(58) CHESSMATE 32 NAKAMURA, YOUNGEST U.S. MASTER AT 10

U.S.A. YOUNGEST MASTER AT 10 --
HIKARU NAKAMURA

AT THE 100th U. S. Open Chess tournament, the sensation of the tournament was 11-year-old Hikaru Nakamura, who made history at age 10 by becoming the youngest American ever to attain the rank of chess master.

In the last round, he upset Argentinean Grandmaster Alejandro Hoffman with a wild attack to finish a point out of the lead.

Overall, in 9 games, Hikaru lost to two Grandmasters, held one to a draw and won 6 games outright.

HERE IS THE GAME'S NOTATION WHERE NAKAMURA HAD THE BLACK PIECES, IN 1999 AT RENO:

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 0-0 5. Bf4 this offbeat counter to the King's Indian Defence never gained favor because it develops the bishop too soon. More usual is 5. e4 or g3. 5. ... d6 6. h3 c5 7. d5 a6 8. a4 restraining black from freeing his game by ... b5.
8. ...Nh5 9. Bd2 f5 10. e3 e5 11. dxe6 e.p. Bxe6 12. Be2 Nc6 13. 0-0 f4 14. Nd5 Bh6 not an active post, but it increases the pressure on e3.
15. Ra3 Bxd5 16. cxd5 Nd7 17. e4 Nf6 18. Qb1 g5 19. a5 more pertinent is 19. b4 right away. Now both sides proceed to attack the opposite wings, and the question becomes, who will penetrate first?
19. ... Ng6 20. b4 cxb4 21. Bxb4 Ne5 22. f3 stopping the attack cold. 22. ... g4 23. Nd4 Nh4 gxh3 drops a piece after 24. Nf5.
24. hxg4 Nxg4 25. Ne6 neglecting his kingside. 25. f3 would prevent black's stunning reply 25. ... Nf3+ 26. gxf3 Qh4 27. fxg4 Qxg4+ 28. Kh2 Qh4+ 29. Kg1 Qg4+ 30. Kh2 Qh4+ 31. Kg1 Kf7 32. Bc3 b5 stopping Qxb7 once and for all. If 32. ... Rg8 33. Bg7 staves off checkmate.
33. Bg7 the only hope is 33. Rc1. 33. ... Qg4+ 34. Kh2 f3 35. Rg1 Qh4 mate.

Will Nakamura achieve greater glory or, like so many other child prodigies before him, fall by the wayside?

The 2004 Open Chess tournament will start on July 11 at Filco Thrift Mart in Malakal.

The sponsor and trophies donor this time is Nestor Canaria, who approached Knights and Rooks Chess Clur Chairman Roberto Hernandez last year to offer his sponsorship.


At that time, Lin de Guzman had already offered to host the 2004 Non-Master Chess tourney that has just concluded a few weeks ago.

De Guzman so far is the best ever host of the six tournaments that were held in Palau since June 09, 2002.

Danny Dandoy, the 1st runner-up in the 2004 Non-Master Chess tournament, will miss the first few weeks of this coming tourney.

He had a vacation on May 15 and will be back in August. He can still catch up but he has to play at least 2 games every week.

Ben Ramos, who missed the last 2 tournaments, is making a comeback participation as he has moved residence from Airai to Koror.

Stu, a Palauan friend of Roberto Hernandez, is planning to participate in this coming tourney. HYe said he is an avid chess player but needs to sharpen his skills a little more as he can only analyze 2 moves ahead.

Another Palauan working at the Palau International Coral Reef Center suggested that the clud should have a clinic regularly to help beginners improve their game. This is great idea!


Source:
Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
June 04-11, 2004