[imagefield_assist|fid=4774|preset=frontpage_200x200|title=|desc=|link=none|origsize=|align=left|width=200|height=200]Thursday May 19, 2010: Round five
I finally won a game, and it was not bad. I was white against ICC online qualifier Levon Altounian. I was slightly better for most of the game, and Levon capitulated with time trouble looming.
The tournament is going into round 6 with a lot of excitement, and at least 10 players are still in the hunt to try to qualify for the final Quad. I am guessing the four players will have +4 and +3 who make the final quad, and, at the moment, there is a two way tie for first with Kamsky and Onischuk, who are both playing great chess! The big surprise is Jesse Kraai, who won with black against Jaan Ehlvest. Jesse has 3.5 and is tied for third. Jesse gets black once again, against his biggest challenge of the event, defending Champion Hikaru Nakamura.
There were a lot of decisive games this round, which seems to be the standard, and Irina Krush and Alexander Shabalov both won their games from lost positions. Irina is still in the hunt for her 2nd GM norm, as she has 3 points against 5 strong GMs.
I am white against Joel Benjamin in round 6. Joel and I have been playing each other for 27 years! Tomorrow, it's all about the Benjamins!
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Friday, May 20, 2010: Round 6
I was white against Joel in round 6, and I won rather quickly. The all-Benjamin matchup was over without much of a fight, as black got into bad time trouble about move 18, and missed a tactic and was losing soon thereafter. I played faster than I normally do (especially this tournament) and enjoyed a 30-40 minute time advantage the last 10 moves or so.
The tournament only has one more round until the quad final, and there are many players with a chance to make it! The favorites are Naka, Kamsky, Oni, and Shulman thus far. I still have a VERY outside chance, if I can beat Yermolinsky tomorrow (with black!), AND, if Kamsky loses to Shabalov (with white!), and WIN playoffs! I guess I have a non-zero percent chance, but, closer to 0 than 1%!
Anyway, I have some chances to finish 5th-10th if I can keep my good form, and if I am able to score well with black the next two games.
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