#1111 Victory In Rahway & A New OTB Best!

Today I won a strong, 4-player tournament at Chess Mates in Rahway.

Here are my victories over expert Mauricio Camejo and FM Boris Privman, both of whom spurned draw-offers and blundered a few moves later:

John Moldovan 1833 - Camejo 2164

A55 Old Indian Defense

Moldovan - Privman 2364

D35 Queen's Gambit

PGN

With the 2700 performance, my rating jumped 58 points, to a personal best 1891. The previous high was 1853 on June 19, 2010.

Unfortunately, my last-round opponent forfeited. So, I missed-out on a nice bonus and an even bigger gain (at least 31 additional points).

#1110 SWE-USA Update

This morning I defeated Anders Brissman in the SWE-USA match. The game is probably my best-ever correspondence effort.

Here is a snapshot of the final position and move list:

If Black had played 67...Rh4!, I would have won with 68.b8=N!!

PGN of the above game
Replay

The U.S clinched the match some time ago and now leads it 53.5-22.5.

Crosstable
PGN of all 90 games.

#1109 Games From Section 3 Of The Corr Semis

The public can now see and download the finished games from section 3 of the 20th U.S. Correspondence Championship Semi-Finals.

Replay links to my draws and victory have been added to the sidebar.

#1108 Another Update On 20th U.S. Corr. Ch. Semis

Yesterday, I won against Lester Weiss, in the U.S. Correspondence Championship Semi-Finals.

Here's a quick rundown on the game, which started on September 13th:

Black tried to neutralize my Q's Gambit Exchange by going into an ending but a slight mistake on move 14 let me secure an edge. I eventually created a passer and forced him to sac a pawn. A shot on turn 29 increased my advantage and 10 moves later my foe capitulated, though he probably did so prematurely.

I can't post the score until at least 1 more game in my section is finished. For a look at the standings click here.

#1107 Tica Leads West Orange Championship

Expert Juan Tica leads the West Orange CC Championship after 4 of 7 rounds. Six players are a half-point back. Last year's winner, Ari Minkov is tied for 12th, at 50%.

Rank	Player	Rate	Pts
1.	Tica, Juan	2183	3.5
= 2.	Rosas, Victor	2092	3
	Mangion, Ian	2042	3
	Pedersen, Roger E	1974	3
	Napper, Nathaniel	1966	3
	Hart, Charles M	1915	3
	Race, Doran	1914	3
= 8.	Zilbermintz, Lev	2117	2.5
	Boxer, Matthew	1921	2.5
	Adamo Jr, John	1766	2.5
	Rivero, Rene	1679	2.5
= 12.	Minkov, Ari	2039	2
	Martinez, Alberto	1913	2
	Cohen, Bryan	1844	2
	Garrett, Damon	1820	2
	Sharpell, Fred	1807	2
	Burn, Murray	1764	2
	Katz, Harry	1704	2
	Nayak, Mohan	1598	2
	Trieste, Edward	1530	2
	Moreira, Leonardo	1043	2
= 22.	Fortunato, Joseph	1617	1.5
	Hagerty, John	1529	1.5*
	Smalt, Robert	1185	1.5
	Bejinariu, Neculai	unrated	1.5
	Sanchez, John	unrated	1.5
= 27.	Hart, Glen B	1684	1*
	West, Robert	1622	1
	Vinson, Robert	1200	1
	Levanda, Mark	1129	1
= 31.	Lynn, Robert	1461	0.5
	Kirck, Charles	1311	0.5

* withdrew

The above ratings are from the February 2013 Golden Database.

#1106 Update On 20th U.S. Correspondence Ch. Semis

On Monday, I drew my game with Kyle Biederman, in the U.S. Correspondence Championship Semi-Finals.

My opponent opened with his favorite Catalan. I steered play into a Bogo-Indian and my 8th was a slight improvement over previous practice. We went into an endgame and I tried to sharpen play with an Exchange offer but he declined and successfully fought-off all other attempts. The point was split after 43 moves, with each side having a Bishop and 3 pawns.

You can collect the 66 completed contests from sections 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 but games from my section can't be seen until 3 more are finished.

#1105 A Bizarre Coincidence!!?

In a rather incredible coincidence, Kenilworth Chess Club member Luis Ruales has played two different Bobby DeMarcos in consecutive weeks!!

Ruales played DeMarco #1 (of Newark-McDonald's) in a Garden State League match on April 4th and faced DeMarco #2 in the last night's opening round of the Ellner Memorial.

#1104 New Staten Island CC Site

The Staten Island Chess Club is in the process of building a new web site.

Its template looks great! I've always liked that burnt set... may have to get one.

Hat tip to Ed Selling.

#1103 Local Clubs Update

I have added Chess Mates and the Garden State Chess League to my list of local chess clubs. I have deleted the defunct Summit club and Newark's Sleepless Knights.

Info for the Westfield, Kenilworth, West Orange, Roselle, Clark, Scotch Plains, Maplewood and Checkmate clubs have also been updated.


Addendum 4/12 @ 9:40 p.m. - The Checkmate CC now meets on Saturday nights, from 8:30 to 11:00 p.m.

Hat tip to Robert Vinson.

#1102 RIP Donatas (Don) Varneckas

Donatas Varneckas died yesterday, 23 days after suffering a stroke while playing at the Morris County Chess Club in Parsippany.

Don, a retired former butcher and retired accountant, was a friend and teammate to many. We played together in the USATE tournaments (2010, 2011) and in the Garden State Chess League (2010-11, 2011-12). I last saw him on March 9th, at Rahway's Chess Mates, just a few days before he was stricken.

For those who knew Don and would like to pay their respects, here is some information on his memorial services:

Wake
Sunday, April 7 from 2-6 pm
Doyle Funeral Home
106 Maple Avenue
Morristown, NJ 07960

Funeral Mass
Monday, April 8 at 10 a.m.
Church Of The Assumption
91 Maple Avenue
Morristown, NJ 07960

Entombment
Holy Rood Cemetery
61 Whippany Road
Morristown, NJ 07960

Those unable to attend may write a condolence message here or leave a comment to this post.

#1101 Springfield's Checkmate CC

With the Springfield Barnes and Noble now closing at 9 p.m. on Sundays and tables generally unavailable for chess until after 8 p.m., the Checkmate Club's future is in doubt.

Update 4/12 @ 9:40 p.m. - The Checkmate CC now meets on Saturday nights, from 8:30-11:00 p.m.

Hat tip to Robert Vinson.

#1100 Ellner Memorial Starts April 11th

6th Annual Irving Ellner Memorial

Kenilworth Chess Club

April 11th-May 16, 2013

• USCF-Rated
• 5-round Swiss
• Time Control: G/60 with 5 second per move increment.
• Rounds: 8:30 p.m. on April 11th, 8:20 p.m. on April 18th, 25th and May 9th, 16th. There is no game on May 2nd!
• Entry Fee: $10
• Prizes Fund: $150 b/16 entries. (100% of EF minus rating fee)
• Prizes: To be announced
• Register with TD Geoff McAuliffe before 8:25 p.m. on 4/11 @ Kenilworth Community Center, 575 Boulevard, Kenilworth, N.J.
• Late-joins accepted. 2 byes allowed.