This week we had our 100th master as NM Manthan Chokshi joined the tournament. Choksi is from India and plans to return there, but is currently staying in New Jersey.

Participant List:

1. GM Igor Novikov
2. GM Leonid Yudasin
3. GM Alex Stripunsky
4. IM Hikaru Nakamura
5. FM Yuri Lapshun
6. IM Jay Bonin
7. FM Lew Eisen
8. NM Rafal Furdzik
9. FM Norman Rogers
10. FM Boris Privman
11. NM Manthan Chokshi
12. NM Yefim Treger
13. NM Tim Mirable
14. FM Sunil Weeramantry (Round 1 bye)
15. NM Sam Barsky
16. Filler – Fabiano Caruana
17. Qualifier – Vladimir Yanovsky

PRIZES

1st - $300
2nd - $160
3rd - $80
U2400 - $80

ROUND 1

(1) Caruana,F (2060) - Eisen,L (2314) [B46]
30th New York Masters New York (1), 22.10.2002

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 a6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nc6 6.Be3 Nge7 7.a4 Nxd4 8.Bxd4 Nc6 9.Bc4 Qg5 10.0-0 Nxd4 11.Qxd4 Bc5 12.Qd3 0-0 13.Rad1 d6 14.Kh1 e5 15.Nd5 Be6 16.b4 Ba7 17.Bb3 Rac8 18.f4 exf4 19.Rxf4

There was talk that 19....Bxd5 was winning, however it is untrue as white can bail out in a number of ways [ 19...Bxd5 20.Rf5 Bxb3 21.Rxg5 Bxc2 22.Qg3 ( 22.Qd2 is a simple draw as Bxd1 23.Rxg7+ Kxg7 24.Qg5+ Kh8 25.Qf6+ Kg8 26.Qg5 with perpetual check) 22...Bxd1 23.Rxg7+ Kh8 24.Qh4 Bh5 25.Rxh7+ Kxh7 26.Qxh5+]

20.Rdf1 Qe5 21.Qf3 Kh8 22.Rh4 Qg5 23.Rh5 Qg4 24.Qxg4 Bxg4 25.Rh4 Be6 26.h3 f6 27.Kh2 b5 28.axb5 axb5 29.Ra1? Bf2!

Whites rook on h4 is in serious danger....it has no good squares.

30.Rf4 Bd4

With the dual threats of Bxa1 and Be5. Now black is winning.

31.Ra6 Bxd5 32.exd5 Be5 33.g3 Bxf4 34.gxf4 Red8

This move strikes me as the start of blacks troubles. Something more active like Re4 seems logical to me.

35.Rb6 Rb8 36.Rc6 Rbc8 37.Kg3

Now the game gets really messy...

37. ... Rxc6? 38.dxc6 d5?

[ 39.Bxd5! and all of the sudden white is winning. Whites plan is to bring the king closer to the queenside and eventually play c4. After this the passed b and c pawns are unstoppable. The bishop is taboo as 39...Rxd5? 40.c7 and the pawn is going to queen]

39. ... d4??

[ 39. ... Rd6 40.Bxd5? Rxd5 41.c7 Rd2+ 42.Ke3 Rxc2-+]

40.Kf3??

[ 40.Be6 Wins instantly. Strange to see so many blunders here, as neither player was that low on time.]

40. ... d3 41.c3 Rd6 42.Ke3 Rxc6 43.Kxd3 g5 44.fxg5 fxg5 45.Bd5 Rc7 46.c4 bxc4+ 47.Bxc4 Kg7 48.b5 Kf6 49.Kd4 h5 50.Kd5 g4 51.hxg4 hxg4 52.b6

Now it is a forced draw.....

52...Rd7+ 53.Kc6 Rd4 54.Be2 Re4 55.b7 Re6+ 56.Kc7 Re7+ 57.Kc8??

The last blunder.....hopefully both players will talk to me again after giving them so many double question marks. Black was low on time here and I suppose was resigned to a draw. 57…Rxe2 won instantly as after 58. b8=Q, black regains the queen with Re8+.

58.Kxb7 1/2-1/2

Apart from this game there were no upsets in the first round as all the higher rated players went on to win.

ROUND 2

Key Pairings

1 Novikov – H.Nakamura SEE BELOW
2 Lapshun – Yudasin 0-1
3 Stripunsky – Bonin 1-0
4 Eisen – Furdzik 1/2 - 1/2

(2) Novikov,I (2719) - Nakamura,H (2571) [D82]
30th New York Masters New York (2), 22.10.2002
1.d4

We have a rematch of last week’s final game. 2 weeks ago Novikov ground Nakamura down with the white pieces to win the tournament. When Nakamura got white the next week we saw Nakamura get a little payback as he took it right to Igor. Igor has just won clear first place in the Western States Open in Reno, would he continue his fine winning ways tonight?

1. ... Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3 c5 6.dxc5 Qa5 7.Rc1

Novikov preferred 7.Qa4 in this position against me, however after the result of the opening in this game, we may see 7.Rc1 more often

7. ... Ne4 8.Nge2 e5?

9.Bxe5!

A powerful blow which immediately gives white a winning position.

9. ... Bxe5 10.Qxd5

This is the point. White attacks blacks bishop and knight and will be up at least 2 pawns. Blacks position is already beyond salvation.

10. ... Nc6 11.Qxe4 Bf5 12.Qh4 Rd8 13.a3 Qxc5 14.b4 Qd6

[ 14. ... Nxb4 15.axb4 Qxb4 I don’t think this sacrifice actually works because of something like 16.f3 or f4, however I would have tried it, as it’s clear that all other roads will lose eventually.]

15.Rd1 Qf6

Trading queens down two pawns is not a happy decision.

16.Rxd8+ Kxd8 17.Qxf6+ Bxf6 18.Kd2 a5 19.b5 Ne5 20.Nd4 Be6 21.Nxe6+ fxe6 22.Be2 Be7 23.Ra1 Nd7 24.Ne4 Nc5 25.Nxc5 Bxc5 26.a4 b6 27.Bd3 Ke7 28.h4 Kf6 29.Rh1

The rook goes from h1 to a1 and back to h1!

29. ... Rd8 30.Ke2 h6 31.Rh3 Bd6 32.g4 Kg7 33.f4 e5 34.f5 gxf5 35.Bxf5 Bb4 36.Bd3

36. ... e4 was probably black’s best chance to mix it up. Black will play Rd2 and Ra2 to pick off whites a pawn and hope that the passed pawn will muster up some counterplay. In all honestly white should be able to win anyhow but passive defense in such positions is usually doomed to fail.

37.Be4 Rf8 38.Rh1 Rd8 39.g5 hxg5 40.hxg5 Rh8 41.Rd1 Rh2+ [ 41...Rd8] 42.Kf3 Bxg5 43.Rd7+ Kf6 44.Rd6+ Ke7 45.Rxb6 Rh3+ 46.Kg4 Rxe3 47.Kxg5 Rxe4 48.Rc6 Kd7 49.Rc5 Kd6 50.Rc6+ Kd7 51.Kf5 Re1 52.c5 e4 53.Rd6+ Kc8 54.c6 e3 55.b6 Rf1+ 56.Kg4 e2 57.b7+ Kc7 58.Rd7+ Kxc6 59.b8Q Kxd7 60.Qb5+ Kc7 61.Qxa5+ Kb7 62.Qb5+ Black can safely resign here. 62. ... Ka7 63.Qxe2 Rf7 64.Qb5 [ 64.Qe3+ Wins the rook immediately 64. ... Ka6 65.Qe6+] 64. ... Rb7 65.Qc6 Rb6 66.Qc5 Ka6 67.Kf4 Rh6 68.Qb5+ Ka7 69.Qd7+ Ka6 70.Ke4 Rb6 71.Kd4 Rh6 72.Kc4 Rb6 73.Qc8+ Ka7 74.Qc7+ Ka6 75.Qd7 Rb7 76.Qd3 Ka7 77.Kc5 Ka8 78.Kc6 Ka7 79.Qd4+ Ka8 80.Qd5 Ka7 81.Qd8 Rh7 82.Qd4+ Ka8 83.Qe3 Rb7 [ 83. ... Rc7+ Black should at least try this, although after Kb6 there are no more chances.] 84.Qe4 Ka7 85.a5 Ka6 86.Qd3+ Ka7 87.Qe3+ Ka8 88.a6 Rh7 89.Qg5 Ka7 90.Qg1+ 1-0

Leaders after Round 2

2 pts – Yudasin, Novikov, Stripunsky
1.5 pts – Furdzik

ROUND 3

Key Pairings

1 Yudasin – Novikov 1/2-1/2
2 Furdzik – Stripunsky SEE BELOW

(3) Furdzik,R (2304) - Stripunsky,A (2618) [B15]
30th New York Masters New York (3), 22.10.2002

1.e4

Stripunsky has 2/2 and Furdzik is the lone 1.5/2. This was Furdzik’s first ever live broadcast game, would he succumb to the pressure or would he shine?

1. ... g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c6 4.Nf3 d5 5.h3 Nh6 6.Bf4 f6 7.exd5 cxd5 8.Nb5

This is what theory recommends and is said to give white some edge.

8. ... Na6 9.c4 g5

Black's bishop on g7 is doing a good job of defending the f6 pawn.

10.Bh2 Be6 11.Nc3 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Bxc4 13.Qa4+ Qd7 14.Qxc4 Rc8 15.Qb3 Nf7 16.0-0 0-0 17.Rfe1 Rfe8 18.Re6 Rc6 19.Rae1

[ 19.d5 Nc5!? 20.dxc6 bxc6!~~ ( 20. ... Qxe6? 21.Qxe6 Nxe6 22.cxb7+-) ; 19.Rxc6 Qxc6 20.Re1]

19...Rxe6 20.Rxe6 Kf8 21.Qc4

Whites advantage is starting to slip away

21...Rc8 22.Qe2 Nd8 23.Re3 e6 24.g4 Nb4

It’s clear that Furdzik didn’t want to allow Stripunsky to create a home on the d5 square. White is banking on black’s exposed king to drum up some play for the pawn.

25. ... Nxd5 26.Nxd5 Qxd5

[ 26. ... exd5? 27.Nd4 and white has great outposts for the knight on d4 and on f5.]

27.Rd3 Qc6 28.Qd1

At this point Furdzik offered a draw, but Stripunsky immediately declined

28. ... Ke8 29.Rc3 Qd7 30.Rd3 Qb5 31.a4 Qxb2 32.Kg2 Bf8 33.Rd7 Be7? [ 33...Bc5]

Winning instantly!

34. ... Nc6

[ 34. ... Bxd6 35.Qxd6 There is no way to stop Qe7 mate]

35.Bxe7 Qb6

Desperation...Furdzik still has 90 seconds left on his clock to Stripunskys 30 seconds. This should be plenty of time to finish off this position. If 35...Nxe7 36.Qd6 and White mates in a few moves.

36.Ba3 Nb8 37.Re7+ Kf8 38.Rxe6+ Kf7 39.Rxb6 axb6 40.Qd5+ Kg7 41.Qxb7+

Furdzik shined it seems, as with this win he moved to joint first place with Novikov and Yudasin with 2.5/3

1-0

Leaders After Round 3

2.5 pts – Novikov, Yudasin, Furdzik
2 pts – Nakamura, Lapshun, Bonin, Chokshi

ROUND 4

Key Pairings

1 Novikov – Furdzik 1-0
2 Stripunsky – Yudasin 0-1
3 Lapshun – Nakamura SEE BELOW

Furdzik had a commendable tournament but the black pieces against Novikov was simply too much to handle. Novikov allowed the Nimzo Indian, something he rarely does, and won a pawn early in the game. Furdzik’s 2.5/4 was good for a split of the U2400 prize, as he tied with Manthan Chokshi, who received a last round half point bye.

Yudasin had to beat Stripunsky to tie for first and did just that. He got some nice pressure in a Closed Sicilian and thus Yudasin and Novikov received $240 each in the tie for first place.

(4) Lapshun,Y (2506) - Nakamura,H (2571) [D00]
30th New York Masters New York (4), 22.10.2002

1.d4

This game was not going to decide the tournament, however it was the first ever matchup of these exciting players in the NY Masters. In the future we will probably lean towards showing the top boards if at all possible.

1. ... d5 2.Bg5 f6 3.Bh4 Nh6 4.f3 c5 5.c3 cxd4 6.cxd4 Nc6 7.e3 e5 8.Nc3 Nf5 9.Bf2 Be6 10.Nge2 Bb4 11.Ng3 Qa5 12.Qd2 Rc8 13.Rc1 0-0 14.Nxf5 Bxf5 15.a3 Bxc3 16.Rxc3 exd4 17.exd4 Rfe8+ 18.Be2 Re7

[ 18. ... Nb4!? This move was suggested by Fritz, although it seems to fizzle out to a draw. 19.0-0 Rxc3 20.axb4 ( 20.bxc3 Nc2 and the a pawn is lost) 20...Rc2 21.Qxc2 Bxc2 22.bxa5 Rxe2 23.Re1 Rxe1+ 24.Bxe1=]

19.0-0 Rce8 20.Re1 Qa4 21.Rc5 Qb3 22.Bb5 Rxe1+ 23.Bxe1 Re6 24.Bf2 h5 25.Bf1 Ne7?

After gaining this key pawn, Lapshun has an overwhelming advantage.

27. ... Qb1 28.Rxa7 Nc6 29.Rc7 Kh7 30.h3 Bc2 31.Kh2 Bg6 32.Bb5 Ne7 33.a4 Nf5 34.Bd3 Qa1 35.Qc2 Ne7 36.Rxe7 Rxe7 37.Bxg6+ Kh6 38.Bh7 f5 39.Qxf5 Re6

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30th New York Masters Action USA (USA), 22 x 2002
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                                    1   2   3   4   Total
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    1. Novikov, Igor       g  2719 +10 + 8 = 2 + 5   3.5  ($230)
    2. Yudasin, Leonid     g  2699 +13 + 3 = 1 + 7   3.5  ($230)
    3. Lapshun, Yury       f  2506 +11 - 2 +10 + 8   3.0  ($ 40)
    4. Bonin, Jay          m  2413 +17 - 7 +14 +11   3.0  ($ 40)
    5. Furdzik, Rafal         2304 +16 = 9 + 7 - 1   2.5  ($ 40)
    6. Chokshi, Manthan       2256 - 7 +17 +13 =     2.5  ($ 40)
    7. Stripunsky, Alex    g  2618 + 6 + 4 - 5 - 2   2.0
    8. Nakamura, Hikaru    m  2517 +14 - 1 + 9 - 3   2.0
    9. Eisen, Lewis        f  2314 =12 = 5 - 8 +14   2.0
   10. Rogers, Norman      f  2279 - 1 +15 - 3 +16   2.0
   11. Mirabile, Tim          2204 - 3 =13 +15 - 4   1.5
   12. Caruana, Fabiano    f  2060 = 9 --- --- +17   1.5
   13. Privman, Boris      f  2261 - 2 =11 - 6 =15   1.0
   14. Treger, Yefim          2218 - 8 +16 - 4 - 9   1.0
   15. Weeramantry, Sunil  f  2207 =   -10 -11 =13   1.0
   16. Yanovsky, Vladi        1869 - 5 -14 +17 -10   1.0
   17. Barsky, Sam            2200 - 4 - 6 -16 -12   0.0



PRIZES

1ST - $300
2ND - $160
3RD - $ 80
U2400 - $ 80