Friday, May 28, 2010

GATA KAMSKY - The 2010 US CHESS CHAMPION!

So the 2010 edition of the U.S. Chess Championship came down to the following tie break game! Kamsky had 25 minutes on his clock against Yuri Shulman who had 6o minutes - both with a five seconds delay. Talk about an exciting finish to this year's event!

Odd time control, eh? It certainly is - but this was a tie break game to determine who alone would claim the title of United States Chess Champion as both players were tied on 6.5 each. This format of tie break is known as an "Armegodden" game - where the player of the White pieces gets more time and MUST win the game to win the match while the player of the Black pieces will get the "draw odds" which is to say that if they should draw it is treated as a win.

This year both players had to place a secret bid - the amount of time that they would be willing to accept as black - in order to get the Black pieces. The draw odds is a significant advantage! So both players wanted the Black pieces for this game... but Kamsky's bid was far lower than Shulman's and so he won the Black pieces.

Please make note - this is not a "normal" tournament chess game but a tie break. Normal chess would never feature such rules and the only reason why anyone would use such a tie break format is to balance the need for the event to finish up in a timely manner while still allowing both players to battle it out for first - winning it upon their own merits.

Here now is this exciting game!



In the final position Gata Kamsky achieved a well known draw - that neither player felt the need to play out as it was too obvious for both of them. Gata managed to do this with only seconds remaining upon his chess clock! Next time - don't bid so low Gata!

This is the second time that Gata Kamsky has become US Champion - the last time was 19 years ago when he was still a teenager! Congratulations Gata Kamsky!

- Chess Coach Sean Tobin.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

COACH SEAN'S CHESS CAMPS!


COACH SEAN - A COACH WHO PLAYS!

I will be holding a five day chess camp from June 21st till June 25th at the Chess Emporium. While this camp is ongoing I will also be running a concurrent camp that will be merged into the five day schedule - a one day on the 21st and then a three day that runs from the 22nd until the 24th of June.

I will also be running a chess camp on tactics from the view point of a specific opening - a thematic chess camp on the Sicilian Defense. I will cover anti-Sicilians and the Dragon variation during this camp - the first of which will be held on June 26th - a Saturday. Tactical play will be our main emphasis during this camp. All camps will feature a Swiss with a trophy for first place.

I will update the listing of my chess camps in a future posting. No matter what you do or how your family spends it's family vacation this Summer make sure you bring a chess set along with you. Let us keep our players playing so they can have fun and make even more progress as players. Practice at home is extremely important.

- Your Cherokee Chargers Chess Coach
Chess Coach Sean Tobin.

SUMMER TOURNAMENTS TO CHARGE RIGHT INTO!


As taken from the Chess Emporium's website which you can directly access by visiting them at:

HERE!

You can access the schedule given up above by clicking on "School Team's Tourney" on the left hand side of the screen.

Have a great break this Summer
- See you all in the Fall!

Chess Coach Sean Tobin.

BENNETT KATZ - 2nd PLACE in K-5 U900 AT NATIONALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BENNETT KATZ - Our Cherokee Charger at the
2010 BERT LERNER NATIONALS!
Held at the Hyatt in downtown Atlanta Georgia, May 7th - 9th, 2010!


Bennett took 2nd place in the K-5 U900 section


OUT OF 371 PLAYERS!

& AHEAD OF THE ARIZONA STATE CHAMPION in K-3
his friend ALEX!


Most improved player in Arizona!
Bennett takes second place at Nationals!!!



GETTING READY FOR ONE OF THEIR GAMES!


Alex and Bennett - a winning team at Nationals!


BENNETT EVEN ALLOWED COACH SEAN TO HELP OUT TOO!

Bennett and I took first place in the "COACH & STUDENT" Category! Winning by a full point and a half ahead of other such chess stars as Sonny Kanberi!!

Bennett actually took three different trophies at the Nationals - one of which was from a Blitz tournament. Bennett took 3rd place in his rating category right behind his good friend Alex (Who took second place in that same category.) Bennett had quite the event!!!!!!!

Congratulations to Bennett Katz - for a totally stellar performance at the Nationals! Next time you see him feel free to congratulate him!!

- Chess Coach Sean Tobin.