The National Open 2012 was one of my most successful tournaments with tons of fabulous and unforgettable experiences. There were 8 sections each had over 100 participants including about 30 Grandmasters and Internationalmasters in optional 2 or 3 days schedule. The tournament held in Las vegas, Nevada, the fun capital in the world, and had a lot of spectacular side events for both adults and youngsters; simuls and free lectures by GM Anatoly Karpov and GM Timur Gareev, game analysis by Masters and International youth Championship.
| By Fred Gruenberg | |
May 2, 2012
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"PUT THE FUN BACK IN CHESS at the 2012 Las Vegas International Chess Festival - June 14th through June 18th - and the USCF National Open Championship - June 15th through June 17th. This year's National Open and International Chess Festival really promise to be more than just a chess spectacular! With a newly remodeled Riviera - on the strip - an $80,000 GUARANTEED prize fund, mucho side events and an appearance, and simul, by former World Champion Anatoly Karpov, the chess festival will be one of your all-time favorite chess vacations..."
Visit the tournament website at www.vegaschessfestival.com for all the details. http://main.uschess.org/content/view/11704/141/
The tournament was absolutely best located, well-organized, high-quality and full of fun. During the tournament 3 days from morning to night, I didn't even wanna miss one minute to enjoy.
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The Las Vegas International Chess Festival returns to THE STRIP and the Riviera Hotel and Casino.
 Fantastic Pool Area |
Over $20 million in remodeling has turned the Riv into a brand new hotel with a familiar face. New restaurants, refurbished guest rooms, a new lobby and an expanded casino welcome us back. The $59 chess rate ($89 Friday and Saturday) guarantees you a Signature or remodeled room with new furniture, flat screen TV and more.
My most favorite thing about that hotel was it's swimming pool, which is 9"deep, nice and big. Every morning before the round starts, I had a chance to get some swimming in. Best refreshment before the slow chess game! :)
Even during the rounds, I was enjoying to observe the GM's game at the top boards. It was nice to see famous strong Grandmasters in person such as GM Timur Gareev (2745), GM Varuzhan Akobian (2710)
| GM | Alexander Onischuk (2720) etc. |
Championship /open/ section had about 100 participants, from whom around 40 GMs, IMs and FMs. Super tough! The next section is Under 2200, in which I played. I performed pretty good 5 points /undefeated/ out of 6 including 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 bye and ended up tied for second. Due to tiredness and sickness I took bye on Round 2 to get some rest.
Results section U2200
No. Ttl Name St Rate Pts Rnd1 Rnd2 Rnd3 Rnd4 Rnd5 Rnd6 1 Bidari,Glenn Cyrus-RE NV 2141 5.5 W110 W103 W 13 W 48 W 20 D 4 2 FM Van Hoolandt,Patrick MNC 2189 5.0 W 70 D 55 W 33 W 27 D 6 W 20 3 WFM Byambaa,Uyanga MGL 2166 5.0 W 40 -H- D 26 W 53 W 48 W 22 4 Stille,Alexander M ENG 2156 5.0 W 92 W 58 W 34 D 6 W 10 D 1 5 Hughes,Austin CA 2131 5.0 D 93 W 64 W 42 W 55 D 22 W 25 6 Abdelmoniem,Hossam Hassan EGY 2121 5.0 W 94 W 87 W 28 D 4 D 2 W 13 7 Yim,Tony Sung AZ 2196 4.5 W104 W 91 L 20 W 36 D 18 W 38 8 Nita,Marian Nick CA 2182 4.5 W 39 D 26 D 63 W 83 D 19 W 34 9 Ondangan,Ruben,Jr CA 2176 4.5 D 41 W 56 L 22 W 80 W 72 W 26 10 Barbre,Stephen NV 2121 4.5 D 95 W108 W 75 W 72 L 4 W 42 11 Siebenhaar,Erich GER 2070 4.5 D 64 D 74 W 62 W 45 -H- W 32 12 Li,Ruifeng TX 2179 4.0 W105 D 75 L 55 D 33 W 85 W 51 13 McLaren,Brian Robert CAN 2177 4.0 W 50 W 54 L 1 W 69 W 21 L 6 14 Cardona,Liulia AZ 2174 4.0 D102 W100 L 72 W 35 D 37 W 48 15 Malazarte,Ernesto L-RE TX 2168 4.0 D 38 L 23 W102 W 71 D 40 W 53 16 Yu,Corbin Zachary OR 2154 4.0 W 84 L 61 W 85 L 38 W 86 W 54 17 Barsky,Sam Alex NY 2147 4.0 L 54 W106 L 59 W 93 W 74 W 62 18 Song,Edward MI 2132 4.0 W 43 W 76 L 27 W 84 D 7 D 19 19 Martinez,Isaac AZ 2119 4.0 D 57 D 36 W 74 W 54 D 8 D 18 20 FM Cao,Jason CAN 2116 4.0 W 73 W 77 W 7 W 31 L 1 L 2 21 Pryor,Jamieson CA 2108 4.0 W 44 L 63 W 58 W 77 L 13 W 60 22 Sen,Samir WA 2105 4.0 D 86 W 57 W 9 W 29 D 5 L 3 23 Gordon,Stephen Wayne-RE UT 2100 4.0 D 72 W 15 L 48 W 75 D 60 W 55 24 McLaughlin,James MO 2100 4.0 D 74 W 86 L 29 -X- D 41 W 65 25 Gallegos,Jeffery NV 2090 4.0 L 76 W 73 W 43 W 78 W 31 L 5 26 Rosell,John F AZ 2042 4.0 W 66 D 8 D 3 W 30 W 28 L 9 27 Gustafsson,Alexander Kenneth UT 2002 4.0 W 99 W 98 W 18 L 2 -H- -H- 28 Clawitter,Craig CA 2195 3.5 W112 W 83 L 6 W 63 L 26 D 37 29 Luaces,Juan CA 2170 3.5 W 71 D 42 W 24 L 22 D 38 D 36 30 Lu,Albert CA 2154 3.5 L103 W110 W107 L 26 W 84 -H- 31 WFM Mateer,Amanda AZ 2141 3.5 W 85 W 62 W 61 L 20 L 25 D 45 32 Chow,Colin CA 2130 3.5 D 56 D 41 W 44 D 60 W 61 L 11 33 Hilby,Craig CA 2092 3.5 D 60 W 95 L 2 D 12 W 58 -H- 34 Kleist,Frederick K WA 2090 3.5 W 45 W 80 L 4 D 40 W 59 L 8 35 Gojich,Alex CA 2088 3.5 L 61 D 71 W 95 L 14 W 94 W 63 36 Moy,Kevin CA 2056 3.5 D 46 D 19 W 76 L 7 W 77 D 29 37 Walsh,Peter C CA 2044 3.5 L 87 -H- W 46 -X- D 14 D 28 38 Hall,Bill-RE TN 2040 3.5 D 15 W102 D 53 W 16 D 29 L 7 39 Trammell,George E,III OK 2032 3.5 L 8 L 85 D 92 W 95 W 79 W 78 40 Brown, Wayne B CA 2022 3.5 L 3 W 81 W 87 D 34 D 15 -H- 41 Mayka,Tom R AZ 2019 3.5 D 9 D 32 D 67 -X- D 24 -H- 42 Treiman,Scott UT 2005 3.5 W 81 D 29 L 5 W 47 W 49 L 10 43 Kwok,James G CA 1996 3.5 L 18 W 90 L 25 D 79 W 66 W 67 44 Noble,Matthew R AZ 1951 3.5 L 21 W104 L 32 W 91 D 67 W 69 45 Seid,Raymond NV 1924 3.5 L 34 W 70 W 68 L 11 W 81 D 31 46 Taylor-Brill,Seth NC 1826 3.5 D 36 L 51 L 37 W 90 W 93 W 71 47 Norman,Roger CA 2112 3.0 D 96 D 79 D 93 L 42 D 56 W 85 48 Diskin,Daniel-RE VA 2097 3.0 W107 W 59 W 23 L 1 L 3 L 14 49 Victoria,Jesse Valera CA 2080 3.0 L 62 W 94 W 96 D 59 L 42 D 61 50 Sheng,Joshua CA 2076 3.0 L 13 L 53 W101 L 62 W105 W 86 51 Yang,Richard CA 2073 3.0 L 63 W 46 L 60 W 73 W 76 L 12 52 Duesing,Timothy J CO 2053 3.0 D 79 -H- L 77 -H- W 97 D 59 53 Daroza, Eduardo OR 2046 3.0 -H- W 50 D 38 L 3 W 64 L 15 54 Korba,Nicky-RE CA 2026 3.0 W 17 L 13 W100 L 19 W 80 L 16 55 Sakurai,Eric CA 2005 3.0 W 67 D 2 W 12 L 5 -H- L 23 56 Braun,Jason MD 1995 3.0 D 32 L 9 D 97 -H- D 47 W 81 57 Taghizadeh,Rayan CA 1981 3.0 D 19 L 22 L 84 W102 W 82 -H- 58 Richter,Alex James MN 1951 3.0 W 90 L 4 L 21 W 68 L 33 W 83 59 Beilin,Solomon I CA 1944 3.0 -B- L 48 W 17 D 49 L 34 D 52 60 Aletheia-Zomlefer,Soren AZ 1924 3.0 D 33 D 68 W 51 D 32 D 23 L 21 61 Naganathan,Kuberan NY 1905 3.0 W 35 W 16 L 31 -H- L 32 D 49 62 Barrett,Matt MO 1882 3.0 W 49 L 31 L 11 W 50 W 83 L 17 63 Irwin,Philip TX 1863 3.0 W 51 W 21 D 8 L 28 -H- L 35 64 Thompson,Buddy AZ 1852 3.0 D 11 L 5 D105 W107 L 53 W 84 65 Pruitt,Carvin A,Jr CA 1849 3.0 D 68 W109 L 69 -H- -X- L 24 66 Lin,Maung Thet SIN 2199 2.5 L 26 D105 L 80 W 92 L 43 W 95 67 Carr,John B TX 2146 2.5 L 55 W113 D 41 D 86 D 44 L 43 68 Ukoli,James O TX 2068 2.5 D 65 D 60 L 45 L 58 -X- D 76 69 Jain, Shaurya R CA 2049 2.5 -H- -H- W 65 L 13 D 78 L 44 70 Xie,Alexander CA 2031 2.5 L 2 L 45 L 81 W104 W 87 D 77 71 Russo-Alesi,Carlo NV 2018 2.5 L 29 D 35 W108 L 15 W 75 L 46 72 Keough, Robert W HI 2001 2.5 D 23 W101 W 14 L 10 L 9 --- 73 Hill,Leonard G CA 1973 2.5 L 20 L 25 W 90 L 51 D 91 W 92 74 Tao,Jeffrey CA 1941 2.5 D 24 D 11 L 19 W100 L 17 -H- 75 Bick,Gabriel James CA 1930 2.5 W111 D 12 L 10 L 23 L 71 W 91 76 Harmon-Vellotti,Carl Honor ID 1919 2.5 W 25 L 18 L 36 W105 L 51 D 68 77 Rodenstein,Alan C TX 1902 2.5 W 82 L 20 W 52 L 21 L 36 D 70 78 Caluza,Severo CAN 1847 2.5 L 83 -B- W 91 L 25 D 69 L 39 79 Lehmann,Spencer George IL 1799 2.5 D 52 D 47 L 83 D 43 L 39 W 93 80 Lundy,George W,III ID 1583 2.5 -B- L 34 W 66 L 9 L 54 D 82 81 WFM Ciubara,Vladlena ROU 2146 2.0 L 42 L 40 W 70 W 96 L 45 L 56 82 Bince,Rolando CAN 2084 2.0 L 77 D 97 L 86 W108 L 57 D 80 83 Botez,Alexandra Valeria OR 2058 2.0 W 78 L 28 W 79 L 8 L 62 L 58 84 Hough,Randall D CA 2010 2.0 L 16 W112 W 57 L 18 L 30 L 64 85 Troufanov,Ivan CA 2004 2.0 L 31 W 39 L 16 W 87 L 12 L 47 86 Jangle,Hemang J CA 1967 2.0 D 22 L 24 W 82 D 67 L 16 L 50 87 Holland,Morry R AZ 1795 2.0 W 37 L 6 L 40 L 85 L 70 W105 88 Zaydenberg,Avram CA 2167 1.5 -H- D 93 -H- -F- --- --- 89 Agron,Paul CA 2147 1.5 -H- D 96 -H- -F- --- --- 90 Steigum,Erling NOR 2102 1.5 L 58 L 43 L 73 L 46 D104 -B- 91 Ducharme,Pierre CO 2048 1.5 W 97 L 7 L 78 L 44 D 73 L 75 92 De Leon,Jose Juan CA 2011 1.5 L 4 L 99 D 39 L 66 W108 L 73 93 Cohen,Lawrence S IL 2000 1.5 D 5 D 88 D 47 L 17 L 46 L 79 94 Hua,Margaret M MO 1985 1.5 L 6 L 49 W104 D 97 L 35 --- 95 Pennock,Steven G AZ 1985 1.5 D 10 L 33 L 35 L 39 W102 L 66 96 Okunevich,Matthew AZ 1965 1.5 D 47 D 89 L 49 L 81 --- -H- 97 Enrico,Patrick Lee CA 1769 1.5 L 91 D 82 D 56 D 94 L 52 --- 98 Malazarte,Ernesto L TX 2168 1.0 W113 L 27 --- --- --- --- 99 Bidari,Glenn Cyrus NV 2141 1.0 L 27 W 92 --- --- --- --- 100 Singson,Melandro CA 2128 1.0 W106 L 14 L 54 L 74 --- --- 101 Lank,James A TX 2106 1.0 -H- L 72 L 50 -H- --- --- 102 Boron,Anthony J CAN 2088 1.0 D 14 L 38 L 15 L 57 L 95 D104 103 Green,Liberty V OH 2037 1.0 W 30 L 1 --- --- --- --- 104 Reario,Romeo CA 2034 1.0 L 7 L 44 L 94 L 70 D 90 D102 105 Roberts,Chris CA 2027 1.0 L 12 D 66 D 64 L 76 L 50 L 87 106 Rhee,William MI 2003 1.0 L100 L 17 D110 -H- -F- --- 107 Dominguez, Roberto NV 2000 1.0 L 48 -B- L 30 L 64 --- --- 108 WIM Haring,Ruth Inez CA 1947 1.0 D109 L 10 L 71 L 82 L 92 -H- 109 Gordon,Stephen Wayne UT 2100 0.5 D108 L 65 --- --- --- --- 110 Rich,Tony D MO 2024 0.5 L 1 L 30 D106 --- --- --- 111 Diskin,Daniel VA 2097 0.0 L 75 --- --- --- --- --- 112 Hall,Bill TN 2040 0.0 L 28 L 84 --- --- --- --- 113 Korba,Nicky CA 2026 0.0 L 98 L 67 --- --- --- ---
Here is one of my games that I drew in Round 3,
Rosell, John F (2042) vs Byambaa Uyanga (2166)
Natioanal open 2012, 16.06.2012
[Byambaa,Uyanga]
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| Position after 31.Bc3 |
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.d4 d6 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 Nc6 7.0-0 e5 8.d5 Ne7 9.e4 Ne8 10.Ne1 f511.f4 Kh8 Sometimes slow waiting moves are useful, but in this position, it was unnecessary and waste of time. [11...exf4 12.Bxf4 fxe4 13.Bxe4 Nf6 14.Bg2 Nf5 ]
12.fxe5 dxe5 13.Nd3 a5 [13...Nd6 14.c5 Nxe4 15.Nxe4 fxe4 16.Rxf8+ Qxf8 17.Bxe4 Bf5= ]
14.Bg5 h6 15.Bd2 Bd7 16.c5 g5? An aggressive but weakening move.I should've realize my position was inferior. There was no way my kingside attack is gonna work because of my bad placed peices.[16...Nf6 17.Nxe5 fxe4 ]
17.exf5 Bxf5 18.Qe2 Nf6 19.Nxe5 Nfxd5 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 21.Rxf5!? Rxf5 22.Ng6+ Kh7 23.Be4Bd4+ 24.Kh1 Qf6 [24...Rf2! After spending about 30 min, I miss the winning move. As far as I concerned, that was one of the candidate moves that I was analyzing. Unfortunately, I chose the different move. 25.Qd3 Nf6 26.Nf8+ Kh8 27.Ne6Qd7+- ]
25.Qd3 Kxg6 26.Rf1 Ne7 27.g4 Kg7 28.gxf5 Nc6 29.Rf3 He offered me a draw, which I declined. In my opinion my position was better.
29...Rd8 30.Bxc6 Qxc6 31.Bc3 Qf6 [31...g4 Strangely, I completely miss this move. So sad that I didn't even concerned about it. It was another opportunity to win the game. 32.Bxd4+ Kf8 33.Bg7+ Kxg734.Qxd8 Qxf3+-/+ ]
32.Qe4 Bxc3 33.Rxc3 Rd1+ 34.Kg2 Rd2+ 35.Kg3 h5 [35...Rxb2 36.Rd3 Rxa2 37.Rd7+ Kf8-+ ]
36.Re3 h4+ 37.Kh3 Rd7 38.Qc2 Rd5 39.Rf3 Rd4 40.Re3 Rf4 41.c6 bxc6 [41...g4+ 42.Kg2 Rxf543.Re7+ Qxe7 44.Qxf5 Qe2+ 45.Qf2 Qe4+ 46.Kg1 Qxc6-+ ]
42.Re6 [42.Qc3 g4+ 43.Kg2 Rxf5 44.Qxf6+ Kxf6-+ ]
42...g4+ 43.Kg2 Qd4 44.Qe2 h3+? [44...Qd5+ 45.Kg1 Qxf5 46.Qe5+ Qxe5 47.Rxe5-/+ ; 44...Rxf545.Re7+ Kg6 46.Qe6+ Kg5 47.Qe3+ Qxe3 48.Rxe3-+ ]
45.Kg3 Rf3+ 46.Kh4 Qf2+ 47.Qxf2 Rxf2 48.f6+ Kf7 49.Rxc6 Rxh2 50.Kxg4 Rxb2 51.Kxh3Rxa2 52.Kg4 a4 [52...Kg6 53.Kf4 Re2 54.Rxc7 Kxf6 55.Ra7 Ra2 56.Ke4 Ke6 57.Kd4 Kd6 58.Kc4Kc6 59.Kb3 Ra1 60.Kb2 Ra4 61.Kb3 Rb4+ 62.Ka3 Kb6 ]
53.Kf5 Rf2+ 54.Ke5 Re2+ 55.Kf5 1/2-1/2
After about playing 6 hour game, we ended up draw. I was little upset about my play in this game. From opening to middlegame, I obtained a bad position with worse pieces, and missed the couple nice chances to win the game.
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| Former World Champion GM Anatoly Karpov giving a free lecture in National open |
LAS VEGAS INTERNATIONAL CHESS FESTIVAL
NATIONAL OPEN NEWS
VOLUME 2012, ISSUE 1 - JUNE 15, 2012
"Karpov A Big Hit With Vegas Crowd Former World Champion, GM Anatoly Karpov, is this year’s big named guest and he didn’t disappoint in his simul appearance today.It all started when a big crowd assembled for the drawing of lots, performed by a computer animated Vegas style slot machine. Prospective simul entrants received a certain number of chances based on when they paid their entry fee. The earlier people entered, the higher their chances of being one of the lucky few.After the drawing, 23 lucky players had been given the opportunity to face Karpov in the simul, while the fi nal 2 spots were auctioned off
to raise funds for the US Chess Trust. The penultimate spot went for $375, while the fi nal spot was won with a bid of $310 When the simul began, a large crowd had assembled in the room, all armed with a multitude of cameras and video recorders so people could capture the moment of meeting one of the greatest chess players that ever lived.After 5 gruelling hours, fi nishing at around midnight, Karpov eventually fi nished with an impressive score of 23 wins, 2 draws and no losses.The two lucky survivors were Jim Green (rated
1980) and Jose Ramirez (1900). Both players played very solid games and were well deserving of their half-points as they managed to avoid succumbing to Karpov’s technique of grinding people down in a slow,
methodical manner rather than blasting people off the board with tactics."
After the rounds finished, also, I was enjoying to hang out at the "strip" almost every night. Las Vegas is one of the best vacation spot in U.S. it's a 24 hour city where lots of entertainment take place, gamblings and has a many attractions and casinos. Here is some pictures I took in my tour at the strip: /Thank you for the nice company with my friends; Bryon, Barry and Demetrius and his family/
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| Bryon, on top of the Stratosphere tower |
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| Stratosphere tower |
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| Amazing water show about to starting... |
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| My favorite part of Vegas! Fantastic Water Fountain! |
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| Bellagio hotel |
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| Effel Tower on the strip |
An interesting image inside the casinos definitely make you feel like you'r in outside. Enjoy the fake sky, a river, a waterfall, trees, a garden, flowers etc!
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| At that moment, it was absolutely the "happiest place on earth" |
Last benefit of the National open was that everybody who has a plus score receiving $50 gift card for the book store. I was lucky to tied for second and pocketed several hundred, plus $50 gift card and all kinds of free lectures and game analysis. As a matter of fact, I didn't expect to do well in this tournament because I was taking a vacation since I finished my school in end of the May. Despite of not having practice last couple month, I was happy for my performance in National open. Sometimes good vacation and good people are the best influence on success.
I'd like to thank to my friend Bryon Joseph Doyle for giving me an unforgettable wonderful vacation and traveling, and to my friend Barry Wayne Curto for your all support! Without you guys' good company and fun, I wouldn't do great in my tournament. :)
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| when photographer captures my shoes :) |
It's always nice to come back to National Open. Different from the others years though, I didn't play in the main event, instead, I played in the Women's Open, which was an another great experience.
http://www.uschess.org/content/view/13091/826/: My winning was mentioned in this article!
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| 3 way tie for first place |
