[imagefield_assist|fid=16238|preset=fullsize|lightbox=true|title=IM Vitaly Neimer maintained his perfect score with a big win over GM Denes Boros.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=700|height=467]
By Alex Marler
The GM Norm event is in no need of an anti-draw rule, as the players are fighting hard. Round three produced four decisive games! All three grandmasters were defeated, thus removing the favorites for first place from the leader's group.
GM Ben Finegold tried to hold off IM Justin Sarkar with the Chigorin's Defense, an opening that he has had in his repertoire for more than 20 years. However, IM Sarkar came well prepared and slowly pushed GM Finegold's pieces to the back rank. With no space and a weak h5 pawn, black could not hold on, and soon resigned.
IM Steven Zierk defeated IM Mac Molner in a doubled rook-and-pawn endgame. This win puts Zierk in second place and on his way to a GM Norm.
The game between IMs Priyadharshan Kannappan and Marc Esserman proved to be the only quiet draw of the round. Presumably both players were still emotional from their dramatic second round games, so a display of caution was in order.
IM Vitaly Neimer scored the biggest upset of the round against GM Denes Boros. Incredibly, IM Neimer has won all three of his games! This game proved to be a rarity as the defender came out on top, rather than the attacker.
After missing his chance to defeat GM Boros in round 2, IM Darwin Yang took great risks to win against GM Andre Diamant in round 3. Fortunately for Yang, luck was on his side.
Unlike the GM Norm group, the IM Norm group saw four draws with the only decisive game between IM Michael Brooks and WIM Inna Agrest. FM Seth Homa and FM Tom Bartell are in first and second place respectively, which present them with good chances to earn an IM Norm.
The game between WGM Anna Sharevich and FM Thomas Bartell was quite balanced through and through. Once the players reached an equal queen and minor piece ending, they decided to call it a day.
IM Levan Bregadze utilized a risky variation of the modern defense in an attempt to take advantage of his lower-rated opponent, Tommy Ulrich. The game quickly turned into a real mess with both sides producing atypical piece development. The players soon found themselves in something of a gridlock, and so a draw was agreed.
FM Seth Homa maintained his first-place spot with a smart, early draw agaisnt one of his toughest competitors, IM Angelo Young.
For the second day in a row FM Doug Eckert missed his chance to achieve a winning position. In this game with FM Kostantin Kavutskiy, he missed 23. Nxe7+ followed by 24 Rxh4, which would have led to a winning position. Instead he played 23. Rxh4, which allowed Black to maintain equality with 23...Ng6!.
WIM Inna Agrest outplayed IM Michael Brooks and achieved a comfortable advantage, but the looming threat of time forfeiture provoked a series of inaccuracies followed by a blunder. This allowed IM Brooks to easily convert the win.
