International Masters Bryan Smith of Philadelphia and Dean Ippolito tie for first in Last Tuesday G/10
International Masters Bryan Smith and Dean Ippolito tied for first in the Last Tuesday of the month G/10 Grand Prix with 3.5/4. There were 14 players who competed. Smith and Ippolito drew a tense game in round 3 [link to game], and defeated their other three opponents to share $125 each. Aaron Kiedes and Bernard Zhang had strong performances with multiple upsets to tie for third, each winning $50. Todd Jobson joined the prize group winning a $50 gift card for top under 1300. This was the 3rd last Tuesday Grand Prix and the largest yet. The next DOCA G/10 Grand Prix will be held on August 31st.
Here is their game for your enjoyment: Download the PGN here.
[Event "DOCA G/10 Grand Prix"]
[Site "Dean of Chess Academy - Branchburg"]
[Date "2010.07.27"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Ippolito"]
[Black "Smith, Bryan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A62"]
[Annotator ",Microsoft"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[SourceDate "2010.07.01"]
{The following game was played at the Game 10 Grand Prix at our Branchburg
Academy on July 27, 2010. Black is International Master Bryan Smith.} 1. d4
Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Bg2 Bg7 8. Nf3 O-O 9.
O-O Nbd7 {This is a g3 variation of the Benoni.} 10. h3 Nh5 11. e4 Ne5 12. g4
Nxf3+ 13. Qxf3 Nf6 14. Bg5 h6 15. Bh4 Qe7 16. Rfe1 g5 17. Bg3 Nd7 18. Qe2 Be5 {
Due to the dark-square weaknesses, Black's position is much better.} 19. Rf1
Bxg3 20. fxg3 Ne5 21. Nd1 {heading to e3 then f5} Bd7 22. a4 a6 23. Qf2 (23. a5
{?} Bb5) 23... Kg7 24. Ne3 b5 25. Qd2 Qd8 26. Qc3 f6 27. Rf2 Qb6 28. Bf1 c4 29.
Nc2 {The d4 square is important in the Benoni. Black didn't need to give
White access to the square so easily.} Rac8 30. Kg2 h5 31. gxh5 Bxh3+ 32. Kg1
Ng4 (32... Bxf1 33. Raxf1 Nd3 34. Qd4 Qxd4 35. Nxd4 {
is good for White but not so easy to convert with just seconds left.}) 33. Qd4
Qxd4 34. Nxd4 Nxf2 35. Kxf2 {
The exchange up is not so easy to convert with White's dominant knight.} Bd7
36. axb5 axb5 37. Ra7 Rf7 38. Ra6 b4 {
Black needs to make use of his passed pawn.} 39. Rxd6 c3 40. bxc3 bxc3 41. Bd3
Ba4 42. Bc2 Bxc2 43. Nxc2 Rb7 44. Ke3 Rb1 {
It's not easy to make progress here and both players had under a minute.} 45.
Rd7+ Kh8 (45... Kh6 {looked risky} 46. g4 (46. Nd4 Kxh5) 46... Rd1 47. d6 (47.
Rd6 Rd2 48. Rxf6+ Kg7 49. Rc6) 47... Rd2 (47... Rc6) 48. Rc7 {
using the same ideas as in the game.}) (45... Kf8 46. h6 {
is dangerous for Black}) (45... Kg8) 46. d6 Rd1 (46... Rc6 47. Rc7 (47. Rd8+
Kh7 48. d7 (48. Rd7+ Kh6 49. Nd4 c2 {when Black wins}) 48... Rd6) 47... Rxd6
48. Rxc3 {when a draw is likely}) 47. Rc7 Rd8 48. Rxc3 R1xd6 49. g4 Kh7 50. Ra3
R8d7 51. Rb3 Rd2 52. Ne1 Rh2 53. Nf3 Rg2 54. e5 fxe5 55. Nxe5 Rg3+ 56. Ke4 {
The key move to securing the draw.} Rxb3 57. Nxd7 Kg7 58. Nc5 Rb4+ 59. Kf3 Kf6
(59... Rf4+ 60. Kg3 Kf6 61. Nd3 Ra4 62. Ne1 Ra3+ 63. Nf3 {is also a draw}) 60.
Ne4+ Ke5 61. Nxg5 (61. Nxg5 Rb3+ 62. Kg2 Kf4 63. Nf7 Kxg4 64. h6 Rb2+ 65. Kf1 {
and the rook versus knight ending is an easy draw.}) 1/2-1/2
Dawn Gets Published
For those of you who do not know, we have recently become proud sponsors of Diamond Nation of Flemington. This amazing baseball center is truly a beautiful facility and has so much to offer children.
Diamond Nation also publishes a magazine that is read by 2.5 MILLION people a month! Now Dawn has an article in this publication which links chess and baseball. You can read the article online. Let us know what you think!
Friday Night League
Just a reminder that we will not hold League on Friday, July 2nd due to the holiday weekend. Hope everyone has a safe and Happy July 4th!
Follow the IM
Follow Dean on his quest for his GM norm. Dean will be updating our Twitter account during his play at the Copperstate International tournament. Look for his updates as “Dean of Chess”.
Summer Class Schedule Updated
For those of you who are looking for the new class schedule, please visit our Chess Academy page. Dates and times are included for each ability level.
In addition, we have brought back our “Pay-as-you-go” option for the months of June through August. We know that vacations can play a huge role in deciding whether or not to register for a summer session. With the Pay-as-you-go” option, you can only pay for those classes that you know you will be able to attend. You can pay weekly if that is more convenient but we ask that you reserve your spot in class ahead of time. We hope this option will keep your children or yourself, active during the summer.