2010 Winner of the Fighting Chess Award!

Tatev Abrahamyan!

GM Alexandra Kosteniuk selected Tatev as winner of the $1,000 Fighting Chess Award, co-sponsored this year by Goddesschess and 9 Queens, from a large field of contenders.  The award was announced Tuesday evening at the Closing Ceremony of the U.S. Women's and U.S. Junior's Chess Championships in St. Louis, Missouri.  Tatev was also the winner of a $400 scholarship sponsored separately by 9 Queens. (Photo by Suzy Gorman)

Tatev was the winner of the Goddesschess Fighting Chess Award in 2008, chosen by GM Susan Polgar.

Tatev was born in Armenia in 1988.  She moved to the United States when she was 14.  Currently she is ranked 177 in the world of active female players, and 7th in the United States.

Tatev has quite a history of appearing in U.S. Championships since she moved to the USA.  Her first appearance was in 2003 when she played in the U.S. Juniors Championship and finished with 4.5/9.  Here are the final standings from that event, where she was the only female playing:

Name Fed Title Rc Rp W N K*change
Akobian, Varuzhan USA m 2317 8.0 9 9.8
Schneider, Dmitry USA m 2329 6.0 9 3.3
Milman, Lev USA f 2336 5.5 9 9.6
Hoekstra, Matthew USA f 2343 5.0 9 15.6
Abrahamyan, Tatev USA wf 2354 4.5 9 27
Friedel, Joshua E USA 2341 3.5 9 -9.6
Lopez, Bruci USA f 2329 3.5 9 -22.6
Fernandez, Daniel USA f 2344 3.5 9 -4.2
Wang, Philip Xiao USA f 2343 3.0 9 -13.05
Rouleau, John S USA 2350 2.5 9 -8.4
Rc - average rating of rated opponents, Rp - rating performance

Her next appearance in a national championship was in the 2004 U.S. Women's Chess Championship.  Here are the final standings from that event:

 Name Fed Title Rc Rp W N K*change
Shahade, Jennifer USA wm 2340 4.5 6 22.5
Krush, Irina USA m 2319 4.0 6 -2
Zatonskih, Anna USA wg 2322 4.0 6 -0.2
Abrahamyan, Tatev USA wf 2357 2.0 6 -0.6
Battsetseg, Tsagaan USA wm 2367 2.0 5 4.5
Goletiani, Rusudan USA wg 2346 1.5 5 -15.75
Belakovskaia, Anjelina USA wg 2371 1.0 4 -9
Rc - average rating of rated opponents, Rp - rating performance

Tatev tied for first place for the Women's Champion title in the 2005 U.S. Chess Championships [a large Swiss combining both male and female players, with the top-scoring female players vying for the Women's title and separate prize money], but lost in the play-off against Rusudan Goletiani. 
 
2006 was a nutso year as far as the U.S. Chess Championships.  The men and women were once again combined into - this time - two large groups - the A Group and the B Group.  I can tell you that Tatev finished second female in the B Group to Anna Zatonskih.  The Women's Championship eventually was between defender Rusudan Goletiani and challenger Anna Zatonskih, and Zatonskih won.
 
Name Fed Title Rc Rp W N K*change
Shulman, Yury USA 2520 6.5 9 12.8
Christiansen, Larry M USA 2513 6.5 9 15.5
Kamsky, Gata USA 2522 6.5 9 0.2
Fishbein, Alexander USA 2460 6 9 7.8
 Novikov, Igor USA 2549 5.5 9 6.4
Kreiman, Boris USA 2468 5 9 4.1
Wojtkiewicz, Aleks USA 2495 5 9 -2.2
Ivanov, Alexander USA 2508 5 9 -6.7
Yermolinsky, Alex USA 2463 5 9 -5.8
Kaidanov, Gregory USA 2456 5 9 -13
Perelshteyn, Eugene USA 2502 5 9 2.3
Browne, Walter S USA 2330 5 9 -7.6
Zatonskih, Anna USA 2477 5 9 10.4
Shabalov, Alexander USA 2541 5 9 -2.2
Gulko, Boris USA 2460 4.5 9 -15.3
Lugo, Blas USA 2385 4.5 9 -3.6
Ippolito, Dean J USA 2404 4.5 9 -0.9
Milman, Lev USA 2432 4.5 9 -5.4
Becerra, Julio USA 2421 4.5 9 -16.2
Fedorowicz, John P USA 2368 4.5 9 -15.3
Muhammad, Stephen A USA 2360 4.5 9 -2.7
Kriventsov, Stanislav G USA 2484 4.5 9 4.5
Ginsburg, Mark USA 2384 4 9 -3.2
Abrahamyan, Tatev USA 2332 4 9 7.35
Vigorito, David E USA 2322 4 9 -14.25
Sarkar, Justin USA 2406 4 9 4.9
West, Vanessa A USA 2258 3.5 9 16.05
Tuvshintugs, Batchimeg USA 2510 3.5 9 32.25
Liu, Elliott USA 2302 3.5 9 14.7
Airapetian, Chouchanik USA 2309 3.5 9 16.05
Itkis, Hana USA 2246 1.5 9 -19.35
Christiansen, Natasha C USA 2233 0.5 9 -34.75
Rc - average rating of rated opponents, Rp - rating performance

The 2007 Frank K. Berry U.S. Women's Chess Championship.  Tatev didn't have an impressive performance in this round robin event, finishing with 3.5/9, in 8th place:

1 Irina Krush 7
2-3 Anna Zatonskih 6½
2-3 Katerina Rohonyan 6½
4 Batchimeg Tuvshintugs 5½
5 Tsagaan Battsetseg 5
6-7 Alisa Melekhina 4
6-7 Camilla Baginskaite 4
7-8 Tatev Abrahamyan
9 Elizabeth Vicary 2½ (Liz won the Goddesschess Brilliancy Prize)
10 Chouchanik Airapetian ½

In the 2008 Frank K. Berry U.S. Women's Chess Championship, Tatev finished in third place with 6.0.  It was her record of six wins, three losses and no draws that GM Susan Polgar pointed to in declaring Tatev the winner of the 2008 Fighting Chess Award:

1 Krush, Irina IM 2515 USA 7.0
2 Zatonskih, Anna IM 2490 USA 6.5
3 Abrahamyan, Tatev WFM 2280 USA 6.0
4 Rohonyan, Katerine WGM 2318 USA 5.5
5-6 Battsetseg, Tsagaan WIM 2251 USA 4.5
5-6 Tuvshintugs, Batchimeg WIM 2289 USA 4.5
7 Zenyuk, Iryna WFM 2205 USA 3.5
8 Epstein, Esther WM 2194 USA 1.5
9 Airapetian, Chouchanik WFM 2143 USA 1.0
10 Jamison, Courtney 2064 USA 0.0

Tatev finished in 5th place at the 2009 Championship:

1 Anna Zatonskih 2492 2462 ½ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8½
2 Camilla Baginskaite 2356 2317 ½ ½ 0 1 1 ½ 1 1 1 6½
3 Alisa Melekhina 2253 2220 0 ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 0 1 1 5½
4 Irina Krush 2490 2458 0 1 ½ 0 1 1 ½ 1 ½ 5½
5 Tatev Abrahamyan 2342 2275 0 0 0 1 ½ ½ 1 1 0 4
6 Sabina Foisor 2379 2320 0 0 0 0 ½ 1 1 0 1 3½
7 Rusudan Goletiani 2437 2391 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 1 1 0 3½
8 Iryna Zenyuk 2271 2285 0 0 1 ½ 0 0 0 ½ 1 3
9 Battsetseg Tsagaan 2265 2258 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 ½ 1 2½
10 Yun Fan 2134 1935 0 0 0 ½ 1 0 1 0 0 2½

Tatev's chessplaying has made a quantum leap this year.  Her performances have garnered her both norms and ratings points, but the only title she's interested in at the moment is IM.

Tatev will be playing on the U.S. Women's Chess Olympiad Team in September along with Irina Krush, Anna Zatonskih, Camilla Baginskaite and Sabina Foisor.

Heartfelt congratulations to Tatev Abrahamyan, and good luck at the Olympiad.

2010 U.S. Women's Chess Championship - R9

It's official - Tatev Abrhamyan won with the black pieces against Katerina Rohonyan and Camilla Baginskaite won with white against Beatrice Marinello.

So, Melekhina and Rohonyan finish tied for 4th place with 4.5/9.  Unofficial rankings:

Krush 8.0/9
Abrahamyan 7.5/9
Zatonskih 7.5/9
Melekhina 4.5/9
Rohonyan 4.5/9
Zenyuk 4.0/9
Baginskaite 4.0/9
Foisor 3.0/9
Marinello 1.5/9
Marshall 0.5/9

I've no idea when or how the Goddesschess/9 Queens Fighting Chess Award will be decided.  There were many impressive performances this year:  Krush, definitely.  She had several of the shortest games of the tournament and that says something.  Zatonskih never gave up and eeked out a slight advantage in long, grinding end games seemingly out of nowhere!  Zenyuk had all decisive results - no draws:  4 wins and 5 losses.  Constantly in time trouble but always fighting.  Rohonyan got better as the tournament went on.  Perhaps most of all, I was impressed by Abby Marshall.  She never gave up, and sure as shootin' she gave the two tournament leaders a hard time!

We don't have any behind-the-scenes input into choosing the winner - that's part of the deal.  We want the judge to be totally independent in her decision.  For tonight, I'm chessed out, darlings.  I don't want to think about it anymore.

Congratulations to Irina Krush on her 3rd US Women's title. Indeed, congratulations to all of the players.  I think this has been the best women's championship ever!

And we're already planning for the 2011 U.S. Women's Chess Championship. 

2010 U.S. Women's Chess Championship - Startling Results R9!!!

Ray Robson lost!

Zatonskih's game ended in a draw!

Zenyuk won!

Looks like Krush will be clear winner and no play-off tomorrow for the women.

Now it appears Robson and Shankland are tied - Parker Zhao may win the tournament???

More later -

Updated 5:59 p.m.

Ray Robson showed great class and sportsmanship by showing up for a post-game interview and not trash talking. He is just a really great young man, has great character and heart. 

Anna Zatonskih was also very graceful in talking about her tournament and the final 2 rounds, and was surprised with a Skype call from her husband, GM Daniel Friedman, who is currently in the Ukraine.

Marshall is still battling with Krush, but it doesn't look very good for her. Actually I'm amazed that Abby was able to get the game to this point (past time control) because earlier the commentators seemed to be writing off her position.   She has put up a good fight!

Tatev Abrahamyan, currently with 7.5/9, could finish in second place.  Commentators are saying she has a better position against Rohonyan, who has the white pieces.

Baginskaite and Marinello are still slugging it out, and have made time control.  They have quite a few pieces on the board yet.

Wow!  Well, I'm pleased to be surprised and shocked - but my R9 predictions certainly seem to have been flushed down the toilet!

I'm happy that Zenyuk won her game, but I'm really sad for Melekhina because she was on the losing side of that game.  I like both players very much.

Updated 6:11 p.m.
Krush has won - Abby Marshall just resigned. Krush is the official champion, with 8.0/9.  If Abrahamyan wins her game, she and Zatonskih will be tied for second place and then the usual tie-breaks will be applied to determine position.

Updated 6:31 p.m.
Looks like 3-way tie among Parker Zhao, Robson and Shankland and play-off tomorrow - but Zhao is still playing.  If Zhao wins his game then he is clear winner.

Looks like Abrahamyan will win, in which case she will score her third IM norm, if I understood what the commentators said correctly.  That would be fantastic, another female IM and she's only 22 years old and will be going into the Olympiad next month on an emotional high along with Krush, Zatonskih, Foisor and Baginskaite.

2010 U.S. Women's Chess Championship - R9

Soon we'll know whether we have a straight-out champion or must go to the play-off tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.

I've made my predictions at Chess Femme News. 

Pairings:
1 IM Anna Zatonskih 7.0 2518 - WGM Sabina Foisor 2.5 2356
2 WGM Katerina Rohonyan 4.5 2322 - WFM Tatev Abrahamyan 6.5 2403
3 WGM Camilla Baginskaite 3.0 2387 - WIM Beatriz Marinello 1.5 2206
4 IM Irina Krush 7.0 2521 - WFM Abby Marshall 0.5 2211
5 WIM Alisa Melekhina 4.5 2323 - WIM Iryna Zenyuk 3.0 2286

And, as Mr. Don so aptly pointed out in this new graphic he put together for Goddesschess, soon we'll know who the winner of the Goddesschess/9 Queens Fighting Chess Award is, who will be selected by current Women's World Chess Champion GM Alexandra Kosteniuk.

The games start at 2:00 p.m. today.  My office door will one again be closed and my headphones firmly in place as I follow the action as closely as I can while also trying to get some work done, har!

2010 U.S. Women's Chess Championship - R8 Games in PGN

They were there last night - I was brain fogged and trying to download R9 games which, of course, do not exist yet.  Duh!

[Event "2010 U.S. Women's and Junior Closed Championships"]

[Site "?"]
[Date ""]
[Round "round 8"]
[White "WFM Tatev Abrahamyan"]
[Black "IM Anna Zatonskih"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Board "1"]
[Input "DGT6645"]
[Owner "St. Louis Chess Club"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bd2 Ngf6 12. O-O-O Be7 13. Kb1 Qb6 14. Ne4 Nxe4 15. Qxe4 Nf6 16. Qe2 Qb5 17. c4 Qf5+ 18. Ka1 O-O-O 19. Be3 Ng4 20. Bc1 Rhe8 21. Ne5 Nxe5 22. dxe5 Bc5 23. f4 Qh7 24. a3 Qg8 25. Ka2 Rxd1 26. Rxd1 Rd8 27. b4 Rxd1 28. Qxd1 Be7 29. Bb2 a6 30. g4 g6 31. hxg6 fxg6 32. Qh1 Qf8 33. Bc1 g5 34. Qe4 gxf4 35. Qxf4 Qg8 36. Qe4 Bg5 37. Bb2 Qf7 38. Kb3 Qf1 39. Ka2 Kd8 40. Qd4+ Ke8 41. Qe4 Qf4 42. Qe2 Qe3 43. Qc2 Qf4 44. Qe2 Kf8 45. Kb1 Kg7 46. Kc2 Kf7 47. Qd3 Qxg4 48. Qh7+ Ke8 49. Qg8+ Kd7 50. Qg7+ Kc8 51. Qg8+ Kd7 52. Qg7+ Kd8 53. Qg8+ Kc7 54. Qf7+ Kc8 55. Qg8+ Kc7 56. Qf7+ Kb8 57. Qf8+ Kc7 58. Qf7+ Kc8 1/2-1/2

[Event "2010 U.S. Women's and Junior Closed Championships"]
[Site "?"]
[Date ""]
[Round "round 8"]
[White "WIM Beatriz Marinello"]
[Black "WGM Katerina Rohonyan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Board "2"]
[Input "DGT4964"]
[Owner "St. Louis Chess Club"]

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. g3 Nf6 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Nge2 c6 7. O-O e5 8. h3 Nbd7 9. Re1 Qc7 10. Be3 b5 11. a3 Bb7 12. Qd2 Rfe8 13. Bh6 Bh8 14. Rad1 Rad8 15. Bg5 a6 16. d5 Nb6 17. dxc6 Bxc6 18. Qc1 Rc8 19. Rd3 Nfd7 20. Red1 Re6 21. Nd5 Bxd5 22. exd5 Ree8 23. Rc3 Qb7 24. Rc6 e4 25. Rxc8 Qxc8 26. c3 Nc5 27. Be3 Nd3 28. Qc2 Nxd5 29. Bd4 Bxd4 30. Nxd4 Nf6 31. Rd2 d5 32. Re2 Nd7 33. f3 f5 34. g4 Nf4 35. gxf5 Nxe2+ 36. Qxe2 Nf6 37. Qe3 exf3 38. Qxf3 Re1+ 39. Kf2 Re7 40. fxg6 Ne4+ 41. Kg1 hxg6 42. Qf4 Qf8 43. Qh4 Kg7 44. Qg4 Qf2+ 45. Kh2 Nd2 46. h4 Re4 47. Qd7+ Kh6 0-1

[Event "2010 U.S. Women's and Junior Closed Championships"]
[Site "?"]
[Date ""]
[Round "round 8"]
[White "WIM Iryna Zenyuk"]
[Black "IM Irina Krush"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Board "3"]
[Input "DGT4948"]
[Owner "St. Louis Chess Club"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 b5 5. dxe6 fxe6 6. cxb5 a6 7. bxa6 Bxa6 8. g3 Nc6 9. Bh3 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. Nc3 Qb6 12. b3 Nd4 13. Nxd4 cxd4 14. Na4 Qa7 15. Bb2 e5 16. Bg2 d5 17. Kh1 Kh8 18. Bc1 Ne4 19. f3 d3 20. exd3 Nf2+ 21. Rxf2 Qxf2 22. Nc3 Rac8 23. Nxd5 Qd4 0-1

[Event "2010 U.S. Women's and Junior Closed Championships"]
[Site "?"]
[Date ""]
[Round "round 8"]
[White "WFM Abby Marshall"]
[Black "WGM Camilla Baginskaite"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Board "4"]
[Input "DGT4950"]
[Owner "St. Louis Chess Club"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Qf3 g6 7. h3 Qb6 8. Nb3 Bg7 9. Be3 Qc7 10. O-O-O Nc6 11. g4 Be6 12. Qg2 h5 13. gxh5 Nxh5 14. Nd4 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 Bxd4 16. Rxd4 Rc8 17. a3 Qc5 18. Rd2 Qe5 19. Qf3 Nf4 20. h4 g5 21. Nd5 Bxd5 22. exd5 Rxh4 23. Rxh4 gxh4 24. Qg4 Rc5 25. Kb1 Qe1+ 26. Rd1 Qxf2 27. c4 Qg3 28. Qf5 Qg6 29. Qxg6 fxg6 30. Rc1 h3 31. b4 Rc8 32. Rc2 Kf7 33. c5 dxc5 34. bxc5 Rxc5 35. Rxc5 h2 36. Bg2 Nxg2 37. Rc1 Nh4 38. Rh1 Nf3 39. Kc2 Kf6 40. Kd3 Kf5 41. Ke2 Kf4 42. Kf2 g5 43. Rb1 g4 44. Rb4+ Kg5 45. Kg2 g3 46. Rxb7 Ne1+ 47. Kh1 Nd3 48. Kg2 Nf2 49. Rb1 Kf4 50. Rb4+ Ke5 51. Kxg3 h1=Q 52. Kxf2 Qxd5 0-1

[Event "2010 U.S. Women's and Junior Closed Championships"]
[Site "?"]
[Date ""]
[Round "round 8"]
[White "WGM Sabina Foisor"]
[Black "WIM Alisa Melekhina"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Board "5"]
[Input "DGT4947"]
[Owner "St. Louis Chess Club"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 c6 8. O-O exd4 9. Nxd4 Re8 10. f3 d5 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Bf2 dxe4 13. Ndb5 Qe7 14. fxe4 Nc6 15. Bg3 Rd8 16. Qe1 Be6 17. Kh1 a6 18. Nc7 Rac8 19. Nxe6 Qxe6 20. Qf2 Rd7 21. Bf3 Ne5 22. Rad1 Nxf3 23. Qxf3 Nh5 24. Bf2 Rxd1 25. Rxd1 Bxc3 26. bxc3 Qxa2 27. Bd4 Qe6 28. g4 Ng7 29. Qf4 Re8 30. Re1 Qc6 31. Bf6 Re6 32. Bd4 Ne8 33. g5 a5 34. Kg1 a4 35. Re3 a3 36. Rf3 Qc7 37. Qh4 Ng7 38. Qh6 Nh5 39. Rh3 a2 40. Rxh5 a1=Q+ 41. Kg2 Qa2+ 42. Kf3 f5 43. gxf6 Rxe4 44. Kxe4 Qe2+ 45. Qe3 Qxe3+ 0-1

2010 U.S. Women's Chess Championship - R8

Krush has won her game against Zenyuk well before time control.

Commentary now says that Abrahamyan v. Zatonskih looks drawish, which most likely means it will be Zatonskih and Krush facing off once again in an Armageddon play-off if they both win tomorrow.  What a pain in the you-know-what.  I never want to see another tournament decided that way again, it was awful, horrible.

Holy Goddess - Melekhina just queened a pawn!  Haven't seen that yet in this championship!  She now has TWO queens on the board!  She queened with check on move 40 just as Foisor was mounting a potential devastating checkate attack!

Update 6:14 p.m.

Melekhina won with the black pieces against Foisor.

Rohonyon defeated Marinello with the black pieces.

Two games left:  Abrahamyan/Zatonskih, where things seem to have taken a turn against Abrahamyan; and Marshall/Baginskaite, where Marshall is in big trouble and looks like a win for Baginskaite.

The battle is still for 4th place between Melekhina and Rohonyan.

2010 U.S. Women's Chess Championship - R 7 Results/Standings

Krush - Melekhina: 1- 0
Abrahamyan - Foisor: 1 -0
Baginskaite - Zenyuk: 0 - 1
Zatonskih - Marinello: 1 - 0
Rohonyan - Marshall: 1 -0

Pairings for R8:

1 WGM Sabina Foisor 2.5 2356 WIM Alisa Melekhina 3.5 2323
2 WIM Iryna Zenyuk 3.0 2286 IM Irina Krush 6.0 2521
3 WFM Abby Marshall 0.5 2211 WGM Camilla Baginskaite 2.0 2387
4 WIM Beatriz Marinello 1.5 2206 WGM Katerina Rohonyan 3.5 2322
5 WFM Tatev Abrahamyan 6.0 2403 IM Anna Zatonskih 6.5 2518

Now a big battle for 4th place prize money.

Games in PGN:

[Event "2010 U.S. Women's and Junior Closed Championships"]
[Site "St. Louis"]
[Date ""]
[Round "round 7"]
[White "IM Irina Krush"]
[Black "WIM Alisa Melekhina"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Board "1"]
[Input "DGT6645"]
[Owner "St. Louis Chess Club"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. Ne1 Nd7 10. Be3 f5 11. f3 f4 12. Bf2 g5 13. Rc1 Ng6 14. Nb5 Nf6 15. c5 g4 16. cxd6 cxd6 17. Nc7 g3 18. Nxa8 Nh5 19. Kh1 Qh4 20. Bg1 gxh2 21. Bf2 Ng3+ 22. Bxg3 fxg3 23. Nc7 Nf4 24. Ne6 Re8 25. Rc7 Bf8 26. Nxf4 exf4 27. Qc2 Bh3 28. gxh3 Qxh3 29. Ng2 Qh6 30. Rxb7 a5 31. Rc1 Re5 32. Qc8 Qf6 33. Qg4+ Rg5 34. Qe6+ 1-0

[Event "2010 U.S. Women's and Junior Closed Championships"]
[Site "St. Louis"]
[Date ""]
[Round "round 7"]
[White "WFM Tatev Abrahamyan"]
[Black "WGM Sabina Foisor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Board "2"]
[Input "DGT4964"]
[Owner "St. Louis Chess Club"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Bg7 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 Qa5 8. O-O O-O 9. Bb3 d6 10. h3 Bd7 11. Re1 Rac8 12. Qe2 a6 13. Rad1 Rfe8 14. f4 Nh5 15. Qf2 Nxd4 16. Bxd4 Bxd4 17. Rxd4 Be6 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. e5 d5 20. g4 Ng7 21. Re2 b5 22. a3 Rf8 23. Qe3 Qb6 24. Red2 Rc4 25. Ne2 a5 26. Kg2 b4 27. axb4 axb4 28. R4d3 Qa6 29. Nd4 Qa1 30. b3 Rcc8 31. Rf2 Kh8 32. Qd2 Qa5 33. Ne2 Rc5 34. Rd4 Rb8 35. Nc1 Rcb5 36. Ne2 Rc8 37. Ng3 Rf8 38. Kh2 Qb6 39. Nf1 Rc8 40. Ne3 Ne8 41. Ng2 Qb8 42. Re2 Nc7 43. Nh4 Rg8 44. f5 exf5 45. gxf5 g5 46. Ng6+ hxg6 47. Rh4+ Kg7 48. Qxg5 Kf8 49. Rh7 Qd8 50. f6 Ke8 51. f7+ Kd7 52. fxg8=Q 1-0

[Event "2010 U.S. Women's and Junior Closed Championships"]
[Site "St. Louis"]
[Date ""]
[Round "round 7"]
[White "WGM Camilla Baginskaite"]
[Black "WIM Iryna Zenyuk"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Board "3"]
[Input "DGT4948"]
[Owner "St. Louis Chess Club"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. b6 g6 6. Nc3 Qxb6 7. Nf3 d6 8. Nd2 Nbd7 9. e4 Bg7 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O Qc7 12. f4 Bb7 13. Nc4 Nb6 14. a4 Rae8 15. a5 Nxc4 16. Bxc4 e6 17. Qf3 Nxe4 18. Nxe4 exd5 19. Bxd5 Bxd5 20. Nf6+ Bxf6 21. Qxd5 Qd7 22. f5 Bd4+ 23. Kh1 Re5 24. Qc4 Rxf5 25. Qxa6 Re8 26. Bf4 Bxb2 27. Rad1 d5 28. g4 Rxf4 29. Rxf4 Be5 30. Rff1 d4 31. Qc4 Qc6+ 32. Kg1 Re7 33. Rde1 Qd6 34. Re2 d3 35. Rd2 Bd4+ 36. Kg2 Qc7 37. Qxd3 Qxa5 38. Re2 Qa8+ 39. Rf3 Rxe2+ 40. Qxe2 Qd5 41. Qb5 Kg7 42. h3 Qe6 43. Qd3 Qd5 44. Qb5 h5 45. gxh5 Qg5+ 46. Kf1 Qg1+ 0-1

[Event "2010 U.S. Women's and Junior Closed Championships"]
[Site "St. Louis"]
[Date ""]
[Round "round 7"]
[White "IM Anna Zatonskih"]
[Black "WIM Beatriz Marinello"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Board "4"]
[Input "DGT4950"]
[Owner "St. Louis Chess Club"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 a6 7. Qc2 dxc4 8. Bxc4 b5 9. Bd3 Bb7 10. a4 Nc6 11. Qe2 Nb4 12. Bb1 bxa4 13. O-O a5 14. Rd1 Nfd5 15. Bg3 Ba6 16. Qd2 Bc4 17. Nxa4 Nb6 18. Rc1 Rc8 19. Nc5 Ra8 20. e4 Ra7 21. Qc3 Qa8 22. Ne5 Bb5 23. Qe3 Rd8 24. Bf4 c6 25. Qh3 Bxc5 26. dxc5 Nd7 27. Nxd7 Raxd7 28. Bd6 e5 29. Ra3 Rxd6 30. cxd6 Rxd6 31. Qc3 Qd8 32. h3 Rd1+ 33. Rxd1 Qxd1+ 34. Kh2 Qxb1 35. Rxa5 h6 36. Qxb4 Qc1 37. Ra8+ Kh7 38. Qc3 Qf4+ 39. Qg3 Qxe4 40. Re8 f6 41. Re7 Qg6 42. Qxg6+ Kxg6 43. b4 h5 44. Kg3 Kh6 45. h4 g5 46. hxg5+ Kxg5 47. Rg7+ Kh6 48. Rg8 Bc4 49. Rc8 Bd5 50. Rd8 1-0

[Event "2010 U.S. Women's and Junior Closed Championships"]
[Site "St. Louis"]
[Date ""]
[Round "round 7"]
[White "WGM Katerina Rohonyan"]
[Black "WFM Abby Marshall"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Board "5"]
[Input "DGT4947"]
[Owner "St. Louis Chess Club"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. cxd5 Bxf3 5. gxf3 Qxd5 6. e3 e5 7. Nc3 Bb4 8. Bd2 Bxc3 9. bxc3 Qd6 10. Rb1 b6 11. f4 exf4 12. e4 Nge7 13. Qf3 O-O 14. Bxf4 Qa3 15. Bg2 Ng6 16. O-O Nxd4 17. cxd4 Qxf3 18. Bxf3 Nxf4 19. Rfc1 c5 20. dxc5 Nd3 21. Rc4 Nxc5 22. a4 Rad8 23. a5 Rd6 24. axb6 axb6 25. Rcb4 Rb8 26. h4 Rf6 27. Kg2 Kf8 28. h5 Ke7 29. Rb5 Ne6 30. Bg4 Kd8 31. Rd5+ Kc7 32. Rc1+ Nc5 33. e5 Rc6 34. f4 Rd8 35. Bf3 Rh6 36. Ra1 Rxd5 37. Bxd5 b5 38. Bxf7 Nd3 39. Kf3 Nb4 40. Ke4 Kb6 41. e6 Nc6 42. Rd1 b4 43. Rd6 Rf6 44. Rxc6+ Kxc6 45. e7 Rxf7 46. e8=Q+ Rd7 47. Qe6+ Kc7 48. Qc4+ 1-0

2010 U.S. Women's Chess Championship - R7

Melekhina is going down to Krush.  Unbelievably to my eyes, she just gave up a rook early on, seeming to bet that she had a good attack king-side.  It didn't turn out that way, unfortunately.  For some time Krush-Melekhina was tracking Robson's game with Zhao and it was really wierd watching it online and listening to the commentary. 

Not much attention has been paid to the other games because of the interesting complication s of Krush-Melekhina and Zhao-Robson.  Last time there was commentary on Abby Marshall's game they thought she had a winning position.  Zatonskih is, also unbelievably, also seeming to be struggling against Marinello!  I don't know what the heck is happening, but I don't care.  The weather today got much better than expected, rather than worse!  I'm set up outside right now enjoying a breeze off the lake (from the northeast) rather than the forecasted furnace blast from the southwest; it's shady here and I've got the umbrella up; I'm also fully coated with super-duper strength bug spray because the mosquitoes are so bad. 

The back yard is raked in preparation either for cutting later this evening, although I may decide to watch a movie instead, or in preparation for the predicted severe storms that may blow through later this evening.  I don't know what's happening - perhaps I am morphing into a lizard woman.  The dew point is 61, which ordinarily makes me extremely uncomfortable, but I actually not only raked up the yard (albeit in 10 minute intervals with 20 minutes plus glasses of wine in between) and also pulled some more weeds (a never-ending battle) and I'm even thinking about chopping down that overgrown honeysuckle. 

Okay - I'm looking at the games now -- it's now 5:10 p.m. and Melekhina has resigned on move 34.  She played an extremely aggressive and risky game and paid the price when Krush found the best responsive moves.  I absolutely did not expect this from her, wow!  Tomorrow no rest for her, she's got another big game and she's battling for, probably, fourth place. 

Abrahamyan-Foisor is in big time trouble on move 27.  Foisor has 13 minutes left to whites's 4 minutes?  What the heck happened?  At one point it looked like Abrahamyan would wrap this game up with an overwhelming advantage.  Stay tuned.

Baginskaite-Zenyuk, B has like 4 minutes and Zenyuk has like 10 minutes - and they're on move 27.  Oy!  Black has a material advantage but I cannot tell you a thing about their relative board positions.  Suffice to say that whenever I think I understand a position, it turns out I was totally wrong, LOL!

Honestly, I do not understand why Zatonskih-Marinello is still going on - move 27?  What?  Zatonskih has 7 minutes and Marinello has 10 - this would be an incredible upset if Marinello can somehow pull out a draw - I'm not even going to mention the W word...

Rohonyan 6 minutes, Marshall 9 minutes, move 31 was just made by white.  Abby has an extra pawn.  Can she keep her end game technique together and pull off a win against the much more experienced Rohonyan?

Listening to the commentary, Finegold thinks Zatonskih's two bishops are really strong. 

Okay - I'm going to feed my chipmunks and squirrels now - will check back later on...

2010 U.S. Women's Chess Championship - Round 7

Hola darlings!

Huffing and puffing, I got the front lawn cut last night.  It was hot, but it was breezy too, and afterwards I was invited to join my neighbors to the north for a glass of wine out on the patio - they didn't care that I was all sweaty and funky, LOL!  They both work hard in their yard too, they know how it is.  It actually was quite lovely out last night while the breeze was still blowing, but once the sun sinks below the western horizon all goes still and I find I still need the central air conditioning on in order to get a good night's sleep.  While the air outside has been cooling off into the mid-60's at night, it does not manage to find it's way into open windows.

I was out by 8 a.m. this morning while it was still shady out front to get the trimming done.  It took about 30 minutes and I still managed to work up a bad sweat, whew!  In this weather one bathes a lot :)  The dew point is high today and will get even nastier tomorrow, but there still is a breeze so if one is just resting and not actually moving about, it is rather pleasant.  I plan on sitting out for a couple of hours in the shade after I finish this blog and catch up on a bit of reading.  I was chopping about out back earlier (removing various volunteer plants, trees, wild grape vines and thistles) while the sun was still out front; later it swings around to the south and drenches the yard in hot yellow beams except for half the deck, where I will be firmly ensconced underneath the umbrella. After about 2:30 p.m. the sun goes behind my nice tall Chinese Elms and the yard is shady and a good 10 to 15 degrees cooler than the ambient air temperature in the sun.  It stays that way all afternoon and most of the early evening.  I will cut the back grass later this evening if we don't get drenched first with one or more of the forecast thunderstorms.  I've got some cut piles of stuff to clean up.

But, you didn't tune in to read about my gardening exploits, you want to know what the heck is going on with the 2010 U.S. Women's Chess Championship, and I'm here to tell you! 

Who's playing who?

1 WFM Tatev Abrahamyan 5.0 2403 WGM Sabina Foisor 2.5 2356

2 IM Anna Zatonskih 5.5 2518 WIM Beatriz Marinello 1.5 2206
3 WGM Katerina Rohonyan 2.5 2322 WFM Abby Marshall 0.5 2211
4 WGM Camilla Baginskaite 2.0 2387 WIM Iryna Zenyuk 2.0 2286
5 IM Irina Krush 5.0 2521 WIM Alisa Melekhina 3.5 2323


I have my predictions up for R7 at Chess Femme News.  I also published the R6 games in PGN.  Click on the link at the bottom of the page for either Round 6 or Round 7 to get the updated stuff.  If you want to know my off the wall predictions, you must visit Chess Femme News today, I won't be publishing them here.  I will publish the results of my prognostications, whatever they may be, later on this evening at Chess Femme News.

I'll be watching the games beginning at 2:00 p.m. at uschesschamps live coverage and listening to the commentary by GM Ben Fengold and WGM Jen Shahade.  As this is a Saturday and therefore a mandatory nap day, I will probably zonk about somewhere around 2:00 p.m. until about 5:00 p.m. and wake up loaded with insect bites if I don't manage to make it to my recliner before ZZZZ land hits, and will probably have missed some herstorical chess games.  Sigh.  Such is my life.  Ah - time for a glass of wine and some lunch!

News Coverage on the 2010 U.S. Women's Chess Championship

We know that the USWCC and US Junior are being covered by many chess blogs and websites devoted exclusively to chess news.  However, there is usually not much coverage in the more "mainstream" media of chess events - not even national championships!  I'll leave it to others to debate why it is that in the United States, the most important chess events in the country don't merit much regular news coverage, either in special interest or under sports.  But - there has been some coverage:

KDLT TV coverage of WGM Camilla Baginskaite, who now resides in South Dakota:
Sioux Falls Woman Will Compete in Chess Tournament: The Morning Show

by Danielle Dupuy, Reporter
July 08, 2010

The St. Louis Globe-Democrat , an article by Gentry Trotter:
GLOBE TROTTER: Future kings and queens of chess
By Gentry Trotter
Thursday, July 15, 2010

Mr. Trotter seemed to be somewhat bedazzled by the beauty of some of the chess femmes:)  As well he should be!  I think all of the players in the 2010 U.S. Women's Chess Championship are lovely, each in their own way.  Some are downright gorgeous in the manner that turns men's heads.   This photo is from Mr. Trotter's article - Irina Krush is missing. 

From koamtv.com:
Chess tournaments to be held in St. Louis
Associated Press - July 8, 2010 4:54 PM ET

ST. LOUIS (AP) - More high-profile chess play is getting under way in St. Louis.

After recently hosting the U.S. Chess Championship, St. Louis will be the site of the U.S. Women's Championship and U.S. Junior Closed Championship, starting Friday with opening ceremonies. Play will start Saturday and continue through July 20, with more than $75,300 in prize money available.

From The Los Angeles Chronicle:
Stage set for epic showdown at U.S. Women's Championhsip

July 12, 2010
By Mike Wilmering and Katie Baldetti

Very happy to see that Dylan Loeb McClain has written nearly daily articles about the 2010 USWCC and the 2010 US Closed Junior's Championshp at the New York Times Chess Blog.  Here are the most current articles:
 
July 16, 2010, 12:38 am

Zatonskih Holds Lead for Women’s Title; Two Are Tied for Junior Crown

July 15, 2010, 12:05 am

Zhao and Zatonskih Lead Championships

July 14, 2010, 9:00 am

Another Busy Day at the U.S. Championships

July 12, 2010, 11:27 pm

Fast Pace Continues at Two U.S. Championships

The Fighting Chess Award at the 2010 U.S. Women's Chess Championship

If you read here or if you've been following the live commentary of the 2010 U.S. Women's Chess Championshp provided by GM Ben Finegold and two-time U.S. Women's Chess Champion (2002, 2004) Jen Shahade, you've seen and/or heard that for the 2010 USWCC Goddesschess teamed up with 9 Queens, an organization whose work we greatly admire, to sponsor a $1,000 Fighting Chess Award.  The tradition of the Fighting Chess Award continues.

The seeds of the Fighting Chess Award began in 2007, when Goddesschess sponsored a $300 Brilliancy Prize at the 2007 U.S. Women's Chess Championship.  That prize was won by Elizabeth Vicary for her game against Camilla Baginskaite.

In 2008 Goddesschess increased the amount of the prize and changed its focus from a brilliancy prize to the Fighting Chess Award, in honor of the fighting chess played by the Polgar sisters, iconic female chessplayers.  GM Susan Polgar graciously agreed to select the winner of the prize, which went to Tatev Abrahamyan for her score of 6 wins and 3 losses - no draws.

The winner of the 2009 Goddesschess Fighting Chess Award was again selected by GM Susan Polgar and was awarded to Anna Zatonskih, who not only won the Women's title, she did so in brilliant fashion, scoring an incredible 8.5/9.

Who will win the Fighting Chess Award in 2010? 

The women started off the 2010 championship they same way the concluded the 2009 event, with ALL DECISIVE games until Krush and Zatonskih, the two leaders in this year's championship, drew their game in Round 3. 

It seems the consensus among tghe players themselves that in order to win the title this year, 7.5/9 will be necessary.  Going into Round 7 tomorrow, three players are positioned to make a run: Anna Zatonskih, 5.5; Irina Krush, 5.0; and Tatev Abrahamyan, 5.0.  Barring a collapse, one or more of these players could reach 7.5/9, necessitating a play-off.  The next closest player in score, Alisa Melekhina, is at 3.5 and if she should win out, she would finish with an incredible score of 6.5/9, probably not enough to take the title.  Of course, anything can happen and sometimes does!

Please keep in mind that the winner of the title does not automatically win the Fighting Chess Award, the 2010 winner of which will be selected by currently reigning Women's World Chess Champion GM Alexandra Kosteniuk.  Fighting spirit must be evidenced by the winner throughout the championship; poise and grace under pressure are important; the overall quality of the games as well as the play under time pressure and the relative level of experience of the players - all thse things and more are examined and taken into account. 

This year, our Judge has heavy duty!  I have seen the overall level of play and intensity among the players increase in the USWCC every year since I've been regularly following them (2007), and this year tops last year, which hardly seems possible but I tell you, it's true. 

So, please tune into http://www.uschesschamps.com/ to follow the action this weekend. 

Now I have to get out there and cut the grass - its still 90 degrees F but the dew point is relatively low so I probably will not collapse from heat prostration, which may very well happen tomorrow when the dew point is scheduled to climb back into the tropical zone (70 and above).  Oy!

2010 U.S. Women's Chess Chamionship - R6

Wow - Abby Marshall and Anna Zatonskih are still battling.  It is Zatonskih's move, 62; she had about 1:20 on her clock; Marshall has 2:39.  I can't say who has an edge here.  I'm amazed at the number of pieces still on the board!

All of the other games were decisive:

Zenyuk - Rohonyan:  0 - 1
Foisor - Krush:  0 - 1
Marinello - Abrahamyan:  0 - 1
Melekhina - Baginskaite:  1 - 0

Tomorrow is a rest day, thank Goddess!  I sure need one, it's been exhausting watching this championship. What must it feel like actually playing in it? 

Just took another look - Abby resigned after move 68.  Here are the unofficial standings:

Zatonskih 5.5
Krush 5.0
Abrahamyan 5.0
Melekhina 3.5
Foisor 2.5
Rohanyan 2.5
Baginskaite 2.0
Zenyuk 2.0
Marinello 1.5
Marshall 0.5

How did I fare with my prognostications?  Here is what I said last night:

Foisor/Krush: 0 - 1. I'll take a POINT on that, thank you very much. A 35 move game.

Melekhina/Baginskaite: 1/2 - 1/2. Outside chance for Melekhina to score a full point, but she's tired and it's showing. If it gets down to a game past time control, I'm saying draw, as neither player is in the mood for a 60 to 80 move battle that may end in a draw anyway. Melekhina will come out with some long drawn-out variations to try and wear Baginskaite down and attempt to force her into a mistake through sheer exhaustion. Yeah - doesn't make much sense, does it? LOL! The game was 34 moves and Baginskaite resigned - they didn't reach time control. There was some sharp play on both sides. I thought draw but gave Melekhina an outside chance at the full point if the game was short. The game was short and Melekhina won it. I'll take the POINT.

Zenyuk/Rohonyan: 1/2 - 1/2. Seasoned warriors that they are, they may well reach a dead-drawn game early on. Dead wrong! The players made time control and the game ended on move 49. Knowing the previous problems she's had with time in this event, I figure Zenyuk must have run into time troubles again and made some inaccurate moves that Rohonyan was able to capitalize on. Zero points.

Marshall/Zatonskih: realistically, Zatonskih should take the full point; but for some reason that makes no sense my intuition is telling me that this could well end in a draw - and a short one at that. Zatonskih may want to start her day off early. Zatonskih has not lost a game this Championship; she can spare a draw as long as she scores 2.5 more points in her final 3 games... Dead wrong. Marshall was clearly gunning for a win from the start but once again Zatonskih's greater experience saved her. The game wasn't short either. Zero points.

Marinello/Abrahamyan: 0 -1. Tatev is in no mood to compromise with anyone, not even for an extra half-day off time. I don't expect a slow, grinding down game no matter what Marinello attempts. POINT to Jan. (Photo of Abrahamyan from R5, against Abby Marshall, from Chessbase report).

My score:  3.0/5.

I am very impressed with Abrahamyan's record of a win, a loss and then 4 straight wins!  Her play has been impressive to me too.  I am very impressed with Melekhina's and Marshall's ability to come back after devastating losses of some very close games.  Both chess femmes have maintained their fighting spirit.  Indeed, no one is coasting to the finish in this Championship.  I wish we could give Fighting Chess Awards to all of them!

Okay, time to wrap this up, it's been an hour at least I've been working on this - time to get a move on with other things!

Does Anna Zatonskih have more lives than a cat?

2010 U.S. Women's Chess Championship - Round 5

Whew!  When I left the office shortly after 5 p.m. none of the other games had been decided, but it looked as if some of them might be shortly so.  I've been busy with other things since I got home and now, this is the first peek I'm having at the results from Round 5 other than what I already knew happened - the 12 move draw by Baginskaite and Krush.  Ordinarily I would not applaud such an action, but as a protest against having to play six such intense games in a row WITHOUT A BREAK -- yes, they STILL have to play another game tomorrow before their off day -- I will state again is really ridiculous planning, these chess femmes are my heroines!  I hope they greatly enjoyed their afternoon and early evening off the clock!  It's about 8:45 p.m. local time.

ROUND 5 RESULTS:

Marinello - Foisor:  0 -1
Zatonskih - Zenyuk: 1 - 0 (Zenyuk made a blunder, or caved in to time trouble, or both; when I left the office, she had a better position overall than Zatonskih.  Zenyuk resigned on move 41, after making time control.)
Abrahamyan - Marshall: 1 - 0 (Marshall came out swinging and as far as I know, did not relent during the entire game.  A true example of fighting spirit.  If I have any energy left before it's bed time, I'll listen to the final commentaries on this game to see if I can glean what happened.  Marshall resigned on move 41, just after time control, so she may have made some inaccurate moves during a time scramble.)
Rohonyan - Melekhina: 1/2 - 1/2
Baginskaite - Krush: 1/2 - 1/2

ROUND 5 STANDINGS - rather interesting:

Rank Name Score M/F Rating TPR W-We 1 2 3 4 5

1 IM Anna Zatonskih 4.5 F 2518 2734 +1.03 1 1 ½ 1 1
2 IM Irina Krush 4.0 F 2521 2607 +0.54 1 1 ½ 1 ½
3 WFM Tatev Abrahamyan 4.0 F 2403 2586 +1.12 1 0 1 1 1
4 WGM Sabina Foisor 2.5 F 2356 2282 -0.50 0 0 1 ½ 1
5 WIM Alisa Melekhina 2.5 F 2323 2332 +0.05 1 1 0 0 ½
6 WGM Camilla Baginskaite 2.0 F 2387 2352 -0.25 0 0 1 ½ ½
7 WIM Iryna Zenyuk 2.0 F 2286 2267 -0.16 1 1 0 0 0
8 WGM Katerina Rohonyan 1.5 F 2322 2272 -0.35 0 1 0 0 ½
9 WIM Beatriz Marinello 1.5 F 2206 2190 -0.16 0 0 1 ½ 0
10 WFM Abby Marshall 0.5 F 2211 1949 -1.32 0 0 0 ½ 0

How'd I do predictions wise?  This is what I wrote at Chess Femme News last night:

Relatively speaking, I expect Abrahamyan to win against Marshall. She'll want to keep pace with the leaders, who will each be gunning for wins. Call me crazy, but I think Baginskaite will give Krush a hard time tomorrow - don't know about that one. Zatonskih should come out on top over Zenyuk - which means Krush will be pushing for a win to keep pace. If Krush draws, Zatonskih wins and Abrahamyan wins, suddenly Krush is in third pace. Hmmm....

Rohonyan and Melekhina - odds favor a draw but neither lady has been inclined toward drawish games! I can't say about Rohonyan but I'm fairly sure Melekhina does not want to settle for "middle of the pack" this Championship! Don't have a clue what may happen in that one. Marinello-Foisor, I think Foisor may pull out a win.

1.  Expect Abrahamyan to win against Marshall - POINT.
2.  Baginskaite will give Krush a hard time tomorrow - don't know about that one.  I'm awarding myself a full point, as the game ended in a draw after 12 moves, the position being dead even and likely to end in a draw (according to what I remember GM Finegold saying) even if it had been played out.
3.  Zatonskih should come out on top over Zenyuk - POINT.
4.  Rohonyan and Melekhina - odds favor a draw...don't have a clue what may happen in that one.  I'm awarding myself a full point on this one.
5.  Marinello-Foisor, I think Foisor may pull out a win.  POINT.

Hey, I'm getting pretty good at this prognostication stuff - five for five - LOL!  I was, however, wrong in predicting that Krush would end up in third place if she drew with Baginskaite and both Zatonskih and Abrahamyan won their games (which is actually what happened - wooo wooo!)  She is currently in second place, tied with Abrahamyan score-wise with 4.0/5.  Zatonskih leads with 4.5/5.

Foisor and Melekhina are even (at 50% - 2.5/5). 

If it is true that a clear winner will need 7.5/9 to take the title without an Armageddon play-off (I sure as hell hope that doesn't happen - what an awful way to decide a title), the top three women have their work cut out for them, that's for sure!  Zatonskih would need to score three more points in four games -- she could do it with two wins and two draws, or three wins and a loss; Krush would need to score three and a half points in four games - wow; so would Abrahamyan.  Not a smidgeon's worth of room for error for either the second or third place chess femme at this point, not unless Zatonskih falters.

Which at this point, realistically leaves Foisor, Melekhina, Baginskaite and Zenyuk battling it out for 4th place.  But hey, anything can - and seems to happen - in this Championship!

Exhaustion is taking it's toll.  None of the chess femmes had a very long game today - Marinello/Foisor was the longest at 48 moves each.  Two games didn't reach time control!  The other two finished on move 41, just after time control.  How about this for a plan - next year, schedule two off days, one after R3 and one after R6.  Or, if you really only want to schedule only one off day, do it after R5, NOT after R6.  I don't give an ultimate poop about watching chess over the weekend if the players are half-dead while they're doing it!Anyway, I work on Friday so if the ladies play on Friday I can't watch anyway! 

So, what's up for R6 tomorrow?  Here are the pairings:

1 WGM Sabina Foisor 2.5 2356 IM Irina Krush 4.0 2521
2 WIM Alisa Melekhina 2.5 2323 WGM Camilla Baginskaite 2.0 2387
3 WIM Iryna Zenyuk 2.0 2286 WGM Katerina Rohonyan 1.5 2322
4 WFM Abby Marshall 0.5 2211 IM Anna Zatonskih 4.5 2518
5 WIM Beatriz Marinello 1.5 2206 WFM Tatev Abrahamyan 4.0 2403

My predictions:
Foisor/Krush: 0 - 1

Melekhina/Baginskaite: 1/2 - 1/2.  Outside chance for Melekhina to score a full point, but she's tired and it's showing.  If it gets down to a game past time control, I'm saying draw, as neither player is in the mood for a 60 to 80 move battle that may end in a draw anyway.  Melekhina will come out with some long drawn-out variations to try and wear Baginskaite down and attempt to force her into a mistake through sheer exhaustion.

Zenyuk/Rohonyan:  1/2 - 1/2.  Seasoned warriors that they are, they may well reach a dead-drawn game early on.

Marshall/Zatonskih: realistically, Zatonskih should take the full point; but for some reason that makes no sense my intuition is telling me that this could well end in a draw - and a short one at that.  Zatonskih may want to start her day off early.  Zatonskih has not lost a game this Championship; she can spare a draw as long as she scores 2.5 more points in her final 3 games...

Marinello/Abrahamyan: 0 -1.  Tatev is in no mood to compromise with anyone, not even for an extra half-day off time.  I don't expect a slow, grinding down game no matter what Marinello attempts.

So - we'll see whether should I contemplate relocating to Vegas and changing my profession to booky...  Yeah. right.

2010 U.S. Women's Chess Championship - R5 Action

Surprise!  Baginskaite and Krush agreed to a draw evidently by three-peat repetition and she and Krush are finished with their game after move 12.  Krush is analyzing right now.  She said she's tired after having had tough games 2 through 4, and is glad to have a day off, and will probably go to the pool.  Good for her!

2010 U.S. Women's Chess Championship - R4 Games

[Event "2010 U.S. Women's and Junior Closed Championships"]
[Site "St. Louis"]
[Date ""]
[Round "round 4"]
[White "IM Irina Krush"]
[Black "WGM Katerina Rohonyan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Board "1"]
[Input "DGT6645"]
[Owner "St. Louis Chess Club"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. c5 Nbd7 6. Bf4 Nh5 7. Bd2 Nhf6 8. Qc2 g6 9. h3 Qc7 10. e4 Nxe4 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. Ng5 h6 13. Nxe4 Bg7 14. Bc4 Nf6 15. Nxf6+ Bxf6 16. Qb3 e6 17. Be3 Bd7 18. Qc2 Bg7 19. O-O O-O 20. Qd2 Kh7 21. Bf4 Qd8 22. Bd6 Re8 23. Rfe1 a5 24. Re3 b6 25. Rae1 bxc5 26. dxc5 Bc8 27. Qe2 a4 28. Qf3 Qd7 29. b4 axb3 30. Bxb3 Ba6 31. h4 h5 32. g4 Bh6 33. gxh5 Bxe3 34. hxg6+ fxg6 35. Rxe3 e5 36. Bc2 Re6 37. h5 Rxd6 38. cxd6 Kg7 39. Rxe5 Qxd6 40.
Rg5 Rf8 41. Qc3+ Rf6 42. Rxg6+ Kf7 43. Qxf6+ Qxf6 44. Rxf6+ Kxf6 45. h6 c5 46. Kg2 Bc4 47. a4 Ba2 48. Kf3 c4 49. Ke3 1-0

[Event "2010 U.S. Women's and Junior Closed Championships"]
[Site "St. Louis"]
[Date ""]
[Round "round 4"]
[White "WGM Sabina Foisor"]
[Black "WGM Camilla Baginskaite"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Board "2"]
[Input "DGT4964"]
[Owner "St. Louis Chess Club"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 g5 8. Bg3 Ne4 9. Nd2 Nxg3 10. hxg3 c5 11. a3 cxd4 12. axb4 dxc3 13. bxc3 Be6 14. e3 Nd7 15. Bb5 Qf6 16. Ra3 O-O 17. Bxd7 Bxd7 18. Nf3 Rfc8 19. Qd4 Qxd4 20. Nxd4 Kg7 21. Kd2 a6 22. Ra5 Be6 23. Rha1 Rab8 24. f4 Rd8 25. f5 Bc8 26. Rc5 Rd6 27. g4 Kf6 28. Raa5 b5 29. Rc7 h5 30. Ra1 hxg4 31. Rh1 Bd7 32. Rh6+ Ke5 33. Rxd6 Kxd6 34. Ra7 Rb6 35. Ke2 f6 36. Kf2 Bc8 37. Rf7 Ke5 38. Re7+ Kd6 39. Re8 Bd7 40. Rd8 Rb7 41. Ra8 Rc7 42. Rxa6+ Ke5 43. Ra3 Bxf5 44. Nxb5 Rb7 45. Nd4 Bd7 46. Ke2 Rc7 47. Kd2 f5 48. Ra1 f4 49. Re1 Kf6 50. Rf1 Ke5 51. Re1 Kf6 52. Rf1 Ke5 53. Re1 1/2-1/2

[Event "2010 U.S. Women's and Junior Closed Championships"]
[Site "St. Louis"]
[Date ""]
[Round "round 4"]
[White "WIM Alisa Melekhina"]
[Black "IM Anna Zatonskih"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Board "3"]
[Input "DGT4948"]
[Owner "St. Louis Chess Club"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 dxe5 5. Nxe5 c6 6. Bc4 g6 7. Nc3 Bg7 8. O-O O-O 9. Ne4 Nd7 10. f4 N7f6 11. Ng5 e6 12. c3 Qc7 13. Qe1 c5 14. b3 h6 15. Ngf3 cxd4 16. cxd4 Re8 17. Bd2 Bd7 18. Rc1 Qd6 19. Bd3 Rec8 20. Bc4 b5 21. Bd3 Rxc1 22. Bxc1 Be8 23. g4 Ne7 24. Qa5 Nc6 25. Qa6 Rb8 26. g5 Rb6 27. Qa3 Qxa3 28. Bxa3 Nd5 29. Bc5 Rb7 30. Be4 Rb8 31. Bxd5 exd5 32. h4 Nd8 33. b4 Rb7 34. Nh2 Bd7 35. Nxd7 Rxd7 36. Ng4 hxg5 37. fxg5 Ne6 38. Nf6+ Bxf6 39. gxf6 Rc7 40. Re1
Rc6 41. Re5 Nf4 42. Re8+ Kh7 43. Re7 Rxf6 44. Bxa7 Kh6 45. Kh2 Ra6 46. Rxf7 g5 47. hxg5+ Kxg5 48. Bc5 Kg4 49. a3 Rxa3 50. Rg7+ Kf5 51. Re7 Rd3 52. Re1 Kg4 53. Rg1+ Kf3 54. Rf1+ Ke4 55. Rf2 Re3 56. Rf1 Rh3+ 57. Kg1 Rg3+ 58. Kh2 Rh3+ 59. Kg1 Rf3 60. Re1+ Re3 61. Rd1 Nd3 62. Rb1 Re1+ 63. Rxe1+ Nxe1 64. Kf2 Nc2 65. Ke2 Nxd4+ 66. Kd2 Ne6 67. Ke2 d4 68. Be7 Kd5 69. Kd3 Nf4+ 70. Kd2 Kc4 71. Bd6 Nd5 72. Bf8 Nxb4 73. Bd6 Nd5 74. Bf8 Nc3 75. Bg7 b4 76. Kc2 Na4 77. Bf6 Nc5 78. Bg7 b3+ 79. Kd1 Kc3 80. Kc1 b2+ 81. Kb1 Nb3 82. Ka2 Kc2 0-1

Abrahamyan at her most efficient and deadliest.  She dispatched Zenyuk in 36 moves.
[Event "2010 U.S. Women's and Junior Closed Championships"]
[Site "St. Louis"]
[Date ""]
[Round "round 4"]
[White "WIM Iryna Zenyuk"]
[Black "WFM Tatev Abrahamyan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Board "4"]
[Input "DGT4950"]
[Owner "St. Louis Chess Club"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 g6 6. Nc3 Bxa6 7. g3 Bg7 8. Bg2 d6 9. Nf3 Nbd7 10. Rb1 Qa5 11. O-O Nb6 12. a3 Bb7 13. b4 cxb4 14. axb4 Qa6 15. e4 O-O 16. Nd4 Qc4 17. Bb2 Nfd7 18. Nce2 Ra2 19. Qd2 Ne5 20. Rfc1 Qd3 21. Qxd3 Nxd3 22. Rc7 Nxb2 23. Rxb7 N2c4 24. Bf1 Rfa8 25. Nb3 e6 26. dxe6 fxe6 27. Ned4 Nd2 28. Nxd2 Bxd4 29. Rd1 Rf8 30. Nb3 Bxf2+ 31. Kh1 Be3 32. Nc1 Ra1 33. Bh3 Re8 34. Re1 Nc4 35. Nd3 Ra3 36. Nb2 Nxb2 0-1

[Event "2010 U.S. Women's and Junior Closed Championships"]
[Site "St. Louis"]
[Date ""]
[Round "round 4"]
[White "WFM Abby Marshall"]
[Black "WIM Beatriz Marinello"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Board "5"]
[Input "DGT4947"]
[Owner "St. Louis Chess Club"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Qb3 Bxf3 9. gxf3 e6 10. Qxb7 Nxd4 11. Bb5+ Nxb5 12. Qc6+ Ke7 13. Qxb5 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Qd5 15. Qe2 Rd8 16. O-O Qd3 17. Qe5 Rd5 18. Qc7+ Kf6 19. Qf4+ Qf5 20. Qxf5+ Kxf5 21. Be3 Ba3 22. Rab1 Rc8 23. Rb7 Kf6 24. Rxa7 Rxc3 25. Rb1 Kg6 26. Ra4 Bc5 27. Bxc5 Rdxc5 28. Kg2 Rg5+ 29. Rg4 Ra3 30. Rb2 h5 31. Rg3 Kf6 32. f4 Rga5 33. Rxa3 Rxa3 34. h4 g6 35. f3 Kf5 36. Kg3 Ra5 37. Rc2 f6 38. Rb2 e5 39.
fxe5 fxe5 40. Rc2 Ra3 41. Re2 Ra4 42. Rb2 g5 43. hxg5 h4+ 44. Kh3 Kxg5 45. Rg2+ Kf5 46. Rg8 Rxa2 47. Kxh4 Kf4 48. Rf8+ Ke3 49. Re8 Kd4 50. Rd8+ 1/2-1/2

2010 U.S. Women's Chess Championship - R4

Ach - it was over when Melekhina lost her only pawn.  She resigned on move 82.

Unofficial standings:
Krush 3.5
Zatonskih 3.5
Abrahamyan 3.0
Melekhina 2.0
Zenyuk 2.0
Baginskaite 1.5
Foisor 1.5
Marinello 1.5
Rohanyan 1.0
Marshall 0.5

Pairings for R5:

1 WIM Beatriz Marinello  2206 - WGM Sabina Foisor  2356
2 WFM Tatev Abrahamyan  2403 - WFM Abby Marshall  2211
3 IM Anna Zatonskih  2518 - WIM Iryna Zenyuk  2286
4 WGM Katerina Rohonyan  2322 - WIM Alisa Melekhina  2323
5 WGM Camilla Baginskaite  2387 - IM Irina Krush  2521

Relatively speaking, I expect Abrahamyan to win against Marshall.  She'll want to keep pace with the leaders, who will each be gunning for wins.  Call me crazy, but I think Baginskaite will give Krush a hard time tomorrow - don't know about that one.  Zatonskih should come out on top over Zenyuk - which means Krush will be pushing for a win to keep pace.  If Krush draws, Zatonskih wins and Abrahamyan wins, suddenly Krush is in third pace.  Hmmm....

Rohonyan and Melekhina - odds favor a draw but neither lady has been inclined toward drawish games!  I can't say about Rohonyan but I'm fairly sure Melekhina does not want to settle for "middle of the pack" this Championship!  Don't have a clue what may happen in that one.  Marinello-Foisor, I think Foisor may pull out a win.

We'll see.  Perhaps I should try divination by writing the players' names around the rim of a bowl, floating a toothpick on water and see where it points when I ask specific questions...  Probably the toothpick would not deign to move.

Exhausting R5 tomorrow, and STILL one more round after that before a day off for the players. Oh I know, I know, I'm SOOOOO picky. 

Coverage the rest of the week will be sketchy until Saturday - I just can't watch enough of the games and listen to the commentary during the work week while they're actually being played, and I don't have the energy or the hours to do that after I get home from a hard day at the office.  Wish I had some staff to do tht for me but - alas --

2010 U.S. Women's Chess Championship - R4

Melekhina-Zatonskih is on move 56 and still going as of a few second ago.  Melekhina has about 4 minutes left plus the increment, Zatonskih had a little over 2 minutes plus increment.

Krush-Rohanyan 1-0
Foisor-Baginskaite 1/2 - 1/2
Zenyuk-Abrahamyan 0-1
Marshall-Marinello 1/2 - 1/2

As expected, Krush defeated Rohanyan, but it looks like she had her hands full to do it!  Abby Marshall gets on the score board with a draw.  Abrahamyan is continuing her winning ways and she's going to be right there at the end -- she's only 1/2 point behind current leader Krush.  Zatonskih must win this game to keep pace with Krush - at least as of the end of R4.

Sure is shaping up to an interesting championship.  I just took a look at Melekhina-Zatonskih - they are moving very quickly now.  Melekhina has 3:26, Zatonskih 3:10.  Rooks were traded and are off the board.  Zatonskih has 2 pawns to Melekhina's 1, Melekhina has a black squares bishop, Zatonskih has a knight.  It's pretty obvious Zatonskih is trying desperately for a win, but short of Melekhina making a blunder, it looks like a draw to me.

2010 U.S. Women's Chess Championship - R3

Okay, while I was taking the bus home Krush somehow managed to lose good winning chances by really putting the screws to Zatonskih and they ended up drawing the game!  Ohmygoddess!  I missed the commentary too, drat!  If I have time later I'll see if the video is up and take a look.  Me trying to work my way through these games is about useless, LOL, but listening to the commentary is usually enlightening if I can follow the way those pieces zip around during the analysis!  So, the decisive games streak in the U.S. Women's Chess Championship is over, and begins anew.  Is Krush kicking herself around the block right now? 

In the meantime, Marinello scored a victory with the white pieces against Iryna Zenyuk who was in horrible time trouble; I don't recall exactly because I was rushing peeks at the office but I believe the last time I looked at their game she was down to like 2 minutes on her clock and she had at least 13 moves to go to make time control.  Thus, Marinello scores her first victory.

Abby Marshall lost her game to Sabina Foisor, who wins her first, behind the black pieces.

I can't figure this one at all (without having looked further at the game) - Rohonyon lost to Baginskaite who, when I had last glanced at the game at the office, also seemed to be in some time trouble.  Thus, Baginskaite also scores her full point, behind the black pieces.

And I see the score just went up - Abrahamyan defeated Melekhina.

Zatonskih 2.5/3
Krush 2.5/3
Zenyuk 2.0/3
Melekhina 2.0/3
Abrahamyan 2.0/3
Rohonyan 2.0/3
Baginskaite 1.0/3
Marinello 1.0/3
Foisor 1.0/3
Marshall 0.0

Pairings for R4:

1 WGM Sabina Foisor 2356 WGM Camilla Baginskaite 2387
2 IM Irina Krush  2521 WGM Katerina Rohonyan  2322
3 WIM Alisa Melekhina  2323 IM Anna Zatonskih  2518
4 WIM Iryna Zenyuk  2286 WFM Tatev Abrahamyan  2403
5 WFM Abby Marshall  2211 WIM Beatriz Marinello  2206

My predictions - for what they're worth (probably not even 2 cents):

Now that Foisor and Baginskaite have each seemed to get their legs underneath them, it may be a horse apiece despite their best efforts to pull off a win.

Krush should handle Rohonyan and score the point.

Melekhina was defeated in their 2009 game and she's going to have her hands full, as Zatonskih will be pressing for the full point to maintain pace with Krush (figuring that Krush will win her game against Rohonyan).

Zenyuk will experience a case of the yips and once again fall into serious time trouble early on; I expect this to be one of the first games decided, in Abrahamyan's favor.

Going out on a bit of a limb, but I think despite her 3 losses Marshall is a better player than Marinello;  Marinello is shaking off the rust, but I see a win for Abby.  It won't be easy, though.

2010 U.S. Women's Chess Championship - R3 Action!

Wow!  Zatonskih/Krush is a barnburner.  Krush made some moves that I actually understood and approved of - wow, guess that identifies me as a super-aggressive non-positional player who goes for sharp positions -- LOL!  Yeah, as if I know what I"m talking about!

Seriously, it's SOME game and I'm going nuts here with my headphones on trying to work and sneak peeks at the board and listen to the live commentary all at the same time.  Gotta go - commentary is coming back on after a short break.  Don't know how much longer I can get away with having my door shut (which around here means absolutely do not disturb - they may thing I died or something).

2010 U.S. Women's Chess Championship - R2 Games in PGN

[Event "2010 U.S. Women's and Junior Closed Championships"]
[Site "St. Louis"]
[Date ""]
[Round "round 2"]
[White "WGM Sabina Foisor"]
[Black "WGM Katerina Rohonyan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Board "1"]
[Input "DGT6645"]
[Owner "St. Louis Chess Club"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bxc4 e6 5. Nf3 c5 6. O-O a6 7. Qe2 Qc7 8. Rd1
Nc6 9. Nbd2 Bd6 10. Nf1 O-O 11. Bd2 b5 12. Bb3 Bb7 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. Rac1 Qe7
15. Ng3 Rfd8 16. Bc3 Bb6 17. a3 h6 18. h3 Rac8 19. e4 Na5 20. Bc2 Nc4 21. Bb1
Nd7 22. Nh5 e5 23. Nh2 Nc5 24. Ng3 Nb3 25. Rxd8+ Rxd8 26. Nf5 Qf8 27. Re1 g6
28. Ng3 h5 29. Nf3 Qc5 30. Ba2 Nd4 31. Qf1 Nxf3+ 32. gxf3 h4 33. Ne2 Bc8 34.
Bb4 Qc7 35. Qg2 Kg7 36. Bc3 f6 37. Kh2 Qc5 38. Bxc4 bxc4 39. Rf1 Rh8 40. Bb4
Qc6 41. Rg1 Qe8 42. Bc3 Rh5 43. Bd2 Bd4 44. Bc1 Bc5 45. f4 exf4 46. Bxf4 Bb7
47. Nc3 Bd4 48. Qf3 Rf5 49. Ne2 Bxe4 50. Qg4 Bxf2 51. Rf1 Ba7 52. Qxh4 g5 53.
Qg4 Bd3 54. Ng3 Rb5 55. Nh5+ Kh8 56. Nxf6 Rxb2+ 57. Kg3 gxf4+ 58. Kh4 Qf7 59.
Qxf4 Qg7 60. Qf3 Qh6+ 61. Nh5 Bxf1 62. Qc3+ Kh7 63. Qxb2 Bb6 64. Qe5 Bd8+ 65.
Kg4 Qg6+ 66. Kf4 Bxh3 0-1

[Event "2010 U.S. Women's and Junior Closed Championships"]
[Site "St. Louis"]
[Date ""]
[Round "round 2"]
[White "WGM Camilla Baginskaite"]
[Black "IM Anna Zatonskih"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Board "2"]
[Input "DGT4964"]
[Owner "St. Louis Chess Club"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Be2
Bb7 9. O-O Be7 10. e4 b4 11. e5 bxc3 12. exf6 Bxf6 13. bxc3 c5 14. dxc5 O-O 15.
Ba3 Be7 16. Rb1 Bd5 17. c4 Be4 18. Bd3 Bxd3 19. Qxd3 Nxc5 20. Qe3 Qc7 21. Rb5
Rac8 22. Rfb1 Rfd8 23. h3 a6 24. Rb6 Rd3 25. Qc1 Rcd8 26. Ne1 Rd1 27. Qe3 h6
28. R6b2 Bf6 29. Bxc5 Bxb2 30. Rxb2 R8d3 31. Qe2 Qxc5 32. Kh2 Rd8 33. Nf3 Qd6+ 34. g3 Qd3 35. Qxd3 R1xd3 36. Kg2 Rc3 37. Rb6 Ra3 38. c5 Rxa2 39. c6 Rc2 40. Rxa6 Rc8 41. Ne5 f6 42. Ng6 Kf7 0-1

[Event "2010 U.S. Women's and Junior Closed Championships"]
[Site "St. Louis"]
[Date ""]
[Round "round 2"]
[White "IM Irina Krush"]
[Black "WFM Tatev Abrahamyan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Board "3"]
[Input "DGT4948"]
[Owner "St. Louis Chess Club"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Be3
Ng4 9. Bg5 f6 10. Bc1 Kh8 11. h3 Nh6 12. a3 c6 13. dxe5 fxe5 14. Bg5 Qc7 15. b4
Nf7 16. Be3 Qe7 17. c5 Nc7 18. cxd6 Nxd6 19. Qd2 Ne6 20. Rfd1 Nf7 21. Na4 Rd8
22. Qc3 Re8 23. b5 Nf4 24. Bf1 Ng5 25. Nxg5 Qxg5 26. Kh2 cxb5 27. Nc5 Qh5 28.
Nd7 Ne2 29. Bxe2 Qxe2 30. Rd3 Qh5 31. Rad1 Qh4 32. f3 Qe7 33. Qb3 b6 34. Qxb5
Rd8 35. Nxb6 Rxd3 36. Nxc8 Rxc8 37. Rxd3 h5 38. Qa6 Qe8 39. Qxa7 Ra8 40. Qc7
Bf8 41. Bg5 1-0

[Event "2010 U.S. Women's and Junior Closed Championships"]
[Site "St. Louis"]
[Date ""]
[Round "round 2"]
[White "WIM Alisa Melekhina"]
[Black "WIM Beatriz Marinello"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Board "4"]
[Input "DGT4950"]
[Owner "St. Louis Chess Club"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bd3 Nbd7 5. O-O Be7 6. Nbd2 O-O 7. b3 b6 8. c4
Bb7 9. Qc2 c5 10. Bb2 Rc8 11. e4 dxc4 12. bxc4 cxd4 13. e5 Ng4 14. Bxh7+ Kh8
15. Be4 Qc7 16. Bxd4 Nc5 17. Bxb7 Qxb7 18. Rfe1 g6 19. Nb3 Kg7 20. Qd2 Nh6 21.
Nxc5 Bxc5 22. Bxc5 Rxc5 23. Qf4 Rfc8 24. Rac1 Qe7 25. Nd2 b5 26. Rc3 Nf5 27.
Rh3 bxc4 28. Ne4 Rd5 29. g4 Qb4 30. Rf1 Rd3 31. Ng3 Qd2 32. Qxd2 Rxd2 33. Ne4
Re2 34. Nc3 Nd4 35. Rd1 Rd8 36. f4 Rc2 37. Kf1 Rh8 38. Rxh8 Kxh8 39. Ne4 Nf3
40. Rd8+ Kg7 41. Nf6 Nxh2+ 42. Ke1 Nxg4 43. Rg8+ Kh6 44. Nxg4+ Kh5 45. Ne3 Kh4  1-0

[Event "2010 U.S. Women's and Junior Closed Championships"]
[Site "St. Louis"]
[Date ""]
[Round "round 2"]
[White "WIM Iryna Zenyuk"]
[Black "WFM Abby Marshall"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Board "5"]
[Input "DGT4947"]
[Owner "St. Louis Chess Club"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bf4 Bg4 4. e3 e6 5. Be2 Nf6 6. O-O Bd6 7. Ne5 Bxe2 8.
Qxe2 Bxe5 9. dxe5 Nd7 10. e4 O-O 11. exd5 exd5 12. Nd2 Re8 13. Nf3 f6 14. Rad1
Ndxe5 15. Bxe5 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Rxe5 17. Qb5 Rb8 18. f4 c6 19. Qc5 Re2 20. Rfe1
Rxe1+ 21. Rxe1 Qb6 22. Qxb6 axb6 23. Re7 Kf8 24. Rc7 Re8 25. Rxb7 Re2 26. Rxb6
Rxc2 27. a4 d4 28. Kf1 Ke7 29. a5 Kd6 30. a6 Rc1+ 31. Ke2 Ra1 32. Kd3 Kc5 33.
Rb7 Rxa6 34. b4+ Kd5 35. Rd7+ Ke6 36. Rxg7 Rb6 37. Kc4 h5 38. Rg3 Ra6 39. Kxd4
Ra2 40. Rh3 Rxg2 41. Rxh5 Rg4 42. Ke4 Rg2 43. Rc5 Kd6 44. h4 Rb2 45. Rc4 Rh2
46. Kf5 Rxh4 47. Kxf6 Kd5 48. Rc5+ Kd6 49. Kg5 Rh1 50. Rc2 Kd5 51. Rc5+ Kd6 52. Ra5 Rb1 53. Ra4 Kd5 54. f5 Ke5 55. Ra5+ Ke4 56. f6 Rxb4 57. f7 Rb8 58. Rc5 Rf8 59. Kf6 Rc8 60. Re5+ 1-0