Final Recap
The dust has settled and we have a clear winner - Resident GM Ben Finegold! Congratulations to Ben and to all the other competitors who participated. There were some upsets (Spencer Finegold bested Doug Eckert, Jason Zhou defeated William Nesham) and the games were all exciting. Check out the game section to see the players in action.[imagefield_assist|fid=9024|preset=article_thumb|lightbox=true|title=|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=250|height=167]
When asked how it feels to win the Championship at the best club in the country, GM Finegold responded, "Every game was difficult, and I feel lucky that I was able to win. Also, having three whites didn't hurt."
Finegold will also represent Saint Louis in the 2011 U.S. Championship. This 16-player field of super-talented GMs and IMs will square off from April 13 through April 28 at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis.
If you would like to participate in the 2012 Club Championship, all you need to do is win any standard-rated tournament at the club. Check back soon for more games, annotations and an article on the highlights from the CCSCSL Championship.
Final Standings
| # | Name | Rtng | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | Rd 3 | Rd 4 | Tot |
| 1 | BENJAMIN FINEGOLD | 2553 | W4 | W2 | W3 | W6 | 4.0 |
| 2 | MARK JOEFF FERBER | 2149 | W10 | L1 | D5 | W9 | 2.5 |
| 3 | RICHARD BENJAMIN | 2200 | W8 | D7 | L1 | D5 | 2.0 |
| 4 | JOSHUA FRANK | 2055 | L1 | W5 | D8 | D7 | 2.0 |
| 5 | SPENCER FINEGOLD | 2000 | W6 | L4 | D2 | D3 | 2.0 |
| 6 | DOUG D ECKERT | 2223 | L5 | W10 | W7 | L1 | 2.0 |
| 7 | KENNETH P THOMAS | 2068 | W9 | D3 | L6 | D4 | 2.0 |
| 8 | TONY D RICH | 1934 | L3 | W9 | D4 | D10 | 2.0 |
| 9 | JASON ZHOU | 1554 | L7 | L8 | W10 | L2 | 1.0 |
| 10 | WILLIAM NESHAM | 1891 | L2 | L6 | L9 | D8 | 0.5 |
Round 4
[imagefield_assist|fid=9042|preset=article_thumb|lightbox=true|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=250|height=167]The final round is bringing some interesting pairings, with the two highest-rated players duking it out for first place. If Doug is able to win he will take clear first place and the title of CCSCSL Champion. Can he pull off the upset?!?
Remember you can check out all the pictures by clicking here and replay all of the games here.
Round 4 Pairings
| Bd | Res | White | Res | Black |
| 1 | 1 | BENJAMIN FINEGOLD (2553) | 0 | DOUG D ECKERT (2223) |
| 2 | 1/2 | RICHARD BENJAMIN (2200) | 1/2 | SPENCER FINEGOLD (2000) |
| 3 | 1/2 | JOSHUA FRANK (2055) | 1/2 | KENNETH P THOMAS (2068) |
| 4 | 1 | MARK JOEFF FERBER (2149) | 0 | JASON ZHOU (1554) |
| 5 | 1/2 | WILLIAM NESHAM (1891) | 1/2 | TONY D RICH (1934) |
Round 4 Wall Chart
| # | Name/Rtng/ID | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | Rd 3 | Rd 4 |
| 1 | BENJAMIN FINEGOLD | W 6 | B 4 | W 3 | W 2 |
| 2553 11264417 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | ||
| 2 | DOUG D ECKERT | B 7 | W 9 | W 5 | B 1 |
| 2223 12107920 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | ||
| 3 | RICHARD BENJAMIN | W 8 | B 5 | B 1 | W 7 |
| 2200 12399940 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | ||
| 4 | MARK JOEFF FERBER | B 9 | W 1 | B 7 | W 10 |
| 2149 14426406 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | ||
| 5 | KENNETH P THOMAS | W 10 | W 3 | B 2 | B 6 |
| 2068 10773571 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | ||
| 6 | JOSHUA FRANK | B 1 | W 7 | B 8 | W 5 |
| 2055 12541155 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | ||
| 7 | SPENCER FINEGOLD | W 2 | B 6 | W 4 | B 3 |
| 2000 12665760 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | ||
| 8 | TONY D RICH | B 3 | W 10 | W 6 | B 9 |
| 1934 12694565 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | ||
| 9 | WILLIAM NESHAM | W 4 | B 2 | B 10 | W 8 |
| 1891 13135370 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| 10 | JASON ZHOU | B 5 | B 8 | W 9 | B 4 |
| 1554 14085162 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
Round 3
[imagefield_assist|fid=8972|preset=article_thumb|lightbox=true|title=|desc=2 Time Club Champ Richard Benjamin|link=none|align=left|width=250|height=167] The tournament is becoming a mad race with 6 players tied for 3rd, Eckert in clear 2nd and Ben Finegold resting at 1st.
Nothing is decided yet, as a win for Eckert would tie him with Ben Finegold for first place and who knows which of the six could grab second or third!
Round 3 Pairings
| Bd | Res | White | Res | Black |
| 1 | 1 | BENJAMIN FINEGOLD (2553) | 0 | RICHARD BENJAMIN (2200) |
| 2 | 1 | DOUG D ECKERT (2223) | 0 | KENNETH P THOMAS (2068) |
| 3 | 1/2 | SPENCER FINEGOLD (2000) | 1/2 | MARK JOEFF FERBER (2149) |
| 4 | 1/2 | TONY D RICH (1934) | 1/2 | JOSHUA FRANK (2055) |
| 5 | 1 | JASON ZHOU (1554) | 0 | WILLIAM NESHAM (1891) |
Round 3 Wall Chart
| # | Name/Rtng/ID | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | Rd 3 |
| 1 | BENJAMIN FINEGOLD | W 6 | B 4 | W 3 |
| 2553 11264417 | 1.0 | 2.0 | ||
| 2 | DOUG D ECKERT | B 7 | W 9 | W 5 |
| 2223 12107920 | 0.0 | 1.0 | ||
| 3 | RICHARD BENJAMIN | W 8 | B 5 | B 1 |
| 2200 12399940 | 1.0 | 1.5 | ||
| 4 | MARK JOEFF FERBER | B 9 | W 1 | B 7 |
| 2149 14426406 | 1.0 | 1.0 | ||
| 5 | KENNETH P THOMAS | W 10 | W 3 | B 2 |
| 2068 10773571 | 1.0 | 1.5 | ||
| 6 | JOSHUA FRANK | B 1 | W 7 | B 8 |
| 2055 12541155 | 0.0 | 1.0 | ||
| 7 | SPENCER FINEGOLD | W 2 | B 6 | W 4 |
| 2000 12665760 | 1.0 | 1.0 | ||
| 8 | TONY D RICH | B 3 | W 10 | W 6 |
| 1934 12694565 | 0.0 | 1.0 | ||
| 9 | WILLIAM NESHAM | W 4 | B 2 | B 10 |
| 1891 13135370 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| 10 | JASON ZHOU | B 5 | B 8 | W 9 |
| 1554 14085162 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Round 2
[imagefield_assist|fid=9002|preset=article_thumb|lightbox=true|title=|desc=Mark Ferber (left) vs. GM Ben Finegold|link=none|align=left|width=250|height=167]The tournament is heating up with Round 2 well under way. Thomas-Benjamin and Rich-Zhou were the first games to finish and the other three boards are
battling it out. Can William Nesham best Doug Eckert? Will Ben Finegold
finally lose a standard-rated game at the club? Check back soon to find
out!
Click here to see more photos from all the rounds.
[imagefield_assist|fid=9012|preset=article_thumb|lightbox=true|title=|desc=Doug Eckert deep in thought|link=none|align=right|width=250|height=167]
Round 2 Pairings
| Bd | Res | White | Res | Black |
| 1 | 0 | MARK FERBER (2149) | 1 | BENJAMIN FINEGOLD (2553) |
| 2 | 1/2 | KENNETH P THOMAS (2068) | 1/2 |
RICHARD BENJAMIN (2200) |
| 3 | 1 | JOSHUA FRANK (2055) | 0 | SPENCER FINEGOLD (2000) |
| 4 | 1 | DOUG D ECKERT (2223) | 0 | WILLIAM NESHAM (1891) |
| 5 | 1 | TONY D RICH (1934) | 0 | JASON ZHOU (1554) |
Round 2 Wallchart
| # | Name/Rtng/ID | Rd 1 | Rd 2 |
| 1 | BENJAMIN FINEGOLD | W 6 | B 4 |
| 2553 11264417 | 1.0 | 2.0 | |
| 2 | DOUG D ECKERT | B 7 | W 9 |
| 2223 12107920 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
|
| 3 | RICHARD BENJAMIN | W 8 | B 5 |
| 2200 12399940 | 1.0 | 1.5 | |
| 4 | MARK JOEFF FERBER | B 9 | W 1 |
| 2149 14426406 | 1.0 | 1.0 | |
| 5 | KENNETH P THOMAS | W 10 | W 3 |
| 2068 10773571 | 1.0 | 1.5 | |
| 6 | JOSHUA FRANK | B 1 | W 7 |
| 2055 12541155 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
|
| 7 | SPENCER FINEGOLD | W 2 | B 6 |
| 2000 12665760 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
|
| 8 | TONY D RICH | B 3 | W 10 |
| 1934 12694565 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
| 9 | WILLIAM NESHAM | W 4 | B 2 |
| 1891 13135370 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| 10 | JASON ZHOU | B 5 | B 8 |
| 1554 14085162 | 0.0 | o.0 |
Round 1
[imagefield_assist|fid=8958|preset=article_thumb|lightbox=true|title=|desc=Spencer Finegold (left) battles Doug Eckert|link=none|align=left|width=250|height=167]Round 1 is over, but the competition is just heating up.
The higher rated player won on each board except the big upset on board 2. Spencer Finegold played a complicated English against Doug Eckert are brought home the full point.
Click here to see more photos from all the rounds.
Round 1 Crosstable
| # | Name/Rtng/ID | Rd 1 |
| 1 | BENJAMIN FINEGOLD | W 6 |
| 2553 11264417 | ||
| 2 | DOUG D ECKERT | B 7 |
| 2223 12107920 | ||
| 3 | RICHARD BENJAMIN | W 8 |
| 2200 12399940 | ||
| 4 | MARK JOEFF FERBER | B 9 |
| 2149 14426406 | ||
| 5 | KENNETH P THOMAS | W 10 |
| 2068 10773571 | ||
| 6 | JOSHUA FRANK | B 1 |
| 2055 12541155 | ||
| 7 | SPENCER FINEGOLD | W 2 |
| 2000 12665760 | ||
| 8 | TONY D RICH | B 3 |
| 1934 12694565 | ||
| 9 | WILLIAM NESHAM | W 4 |
| 1891 13135370 | ||
| 10 | JASON ZHOU | B 5 |
| 1554 14085162 |
Round 1 Pairings
| Bd | Res | White | Res | Black |
| 1 | 1 | BENJAMIN FINEGOLD (2553) | 0 | JOSHUA FRANK (2055) |
| 2 | 1 | SPENCER FINEGOLD (2000) | 0 | DOUG D ECKERT (2223) |
| 3 | 1 | RICHARD BENJAMIN (2200) | 0 | TONY D RICH (1934) |
| 4 | 0 | WILLIAM NESHAM (1891) | 1 | MARK JOEFF FERBER (2149) |
| 5 | 1 | KENNETH P THOMAS (2068) | 0 | JASON ZHOU (1554) |
