[imagefield_assist|fid=5613|preset=frontpage_200x200|lightbox=true|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=200]Expert Nick Karlow won the June Knights with an undefeated performance. After taking a half-point bye in round two, Karlow put himself in a hole, one half point behind the leaders. After pulling off a much needed round three victory against thee-time Knights Champion Paul Goddard, Nick had a crucial round four match-up vs. CCSCSL chess instructor Alex Marler.
Alex had been perfect up until that point in the tournament, and a Karlow loss would put him out of prize contention. Alex got in time pressure, however, and missed an attack that ultimately cost him the game.
Nick found himself pitted versus Aleksey Kazakevich in the final round to decide the Championship. The game did not last long, and Nick was declared the Champ. With his win, he earned a spot in the Knights Championship in December.
Marler finished the tournament strong and won the "A" prize. Even with Aleksey's last round loss, he raised his rating above the 1700 mark and won the "B" prize. Dennis Hourcade defeated fellow Class "C" player Lou Sarmento in the final round to take home the "C" prize.
Ken West had a fantastic first two rounds of the tournament to win the Class "D" prize. He defeated "A" player Paul Goddard with a brilliant Knight sacrifice on f2 in the opening to propel him to victory. In the next round, he was just too much for distracted Tournament Director Mike Kummer. "It was no surprise that the game only lasted 25 moves, but the result surely was," said a devasted Kummer after the game.
West raised his rating in astonishing 139 points to 1257. Come out Wednesday August 4 for the next installation of the popular Knights tournament series.
