Ben's Blog: Spring Spice Cup - Rounds 6-7

Another day, another....... win?!?

Round 6 saw another *classic* game, as I was winning against GM Jesse Kraai, when he played the opening a bit too fancy (maybe he prepared for the game with Squidward?), and at the point where Rybka says I am +5 (!) I promptly blow all my advantage.

The next round, I was black against FM Eric Hansen, who is trying to get his final IM norm.  I was very slightly better most of the game, and, when Eric finally made some bad moves near the end, I was winning, and, once again threw everything away! Luckily, for me, we were both oblivious to my bad technique, and I was able to win my first game!

Tomorrow I am white against 13 year old FM Darwin Yang, who has already earned an IM norm (with 2 rounds to spare!) and needs to go 2 out of 2 for his first GM norm!  I also need 2 out of 2 for a "GM norm."

[pgn|pgn=<<<1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bg5 c5 5. d5 Nxd5 6. Bxd8 Nxc3 7. Qb3 Ne4+ 8. Kd1 Nxf2+ 9. Kc2 Kxd8 10. Qg3 Nxh1 11. Qxg7 Re8 12. Nh3 Nc6 13. e3 Ne7 14. Qf6 b5 15. Ng5 Kc7 16. a3 Ba5 17. Nxf7 Nf5 18. Qe5+ d6 19. Nxd6 Nxd6 20. Rd1 Kb8 21. Qxd6+ Bc7 22. Qxc5 a6 23. Be2 Nf2 24. Rf1 Ne4 25. Qh5 Rd8 26. Rf7 Ra7 27. cxb5 1/2-1/2>>>|white=Ben Finegold|black=Jesse Kraai]

[pgn|pgn=<<<1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. c4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Nc3 Ng4 8. Qxg4 Nxd4 9. Qd1 Ne6 10. Qd2 Qa5 11. Rc1 b6 12. Be2 Bb7 13. f3 h5 14. b3 Rc8 15. Nb5 Qxd2+ 16. Kxd2 Ra8 17. Rhd1 Be5 18. g3 g5 19. Rf1 h4 20. f4 a6 21. Nc3 Bxc3+ 22. Rxc3 hxg3 23. hxg3 gxf4 24. gxf4 Nc5 25. Bxc5 bxc5 26. e5 a5 27. Rg1 e6 28. Bf3 Rh2+ 29. Ke1 Bxf3 30. Rxf3 Ke7 31. Rf2 Rh3 32. Rg7 a4 33. f5 exf5 34. Rxf5 Rf8 35. bxa4 Ra3 36. Kd2 Rxa2+ 37. Kd3 Rxa4 38. Rg4 Rh8 39. Rg7 Rf8 40. Rg4 Ra3+ 41. Ke4 Rc3 42. Kd5 Rc8 43. Rg7 Rd3+ 44. Ke4 Rd4+ 45. Ke3 Rf8 46. e6 dxe6 47. Rxc5 Rfd8 48. Rc7+ R4d7 49. Rxd7+ Rxd7 50. Rh7 Rd1 51. Ke4 Rf1 52. Rh8 Kd6 53. Kd4 Rd1+ 54. Kc3 Ke5 55. c5 f5 56. Kc4 f4 57. c6 f3 58. c7 f2 59. Rf8 f1Qf1+ 0-1>>>|white=Eric Hansen|black=Ben Finegold]

Standings After Round 7

1. GM Julio Becerra 5.5 (+4)
2. IM Dean Ippolito 4.5 (+2)
3-5. IM Gergely Antal, FM Darwin Yang, GM Ben Finegold 4.0 (+1)
6. IM Gabor Papp 3.5 (0)
7. IM Davorin Kuljasevic 3.0 (-1)
8. FM Eric Hansen 2.5 (-2)
9-10. GM Jesse Kraai, IM Irina Krush 2.0 (-3)

Honey Bee out!