In the electrifying arena of USATE 2024, a myriad of teams converged to showcase their strategic prowess and passion for the game. Amidst the intensity of competition, each ICA team brought forth a unique blend of talent, camaraderie, and tactical acumen. Let's delve into the riveting encounters and notable performances that defined this thrilling event.
Our highest rated team, featuring GM Alexander Stripunsky, Robert, Spencer, and Jane, finished with 4.5 points - giving them 19th place in the final standings! The top three players of the team, GM Alex, Robert, and Spencer, all finished with 5 points: our joint second highest finishers!
This well balanced team, consisting of Gary Leschinsky, Igor, Roman, and Michael, finished with 4 points. Both Gary and Michael finished with 4.5 points: the highest tallies on the team.
New International Chess Evolution (NICE) is a hybrid between our International Chess Academy and GM Elshan Moradiabadi’s school, Chess Evolve. This team consists of GM Elshan and his student Hunter Hong, as well as former ICA students Max Schwartz and Alexander Wang, with Alan Salnikov filling in as a one match alternate.
This collaboration is the start of a new era, with GM Elshan set to teach remote master classes to ICA Students (expect an announcement this weekend)! In addition, GM Elshan and Alan are working on other collaborations, which will span tournaments, social media, and “The ICA Show”!
But back to the chessboard, where GM Elshan finished with 5.5 points, making him our overall best player! Max finished with 4.5 and Alex finished with 4 (out of 5). In addition, Alex’s final match was the last to finish in the entire tournament! With the other three matches from his team finished, the result of the round was entirely dependent on his game. And he pulled through, getting a draw to give the team a draw. As a result, the team as a whole finished with 4.5 points.
But it almost went wrong right away, as I (Alan) had to replace Alex for the first round. That meant a 1350 was playing in place of a 2150: a nightmare scenario, considering I was up against an “experienced” 1700.
Overall, both players played a solid match, trading into an endgame with 5 pawns and one knight each. Although the match was destined to end in a draw, lots of work had to be done to get to that result.
Right away, black got his king into a strong position while I (white) positioned my knight to eventually maneuver to a stronger square. On move 28, I was faced with a critical scenario: Ne3+, Ke3, g3, or h3. I immediately ruled out pushing a pawn, as I believed it would be too slow and would give black enough time to maneuver the knight considering how inactive my king is. Ke3 was also passive, but Ne3+ was really risky: I would give up my center pawn, a-pawn, and b-pawn for the g-pawn and h-pawn. The question was: would I promote first?
And so I went for Ne3+. The next few moves went exactly as I calculated. However, on move 32, I should have played Kxg3 instead of hxg3 to keep my pawn on the h-file. Still, I had to keep going. My opponent pushed his pawn to the second rank, meaning I had to exchange my knight for the pawn.
At that point, I began seeing double. My head was spinning, but, clearly, so was my opponent’s. Rather than taking care of my pawn, he charged his king towards my pawns. By the time he captured my a-pawn, my g-pawn was the 6th rank and ready to cause a nuisance. My king then joined in on the action, ensuring that the only logical conclusion to me being a knight and a pawn down was 3-fold repetition, and the draw which secured a draw for my team!
Here is the highlight match from GM Elshan, with analysis included:
Our next team is the most balanced, both in terms of age and in terms of rating. Eden and Aiden were the two best players of the team, finishing with 4 points as the team itself finished on 4 points as well!
We now move from a balanced team in Chessparados to a very unbalanced team, both in terms of age and rating! The highest rated players of the team, Oleg and Rouven, are both chess parents, while the lowest rated players, Yujeong and Albert, are a student and junior coach, respectively.
And it is Albert who we will start with, as he recovered from a horror tournament last year to finish this edition with 3.5 points: a positive record! But it is Rouven who had the best total, with 4 points, meaning the team as a whole finished with 3 points.
The four players on this team, Goktug, Ido, David, and Arnav, are all rivals at ICA: either taking classes or coaching together, but having to play tournament matches against each other on a weekly basis. This means that there will be obvious bragging rights for the player with the best finish.
However, every player had a very respectable tally: Goktug: 2.5; Ido: 3; David: 4.5; Arnav: 5. Considering the fact that Goktug had to play against a grandmaster, while Arnav’s matches were significantly easier, every player pulled their weight for a 3.5 point finish.
David in particular enjoyed the camaraderie displayed in the tournament. As he said afterwards, “I had a great time playing in the tournament games, but there was more to this tournament than that. I also enjoyed hanging out in the team room, playing blitz and making friends. Perhaps the highlight of the tournament was the final round where I beat a chess expert in a rated tournament game for the second time. I would like to express my appreciation to ICA for letting me play, to the tournament directors for making the tournament run smoothly and my teammates for being fun to hang out with between games.”
Here is David’s highlight game:
In this game, I encountered the Alekhine defense, an opening I hadn't prepared for extensively. Despite this, I opted to rely on principled chess and formulate my strategy on the fly. By Move 11, my opponent's move seemed dubious, granting me an advantageous position early on. As the game progressed to Move 14, I swiftly maneuvered my knight to d6, aiming to solidify my position. Move 17 saw me play Bd3, a move aimed at both piece development and preventing a potential sacrifice on g2. However, Move 19 revealed a missed opportunity, as I overlooked the possibility of Kh8. Nevertheless, by Move 21, I initiated an exchange sacrifice with the foresight of reclaiming material later. The ensuing moves involved creating threats while keeping the option to regain the exchange if needed. Despite a surprise move on Move 25, my position remained strong, though I missed a more decisive tactic. Move 32 signaled the transition into a decisively winning endgame. Finally, by Move 41, my transition into a king and pawn endgame secured victory, with the advancement of my pawn to a5 proving decisive as black couldn't capture on c4.
Every player on “Keep it in Check” is a current ICA student, either in the Future Master or Master Class. I know they, along with many other of our players, will be excited to participate in GM Elshan’s new class!
But back to the tournament, where, once again, every player pulled their weight: Mark: 3.5; Thomas: 4; Leon: 5; Jack: 3. With a 3.5 point finish, “Keep it in Check” finished as the undisputed TOP U1600 TEAM!
Team East was not just a competition, but a grand carnival of intellect, strategy, and camaraderie. It was a privilege to be in the company of amazing Grand Masters and International Masters, who were like the shining stars in the vast sky of chess. Their presence added an exciting dimension to the tournament, making it a learning fest as much as a contest.
Our team, led by Eugene Sokolovsky, was a group of passionate chess enthusiasts. Being a part of such an amazing team was an experience that I will cherish.
Eugene Sokolovsky, our team leader, is a seasoned chess player with a wealth of experience under his belt. His chess ability is truly astounding, with strategies that are as deep as the ocean and as intricate as a spider's web. He possesses a keen analytical mind that can unravel the most complex chess conundrums, making him a formidable player and an inspiring leader. I kept watching his games and marveled at his every move. His wisdom and guidance were our team's greatest assets during the tournament. Eugene's guidance was like a compass, directing us through the labyrinth of the tournament. His strategic insights and constant encouragement fueled our spirits and sharpened our skills.
Geoffrey Chen, another crucial member of our team, was a true warrior on the chessboard. He fought hard in every match, showing tenacity and grit. His victories brought valuable points for our team, contributing significantly to our overall performance. His spirit and determination were a testament to his passion for chess and his commitment to our team.
Guy Naveh, the third member of our team, was an embodiment of dedication and perseverance. He left everything on the board, giving his all in the pursuit of victory. His relentless effort was instrumental in our fights for winning points. His unwavering focus and determination made him an invaluable asset in our collective endeavor.
Lastly, Benjamin Nunez fought hard and strong. He challenged opponents to long, challenging duels, which would always be intense. His passion for the game made him a key player on our team.
The games were thrilling, each one a roller-coaster ride of anticipation, strategy, and surprise. Every move on the board was like a dialogue, a conversation between two minds. The sheer thrill of the game, the ticking clock, and the silent tension in the room made the tournament an unforgettable experience.
As many of you know, Bobby Fischer, the famous world champion, went missing at one point. There is even a movie called “Searching for Bobby Fischer.” But, did I just find him? One of the highlights of the tournament was my 3rd game, when I played against Robert Fischer, who currently has a rating of 2000. He’s back!
It was a thrilling encounter that lasted more than three hours. Playing against Mr. Fischer was like being in a thrilling chess movie. His moves were swift and precise, like a hawk swooping down on its prey. We started off with an interesting variation from the Slav defense. I was surprised at this variation, seeing that I could easily ruin my opponent's pawn structure. Little did I know that was a wrong plan.
He brutally suffocated my position, gaining space on every move. He managed to create a passed pawn on the d-file that was really dangerous. However, my pieces defended this pawn, and I had no other weakness. We both had time pressure, and we quickened the pace, trying to arrive at move 40. However, Mr. Fischer made one inaccuracy.
When he moved his bishop to d2 on move 35, I knew the d-pawn was weak. Therefore, using nifty tactics, I managed to win the pawn. From there, I felt like I was winning. I started trading my pieces, and pushing my pawns. Mr. Fischer however had a resourceful trick up his sleeve. He created counterplay, and used that to transpose into a position where a draw was inevitable.
The game was a dance of strategy, a test of patience and endurance. Even though it ended up in a draw, the experience was enriching and inspiring.
In conclusion, the chess tournament was a fantastic journey that offered me a glimpse into the world of Grand Masters and International Masters. It was a privilege to be a part of an amazing team and to play against seasoned players. The thrills, the learning, and the camaraderie made it an experience worth remembering. I am looking forward to participating in more such tournaments and continuing my journey in the wonderful world of chess.
This team, led by Anderson, finished with 2 points: a respectable finish for a U1200 team. Although Anderson was the captain, and had a respectable finish with 3 points, the best player was Elizabeth, who finished with 4 points!
As is implied in the team name, every player on this team is one for the future, considering their young ages. This is especially true as GM Alexander Stripunsky told his daughter Kate which opening to play each match. This tactic is designed to give Kate exposure to many openings to prepare her for the future.
Her present was not bad, however, as she finished with 2.5 points. Gillian was the best finisher, with 3 points, as the team as a whole finished with 2.
My daughter Cora and I were at USATE for the second time, and it's one of our favorite tournaments. There's camaraderie, surprising pairings, and a pleasantly warm swimming pool. Also the joy of coming up with a team name -- since Cora's a Beatles fan, we went with "Hey, You've Got to Hide Your King Away." Together with the wonderful Ahrin Vakharia, Eva Vinokur, and Gary Varjian, we finished with 2.5/6, which was good for a tie for second among U1300 teams. Most of us managed an upset or two along the way, especially Ahrin, who beat not one but two players who outrated him by six hundred points!
In Cora's round 5 game, she got to play an Evans Gambit, a favorite of hers, and obtained a lot of pressure for the small investment of a pawn. I really like how she worked to get all her pieces involved in the attack. The game ended with an elegant checkmate, in which all three of the pieces doing the work were simultaneously hanging.
My round 6 game, together with Eva's nice win on board 3, helped us close out the tournament with a satisfying draw against a team that outrated us by three hundred points. I had White in a "Berlin endgame," or queenless middlegame, really. On move 12, I made a bad positional error that led to the loss of a pawn. It was the classic way to go wrong: I spent a lot of time looking at several other possibilities and, unsatisfied with them, hurriedly played something else without adequately examining its consequences. Playing a strong opponent, I didn't expect many chances to recover, yet somehow, by move 17, I was starting to generate counterplay, and before long I had a nice initiative that seemed to offer at least enough compensation for the pawn. Then, on move 20, I got a little lucky. My opponent, who was relatively unpracticed in this line, tried to castle. That would have been a terrific move, except he had already moved his king as part of an early queen trade, and, in consequence, had to play a rather awkward king move. (He seemed awfully embarrassed and was very sporting about treating this as a touch-move matter, which I'd probably not have insisted on.) Then, a move later, under quite a bit of pressure and and still distraught about his goof, he erred with 21 ... Ne7, allowing me 22. exf7, with the dual threats of taking his twice-attacked knight on e7 and landing a knight on g6. Three moves later, and about to be up a piece for two pawns, I was the beneficiary of a perhaps slightly generous resignation.
We now move onto the notable non-ICA teams which contain ICA players. The first of the teams won the TOP U1700 PRIZE, as GM Alexander Stripunsky’s student from our GM Summer Camp Chloe and his student from our Master Classes Anna, with 5 points each, led the team to a 4 point finish!
Here is Anna’s highlight game:
And here is Chloe’s highlight game:
The only regret about this team is that it is not officially ICA-affiliated. However, it might as well be, with coaches Alan Stolyarov (3.5 points) and Maxim Farberov (5.5 points) leading the team to 5 points and a FOURTH PLACE FINISH!
And here is Max's highlight match:
Looking back from last year, it is clear how so many of our players improved. Many players, including Leon, Thomas, and Albert, greatly improved their points totals, which is a testament to the hard work they are showing either in their classes, or from self study whilst coaching.
With GM Elshan now part of our team, in addition to WGM Irina Levitina and GM Alexander Stripunsky, who must be credited for the development of our players, maybe one of our teams will finish with a perfect 6 next year? It isn’t impossible!
Headgehog Shadow
Give Piece a Chance
N.I.C.E
Chessparados
Tactical Titans
A Rookie’s Knightmare
Keep it in Check
Castle at your own Risk: written entirely by Brian Andrei
Rook & Morty
Future Queens
Hey, you’ve got to hide your King Away: written entirely by Thomas Lay
Chickmates
Blitzerland
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