GM Ben Finegold's Blog: Musings of a Grandmaster


Mid-America Open -- Round 4

I was very lucky in my fourth round against second ranked Howard Chen.  The game started as a complex King's Indian.  Eventually, I was able to secure an advantage, but used up gobs of time and gave all my advantage back, and then some! Luckily (for me!) my opponent also started to use too much time, and we both had less than five minutes to make the last ten moves, and after mutual mistakes, black went too far with 33...f6? losing material.

Spencer was equal or better most of the game against my second round opponent, Nolan Hendrickson, but again time trouble reared its ugly head, and Spencer went down.

The tournament has ended for me, as IM Ron Burnett and I drew quickly in the last round, and we will wait to see who will join us at =1st.

I will send another report later tonight when games finish.

Submitted by ben2600 on Sun., 3/18/2012 - 6:05 pm

Mid-America Open -- Round 3

I drew a marathon game in round 3 against Sean Vibbert.  I had R and 3 versus R and 2 but could not make any headway (I had the same ending a few years ago against GM Josh Friedel, and I couldn't win that one either!).  Spencer won his game relatively quickly against Matt Barrett.

There is one perfect score, as Howard Chen won against Andrew Karklins on board 2.  The other perfect scores all drew.  I will likely be white against Howard Chen on board 1 in round 4.

The last two rounds are at 10AM and 4:15PM Sunday.

Submitted by ben2600 on Sun., 3/18/2012 - 1:31 am

Mid-America Open -- Round 2

Unlike the NCAA tournament, the top seeds all won in round 2 (of the 3 day schedule) and there are six players with 2-0.  I was able to win a tough game versus NM Nolan Hendrickson (I also played him last year in this event!).  Spencer lost to NM Kevin Wasiluk.  Also winning and staying perfect were Howard Chen, Sean Vibbert, Andrew Karklins, and Doug Eckert.

The 2-day schedule also started today, led by SM Ron Burnett.  Other masters in the 2-day include Tenzing Shaw (2225), Gopal Menon (2223), Andrew Tang (2206), and Bob Holliman (2200).

The schedules merge tonight at 6PM local time. 

Submitted by ben2600 on Sat., 3/17/2012 - 4:42 pm

Mid-America Open Begins

The Mid-America Open takes place this weekend at the Crowne Plaza in Clayton.  The tournament will draw over 200 players, although we won't know the final count until Saturday afternoon, as there are two schedules, 3-day and 2-day.

I was able to win my first game against expert Tim Steiner.  My son Spencer, playing 2000 rated player Dennis Cummings, also won.  There are no titled players other than myself, although IM Ron Burnett has entered the 2-day. Top rated players in the 3-day Open are: Howard Chen (2422), Kevin Wasiluk (2283), Sean Vibbert (2258), Andrew Karklins (2252), Doug Eckert (2245), and Kevin Cao (2233).

I will post games and standings throughout the event. You can also go to the tournament website at: http://www.midamericaopen.com/ .The time control for the 3-day is 40/2 then G/1.  The rounds Saturday (for the 3-day) are at 11AM and 6PM.

 

Submitted by ben2600 on Fri., 3/16/2012 - 11:53 pm

Final Report: 2012 Club Championship

The 2012 Club Championship was a great tournament, with 31 entries in all, and several masters participating.  I was fortunate to win in round 4 against Senior Master Mark Heimann in a very long complex game.  I had already requested a half-point bye for round 5, so I clinched first place with the win when the board 2 matchup between McLaughlin and Benjamin was drawn in a complicated Benoni.

There was a three way tie for second place between Heimann, FM Doug Eckert, and Alex Marler, who all scored 4-1. Matthew Larson finished well win 3.5-1.5 and not only won some $$ but also inched ever closer to 1900. Everyone expects Matt to be an expert before years end.

Click here to download all the games from the 2012 CCSCSL Club Championship.

Here are the final standings and my round 4 effort:

2012 Club Championship Final Standings

 

# NameRtngRd 1Rd 2Rd 3Rd 4Rd 5TotPrize
1BENJAMIN FINEGOLD2589W9W17W5W2H---4.5400.00
2MARK HEIMANN2437W15W10W3L1W74.0216.67
3DOUG D ECKERT2249W26W16L2W13W84.0216.67
4ALEX MARLER2029W11W19L7W15W124.0216.67
5VICTOR R FELDBERG2210W14W6L1W19H---3.5
6MATTHEW W LARSON1816W31L5H---W26W173.5100.00
7RICHARD BENJAMIN2203D20W18W4D8L23.0
8JAMES MCLAUGHLIN2100W24D25W21D7L33.0
9JACOB M ZAX1739L1W11L19W29W203.012.50
10SELDEN TRIMBLE1986W27L2L14W24W193.012.50
11WILLIAM KANE1297L4L9W30W27W213.012.50
12JAMES R VOELKER2144W22D21H---W14L43.0
13DANIEL FR ALDRICH1826L19W20W29L3W223.012.50
14GEORGE PURNELL1569L5W31W10L12D162.5
15TOM A MORRELL1689L2W27W23L4H---2.5
16JEFFREY J KOVALIC1912W28L3L22W23D142.5
17ALEXAN VERGILESOV1974W29L1H---W22L62.5
18PRESTON SMITHunr.H---L7L20W28W262.5
19MURTHY MEDISETIunr.W13L4W9L5L102.0
20JONATHAN SCHRANTZ1546D7L13W18D21L92.0
21VISHAL BHARADWAJ1756W30D12L8D20L112.0
22ADAMS NAGER1408L12W30W16L17L132.0
23JASON ZHANGunr.L25W24L15L16W292.0
24CHRISTOPHER CABRERA1404L8L23W31L10W302.0
25MATTHEW C HOSLER1784W23D8H---U---U---2.0
26NATHAN TU PHAN1647L3W28H---L6L181.5
27MIKE BUCKLEY1197L10L15H---L11W311.5
28GRE VANVALKENBURG763L16L26H---L18B---1.5
29ROBERT A LUCKEY1159L17B---L13L9L231.0
30CHARLES CASHNERunr.L21L22L11B---L241.0
31SHAWN PERNIKunr.L6L14L24H---L270.5

 

Submitted by ben2600 on Mon., 2/13/2012 - 4:28 pm
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