Sunday, April 9, 2017

(1364) EARLY ROUNDS OF 2017 USA CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP (TBN-April 03, 2017)



RUSSIA TO HOST AGAIN THE 2020 WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD
                This is the logo of the 2010 WCO in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia that was published in Tia Belau Newspaper in April 26-May 02, 2010 issue together with this BIBLE VERSES OF THE WEEK:

                                                               
***This caption and Bible Verses of the Week was not published to fit this article in just one page.



            EARLY ROUNDS OF 2017
                     U. S. A. CHESS
                  CHAMPIONSHIP

 
Top seed Wesley So, the No. 2 player in the world, defeated Alexander Shabalov in 29 moves of Slav Defense in the first round of 2017 USA Chess Championship, to raise his live rating to 2823.8, an increase of 1.8 point from his win over Shabalov.


                The particular line employed by Shabalov was noted with interest by my BFF CM Joselito Marcos, that it has been played 4 times before, with the results in favor of Black with 2 wins and 2 draws, one of them being a draw by Wesley himself but as Black vs. Georg Meier of Germany. Shabalov refrained from 11. …Be7 played in above-mentioned 4 games, by essaying a novelty 11. …a6!?

                Wesley proved to have the better feel for the position as he took a great lead in development that Black was unable to castle. Wesley even jettisoned a pawn at the expense of quick mobilization of his pieces. In the final position, Shabalov’s queen is attacked by White’s rook on the 7th rank. Mate was inevitable after Black’s queen is lost. A very powerful and crushing win by So!

                Samuel Shankland held Baku Olympiad teammate and defending champion Fabiano Caruana to a draw in 37 moves of Queen’s Indian Defense. No. 6 in the world Hikaru Nakamura eked out a win over Baku teammate Ray Robson in 65 moves of an Italian Game to share early lead with So.

                The other 3 matches ended in draw. Second round pairings pit Caruana vs. Nakamura and Shankland vs. So, in which the former forced a draw vs. So with a perpetual check in 37 moves of Ruy Lopez (Berlin Variation). To So’s favor is he will be having the White pieces vs. Caruana in Round 3 and vs. Nakamura in Round 8.

                In other Round 2 results, Gata Kamsky blundered a piece vs. Akobian in 23 moves of a French Defense (Tarrasch Variation) while Onischuk, with the Black pieces, beat the “king of US open” Shabalov in 43 moves of Reti Opening (Zukertort Variation).

                World Junior Champion Jeffry Xiong drew with Robson in 30 moves of Sicilian Defense. Caruana is trying to squeeze a win vs. Nakamura in rook and bishop of opposite color endgame with 3 pawns for Caruana and 2 pawns to Nakamura.

                The Naroditsky vs. Zherebhuk match is still in progress likewise with each having a queen, a rook and 6 pawns. The Round 3 will feature So vs. Caruana; Onischuk vs. Shankland; Zherebhuk vs. Shabalov; Akobian vs. Naroditsky; Robson vs. Kamsky and Nakamura vs. Xiong.

                Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 3860: 1. Qg7+!! Bxg7 2. Bxg7+ Kg8 3. Bf6#.

                This week’s puzzle No. 3861: White to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
                   Tia Belau Newspaper
                   Page 9
                   Volume 26
                   Issue 26
                   April 03, 2017

                  Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
                  The Beginning of Chess in Palau
                  By Roberto Hernandez
                  Soon to be published as a book

                  Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
                  Tia Belau Newspaper
                  March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013
                  http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
                  April 25, 2013 -- April 03, 2017

                  The History of Chess in Palau
                  By Roberto Hernandez
                  June 09, 2002 -- April 03, 2017   

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