that well and missing all of his ideas, but I was lucky and kept having a resource. I didnt see Ra7, but he didnt see Bc5, so it worked perfectly. The paradoxical 44th move both attacks the rook on a7 and gives the black king a necessary flight square to threaten 45 Rg4+. Holt said he does not expect to keep getting by this way. Im sure Ill continue to make lots of blunders going forward.
[Event “US Chess Championships”]
[Site “Saint Louis USA”]
[Date “2013.05.09”]
[EventDate “2013.05.03”]
[Round “6”]
[Result “0-1”]
[White “L Christiansen”]
[Black “C Holt”]
[ECO “C00”]
[WhiteElo “2579”]
[BlackElo “2513”]
[PlyCount “104”]
1. e4 e6 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. Ngf3 Nc6 5. g3 Bd6 6. Bg2 Nge7 7. O-O O-O 8. Nh4 f6 9. c3 b5 10. exd5 exd5 11. Re1 Ne5 12. Ndf3 Nf7 13. Bh1 Bg4 14. Ng2 Nf5 15. Ne3 Nxe3 16. Bxe3 Qd7 17. Qd2 Rfe8 18. Bf4 Be7 19. h4 Rad8 20. d4 c4 21. Nh2 Bf5 22. Re3 Bf8 23. Rae1 Rxe3 24. Rxe3 a5 25. a3 h6 26. h5 Ng5 27. Bxg5 hxg5 28. Re1 b4 29. axb4 axb4 30. Bf3 b3 31. Ra1 Re8 32. Nf1 Be4 33. Bxe4 Rxe4 34. Ne3 Bd6 35. h6 gxh6 36. Nxd5 Qe6 37. Ne3 Bxg3 38. Qe2 Bd6 39. Qh5 f5 40. Ra8+ Kg7 41. Ra7+ Kg8 42. Ra8+ Bf8 43. Qf3 Qc6 44. Ra7 Bc5 45. d5 Qe8 46. Rc7 Rf4 47. Qh3 Bxe3 48. Qxe3 Re4 49. Qf3 Qe5 50. d6 Qxd6 51. Rc8+ Kg7 52. Qxf5 Qd1+ 0-1
On board five, one lengthy streak ended, while another one continued. After drawing 13 consecutive games dating back to last year, GM Shulman finally cracked today against GM Ray Robson, who has now won three straight. After barely scraping by with a draw in round five, Shulman was behind very early in round six. The computer showed a whopping +2 for Robson after only nine moves, easily the biggest opening advantage any player has had in the event. His king meekly moved to f8 shortly thereafter. With both competitors playing almost exclusively on the 30-second increment, Shulman defended tenaciously before falling prey to a defenseless pin. After being hoodwinked, Shulman shook his head and let his time run out.
[Event “US Chess Championships”]
[Site “Saint Louis USA”]
[Date “2013.05.09”]
[EventDate “2013.05.03”]
[Round “6”]
[Result “1-0”]
[White “Ray Robson”]
[Black “Yury Shulman”]
[ECO “C15”]
[WhiteElo “2620”]
[BlackElo “2570”]
[PlyCount “146”]
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bd3 c6 6. h3 Qf6 7. Nf3 Bf5 8. O-O Bxd3 9. cxd3 Na6 10. Re1+ Kf8 11. Ne5 Qd8 12. Bg5 Be7 13. Qb3 Rb8 14. Bxe7+ Nxe7 15. Qa3 Kg8 16. Nd7 Qxd7 17. Rxe7 Qd8 18. Rae1 h5 19. Ne2 Nc7 20. Ng3 Nb5 21. Qc5 g6 22. a4 Nd6 23. Qxa7 Ra8 24. Qc5 Rxa4 25. h4 Kg7 26. Qc1 Rxd4 27. Qg5 Rg4 28. Nxh5+ Rxh5 29. Qxg4 Nf5 30. Rxb7 Rxh4 31. Qe2 Qf6 32. Rb8 Nd4 33. Qe8 Qd6 34. Qg8+ Kf6 35. Qd8+ Qxd8 36. Rxd8 Rg4 37. Kf1 Rh4 38. Kg1 Rg4 39. Rd6+ Kg7 40. Ra1 Nf3+ 41. Kf1 Nd2+ 42. Ke2 Nb3 43. Ra8 Rb4 44. Kd1 Nd4 45. Kc1 Kh6 46. Rd7 Ne2+ 47. Kc2 Rf4 48. Kd2 Nd4 49. Ke3 Kg5 50. Raa7 f6 51. Rh7 Nc2+ 52. Ke2 Nd4+ 53. Kf1 Nf5 54. Ke1 Rb4 55. Rhb7 Rh4 56. Rh7 Rb4 57. Rhb7 Rh4 58. Ra6 Nd4 59. b4 Rh2 60. g3 Nf3+ 61. Ke2 Nd4+ 62. Kd2 Kf5 63. Rc7 g5 64. b5 Nxb5 65. Rcxc6 Rxf2+ 66. Ke3 Rb2 67. Rxf6+ Kg4 68. Ra1 Rg2 69. Ra5 Rxg3+ 70. Kd2 Rg2+ 71. Ke1 Nd4 72. Ra4 Re2+ 73. Kf1 1-0
In the womens championship, Krush equalized as black without issue, though she insisted she still preferred to make a more dynamic game. She chastised her decision not to play 9 Qg5 to take advantage of 9. Bd3, which weakened g2.
[Event “US Chess Championships (Women)”]
[Site “Saint Louis USA”]
[Date “2013.05.09”]
[EventDate “2013.05.03”]
[Round “6”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[White “S Foisor”]
[Black “I Krush”]
[ECO “E35”]
[WhiteElo “2300”]
[BlackElo “2470”]
[PlyCount “62”]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8. e3 O-O 9. Bd3 c5 10. dxc5 d4 11. exd4 Nc6 12. Nge2 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Qxd4 14. O-O Qxc5 15. Rac1 Be6 16. a3 Bxc3 17. Qxc3 Qxc3 18. Rxc3 Rac8 19. Rfc1 Rxc3 20. Rxc3 Rc8 21. Rxc8+ Bxc8 22. f4 Kf8 23. Kf2 Ke7 24. Ke3 Kd6 25. Kd4 b6 26. b4 f6 27. g3 Bb7 28. Bc4 Bf3 29. Bb3 Bb7 30. Bc4 Bf3 31. Bb3 1/2-1/2
WGM Tatev Abrahamyan pounced on the opportunity to close the gap, winning against three-time champion WGM Anjelina Belakovskaia. After being surprised out of the opening, she decided to play the safe Nf3 variation against the Alekhines Defense.
I was not expecting it, Abrahamyan said of the blacks opening move. I looked up a lot of lines but not this one. This tournament it seems like [Belakovskaia] is doing specific preparation. Belakovskaia has not played competitively in several years, making her database of historic games too outdated to matter. After everything developed from the back row for white, blacks rooks were not yet connected, and Abrahamyan won a piece with a simple tactic. Although the game dragged on, it was essentially a miniature. It seems like its coming down to the finish line, so its really nerve-racking, she said.
[Event “US Chess Championships (Women)”]
[Site “Saint Louis USA”]
[Date “2013.05.09”]
[EventDate “2013.05.03”]
[Round “6”]
[Result “1-0”]
[White “T Abrahamyan”]
[Black “A Belakovskaia”]
[ECO “B05”]
[WhiteElo “2280”]
[BlackElo “2263”]
[PlyCount “146”]
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. Be2 Nc6 6. O-O e6 7. c4 Nde7 8. exd6 Qxd6 9. Nc3 a6 10. d5 exd5 11. cxd5 Bxf3 12. Bxf3 Ne5 13. Be4 f5 14. Bc2 O-O-O 15. Bf4 Nxd5 16. Nxd5 Qxd5 17. Bxf5+ Kb8 18. Bxe5 Bc5 19. Qxd5 Rxd5 20. Bxg7 Re8 21. Bh3 Re2 22. Bc3 b5 23. Bg4 Re8 24. Bf3 Rf5 25. Rfe1 Rg8 26. Kf1 Bd6 27. h3 b4 28. Bd4 c5 29. Be3 a5 30. Rac1 Rgf8 31. Red1 Kc7 32. Rd5 Rxd5 33. Bxd5 Kb6 34. Be4 Rf7 35. Rd1 Bf8 36. Rd8 a4 37. Rb8+ Ka5 38. Bd3 Rd7 39. Bc4 a3 40. Rb5+ Ka6 41. Rxb4+ Ka7 42. Ra4+ Kb6 43. Rxa3 Rd1+ 44. Ke2 Rb1 45. Rb3+ Kc6 46. Bd3 Ra1 47. Be4+ Kd6 48. a3 c4 49. Rc3 Bg7 50. Rxc4 Bxb2 51. Bd4 Bxd4 52. Rxd4+ Ke5 53. Ra4 h5 54. Bd3 h4 55. Rxh4 Rxa3 56. Rg4 Kf6 57. h4 Ra5 58. Rg5 Ra4 59. Rg6+ Kf7 60. h5 Rh4 61. h6 Kf8 62. h7 Rxh7 63. Rf6+ Rf7 64. Rxf7+ Kxf7 65. Kf3 Kf6 66. Kf4 Ke6 67. g4 Kf6 68. g5+ Kf7 69. Kf5 Kg7 70. g6 Kg8 71. Kf6 Kh8 72. g7+ Kg8 73. Bc4+ 1-0
Still lurking is IM Anna Zatonskih, who won the longest game in either tournament, beating WGM Camilla Baginskaite in a complicated rook and minor piece ending. WFM Sarah Chiang got her first point today, beating WIM Vikorija Ni as black. She said her coach, GM Gregory Kaidanov, who is playing in the U.S. Championship, gave her a useful perspective. He said when he has a streak of bad games, like if you go 0-9, at the end of the day, your family still loves you. Everything is okay. You have to focus on other things. That really helped me a lot. But its still a relief finally winning a game. In the long run, Im going to play in hundreds of tournaments, and this is just one.
Nice write up.