No Name                   Fed    Rate  Pts Rnd1 Rnd2 Rnd3 Rnd4 Rnd5 Rnd6 Rnd7 Rnd8 Rnd9

1 Erenburg, Sergey        ISR    2563  7.5 W20  D31  W27  W13   D2   W5   D4   W3   W7

2 Gareev, Timur           UZB    2570  7.0 W30  W28  W23  W22   D1   D4   D3  W13   D6

3 Vovsha, Eli             ISR    2461  6.5  D9  D29  W17  W16   W6  W11   D2   L1  W15

4 Kritz, Leonid           GER    2610  6.0 D29  W32  D13  W10   W8   D2   D1   L7  W20
5 Friedel, Joshua E       USA    2524  6.0 D18  W36  L10  W30  W23   L1  W19  D15  W13
6 Stopa, Jacek            POL    2440  6.0  W7  W16  L22  W29   L3  W38  D10  W11   D2
7 Zhao, Parker            USA    2242  6.0  L6  W42  D38  D26  W14   W8  W21   W4   L1

8 Ippolito, Dean J        USA    2445  5.5 W19  L23  W33  W28   L4   L7  W18  D10  W25
9 Liu, Elliott            USA    2250  5.5  D3  L11  L30  W37  W35  W23  D16  W29  D10
10 Kaminski, Victor       CAN    2212  5.5 W14  D15   W5   L4  D13  W27   D6   D8   D9

11 Arkell, Keith C        ENG    2506  5.0 D32   W9  W25  W31  D22   L3  D15   L6  D21
12 Bercys, Salvijus       USA    2429  5.0 -H-  L18  W37  W43  D27  L21  D17  D19  W34
13 Sarkar, Justin         USA    2416  5.0 W34  W17   D4   L1  D10  W39  W22   L2   L5
14 Hungaski, Robert       USA    2407  5.0 L10  W21  L29  W25   L7  W30  W39  L20  W27
15 Vigorito, David        USA    2382  5.0 W21  D10  D18  D23  W31  D22  D11   D5   L3
16 Bournival, Braden      USA    2303  5.0 W42   L6  W19   L3  D18  W40   D9  D25  D17
17 Puntier, William       DOM    2298  5.0 W45  L13   L3  L21  W33  W36  D12  W28  D16
18 Thavandiran, Shiyam    CAN    2288  5.0  D5  W12  D15  L27  D16  D29   L8  W39  W26
19 Hansen, Eric           CAN    2268  5.0  L8  W41  L16  W34  D26  W31   L5  D12  W29
20 Melekhina, Alisa       USA    2265  5.0  L1  W40  L28  D35  W24  D26  W38  W14   L4
21 Masse, Hugues          CAN    2196  5.0 L15  L14  W42  W17  W43  W12   L7  D22  D11

22 Sammour-Hasbun, Jorge  PLE    2463  4.5 W33  W43   W6   L2  D11  D15  L13  D21  ---
23 Panjwani, Raja D       CAN    2310  4.5 W39   W8   L2  D15   L5   L9  W24  W32  ---
24 Haessel, Dale R        CAN    2149  4.5 L28  D30  L34  W42  L20  W35  L23  W41  W33
25 Jiang, Louie           CAN    2135  4.5 W38  D26  L11  L14  D30  W28  W27  D16   L8

26 Kleiman, Jake          USA    2353  4.0 W35  D25  L31   D7  D19  D20  L29  W30  L18
27 Shmelov, Denys         UKR    2349  4.0 D36  W37   L1  W18  D12  L10  L25  W38  L14
28 Schuyler, James        USA    2346  4.0 W24   L2  W20   L8  L39  L25  W36  L17  W41
29 Esserman, Marc R       USA    2295  4.0  D4   D3  W14   L6  D40  D18  W26   L9  L19
30 MacIntyre, Paul        USA    2290  4.0  L2  D24   W9   L5  D25  L14  W40  L26  W39

31 Battaglini, Gabriel    FRA    2341  3.5 W41   D1  W26  L11  L15  L19  L32  W35  ---
32 Enkin, Max             USA    2262  3.5 D11   L4  D36  L40  D41  W34  W31  L23  ---
33 Yanayt, Eugene         USA    2254  3.5 L22  W45   L8  L36  L17  W41  D34  W40  L24
34 Belliard, Luis         DOM    2226  3.5 L13  L39  W24  L19  W37  L32  D33  W42  L12
35 Reverby, Miro          USA    2190  3.5 L26  L38  W41  D20   L9  L24  W45  L31  W42
36 Rosenberg, Evan S      USA    2182  3.5 D27   L5  D32  W33  L38  L17  L28  D44  W45
37 Wasiolek, Rory E       USA    2112  3.5 -H-  L27  L12   L9  L34  W42  L41  W45  W40

38 Galofre, Charles A     USA    2320  3.0 L25  W35   D7  D39  W36   L6  L20  L27  ---
39 Hortillosa, Andres     USA    2100  3.0 L23  W34  D43  D38  W28  L13  L14  L18  L30

40 Kazmaier, Daniel       CAN    2134  2.5 L43  L20  W45  W32  D29  L16  L30  L33  L37
41 Meredith, Matthew      USA    2100  2.5 L31  L19  L35  W45  D32  L33  W37  L24  L28

42 Harmon, Luke           USA    2100  2.0 L16   L7  L21  L24  W45  L37  W44  L34  L35

43 Castaneda, Nelson      USA    2314  1.5 W40  L22  D39  L12  L21  ---  ---  ---  ---
44 Harris, David          USA    2102  1.5 ---  ---  ---  ---  ---  W45  L42  D36  ---

45 Harmon, Carl           USA    2100  0.0 L17  L33  L40  L41  L42  L44  L35  L37  L36

Download the PGN file from the New England Masters 2008.

Round 9 – Friday, August 15, 5:15 pm

Round 8 – Friday, August 15, 10:30 am

Round 7 – Thursday, August 14, 6:00 pm

Round 6 – Thursday, August 14, 11:00 am

Round 5 – Wednesday, August 13, 6:00 pm

Round 4 – Wednesday, August 13, 11:00 am

Round 3 – Tuesday, August 12, 6:00 pm

Round 2 – Tuesday, August 12, 11:00 am

Round 1 – Monday, August 11, 6:00 pm

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