Simpson, Michael Chen tie A-B-C Open!
Tournament Report by Roger Blaine
Tobias Simpson, Champaign, Ill., and Michael Chen, St. Joseph, Mich., tied for first in the 2nd annual A-B-C Open, Dec. 5-6, 2009, in South Bend, Indiana. The 9-year-old Chen defeated Simpson in Round 5 to even their scores at 4-1. Simpson had been the clear leader until then, while Chen had lost to eventual 3rd-place Kyle Miles, of Windsor, Ill. back in Round 1. Miles finished with 3.5, drawing with local favorite Greg Steele in the final game.
A total of $1,000 in prizes was awarded. Special thanks to Dan Bryant, whose generous donation made this tournament possible.
Standings in tie-break order:
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1. Tobias Simpson, Champaign IL |
4.0 |
-- tie 1st-2nd, $250 |
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2. Michael Chen, St. Joseph MI |
4.0 |
-- tie 1st-2nd, $250 |
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3. Kyle Miles, Windsor IL |
3.5 |
-- 1st Class B, $133.33 |
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4. Greg Steele, Elkhart |
3.0 |
-- tie 3rd $83.33 |
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5. Mat Leach, Mishawaka |
3.0 |
-- tie 3rd, 2nd B $83.33 |
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6. Bryan Kapke, Bremen |
2.5 |
-- 1st Class C, $133.33 |
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7. Carl Corvin, Carmel |
2.5 |
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8. Hans Herr, Crown Point |
2.5 |
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9. A.V. Fleming, Ft. Wayne |
2.5 |
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10. Bill Kuhn, Granger |
2.0 |
-- 2nd C, $66.67 |
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11. John Roush, Kokomo |
2.0 |
(played only 2 games) |
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12. Dan Bryant, Mishawaka |
1.5 |
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13. Mike Marek, Valparaiso |
1.5 |
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14. Peter Chen, St. Joseph MI |
1.5 |
(played only 3) |
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15. Jim Wood, Elkhart |
1.0 |
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16. Mike Vidulich, Granger |
0.5 |
(played only 3) |
Black to Play
Greg Steele – Mike Vidulic, A-B-C Open 2009
Position after 23 Rd1-b1
White to Play
Michael Chen – Mat Leach, A-B-C Open 2009
Position after 44...Ke6xe5
Solutions to both of the above puzzles as well as other games from the tournament can be found here:
http://www.westmichiganchess.com/Shared%20Documents/2009_2/200912abcopen.htm
Tournament Director Roger Blaine’s USCF Rating report can be found at
http://www.uschess.org/msa/XtblMain.php?200912068001-13405236