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2010 U.S. Women's and
Junior Closed Championships |
Two of the most prestigious tournaments in the country, the 2010 U.S. Women's
Championship and the 2010 U.S. Junior Closed Championship are taking place July
9-20 at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. IM Anna Zatonskih
is looking to defend her crown, which
she won for two years in succession. In the Junior section Ray Robson is
the top seed.
| Women round five – July 14, 2010 |
|
Zatonskih, Anna |
1-0 |
Zenyuk, Iryna |
Abrahamyan, Tatev |
1-0 |
Marshall, Abby |
Baginskaite, Camilla |
½-½ |
Krush, Irina |
Rohonyan, Katerina |
½-½ |
Melekhina, Alisa |
Marinello, Beatriz M |
0-1 |
Foisor, Sabina-Francesca |
Anna Zatonskih has proven she can play any opening in the book. She has utilized
a different opening for each round: the Queen’s Gambit, the Semi-Slav,
an off-beat line against the Benoni, the Alekhine, and the Trompowski for rounds
one through five, respectively. In round five she played the Trompowski with
White, she pulled off another win in a close game against Zenyuk.
The game between WGM Camilla Baginskaite and IM Irina Krush ended with a controversial
“forced” draw – a triple repetition after move twelve. The
U.S. Women’s Championship features a 30-move minimum before a draw can
be offered. “You cannot force a player to make a move they’re not
going to make,” said Assistant Arbiter Chris Bird. Tournament commentator
Ben Finegold said he was surprised that Krush decided to draw, which put her
in a tie for second with Tatev Abrahamyan. “I think this draw’s
gonna cost her,” he said.
For years WFM Tatev Abrahamyan (above) has demonstrated her fighting spirit
as she won the fighting prize at the 2008 U.S. Women’s Championship and
all nine of her games proved decisive at last year’s U.S. Women’s
Championship. “Last year I had 4/9; this year I have 4/5,” Abrahamyan
said. “I think that’s big progress.”
WGM Sabina Foisor (above right) pulled off a victory against WIM Beatriz Marinello
in round five to score her first victory at the tournament. Marinello advanced
her kingside pawns in front of her castled king in a dubious attack, and Foisor
was able to exploit Marinello’s weaknesses to pick up the full point.
Standings after five rounds
| Juniors round five – July 14, 2010 |
| Zhao, Parker |
1-0 |
Zierk, Steven C |
Harper, Warren |
0-1 |
Rosen, Eric S |
Shankland, Samuel L |
1-0 |
Hughes, Tyler B |
Bryant, John Daniel |
½-½ |
Yang, Darwin |
Holt, Conrad |
½-½ |
Robson, Ray |
Parker Zhao earned a full point yet again, pushing his score to 4.5/5 at the
2010 U.S. Junior Closed Championship. With White agaisnt FM Steven Zierk, he
used a kingside pawn majority to slowly overwhelm his opponent in a bishop ending.
“I’m feeling confident, more confident than at the beginning of
the tournament,” Zhao said.
Parker Zhao with tournament commentator Jennifer Shahade
A loss by FM Warren Harper and draws by FM Darwin Yang and GM Ray Robson have
allowed Zhao to further distance himself from the field, a full point ahead
of Yang and Robson who each have 3.5/5.
GM Ray Robson after his round five draw against...
... Conrad Holt, rated 160 points below the top seed
NM Eric Rosen (above) continues to make noise this year with his round-five
upset of Harper. The lowest-rated player, coming into the tourney, has proven
that he’s a tough opponent to beat.
Standings after five rounds
Links
The games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the
chess server Playchess.com.
If you are not a member you can download the free PGN reader ChessBase
Light, which gives you immediate access. You can also use the program
to read, replay and analyse PGN games. New and enhanced: CB Light 2009! |
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