COMMENTARY BY IM GREG SHAHADE
29th NY MASTER ACTION
OCTOBER 15 2002
www.newyorkmasters.com
This week we are going to try something new with the weekly update. We will include diagrams, and some light annotations. In the future the annotations will perhaps be heavier and we should include more diagrams, this is a sort of trial run. This will make the emails larger in size, and probably at least double the size of our past emails. Hopefully this is not a serious problem for anyone.
It turned out to be a bad week for the GM’s to miss out on, as out of no where we had a prize fund of $910 and a first prize of $500. With only 3 GM’s fighting for the prize, not to mention recent hot players like Hikaru Nakamura and Yuri Lapshun, you knew it would be an interesting show. Below is this week’s list of players. We had quite a few new players this week as well, in NM Jerald Times, NM Eric Fleischman and NM Tim Mirable.
Participant List:
1. GM Igor Novikov
2. GM Alex Stripunsky
3. IM Hikaru Nakamura
4. GM Maurice Ashley
5. FM Yuri Lapshun
6. IM Ron Burnett
7. IM Jay Bonin
8. FM Alan Stein
9. IM Justin Sarkar
10. FM Dmitri Shevelev
11. NM Lev Milman
12. NM Rafael Furdzik
13. FM Norman Rogers
14. NM Doug Pader
15. NM Erez Klein
16. FM Boris Privman
17. NM Jerald Times
18. NM Eric Fleischman
19. NM Oliver Chernin
20. NM Glen Bady
21. FM Sunil Weeramantry
22. NM Tim Mirable
23. NM Sam Barsky
24. Filler – Kasaun Henry
25. Qualifier – Alex Lenderman
PRIZES
1st - $500
2nd - $200
3rd - $100
U2400 - $110
ROUND 1
In the first round we had had only one big upset. This one occurred when Rafael Furdzik had an extra pawn in a rook and bishop endgame and played the move Rh8. When the qualifier, 13 year old Alex Lenderman, played Be5xh8, Furdzik had to resign.
(1) Ashley,M (2518) - Privman,B (2261) [C41]
29th New York Masters New York (1), 15.10.2002
1.e4 d6 2.d4 e5 3.Nf3 Nd7 4.Nc3 Ngf6 5.Bc4 Be7 6.0-0 0-0 7.a4 c6 8.Ba2 b6 9.Re1 a5 10.Nb1 Bb7 11.Nbd2 c5 12.dxe5 Nxe5 13.Nxe5 dxe5 14.Qf3 Bc6 15.Bc4 Qc7 16.Nf1 Qb7
17.Bg5 With the idea of removing a key defender of the d5 square. Boris doesn’t allow the trade, but still Maurice proceeds to use that square to great advantage for the remainder of the game. In these types of setups white usually has an edge as the d5 square is free to use, but the d4 square means nothing because white can simply play c3. 17. ... Ne8 18.Bxe7 Qxe7 19.Ne3 Nd6 20.Bd5 Rac8 21.Red1 Rfd8 22.Bxc6 Rxc6 23.Rd5 Ne8 24.Nf5 Qc7 25.Rad1 Rxd5 26.Rxd5 g6 27.Nh6+ Kg7 28.Ng4 Re6 29.Qc3 f6 30.Ne3 Rd6 31.h4 h5 32.Qb3 Qc6 33.Rxd6 Qxd6 34.Nd5 g5 35.hxg5 fxg5 36.Qxb6 Qxb6 37.Nxb6 Nd6 38.f3 c4 39.Nd7 c3 40.b3 Nf7 41.Nb6 g4 42.Nc4 gxf3 43.gxf3 Ng5 44.Kg2 Kf6 45.Nxa5 Ne6 46.Nc4 Nd4 47.Ne3 h4 48.a5 Ke6 49.a6 Nb5 50.Nd5 Kd6 51.Nxc3 1-0
ROUND 2
Key Pairings
1 Novikov – Burnett 1-0
2 Lapshun – Stripunsky SEE BELOW
3 Nakamura - Shevlev 1-0
4 Bonin – Ashley 1/2-1/2
5 Stein – Lenderman 0-1
Alex Lenderman became the first qualifier to ever start the event 2-0, albeit in quite miraculous fashion. Alan Stein was winning very early in the game, and I expected a quick resignation, however the game sweered towards a queen versus rook endgame in which Alan was still probably winning, yet he lost on time. Nakamura was sweating bullets against Shevlev, as after missing some tactics he found himself with a completely lost position. However his speed savvy paid off, as Shevlev used too much time in the opening and this eventually led to some serious blunders.
(2) Lapshun,Y (2506) - Stripunsky,A (2618) [A00]
29th New York Masters New York (2), 15.10.2002
1.b4! Everyone loves to see the Orangutang played against Grandmasters 1. ... e5 2.Bb2 Bxb4 3.f4 This move is the focus of new Russian analysis. It’s hard to imagine that all these years people have been playing 3.Be5 with this move in the cards. Here at the New York Masters we revolutionize opening theory every week! 3. ... d6 4.fxe5 dxe5 5.Bxe5 Nf6 6.Nf3 0-0 7.Nc3 Ng4 8.Bf4 Nc6 9.e4 Re8 10.Bd3 Seems like the novelty has failed miserably. White’s position is complete rubbish. 10. ... Nge5 11.Nxe5 Nxe5 12.0-0 Nxd3 13.cxd3 Qxd3 14.Bxc7 Bxc3 15.dxc3 Qxe4 16.Re1 Qxe1+ 17.Qxe1 Rxe1+ All of the sudden Lapshun feels a chance for salvation. If he can trade all the major pieces and go to a bishops of opposite endgame, a draw could be achieved. 18.Rxe1 Be6 19.a3
19...Rc8 19...Kf8 at least stopped white from reaching a bishops of opposite endgame, now black has no choice but to go into it and hope he can win, which you know is always difficult... 20.Rd1 Kf8 21.Rd8+ Rxd8 22.Bxd8 Ke8 23.Bc7 Kd7 24.Bb8 a6 25.Kf2 Kc6 26.Ke3 Kc5 27.h4 Kc4 28.Kd2 Bf5 29.g3 Be4 30.Bc7 Kb3 31.Bd6 b6 32.Bf8 g6 33.Be7 a5 34.Bf8 f5 35.Be7 Bc6 36.Bf8 Bd7 37.Be7 Be8 38.Bf8 Bb5 39.Be7 Bc6 40.Bf8 Be8 41.Be7 h6 42.Kd3 Bb5+ 43.Kd2 Bc4 44.Ke3 g5 45.hxg5 hxg5 46.Kd4 g4 47.Bd6 Ba6 48.Ke5 Bc8 49.Kd4 f4 50.gxf4 Bf5 51.Ke3 b5 52.Bc7 a4 53.Bd6 Kc2 54.Bb4 Kd1 55.Kf2 Kc2 56.Kg3 Kd3 57.Ba5 1/2-1/2
Another impressive defensive performance by Yuri Lapshun
LEADERS AFTER ROUND 2
2 pts – Novikov, Nakamura, Ashley, Lenderman
1.5 pts – Stripunsky, Lapshun, Milman, Bady
ROUND 3
Key Pairings
1 Ashley – Novikov SEE BELOW
2 Lenderman – Nakamura 0-1
3 Stripunsky – Milman 0-1 Milman’s first victory over a GM!
4 Bady – Lapshun 0-1
The impossible dream of Alex Lenderman ended in round 3 at the hands of IM Hikaru Nakamura, whose USCF rating should be nearing 2600 now. Lenderman fought hard and had a reasonable position after some inaccuracies by Hikaru, but in the end was outplayed and had to settle with a 2-1 score. One can see that Lenderman has a lot of ability, and at only 13 years old we are sure to see him reach the 2200 mark very shortly.
Lev Milman knocked off his first GM, and with the black pieces to boot. Stripunsky played the Closed Sicilian with Nh3, and black attacked with h5-h4 before castling. Black got a very strong opening attack, and Stripunsky was fortunate to survive to the endgame. Lev was not to be denied however and is showing himself to be a serious contender for the 2400 USCF mark.
Below is the GM – GM duel, Maurice Ashley versus Igor Novikov.
(3) Ashley,M (2518) - Novikov,I (2719) [B84]
29th New York Masters New York (3), 15.10.2002
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6
A Najdorf as always from Igor 6.Be3 e6 7.Be2 Qc7 8.0-0 Be7 9.f4 0-0 10.a4 b6 11.Bd3 Nbd7 12.Qf3 Bb7 13.Rae1 Rfe8 14.Kh1 Bf8 15.Bf2 e5 16.Nf5 d5 17.Bg3 g6
The position seems quite complicated with so many captures to calculate, however black has everything under control. Maurice understands this and liquidates into a drawn endgame. 18.fxe5 Nxe5 19.Nh6+ Bxh6 20.Qxf6 Bg7 21.Qh4 Qd8 22.Qxd8 Raxd8 23.Bxe5 Rxe5 24.Nxd5 Bxd5 25.exd5 Rxe1 26.Rxe1 Bxb2 27.Bxa6 Rxd5 28.Bc4 Rd7 29.g3 Bc3 30.Re2 Kg7 31.Kg2 Bb4 32.Bb3 h5 33.h4 Rd4 34.Kf3 Bd6 35.Re3 Rg4 36.Kg2 f5 37.Kh3 Rd4 38.Rd3 1/2-1/2
LEADERS AFTER ROUND 3
3 pts – Nakamura
2.5 pts – Novikov, Ashley, Lapshun
ROUND 4
Key Pairings
1 Nakamura – Novikov SEE BELOW
2 Lapshun - Ashley 1-0
Lapshun beat Ashley for the second consecutive time to continue his recent hot streak. Now Lapshun had to hope that Nakamura didn’t win and he would be guaranteed a share of the large first place prize.The qualifier was squashed in his attempt to break the qualifier record (2.5 points set by Jonathan Corbblah) as he was defeated by FM Boris Privman. Privman reeled off 3 straight wins after his opening round loss to Ashley, and split 3rd place and the U2400 prize with Lev Milman, who had a last round bye.
(4) Nakamura,H (2571) - Novikov,I (2719) [B80]
29th New York Masters New York (4), 15.10.2002
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.f3 b5 8.Qd2 Nbd7 9.g4 Nb6 10.0-0-0 Not the usual opening choice of someone who is in need of a draw. Maybe Hikaru is shooting for more? This line has been a hot topic in top GM games lately and things are looking bleaker for black after every key game. 10. ... Bb7 11.Nb3 Rc8 12.Na5 Ba8 13.a4 Nc4 14.Nxc4 bxc4 15.Qd4 Qc7 16.g5 Nd7 17.f4 h6 18.g6
It looks like black has an unenviable defensive task lying ahead of him. His king is trapped in the center and has almost no counterplay. The pawn he will be up should not be much of a consolation. 18. ... fxg6 19.Rg1 Kf7 20.f5 gxf5 21.exf5 e5 22.Qh4 Nf6 23.Be2 Ke8 24.Rg6 Qf7 25.Qg3 Rb8 26.a5 Bc6 27.Bb6 h5 28.Qh4 d5 29.Qg3 Qe7 30.Bd4 Rxb2 This move is blacks only attempt at salvation. 31.Kxb2 exd4 32.Rxd4 Qa3+ Perhaps black’s queen is better suited on b4, thus avoiding the game continuation 33.Kb1 Bd6? 34.Qe3+ Kd8
35.Nxd5 A powerful blow which decides matters instantly. Black has no choice but to go into an exchange down endgame. 35. ... Qxe3 36.Nxe3 Kc7 37.Rxg7+ Nd7 38.Nxc4 Rb8+ 39.Nb6 Re8 40.Bf3 Re1+ 41.Ka2 Ra1+ 42.Kxa1 Be5 43.c3 Bxg7 44.Bxc6 Bxd4 45.cxd4 1-0
With this win, Hikaru would become the ONLY player in the history of the NY Masters to go 4-0 on two separate occasions. Lapshun scored 3.5/4 for the first time and earned a well deserved $200 with his clear second place finish. Tied for 3rd place with ¾ were three tournament regulars in IM Jay Bonin, NM Lev Milman and FM Boris Privman. This may be the first week that no GM finished in the money.
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29th New York Masters Action USA (USA), 15 x 2002
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1 2 3 4 Total
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1. Nakamura, Hikaru m 2571 +17 +15 +13 + 6 4.0 ($500)
2. Lapshun, Yury f 2506 +11 =14 +19 + 7 3.5 ($200)
3. Bonin, Jay m 2413 +23 - 7 +10 +11 3.0 ($ 70)
4. Milman, Lev 2312 =19 +20 +14 = 3.0 ($ 70)
5. Privman, Boris f 2261 - 7 +24 +15 +13 3.0 ($ 70)
6. Novikov, Igor g 2719 +10 + 8 = 7 - 1 2.5
7. Ashley, Maurice g 2518 + 5 + 3 = 6 - 2 2.5
8. Burnett, Ron m 2497 +18 - 6 +16 = 2.5
9. Sarkar, Justin m 2370 = -11 +20 +19 2.5
10. Rogers, Norman f 2279 - 6 +18 - 3 +21 2.0
11. Times, Jerald 2258 - 2 + 9 +22 - 3 2.0
12. Barsky, Sam 2200 -15 =17 +23 =16 2.0
13. Lenderman, Alex 2094 +16 +22 - 1 - 5 2.0
14. Stripunsky, Alex g 2618 +25 = 2 - 4 --- 1.5
15. Shevelev, Danny f 2351 +12 - 1 - 5 =17 1.5
16. Furdzik, Rafal 2304 -13 +23 - 8 =12 1.5
17. Pader, Doug 2265 - 1 =12 =21 =15 1.5
18. Flieschman, Eric 2232 - 8 -10 +24 =20 1.5
19. Bady, Glenn 2210 = 4 +21 - 2 - 9 1.5
20. Weeramantry, Sunil f 2207 = - 4 - 9 =18 1.0
21. Mirabile, Tim 2204 =22 -19 =17 -10 1.0
22. Stein, Alan f 2385 =21 -13 -11 --- 0.5
23. Chernin, Oliver 2212 - 3 -16 -12 =24 0.5
24. Henry, Kasaun 2100 --- - 5 -18 =23 0.5
25. Klein, Erez f 2274 -14 --- --- --- 0.0
PRIZES
1ST - $500
2ND - $200
3RD - $100
U2400 - $110
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