2012 Chicago Open (Wheeling, USA)
Nineteen Grandmasters have registered in the field at the 21st Annual Chicago Open currently in progress at the Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel (601 North Milwaukee Ave) in Wheeling, a suburb just outside Chicago. The field is also rich with a number of IMs, FMs and young masters looking for norm opportunities.
GM Michael Adams (2728) will enter as the top seed. At press time, he has already been nicked for a half-point in the first round. GM Gabriel Sargissian is the second seed vying for the $100,000 prize fund. Here are details from the official website, chicagoopen.net.
The event has 9 sections: Open, Under 2300, Under 2100, Under 1900, Under 1700, Under 1500, Under 1300, Under 1100 and Under 900.
The Open Section is a 9 round Swiss tournament with GM and IM norm opportunities. The Open Section will be played over a 5-day schedule from May 24-28. The Under 2300 to Under 1300 sections are 7 round Swiss tournaments having 4-day, 3-day and 2-day schedules to play in from May 25-28. The Under 1100 section is a 7 round Swiss tournament having 3-day and 2-day schedules to play in from May 26-28. The Under 900 section is a 7 round Swiss tournament that will be played over a 2-day schedule, May 27-28.
Photo by Patrick Magee.
The Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel, 601 North Milwaukee Ave, Wheeling IL 60090 (from Chicago, I-294 north to US-45 north; from Milwaukee, I-94 east to Lake Cook Rd to US-45 south).
Link: http://chessevents.com/2012/05/chicago-open-2012/
Games (PGN): http://chessevents.com/viewer/games/chicagoopen2012.pgn
IM Daniel Rensch V NM Justus Williams was of special interest to me because I often end up in Sicilian Najdorf as black. Justus gets another decisive win against an IM. He’s a giant killer. I read in an article that he beat his first GM when he was 11 years old.
NM James Black V IM Florin Felecan is much more exotic to me. I’ve tried Pirc and Robatsch lines and so far I don’t like them.
The latest ratings for the young lions: James Black is in the lead with 2338 but is a very distant third in quick with 2165. Josh Colas is a close second with 2332 but is a distant first in quick with 2260!! It kind of sucks that Josh, the strongest blitzer (by rating), didn’t get to play Magnus Carlsen while the other two did. Justus Williams is a close third place with 2325 and quick 2212. Jehron Bryant 2204 and quick 2087, Nigel Bryant 2131 and quick 2019.
Quick is usually a lot lower. Not so sure rankings are so important between them. They are all playing at the same level. It is interesting to see the difference between the two types of chess.
Josh attends school in White Plains, NY and is not part of the IS-318 team. Perhaps one day he’ll meet Carlsen over the board. 🙂
Josh Colas vs. IM Farai Mandizha
Photo by Guy Colas.
Hi Daaim, does Mandizha reside in the USA now?
Is he studying or working there?
He has been here for a few years now. Not sure of the details, but I know he’s teaching chess here.
It’s a shame that there aren’t reports being filed on the tournament.
I did a computer analysis on NM Josh Colas V IM Farai Mandizha and my computer says Mandizha missed the same winning move three times: 39…Bxe5, 45…Bxe5, or 48…Bxe5. Weird! He needs to analyze this game. BTW His rating is back to 2499, I hope he crosses the 2500 mark with this tourney.
Yes…. but he should have never gotten to that stage. He was totally busted. That was a GM-style crush in the making. The type of invasion into black’s camp reminded me of a game Beliavsky-Ashley, when the veteran pushed Maurice off the board with all of his pieces down in black’s camp. It is rare to see this type of invasion, but Colas showed good understanding to get that position.
Interesting. Yeah he was busted 🙂 After his Knight sac on move 19 he was already a piece down and then loses the exchange on move 36 with Colas bearing down on him with all those advanced central pawns!
In fact, I would guess that Mandizha didn’t see Bxe5 because he was in such dire straights that all he could see was a plan for a draw.
Maybe time pressure. Josh’s father said that he was way ahead on the clock. I would have been heart-breaking for Josh to lose that game. I’m not sure why he went after material in such a position. Black was almost out of moves.
“Young Lions” in action!
Photo by Guy Colas.
Photo by Guy Colas.
Josh Colas’ hunt for an IM Norm
Josh will have to play someone with a high enough rating to earn an IM norm for the Chicago Open. He is playing in a 9-round tournament and thus far his average rating opposition is 2364.5. He needs to have 2370-2406 opposition where the IM norm required is 5½ points. So he’ll need a strong opponent (approximately 2450) and beat him for the IM norm. Hopefully, the pairings will go his way. He doesn’t have enough points to be paired with Mickey Adams (2728) or Gabriel Sargissian (2679).
Note: James Black, Jr. also has 4½ but can’t qualify for an IM norm because his opposition’s average rating is 2310.5 putting him in the 2284-2324 opposition where 6½ points are required for an IM norm. He has already played Adams and no one else in the field can give him the 2370-2406 opposition he needs for 5½ points.
Thanks for the leg work Daaim. I believe the organizers are aware of it, and will afford him the opportunity. He will have to played some serious chess to clinch it. I don’t want to put pressure on him, so I just told him, do your best. He said ” Don’t worry I will Dad.”
unfortunately eventhough they were aware of his chance to get a norm, the husband just told me, he cannot do it due t a new law about pairing manupilation. Couldn’t ssay much since I am not versed in the USCF laws regarding this type of situation. My son is upset, so I am hoping,he can put it behind him and finish with a win. His last game, as well as James, are on Monroi. Too bad!
Yes… I understand the ruling. Nowadays, I suppose they simply use the computer and that’s it. Justus’ game is on Monroi too. All three have good positions.
I wish there were some reports from the top games, but I haven’t seen any on uschess.org. I suppose Jamaal will put up something in conclusion of the tournament.
I hope you enjoyed the Chicago-area.
Pruess could very well be worse against James Jr. On 16.Bc4! black is reeling and can come under vicious assault if not careful. 16…Nc3+ 17.Nxc3 Bxc3 18. Rc1 tempos are key in this position with the kings exposed 18…Bg7 19.Ke2 0-0 20.Rhd1 and black will have trouble getting untangled.
Colas’ game against Ardaman follows white’s usual weird openings. He plays 1.f4 and 1.b3 regularly. Josh has played very directly and is developing an initiative with white’s king stuck in the center.
Justus has a very strong position as well and is showing no fear. His c5-d4 pawn wedge stifles white’s pieces. He has just played 18…g5 and looks to be winning the f5-pawn. He’s also has nice squares for his knights like Ne7-d5 with an eye on e3.
Not sure how Ardaman’s king will get out of the center. 20.Nxe6 loses almost immediately to 20…Rfe8! 20.Qxf3 Qxc5 is promising for black. I may be wrong. Haven’t check it in the engines, but looks good.
Justus won.Josh and James are still fighting it out.There seems to be a problem. Withe monroi website.
Yes. Big problem.
Justus ends tournament with a crushing win!
Josh lost. James has an interesting endgame going on. Great tournament for all of them.Wish Josh had some luck on his side for the last round. Well, World Open will be their next norm opportunity.
Yep… Josh went astray in that critical position. I’m not sure on his 18…c5, 19…Qc7 idea. He had a strong position and probably needed to enhance instead of rushing to open lines on the king. That is what Ardaman is known to do in those positions… encourage black to overextend.
GM Gabriel Sargissian drew in six moves with GM Mesgen Amanov to win 1st when all top boards drew.
Armenia’s Gabriel Sargissian, 2012 Chicago Open Champion
Photo by Daaim Shabazz.
by Jamaal Abdul-Alim
Link: https://main.uschess.org/content/view/11755/666/
I wonder what the FIDE rating increase is for the big 3. The USCF rating increases are 11 for James (now 2349), 13 for Josh (now 2345) and 18 for Justus (now 2343). Also Kassa got a 4.5 and ended up with a -12 USCF ratings change (now 2351). Mandizha’s 3.5 got him a -16 (now 2483).
Exciting times!