Wednesday, April 27, 2011

2011 U.S. Chess Championships

Fireworks yet to come!  Shankland and Hess drew their second game today and so will face off in an Armageddon game this evening at 5:00 p.m.  They are battling for 3rd and 4th places.

The two men left battling for the U.S. Championship title, Gata Kamsky and Yury Shulman, are locked in battle at the moment.  Shulman has white but it seems Kamsky with the black pieces has equalized the position at the moment, not a good signfor Shulman.

In the U.S. Women's Chess, which I am most interested in, had Irina Krush drawing Game 2 of the finals with Camilla Baginskaite and securing 3rd place for herself, along with a spot in the - something - World Cup?  Not sure, but what exactly because it's a FIDE thing that may - or may not - take place.  I think it has something to do with the women's world chess championship cycle but not sure, don't quote me on that.  Krush finished her tournament with a whopping 8 wins, including 5 in a row during the first round-robin part of play, 4 losses, and 2 draws.

The battle for the Women's title is ongoing between Abrhaamyan and Zatonskih.  Stay tuned...

Updated 4:24 p.m.:

Kamsky wins Championship title after Shulman offers draw (behind white pieces) and is accepted.  Congratulations to repeat U.S. Championship GM Gata Kamsky.

Now only the women are battling for their title and it's a slow slog.  Zatonskih (white) and Abrahamyan (black) are only on move 19 with 26 minutes v. 29 minutes on their respective clocks (G 90 time control with increment). 

And starting at 5:00 p.m. Central Time, Shankland and Hess will play their Armageddon play-off game to determine 3rd and 4th places and prize money.  Stay tuned...

4:55 p.m.

Hess bid 19 minutes 55 seconds for black with draw odds versus Shankland's bid of 20 minutes!  Therefore, Shankland gets the white pieces and a full 45 minutes versus Hess' 19.55 and black with draw odds.  Game has begun!

In the Women's Game 2 for the Championship title, Abrahamyan seems to have fallen somewhat behind the 8-ball -- in other words, not a good position.  We'll see.  I've seen her dig and dig and dig in prior games (and Championships) to pull out games like this.  But then, so has Zatonskih!

Stay tuned...

5:38 p.m.

Shankland wins over Hess in the Armageddon play-off and takes 3rd place!  They actually played some chess moves I could understand :)  Guess that doesn't say too much for them though, does it.  LOL!  I'm a "go for it, baby" chess player, no apologies.  I appreciate seeing that same kind of attitude on the boards of the young bucks :)

7:08 p.m.

Unbelievable!  Zatonskih v. Abrahamyan ends in a battling draw!  Fireworks galore!  Like - WOW!

Tomorrow that means the ladies face off at NOON central time.  They will play two games in abbreviated time and if both of those games end in draws, the final dreaded Armageddon game with bidding for black with draw odds.

STAY TUNED.  WHEW!

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