[imagefield_assist|fid=17221|preset=fullsize|lightbox=true|title=Life Master Jim Mclaughlin took on Expert Matt Larson in an armageddon playoff to determine the winner of the $5 Thanksgiving Open Satellite. Club members Preethi Kembaiyan, Jonathan Schrantz and Spencer Finegold observe.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=610|height=456]
By Lex Marler
The 2013 Thanksgiving Satellite featured massive mating attacks, thrilling sacrifices and tearful upsets! A total of 39 participants competed, but only three would walk away with free entries to the 2013 Thanksgiving Open scheduled to be held later this month from Nov 30th through Dec 1st.
Congratulations goes to Harold Hadman, who ran over the competition in the U1400 section. He took out experienced players on his way to the No. 1 spot, such as long time club regular Adam Eubanks and the notorious Ben Boaz.
Ronit Kirumaki is a young man who is quickly stomping over the competition as he climbs the rating latter. He has gained more than 1,000 rating points in 2013!!! Watch out, everybody! Not only did he win his section, but he took down pre-tournament favorites, Justin GM Hull, and Preston Smith.
USCF Expert Matthew Larson simply dominated the Open section with early wins over James Pollitt, and Ashok Kirumaki. The big match up came in round 3 when aspiring master, Nick Karlow, had to defend the black pieces against Larson. Karlow has experimented with new, offbeat openings as of late, such as the Alekhine Defense, 1. e4 Nf6!, and Chigorin’s Defense to the Queen’s Gambit. In this match up, Karlow essayed the Chigorin against Larson. Unfortunately for Karlow, Larson’s chess coach, GM Ben Finegold, has played this opening for 20+ years, and not doubt imparted some of his Chigorin Defense wisdom on his student. The opening turned sour for Karlow rather quickly. By move 14 he was left with a worse pawn structure, very passive pieces, and a space disadvantage. Larson squeezed him masterfully, turning the previously mentioned advantages into an unstoppable kingside attack. Karlow resigned. Matt faced off against undefeated, life Master, Jim Mclaughlin in an armageddon playoff! Matt won the blitz ordeal with flair, and the 1st prize to boot.
Life Master Jim Mclaughlin had an amazing tournament in the Open section as well. Jim crushed your dear author in an imbalanced ending. I should have known better than to go into an ending with someone who is always carrying around a book on Capablanca! The real surprise was the brilliant attacking game he created with Expert Alex Vergilesov, featured below. Anyone who has played "The Verge" knows what it is like to have to dodge tactic after tactic before finally realizing your queen’s been skewered, forked, and hung! The Verge is not used to having to defend, and simply was not able to find his way through the immense complications. The best part of the game was the sickening, 20...e4!! Jim causally pushes a pawn forward while his wueen is en prise, What?!?! Check out the game below, along with a swashbuckling, up and down attacking game between John Scrantz and I.
I hope to see you all at the 2013 Thanksgiving Open!
