2011 Michigan Correspondence Championship: Fisch clinches share of 1st!
Cross Table as of 1/13/2012. 16 games have finished. The time control is 10 moves in 50 days per player.
Click here to see the completed and ongoing games (with four move delay).
Player Updates:
James Sawaski has won the 2007 Electroni Knights Championship, a national title. Wow!
On 18-Sep-2011, James Sawaski made the finals for the 19th U.S. Correspondence Chess Championship. Wow! Details here:
http://www.iccf-webchess.com/EventCrossTable.aspx?id=22391
James Sawaski wrote on 25-Aug-2011:
This is what is going on in correspondence chess - Take Bobby Knight - phenomenal basketball coach. As a player, he's nothing. The older he gets, the worse he gets as a player. Yet - what does he KNOW about basketball? !!!! Yes - that's the difference. NONE of his players could really coach as well as he did. Yet, he couldn't play as well as any of his players. That's what is happening in correspondence. I'm sure of it. There is a component - or many components that you need talent for in OTB chess. You can work on some or all of these components, but if your brain is wired in such a way - it'll only get SO good. Maybe it's enough for 2200 - maybe it's not? Of course, like I say - I believe there are MANY components. DRIVE is one of them as well. Check out this interview with Alex Dunne - it's an excellent little interview:
http://www.chesscafe.com/video/video16.htm
Alex hits on that drive and I agree with him 100% on it. There is a talent component and a drive component. Talent you might be able to improve. Drive, I'm not sure. You might have to be born with it or some environmental factor must force you into caring possibly.
Eric Fischvogt wrote on 25-Jun-2011:
Here are my impressions of this year’s Michigan Correspondence Championship.
The players have for the most part displayed a strong desire to fight. I would say that Brad Rogers has played perhaps too aggressively at times. His OTB play has always been solid and sound, however this speaks to a wonderful element in correspondence chess. The chance to experiment with new lines and even different styles of play. This enables a player to develop a "universal" ability in many types of positions.
James Sawaski has stubbornly stuck to his "Troll" Defense (a common term to U.P.ers) with rather good positions if you ask me. I confess, my draw with James was a relief for me. I thought it to be the only game where I was clearly worse.
Stan Jarosz is in my opinion having a poor tournament. Going into the tournament I thought Stan would be my toughest opponent. He is very experienced in correspondence and the best prepared in the openings of any Michigan player. Stan has taken many "leaves" of play and has used the most time of any player, so I suspect Stan hasn't been able to focus on the tournament as he would like. [Stan has just completed an arduous masters degree in Information Technology—ed.]
Barry Endsley was a real mystery to me going into this tourney. I researched his games and got a feel for his style, I wasn't pleased. Barry has (like me) already had his heyday, (like me) is a Fischer era player, (like me) plays sharp lines like Sicilians, Grunfelds etc. Another commonality is that Barry and I have both once played Sonny Kamberi once. I won my game against Sonny, Barry did not, so I thought I would have an advantage (see how a correspondence player’s mind works!? I think Barry has had the best opening play of all the contestants. The English opening is a terrific choice as White for correspondence. It's solid, active and rewards the patient player. I thought Barry's decision of d3 in our game was very wise. There were other lines he could have played, but his choice took away any winning chances I could have conjured up. Well done!
As for my play to this point, I am pleased with my games against Brad, though really he just over pressed. Against Stan I've played my best, remember I was focused particularly on him. Both these games showcase the beauty of correspondence chess, with some nice moves played. You must understand that the likelihood of my playing these moves in OTB chess isn't very great. However, in the quiet of one’s own home or truck [Eric is a long-haul trucker-ed.], moving the pieces about, the composer creates the masterpiece. That's the ultimate attraction of correspondence chess, you can play the best chess you’re capable of.
Stan Jarosz wrote on 23-June-2011:
I am just getting into some interesting middle games. I listed the move progress and openings. Most of the games have reached some interesting positions.
Rogers – Jarosz is on the 26th move of a Nimzo-Indian. Jarosz – Rogers is on the 24 move of a French. Fischvogt – Jarosz is on the 23rd move of a c3 Sicilian. Jarosz – Fischvogt is on the 21st move of an English. Endsley – Jarosz is on the 21st move of a Queen Gambit Declined. Jarosz – Endsley is on the 20th move of a Queen Gambit Declined. Jarosz – Sawaski is on the 18th move of an Old Indian. Sawaski – Jarosz is on the 22nd move of a Queen Gambit Declined.
Barry Endsley wrote on 16-June-2011:
I'm optimistic overall about my chances, but some games are going well and some not so well.
James Sawaski wrote on 15-June-2011:
I am closing in on the first 30 moves or so in most of my games. As true to form - I picked bad openings and am now paying the price and I'm down a pawn vs. Fisch, Endsley and Rogers. However, it must be noted that Rogers is up a pawn with the Black pieces and did one impressive job punching through my English. He put me on the defensive right away and I'm hanging on for dear life. My other games with Black - I played 1. ... c6 and 2. ... Qc7 a cute little experiment at best, but it's probably going to cost me a chance at winning this tournament - my opponents were NOT fooled! The time control feels a little bit long. 10 moves in 30 days is more suffice and would have likely ended the tournament before the year is over. This tournament here will probably go into 2012. I'm having a lot of fun - my game load was packed in January and I'm able to concentrate a little better on these games at hand. At this point of the tournament - I'm predicting Fisch is gonna win. For myself - I'm hoping to come out around .500.
Brad Rogers wrote on 24-May-2011:
Since each game is in progress, and I am not very satisfied with some of them, I will say that every competitor is worthy and that all the games are hard fought--except mine against Eric, my apologies to him for not giving him better competition. We are moving along at moves 20-35 and I expect some results to be coming soon. I like the server-based option myself, only I miss the If moves and interesting postcards. I just have to adapt my play to a different kind of pace somewhat. My two best games are against Stan J. I would like to comment more after those conclude.
Sawaski's Post-A-Log
The 2011 Michigan Correspondence Championship is in progress. This Michigan Chess Association event features NM Eric Fischvogt, NM Barry Endsley, NM Brad Rogers, local hero Stan Jarosz, and James Sawaski facing off in a double round robin. FIDE Master Alex Dunne direct!
We'll provide play-by-play as the tournament action unfolds. For now, you can read James Sawaski's, Barry Endsley's, Stan Jarosz's, and Brad Rogers' pre-tournament interviews. And a set of top seed Eric Fischvogt's featured game tactics!