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Ben's Blog: Spring Spice Cup - Round 8
[imagefield_assist|fid=3531|preset=frontpage_200x200|lightbox=true|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=200]Hard work has paid off! I had a novelty (20.Qe2) ready for Darwin, and I have been analyzing this position for a month! I had a big-time edge, and pushed my advantage to the maximum. Darwin made about two bad moves after my novelty, but, he was not happy with his position at all, and said he might give up the line completely.
GM Julio Becerra, who has been unstoppable thus far, lost a long tough game to IM Davorin Kuljasevic. Julio is now only leading by half a point, as IM Gergely Antal won against IM Dean Ippolito.
Chess program offers opportunities for ICA students
[imagefield_assist|fid=3530|preset=frontpage_200x200|lightbox=true|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=200]SAINT LOUIS, March 17, 2010 -- Students from the Innovative Concept Academy (ICA) got their first taste of tournament chess this weekend at Lindbergh High School.
The scholastic chess tournament, run by the Gateway Chess League, featured tournament participants that ranged from grades K-12. The students from the ICA were sponsored by the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, which operates a curriculum-based, in-school program at the school as well as an after-school chess program.
Ben's Blog: Spring Spice Cup - Rounds 6-7
[imagefield_assist|fid=3528|preset=frontpage_200x200|lightbox=true|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=200]Another day, another....... win?!?
Round 6 saw another *classic* game, as I was winning against GM Jesse Kraai, when he played the opening a bit too fancy (maybe he prepared for the game with Squidward?), and at the point where Rybka says I am +5 (!) I promptly blow all my advantage.
The next round, I was black against FM Eric Hansen, who is trying to get his final IM norm. I was very slightly better most of the game, and, when Eric finally made some bad moves near the end ...
Draws on top boards during round 3 of Club Championship
[imagefield_assist|fid=3526|preset=frontpage_200x200|lightbox=true|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=200]CCSCSL members have been following the games of our Resident GM Ben Finegold this week at the Spring SPICE cup in Lubbock, Tex., and his recent case of draw-itis seems to be spreading. The two top boards in tonight's pairings, Jim Voelker vs. Ken Thomas and Josh Frank vs. Richard Benjamin, ended in a draw.
Executive Director Tony Rich topped William Nesham and Mike Kummer won his game against Dan Coryea.
Paul Mechem scored a point against Paul Goddard tonight. Click Read More for cross tables and pairings.
Ben's Blog: Spring Spice Cup - Rounds 1 and 5
[imagefield_assist|fid=3523|preset=frontpage_200x200|lightbox=true|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=200]Another tough day and two more tough draws. I was lucky in both games, as I stood worse for about 90% of the moves today!
IM Irina Krush and I played a crazy game, which started quietly, then, after she won a pawn, I got some good counterplay. Irina was better, but, after we both missed some tactics, and both got lucky at various points, a draw was the logical result. Afterwards, we had a nice lunch at Applebee's (Is that possible?) although Irina's salad had too much dressing. It's nice to have a pleasant dining experience with your opponent after such a hard fought battle, and the feeling of camaraderie amongst the players here is great.
Finegold and Krush draw in round 1 reschedule at SPICE
[imagefield_assist|fid=3522|preset=frontpage_200x200|title=|desc=|link=none|origsize=|align=left|width=200|height=200]GM Ben Finegold and IM Irina Krush played a long and hard-fought draw in a round 1 match that was rescheduled because Krush made a late arrival to the tourney. Finegold had the black pieces against a determined Krush, and the two fierce competitors slugged out a nail-biting draw.
As time was winding down, both players found themselves in time trouble relying only on their increment to save them. the game ended in a rook vs. rook draw, which leaves GM Finegold with a score of 2/4 and IM Krush a score of 1.5/4.
Ben's Blog: Spring Spice Cup - Rounds 3 and 4
[imagefield_assist|fid=3521|preset=frontpage_200x200|lightbox=true|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=200]A very tough day at the office. Two long draws, and I struggled in each game.
I was slightly worse with black against IM Gergely Antal. We drifted into time trouble, and I was able to equalize against inexact play.
Gergely probably had a nice advantage somewhere, but after 33.Qe2? I should be equal or better. I played badly in mutual time trouble and was lucky to draw.
Finegold featured on ChessCafe, follow him live on MonRoi.com
[imagefield_assist|fid=3520|preset=frontpage_200x200|lightbox=true|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=200]Ben is in action today in Lubbock, Tex., at the Spring SPICE Cup. He is squaring off against IM Gergely Antal in round three. Ben has taken some time out of his busy schedule to post some pics to his personal Facebook site and ours as well. Check the photos from round one here: http://bit.ly/aLKMn2
Our Resident GM was recently featured on ChessCafe.com. You can access part one of his interview by clicking the link here:
Ben's Blog: Spring Spice Cup - Round 2 Report
[imagefield_assist|fid=3519|preset=frontpage_200x200|lightbox=true|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=200]Today was quite boring from a chess point of view, as GM Julio Becerra and I played a snoozer of a game. I prepared quite a while for Julio's Slav/Semi-Slav/a6 Slav, but, I decided to also do a little prep for his other openings, King's Indian and Gruenfeld.
I prepared a line I have never played before, that I could do against any Nf6/g6 combination, but, unfortunately, Julio played solidly, and the game was equal throughout. Tomorrow there are two rounds, and I play black versus IM Gergely Antal in the morning, and white versus IM Dean Ippolito in the afternoon.
