This tournament is a big success for me. I came with a modest goal of simply establishing a FIDE rating so I could play in other events requiring any rating. The 9-round format afforded me with the opportunity since it takes at least 9 games against FIDE-rated players to get an established rating, which could be done as long as I did not get paired against the other three unrated players. Of the 44 players, only three of us are unrated. I was at least guaranteed to play against 7 rated players since I could not play myself.

So the goal was to score at least one point against a minimum of three rated players for the tournament to count as set forth in the FIDE laws of chess. The best scenario for me was to play well in the early rounds to get good pairings. A higher average rating of my opponents would be good for me.

Before round six, my performace rating was 2373. I got three points going into the 6th round against IM Sarkar who already has a GM norm. I lost the game. By the way, I had four chances to make FIDE master in this tournament if I could score just one more point.

Sadly, I lost squandered three chances. However, there is one round left. I am hoping to get paired against a player who is rated over 2300 so the average rating of my opponents would remain over 2300.

Well, it boils down to the last round for me. As I write this blog, two more games are still being fought out. I will not know the pairings until later. I will have the White color so it will help a little.

I lost my 8th round game to a rising Canadian Junior (FM) who drew GM-elect Josh Friedel. I lost the 7th round game against IM Hungaski. In that game, I had good opportunities there but squandered it by a dubious sacrifice when there were options to keep the game in balance.

So far, of the eight games, only one was against a non-titled player but he has a high rating of 2226. I won that game. I drew 2 FMs, won against one and lost to 3 IMs.

Andres D Hortillosa

This tournament has been an interesting experience, though not a positive one as far as the results have been concerned. I came in with the goal of getting a plus score and getting my FIDE rating, which has been the same for over 10 years, closer to 2300. As it is I’m bleeding points and I need a tourniquet.

Four of my losses – to Kleiman, Galofre, Liu and Battaglini have come from favorable positions where I declined draws, either offered or over the board, and ended up with 0 points. Perhaps I can chalk it up to a learning experience. Playing mostly in local Rhode Island tournaments, I am usually one of the stronger players and I can get away with inaccuracies and second best moves that, among these players, are not forgiven.

Perhaps I will come away from this a better player. If it is true that you learn more from losses than from wins, than I can say this tournament has been a school of hard knocks.

The games have been enjoyable and the conditions excellent. Chris Bird has been a true professional and has kept things running on an even keel and a high level. In spite of my terrible score, I am sorry that the tournament will end after the next game. It seems to have gone by quickly.

I hope the New England Masters becomes a tradition here in Rhode Island, or other local venues, and I strongly recommend it to other players who did not have a chance to play this year.

After 5 rounds GM Timur Gareev from Uzbekistan leads the way with 4½/5. A quick draw with GM Sergey Erenburg in round 5 was enough to leave him in sole possession of the lead going into the final two days.

Just a half point behind him is four players. Included in this group are the remaining three GMs, Erenburg, Leonid Kritz and Keith Arkell along with IM Eli Vovsha. Round six will see Gareev meet Kritz on board 1 and maybe Kritz will be up for fight, not wanting to relinquish his record of winning the past two previous Masters events.

On the norm front things are starting to heat up with young Canadian Victor Kaminski probably leading the hopeful candidates. He currently sits at 3/5 and, based on his current average opponent of 2468, he would need to score 1½ more points from his remaining four games to secure an IM norm.

A couple of other people in with a shout of an IM norm are Marc Esserman and Raja Panjwani although both of those need to probably finish with 5½ to have a realistic shot. Marc and Raja both currently have 2½/5.

On the GM norm front Jorge Sammour-Hasbun is leading the chase but with his current average opponent of 2417 he would need to finish with 7/9. He currently sits at 3½/5 although he has already played 2 GMs, drawing Arkell in round 5.

Eli Vovsha, meeting his first GM of the tournament in round 6 (Arkell), currently has 4/5 but his average opponent rating needs increasing from the current 2317 (after 5 rounds) to at least a minimum of 2381. Of course he would have to meet a further 3 GMs, which would definitely help with this cause.

One last outside shot at a GM norm is Justin Sarkar but he would need to win his remaining 4 games, although he has already played 2 GMs. Justin currently has 3/5.

I have just finished round 4 and I can truthfully say that I’m way too tired to play and that I want to just stay in the hotel room and watch the olympics. It seems as though when round 3 started, I was doing just that, coming 59 minutes and 32 seconds late to the game, 28 seconds from being forfeited. My round 4 game against Luis Belliard (2226 FIDE) was very satisfying after a hectic previous night and also because I got to sac material and attack. Back to the other story from round 3.

It all started when Shiyam Thavandiran and I decided to prepare at 6:05 pm after we had eaten with the round starting at 6 pm. Not listening to the advice of Raja (Panjwani) we prepared until 6:20 or so. I then called the taxi and the operator told me it would be around 10 minutes,so just to make sure we would make it we were at the front lobby around 6:25. The taxi had still not arrived at 6:35 and after a few minutes of debating if we should do the 10 minute or so walk or call another taxi, we made the foolish decision to call another taxi and demand that it be here immedietly. 6:45-6:50 the second taxi had not arrived either, and we were freaking out since the forfeit would be at 7 and we didn’t think we could run it. We started running around the busy highway that was nearby and then managed to flag down a taxi after briefly chasing it. “27 Main Street” was what we told him, that is the address of the tournament but we weren’t positive. 6:55p.m: After noticing right away that the driver was going the complete opposite direction of the tournament, we waited a few more moments to see if he was turning or doing a shortcut. To our horror, he wasn’t and we had to drive the 2 minutes back to our starting point then to the tournament site. We ran as quick as we could (I ran into some very large object as I was going up the stairs) and made a big entrance into the playing hall. I’m pretty sure that it was past 7 so I’m grateful for the round starting a minute or so late. Well, I learned a good lesson of not preparing past the round.

Until Next time,

Eric Hansen

After three rounds of the New England Masters, Rhode Island favorite Jorge Sammour-Hasbun is tied at the top of the standings with GM Timur Gareev. Both players are the only ones sporting a perfect record of 3/3 and will meet in round four.

Just behind them is a group of five players including GMs Sergey Erenburg and Keith Arkell, the newly crowned English Champion. They are joined by IM Justin Sarkar, Frenchman Gabriel Battaglini and Canadian youngster Victor Kaminski. Kaminski beat GM-Elect Josh Friedel in round 3 and as a reward for his efforts he will meet GM Leonid Kritz in the 4th round.

Other good performances so far have come from Marc Esserman, currently looking at a GM norm, and Canadians Raja Panjwani and Shiyam Thavandiram who both currently have IM norm performances. Of course a lot can change with six rounds remaining.

The first three rounds have seen some exciting games. Gareev has not been shy in shedding a material advantage after a long term exchange sacrifice in round one against FM Paul MacIntyre and then a piece sacrifice in round 2 against FM James Schuyler. Sarkar sacrifice of a piece against Luis Belliard in round one may not have been sound (according to Sarkar himself in breakfast conversations) but certainly looked flashy.

One of the most watched games was on board two in round three against Jorge Sammour-Hasbun and IM Jacek Stopa. This was much anticipated locally due to last year’s USCL Championship match between the Boston Blitz and Dallas Destiny which was eventually won by Dallas using a blitz play-off system. Stopa was responsible for knocking out Sammour-Hasbun in the play-offs which was key to their victory.

Most of the games can be seen live via the website each round (all games can be downloaded via the pgn file at the main site) and we’ll hopefully have some photographs soon. I’m trying to bribe players into blogging about their experience here at the New England Masters but only Evan Rosenberg has taken me up so far on a free buffet lunch ticket. Hopefully we can get more thoughts from other players throughout the week.

First off, I’d like to thank Chris Bird for organizing and directing a wonderful tournament. The glamourous town of Pawtucket is the perfect location to do nothing but watch Michael Phelps win gold medals, and play chess.

I never get opportunities to play in events this strong, in a closed field. Typically players with a FIDE rating as low as mine are inelligable, and I can understand why. With norms at stake, FM’s and IM’s shift into second gear. I am left at the starting line, crying a little.

I am actually having a decent tournament however. I have no complaints about my 1/3, all against opponents who outrate me by at least 100 points. The important thing for me is, regardless of the result, to take at least 3 things away from every game. I think I read that in a book by Jacob Aagard, and he is an extremely instructional author. I can suitabley apply his advice to my first and third games, both draws. My second round, unfortunately, is lacking. All I can think of is “Don’t fall for tactics.” My preparation for Friedel fell short relatively early when he deviated from a game he played against Shulman. Afterwards I was careful not to allow typical Benko counterplay for the pawn, but after one innocent looking move I was busted.

OK, time to head back to the Comfort Inn before it gets too dark. Best of luck to all the competitors in search of norms or otherwise.

-Evan

Well, I thought I would get the ball rolling here on the news/blog front and bore you with some of the tasks of the organizers.

The New England Masters starts tomorrow, Monday, with an opening ceremony at 4:00 pm and the first round at 6:00 pm. The pairings should be up by 3:00 pm.

Today I have been shopping for some lights, power cords, power adapters and tape. The lighting in the playing room is fine but more light wouldn’t hurt. I’ve also updated the website, had to reconfigure my printer and will be picking up GM Keith Arkell a little later on.

On Friday night the members of the Blackstone Chess Club helped set up the room along with the boards, sets and clocks. Many thanks to all who helped with that simple but time consuming task. Friday night was also the night to check out the internet at the club (yes, it will be available to players to use) and to configure the first floor at the club for the live projection and commentary.

David Harris from the Blackstone Chess Club has also been whipping up some type of welcome brochure that will have some useful information in it. Watch the website or pick up a copy from the opening ceremony. I’m also hoping to put some in the hotel lobby so that players will find their way to the To Kalon Club since that is where everything is happening.

David has also been arranging with the club to have lunch and a buffet served everyday (for a price) and so hopefully the players will be able to hang around at the club, which will provide the spectators with the chance to meet our guests.

Live coverage of games will begin tomorrow but there are limited MonRoi devices until I get the bulk of the units back from the US Open on Tuesday. Hopefully from then on we will have the majority of the games broadcast for the remaining rounds.

Hope to see you all tomorrow!

Chris Bird
Organizer, New England Masters