A Reminder that the Autumn Cup will be starting on the 8th of April. Entries so far are online. Please check and enter soon if you want to play. Please discuss with Simon if you which to switch Grades.
David Zhu beat Renae Ghadiali Philli Park-Tamati drew with Alphaeus Ang Lewis Jordan drew with Allen Fan
Round 3:
Tim Ha beat Nigel Metge Nathan Goohue drew with Alexei Kulashko Alex Nagorski drew with Paul Garbett
Due to Many players taking half point byes in round 3 and a sprinkling of draws only two players are unbeaten after 3 round. Tim Ha and Bruce Watson. Another 11 players are on 2.5
There were some catchup games played at various points in the top 3 grades when people were not able to make it on Monday. 5 of these are below along with the final results.
B Grade Round 7, Don Eade vs Paul Macdonald – After the opening Black got a better position and an extra pawn. But As the players swapped down to a rook and pawn endgame White got the pawn back and then lost another. However Black’s edge was not enough and White was able to hold a Draw.
B Grade Round 3 – Simon Lyall vs Paul Macdonald – A very similar openign and early middle game to the previous game. Black was better for most of the game but allowed White to pickup a pawn goign into the endgame. White didn’t find the best moves and the game was a draw.
C Grade Round 5, Xinyang Liu vs Winston Weng – White looked better coming out of the opening but opened up a big hole in his King side. At the right mement Black moved a Queen and two rooks over and quickly won. 0-1
A Grade Round 1, Nigel Metge vs Mike Steadman – White punched a huge hole in Blacks position and stormed in. White missed a few of the best defending moves and was lost. 1-0
B Grade Roun 1, Alex Nagorski vs Euan McDougall – White was a little better for most of the game but made a mistake in the endgame and allowed Black to get a passed pawn. 0-1
Final Results
A Grade: Winner is Alexei Kulashko with 6.5/7. Second is Daniel Gong on 5 points.
B Grade: Jasmine Zhang won the grade with 5.5 ahead of Alex Nagorski on 5.
C Grade: Winner of the Grade is Felix Xie on 5.5 with Jordan Lewis and Tim Ha second-equal on 4 points.
D Grade: Winner was Jeffrey Yu on 6.5. Second was Anya Thurner on 6.0 and Philli Park-Tamati, Joe Wang, Ajit Pendharkar, Boyuan Zhang and Mohammad Bashar were third-equal on 5 points.
This was the last round of the tournament. There are some catchup games remaining in B Grade. A reminder to get in your entries for the Autumn Rapid (starting April 1st) and Autumn Cup (starting April 15th)
March 25th was the last night for discounted subs. Please contact Mike Steadman asap about paying your sub if you have not already.
Daniel Gong vs Nathan Goodhue – Black tried his usual pawn chains but White instantly broke out an sac’d a Knight for 4 pawns. After piece exchanges Black game back a piece for two pawns leaving White better. He was able to push though a passed pawn. 1-0
Mike Steadman vs Alex Huang – An unbalanced game with White generally better. eventually White got a winning threat. 1-0
Alexei Kulashko vs Allen Fan – White gave up two pawns but picked up a piece. He then won some pawns back and eventually more material. 1-0
With all games played the Winner is Alexei Kulashko with 6.5/7. Second is Daniel Gong on 5 points.
B Grade
Alex Nagorski vs Caroline Yan – White got a good opening and a strong attack against Black’s King in the middle game. But Black managed to defend well and then win a piece when White allowed a fork. Black had a straightforward win from there. 0-1
Euan McDougall vs Simon Lyall – A fairly even opening until White unwisely pushed a pawn and allowed Black to cramp White’s position. Black was unable to find the best continuations (especially once his time was low) and then game swapped down to a draw.
Clinton Wells vs Jasmine Zhang – An even game until White gave up a piece for an attack which faltered. 0-1
Jasmine Zhang won the grade with 5.5 ahead of Alex Nagorski on 5. Paul Macdonald has a chance of matching Alex due to unplayed games
C Grade
Tim Ha vs Karl Holdo – A fairly even game until White miscalculated and gave up a piece. However Black misplayed the endgame and White managed to sneak a draw via perpetual check. Draw
Felix Xie vs Jordan Lewis – White was a little better from the early middle game and slowly increased his advantage by picking up material. 1-0
Xinyang Liu vs Akshay Sharma – Black made a series of errors in the opening and resigned on move 19 with a lost position. 1-0
Winston Weng vs Aaron Wang – Black allowed his king to become exposed to an attack and then made a mistake defending which quickly lost. 1-0
Winner of the Grade is Felix Xie on 5.5 with Jordan Lewis and Tim Ha second-equal on 4 points.
D Grade
Joe Wang vs Jeffrey Yu – White miscalculated an exchange and lost a piece. 0-1
Thomas Zheng vs Anya Thurner – White picked up a pawn but then got a piece trapped and was unable to find the right moves to keep it. Black then swapped pieces to a won endgame. 0-1
Philli Park-Tamati vs Boyuan Zhang – White got ahead an exchange but then made some mistakes and took a draw with the position even but unclear. Draw
Erwin Koestanto vs Stephen Peak – Black mounted an attack against White’s castled King. Black defended well but the players agreed to a draw, perhaps White feared making a mistake. Draw
Upsets in Round 7
Eden Oshri beat Hunter Po’e-Tofaeono Hannah Xu beat John McClory Ethan Liu drew with Neil Sonnekus David Zhu beat Sylvia McDougall
Winner of D Grade was Jeffrey Yu on 6.5. Second was Anya Thurner on 6.0 and Philli Park-Tamati, Joe Wang, Ajit Pendharkar, Boyuan Zhang and Mohammad Bashar were third-equal on 5 points.
Just one more week left in this tournament. If you are in A, B or C grade please check the results of all your games are listed and let Simon know if they will be played or there are results missing.
Allen Fan vs Mike Steadman – White allowed Black to get some mobility early on. An exchange sacrifice by Black left White desperately trying to hold the position but he eventually gave up a piece. 0-1
Alex Huang vs Alphaeus Ang – 18 moves of theory and then White grabbed a pawn. This proved unwise as it tied down a Bishop and allowed Black to get a pawn on the 6th rank in front of White’s King. The Bishop had to go backwards to prevent mate and White lost an undefended piece. Black quickly picked up a couple more pieces. 0-1
Nigel Metge vs Daniel Gong – A nice opening by White left him with a good position. However Black was able to swap off pieces to neutralise Whites advantage and the game swapped to a drawn endgame. Draw
Alexei Kulashko still leads the Grade by half a point from Daniel Gong.
B Grade
Caroline Yan vs Don Eade – White got better out of the opening and was a pawn up with a nicer position. Black tried some sharp play to get back in the game but miscalculated and lost a piece. 1-0
Paul Macdonald vs Clinton Wells – See Paul’s commentary in the PGN – White got the better opening and pushed forward a big centre of pawns which Black was unable to counter and got into time pressure. Black resigned after White punched a hole through Black’s cramped position and was about to win Black’s Queen. 1-0
Jasmine Zhang vs Euan McDougall – After an even start White jumped quickly ahead with two bishops raking Black’s position, threatening and pinning pieces. Black tried some unsound desperation tactics but White found her way through. 1-0
Simon Lyall vs Alex Nagorski – After early exchanges White was left with isolated pawns on the d file. He failed to find the best moves and ended up a pawn down and with a losing endgame. 0-1
Alex Nagorski keeps his lead. He is now 1.5 points ahead of Jasmine Zhang with just one game left.
C Grade
Karl Holdo vs Winston Weng – White looked a little meek in the opening but found a way to break out and put pressure on Black’s King. Black was able to swap things back to even and after further swaps the players had a King and 7 pawns each with no pieces. White made a mistake and Black’s King was able to invade and win. 0-1
Aaron Wang vs Xinyang Liu – White miscalculated some swaps and left Black with a passed pawn. To stop it Black had to trap a piece in the corner and Black was able to dominate the position. 0-1
Akshay Sharma vs Felix Xie – White was better throughout most of the game but Black managed to just hold on for a draw.
Jordan Lewis vs Tim Ha – A steady swap down to a drawn endgame. Each player had some chances but neither got significantly ahead. Draw
Felix Xie still leads, half a point ahead of Jordan Lewis.
D Grade
A strange pattern of wins and losses. White won the top 4 games, then Black the next 7, then White the next 3, etc.
Upsets in Round 6
Thomas Zheng beat Grant Burrows Bashar Mohammad beat Mike Steiner
Jeffrey Yu now leads the grade by himself. He is half a point ahead of Anya Thurner and Joe Wang.
Nigel Metge vs Nathan Goodhue – Blacks position got constricted early but he often plays these positions. After 5 0 moves of back and forth Black was up a pawn but game was constricted by a lareg pawns mass in the centre. However around move 60 White invaded on the 8th ranks with his rooks and picked up an exchange. He then swapped all the pieces into a winning endgame. 1-0
Daniel Gong vs Alex Huang – Black was even to better until he moved a Night to the sideline and was unable to counter White’s threats. 1-0
Alphaeus Ang vs Allen Fan – 14 moves of theory and then White got a lot of pressure and managed to pick up two pawns. After a swapoff some endgame care was needed but he managed it. 1-0
Michael Steadman vs Alexei Kulashko – White resigned after he made an error which allowed Black a much better position. 0-1
Daniel Gong and Alexei Kulashko lead the grade on 3.5. However Alexei has a game in Hand
B Grade
Simon Lyall vs Caroline Yan – A fairly even game with Black a little better for most of it. The players swapped down to an opposite color bishop endgame but White was unable to hold it and Black broke though. 0-1
Alex Nagorski vs Jasmine Zhang – Black made an error in the opening ( see diagram ) but White missed the complicated followup. They then got in a complicated position which the computer says Black is winning but after some back and forth White came out ahead. 1-
Nagorski v Zhang – Black player 13. ..Nxe5. Why is this a mistake?
Euan McDougall vs Paul Macdonald – See Paul’s full analysis in the PGN. White made several inaccuracies soon after the opening and then missed a tactic that allowed Black to win a piece.
Clinton Wells vs Don Eade – Black miscalculated a series of swaps and white was 2 pawns ahead. He was then able to swap steadily and win the endgame. 1-0
Alex Nagorski leads the grade with 4 points.
C Grade
Jordan Lewis vs Karl Holdo – White was better for most of the game and then was able to pick up a pawn and force though a passed-pawn. 1-0
Tim Ha vs Akshay Sharma – Black picked up a pawn in but it wasn’t enough and the players settled for a draw.
Felix Xie vs Aaron Wang – An even game until White made an error and allowed Black to pick up a piece. 0-1
Despite his loss this round Felix Xei still leads the grade.
D Grade
Philli Park-Tamati vs Jeffrey Yu – White pressed an attack but black held it and launched a strong attack himself. They players agreed on a draw in what the computer says is completly won position for Black. Draw
Upsets in Round 5
Jacob Chai beat Dario Giuliani Lucas Xiao beat Mike Steiner Jack Chen beat Erica Hu Ethan Liu beat Jacob Yuan
Philli Park-Tamati and Jeffrey Yu still lead the grade but there are 5 players just half a point behind them.
Signups are now in place for the Autumn Rapid on the 1st and 8th of April. Please signup on the Sheet in the main playing room at the Centre of via text to Simon. The Autumn Cup will start on April 15th.
A Grade Interclub will also be playing in May. We will be signing up a team soon.
Nathan Goodhue vs Mike Steadman – White got his usual long pawn chains and closed position. Black opened things up but White had more mobile pieces. Black resigned after White got 2 pawns up in the endgame. 1-0
Alexei Kulashko vs Alphaeus Ang – A fairly short game, Black got a little better and White offered a perpetual check. Black accepted rather than risk playing on. Draw
Allen Fan vs Daniel Gong – White miscalculated a centre pawn-push and found himself in a cramped position. Black was able to push White around and slowly pick up material. 0-1
Alexei Kulashko and Daniel Gong share first on 2.5 points. There are several games unplayed, however.
B Grade
Caroline Yan vs Clinton Wells – After an even opening White picked up a pawn and then an exchange after Black missed a tactic. White then swapped down and Black’s Bishops were no match for White’s rook in the endgame. 1-0
Don Eade vs Euan McDougall – White got a piece trapped early on but got an attack as compensation. After some wild swaps White was a Q and 6 pawns vs a Knight, Rook and Bishop and 2 pawns. However White failed to find the best lines. 0-1
Eade vs McDougall after 33. f4
Paul Macdonald vs Alex Nagorski – See Alex’s commentary in the PGN – White made an error and gave up a pawn early. White complicated the game but Black mostly found the best replies. Black swapped down to a rook and pawn endgame with Black being two pawns up and Black had a fairly easy time winning from there. 0-1
Jasmine Zhang vs Simon Lyall – Black got a little lost in the opening and lost a pawn and then after getting some distance back lost another. White then had a strong attack and and a win after Black failed to find the best moves to defend. 1-0
Jasmine Zhang is leading the grade with 2.5 and a spare game. Several other players have games in hand.
C Grade
Karl Holdo vs Xinyang Liu – White pushed on the Queen side which allowed Black to punch a hole in the King side and quickly win as a pawn chain left White unable to get to the King side to defend. 0-1
Holdo vs Liu. After 23 dxc6. Black to play and win
Winston Weng vs Felix Xie – After White locked up the pawns White managed to punch a hole though and then convert his better position to a material advantage. 0-1
Aaron Wang vs Tim Ha – White had a better position from the opening but on move 22 after Black got a little better the players took a draw.
Akshay Sharma vs Jordan Lewis – White got into trouble early and then made a mistake that allowed an early checkmate. 0-1
Felix Xie is winning the grade with 4 wins out of 4 games. Three others are on 2.5
D Grade
Joe Wang vs Philli Park-Tamaki – After some wild swaps that left things even White miscalculated and ended up a piece down. Black quickly won. 0-1
There were 17 upsets across 28 games. The largest were:
Mohammad Bashar beat Dario Giuliani
Jack Chen beat Narasimhan Ravi
Alan Leach beat David Xu
Ariel Patdu beat Tama Austin
Philli Park-Tamati and Jeffrey Yu are the only players left on 4/4 while Stephen Peak is in 3rd on 3.5
Nigel Metge vs Allen Fan – White pushed a fawn pawn to h6 but black did a quick counter-attack and picked up an exchange. Another tactic missed by White allowed Black to pickup a full piece and White resigned. 0-1
Daniel Gong vs Alexei Kulashko – White tried an obscure move on move 3 of the Sicilian! After some exchanges and tactics Black had an extra Bishop for 3 pawns. However White was unable to hold the position. 0-1
Alphaeus Ang vs Mike Steadman – Black gave up a pawn in return for mobility and development. The computer liked White’s position but Black’s attack left little margin for error. White eventually made a mistake and settled for a perpetual check. Draw
Alexei Kulashko and Allen Fan both led on 2 points. Alexei has a game and hand as do other players
B Grade
Euan McDougall vs Clinton Wells – White made some dubious opening choices and gave Black a better position. Black kept up the pressure and won and pawn and then more material. 0-1
C Grade
Lewis Jordan vs Aaron Wang – White game up and early pawn and then black just put pressure on and swapped. Black resigned after losing an exchange etc. 0-1
Tim Ha vs Winston Weng – Black got in a better position into the opening but miscalculated a tactic and gave up his two bishops for a rook. White’s Bishops and Black’s underdeveloped pieces quickly decided the game. 1-0
Felix Xei vs Xinyang Liu – White got a good attack but missed the followup moves and allowed Black to escape. After some tacic the position looked drawn but black made a mistake and gave white the win. 1-0
Felix Xie is leading the grade on 3/3. However Akshay Sharma has 2 points with a game in hand
D Grade
Upsets in Round 3:
Thomas Zheng beat Huge Gao Neil Sonnekus drew with Abraham Deng
3 players are leading on 3 points: Joe Wang, Philli Park-Tamati and Jeffrey Yu while 7 more players are on 2.5
Nathan Goodhue vs Alphaeus Ang – The players steadily swapped pieces with no real advantage to either side. Draw
Mike Steadman vs Daniel Gong – White got a slightly better position but settled for forcing a repetition. Draw
Allen Fan vs Alex Huang – Black got a little ahead and won, although the computer is unimpressed. 0-1
B Grade
Caroline Yan vs Euan McDougall – A seesaw game. Fair even until White lost a piece but then she picked up some pawns a few moves later as compensation. Another mistake ended it however. 0-1
Don Eade vs Simon Lyall – White got better in the opening and Black tried a dubious pawn push. White was better but after some swaps Black came out a pawn ahead with a winning endgame. Black missed the best moves and settled for a draw due to lack of time. Draw
Paul Macdonald vs Jasmine Zhang – Black came out of the opening a little better. White tried and exchange sac but gained nothing and after White held off Black’s threats, she swapped down to a won endgame. 0-1
C Grade
Karl Holdo vs Felix Xie – White got a little lost in his opening and wasted a couple of moves allowing Black to advance pawns to cramp White’s position. Black got an unstoppable passed pawn and White resigned. 0-1
Xinyang Liu vs Tim Ha – After some unusual opening moves Black picked up a pawn with a tactic and White resigned soon after when the king was trapped. 0-1
Winston Weng vs Jordan Lewis – White got a better position but missed the best continuation and the position swapped down to a draw.
Aaron Wang vs Akshay Sharma – Black made a push on the queenside and White eventaully made a mistake defending. Black came out 3 pawns ahead and White resigned. 0-1
D Grade
Upsets for Round 2:
Ariel Patdu beat Dario Giuliani David Zhu beat Philbert Zhai Narasimhan Ravi beat Hugh Gao Mike Steiner beat Austin Tama
