2011 Michigan Class - Homa on tiebreaks over Shetty
Round 5 Board 1. Grand Rapids Life Master Kevin Czuhai faces down FIDE Master Seth Homa's Sicilian. Seth annotates his win in our games file. On board 2, NM Atulya Shetty makes his move against NM Alisher Sanetullaev. Atulya also won for a shared first (4.0/5.0), but Seth took home the title and trophy on tiebreaks.
Photo Credit: Rose Homa
Here is Tournament Director "Ironman" Jeff Aldrich's report:
This was our 6th year at the Radisson in downtown Lansing. The final player count was 143. I believe that this is the third straight year that it snowed during registration. So, we were a little late most of day one. Only one player was able to achieve a perfect score (Adam Waller in the Novice section), so we had a very competitive event. Also, there were 3 sections that were won with a score of 4.0. I was also informed that one of our members that stayed at the hotel was chosen at random to receive a free night because we had 50 paid room nights on Saturday night - Good incentive to stay at the site.
Here's Jeff's list of 2011 Michigan Class Champions:
- Masters/Experts: Seth Homa
- A: Safal Bora
- B: Matthew Trujillo
- C: Andrew Hanna
- D: Bill Ignasiak
- E: Ron Larson
- Novice: Adam Waller
And here is Jeff's USCF Tournament Rating Report:
http://www.uschess.org/msa/XtblMain.php?201101164151.0
And his photos of the trophy winners can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffchess/
Round 5 Board 1 A group. Safal Bora draws Le Tigre. They share 1st in the 'A' group with 4 out of 5, but Safal takes the title on tiebreak. The back board features a hard fought draw between Bob Ciaffone and Alan Gregg.
Photo Credit: Rose Homa
Round 4 Board 1 B group. Matt Trujillo proves a formidable roadblock to Allen Wickering's B Title dreams in their Round 4 game. Matt won the 'B' title with an impressive 4.5/5.0! Allen's 4.0 was good for 2nd on tiebreak. Photo Credit: Jacob David Fortuna
Photo Credit: Rose Homa
Round 3 update:
Rd 3. FM Seth Homa beat returning Masters/Experts champion NM Alisher Sanetullaev. Now Seth and Atulya Shetty lead with 2.5. Right behind on 2.0 are Alisher and Czuhai (wins against Top Under 2100 winner Michael Chen and Alan Gregg). Michael Chen (1.5, with a win versus Morgan Everett and a draw with Bob Ciaffone) and others are equal fifth. Czuhai seems to be in his "dangerously strong" zone; even his round 2 loss to Alisher was well-fought.
Two to Watch. Edward Song (left) and Peter Chen debate an Exchange Ruy Lopez in their fourth round 'A' group game. Edward is the 11th ranked 11 year old nationally, and Peter is the 27th ranked 12 year old. [Source: USCF December 2010 lists] Photo Credit: Rose Homa
A section leaders are a rested-and-ready Greg Bailey, local hero Stan Jarosz, top seed Tony "Le Tigre" Nichols, Safal Bora--sporting some fancy new eyeware, and Grand Blanc chess community builder Don Vandivier (all on 2.5).
Stan Beckwith Photo Credit: Rose Homa
FM Seth Homa and NM Atulya Shetty.
Photo Credit: Rose Homa
Allen Wickering towers over the 'B' group, perfect on 3/3. Allen's weekly beatings at the hands of Czuhai, Ratko and Brumley at the Common Ground Chess Club seem to be paying off! Matt Trujillo is on Allen's heels with 2.5.
Bruce Roth Photo Credit: Jacob David Fortuna
Bill Ignasiak sits just off the lead in the D group with 2.5.
Don Vandivier faces Tony Nichols. On the far board, Port Huron's Alan Gregg plays against the number two seed, Ohio master Scott Ramer.
Photo Credit: Rose Homa
Report after Round 2:
Round 3 Board 1 featured returning champion NM Alisher Sanetullaev (2.0/2.0) playing White against Michigan's top player, FM Seth Homa (1.5/2.0). There are 12 players altogether in the top section, including National Masters Kevin Czuhai, Atulya Shetty, Alan Gregg, Bob Ciaffone, and Ariel Levy and experts Michael Chen, Morgan Everett, and David Hahn.
Alisher's Lansing teammate Tony "Le Tigre" Nichols shares the A group lead after two rounds, with wins against Apurva Virkud and Lon Rutkofske.
A great turnout for a snowy Lansing weekend--143 players in seven sections! The Radisson also hosted for a statewide youth hockey tournament. Like the sport of chess, hockey attracts players with a ferocious will to win.
More details as the tournament unfolds!
And the winner is... Seth Homa! Photo Credit: Jacob David Fortuna
Please share your games! We'll add new games as they come in here. You'll find a selection of games, with annotations by FM Seth Homa, NM Alisher Sanetullaev, and Expert Tony Nichols: