[imagefield_assist|fid=16311|preset=fullsize|title=IM Levan Bregadze poses with his Lindenwood U teammate WGM Anna Sharevich. Bregadze leads the IM section with 5.5/8.|desc=|link=none|origsize=|align=left|width=700|height=467]
Results from round 8 ensured that there will be no norms earned at the CCSCSL Invitational, but the players are still fighting for prizes and ratings points. IM Levan Bregadze maintains a slim half-point lead in the IM Norm section, and IMs Steven Zierk, Justin Sakar, and Vitaly Neimer all are tied for first in the GM Norm section.
Stay tuned for a full video recap of the event after today's final round.
| GM Section | IM Section | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Place | Prize | Place | Prize |
| 1st | $1,000 | 1st | $750 |
| 2nd | $800 | 2nd | $500 |
| 3rd | $600 | 3rd | $250 |
| 4th | $400 | ||
| 5th | $200 | ||
2012 CCSCSL Invitational: Round 7 Recap
IM Sarkar's win over GM Diamant was the only decisive result in round 7. This win for IM Sarkar not only put him in sole second, but also kept his chances alive for an IM Norm. Sarkar needs to win both his remaining games to achieve the necessary 2 points to boost his score to 6.5 points. He will have to face off with IM Yang in round 8 and his main competitor for the norm, IM Neimer, in round 9! IM Neimer managed a draw versus IM Esserman, so if Neimer can gain 1.5 points in the last round, then he will gain a GM Norm. Due to the unfortunate pairing in the last round, IM Neimer vs. IM Sarkar, only one participant can actually walk away with the norm.
Kannappan - Finegold
Boros - Molner
This is turned out to be the longest game of the event thus far at 124 moves. Both sides fought hard, but due to mutual time trouble, neither side could really make any headway at the end.
Diamant - Sarkar
This was easily the most important game of the round, since a win for Sarkar kept his Norm chances alive. In the middle game Diamant misjudged the safety of his a5 pawn and so he tried to give it up in exchange for the b7 pawn. Sarkar demonstrated great positional skill, by not only capturing Diamant's a5 pawn, but also maintaining his own pawn at b7. Diamant faced with the dour possibilities of defending a pawn down endgame or sacrificing the exchange, he chose the latter,31. Rxb7+. Even though white is down a Rook for a Bishop the position remains equal! In the ensuing endgame, Dimant blundered with 44. Kg4?, however the unlikely 44. Rxe4 might be enough to hold a draw. Sarkar finished him off quite nicely beginning with 44...h5+.
Yang - Zierk
Neimer - Esserman
Luck was not on IM Neimer side in this contest. Vitaly missed a winning continuation, 28. Rb7 Bxe5, 29. Rb5 forking the queen and bishop. Also, 28..Qxe5 loses to 29 Rb5 and the black queen is trapped. After the missed win, Neimer found himself in an endgame that he thought was winning, but he just could not achieve the desired result.
Unfortunately for the IM norm hopefuls, the chances have all disappeared. Tommy Ulrich was the last man standing for IM Norm possibilities, however FM Eckert stopped him cold. IM Bregadze leads the group by a point, and there is a four way tie for 2nd between FM Kavutskiy, IM Brooks, FM Homa, and Ulrich.
Homa - Bartell
FM Bartell is still shaken from his shocking loss at the hands of IM Brooks in Round 4, as he made a few inaccuracies in this game with FM Homa. In fact, he was so distraught, that rather than defend a slightly worse position in a rook and pawn endgame, he resigned!
Eckert- Ulrich
At the start of round seven, Ulrich found himself in a tough position concerning the standings. He needed to win his last three games to get the IM norm! Eckert crushed those hopes in this fine performance.
Agrest - Sharevich
Brooks - Bregadze
Kavutskiy - Young
FM Kavutskiy scored his second win of the event against none other than, IM Young. Black essayed Owen's defense, an obscure opening that usually leads to an easy advantage for white. FM Kavutskiy showcased a real maturity of play in this game, it was as if Karpov himself was making the moves.
2012 CCSCSL Invitational: Round 6 Recap
Finegold - Neimer
Another solid result for IM Neimer, who only needs two more points to gain a GM Norm.
Esserman - Yang
IM Darwin Yang surprised IM Esserman by playing 1..e5 instead of his customary French Defense. Esserman's highly aggressive play created many problems for Yang. Esserman quickly took advantage of a key mistake by Yang, after Yang played the losing 29...Bc8?. Necessary was 29..Ne4, however Yang is still in trouble.
Zierk - Diamant
Sarkar - Boros
GM Boros has been playing some of the most exciting chess of the event. In this loss to IM Sarkar, Boros goes all out for the win, but finds himself blundering at time control with 40..f4?
Molner - Kannappan
Molner is known for his romantic-era openings, and in this encounter with IM Kannappan, he is given the chance to demonstrate their efficacy.
Bartell - Kavuitskiy
What happens when two ultra solid players face off?....Draw!
Young - Brooks
IM Brooks desperately needed to win this game to catch first place holder, IM Bregadze. However, IM Young defended very well through out and eventually held the draw in what was the longest game of the round.
Bregadze - Agrest
Sharevich - Eckert
FM Eckert cannot catch a break. He has failed to win 3 winning games in this event so far, and this game brings that total to four. After outplaying his opponent for the entirety of the game, Black slips up with 38...Qxd2??, which allows white to force the win of the game!
Ulrich - Homa
