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R ank & File NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2009 VOLUME XXXIII, NO. 6 $3.00 GM Melikset Khachiyan Southern Cal Open Champion Century West Open January 8-10, 2010 $10,000 Prize Fund (based on 200 players, 50% of each prize guaranteed) at the Open LAX Hilton 5711 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90045 1st: $1500 Five Rounds — Swiss System 2nd-5th: $1000-$800-$400-$200 3-day schedule 40/2, SD/1; 2-day schedule rounds 1-2 G/60 U2400: $200 U2300: $200 Entry Fees: U2200: $750-$500-$300 Open, Premier: $83 if received by 1/8, $95 at door. U2100: $200 Amateur:$67 if received by 1/8, $80 at door. SCCF membership required of rated state residents ($18, jr. $10) U2000: $200 Registration: 5:30-6:30 p.m. Friday, 9-10 a.m. Saturday Rounds: 3-day 7 p.m., 11-5:30, 10-4:30; 2-day 10:30-1:30 Premier Saturday (G/60), then merges (Under 1900) Entries: SCCF, c/o John Hillery, 835 N. Wilton Place #1, Los $750-$500-$300-$100 Angeles, CA 90038 U1700: $500-$300-$200 HR: $99 single or double. (310) 410-4000. Use Group Code CWO. Parking $8/day Amateur On-line entry, advance entry lists: (Under 1500/unr) www.westernchess.com $400-$250-$100 U1300: $100-50 Also U1100: $100 January 10 Unrated: $100 CWO SCHOLASTICS. 5-SS, G/30. LAX Hilton, 5711 W Century Blvd, Los (Unrated may win Unrated prize only in this section) Angeles, CA 90045. Open to gr. 12-below. $25 Best Game prize, all sections eligible. January 10 CWO HEXES. 3-SS, G/90. LAX Hilton, 5711 W. Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045 . Six-player sections by rating. 2 RANK & FILE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2009 AroundAround thethe NationNation American Open the United States in the 2010 Pan This was a sore point not only with Southern California’s premier American Youth Championship in the Mexican players who at the end tournament, the American Open, Brazil in July. of the ceremony began to yell out, will be held for the 45th straight Emily Nguyen from Texas won “las medallas” “the medals”, but year, Thanksgiving weekend (No- the bronze medal for the United also for the Canadian and American vember 26-29 or 27-29; choice of States in the U-8 girls. WCM Clau- delegation. Raul Hernandez stated playing schedules) at the spacious dia Munoz came in 5th place in the that the Sinaloa State Sport’s Min- LAX Renaissance Montura Hotel. U-12 girls. Madhu Karamsetty also istry had made a financial cutback but that he would personally mail Full details are in this issue. proudly represented the red, white us the medals during the week. This year’s American Open will and blue! be in memory of Jerry Hanken, who Embarrassingly, the Mexican Instead of medals we received played all 44 years and was instru- Chess Federation (FENAMAC) did paper certificates with misspelled mental in saving the tournament not provide medals to the winners names as well as incorrect catego- after we lost our corporate spon- of the three competing countries. ries. sorship in 1990 (he served as chief organizer until 2003), and we hope it will be a fitting memorial. As al- ways, there will be special prizes, ONTENTS lectures (including GM Melikset CCONTENTSONTENTS Khachiyan and the ever-popular AROUND THE NATION . 3 IM Jeremy Silman), videos, and AROUNDAROUND THETHE NATIONNATION ........... .........................................................3 side events. Questions should be 21ST ANNUAL U.S. AMATEUR TEAM addressed to Randy Hough, (626) SSOUTHERNOUTHERN CCALIFORNIAALIFORNIA OOPENPEN ....................................5 282-7412 or randallhough@yahoo. WEST . 5 com. Don’t miss this classic! – Ran- LLOSOS AANGELESNGELES OOPENPEN ..........................................................................1010 WESTERN CLASS CHAMPIONSHIPS . 10 dy Hough PPROFILE:ROFILE: ARLARL ILNICKILNICK TACTICS C P BYBY JOHNOHN DONALONALDSONDSON ............. .....................................................................12 by Tim Hanks . 12 Six Medals for USA TTACTICSACTICS in Mexico HBYBYERE TIMIM &HANKSA NTKSHERE .................................. .....................................................................14 Six Americans won medals at HHERE E ClubRE & THERETnews,HERE local tournaments, the 2009 North American Youth scholasticClubClub news,news, localloca eventsl tournaments,tournam en. t. s., . 15 Championship in Mazatlan, Mexico. ............................................................................. The United States came in second sscholcShoTATElaasticstic eevents vCenHAMPIONSHIPts aandnd mmoreore QUALIFIERS . .1 197 place in the final team standings, ......................................................................................................... despite having only ten players out IINNG AMESPPASSINGASSI NFGROM RECENT EVENTS . .191 219 of 123. Four of our young talents SSTATETTAHETE L CHAMPIONSHIPCIGHTERHAMPI OSNIDESHI. .P . .Q . UUALIFIERS. .A . .L . .I . F. I. .E . .R . S. .................. 2241 won gold medals: Stuart Finney, Deepak Aaron, Kayden Troff) and UUPCOMINGUPPCOMINGCOMING EVENE EVVENTSENTTSS ............................................................................. 2262 Winston Zeng. Along with their gold medal, they earn the FIDE CCHESSCHHESSESS QQUIZ QUUIZIZ ............................................... ........................................................ 2244 title of Candidate Master. Finally, they have the honor of representing 3 RANKANK & FILEILE NOVEMBEROVEMBER-D-DECEMBERECEMBER 20092009 Beyond the issues mentioned, TEAM USA was extremely united Southern California Chess starting from the parents and ex- Federation tending to the children and youth.. President – Abed Munoz, USCF news release Elliot Landaw Vice President Ron Rezendes Secretary Chuck Ensey Winston Zeng in Treasurer John Hillery Executive Board World Youth Randy Hough We are pleased to report that Mike Nagaran Winston Zeng of Irvine, who won a Steve Morford gold medal for the U-8 section with Anna Zatonskih Jim Bullock Mick Bighamian 7-0 (the only perfect score in the Saint Louis agreed to host the US Jerry Yee tournament) at the recent North Women’s Championship in Saint Anthony Ong American Youth Championships in Louis in 2010. The news incited a Takashi Iwamoto Mexico will represent the United standing ovation. States at the World Youth Champi- Rank & File onships in Turkey next mouth. Best Anna, along with several of Editor John Hillery of luck to Winston! the other competitors got a large 835 N. Wilton Pl. # dose of glamour in on the free day Los Angeles CA 90038 when they were invited to pose for [email protected] Suzy Gorman, a Saint Louis fix- U.S. Women’s ture whose subjects have included Publisher David Argall Championship Bill Clinton and the rapper Nelly. Contributing Editors – USCF news release Jack Peters The U.S. Women’s Championship Tim Hanks (October 3-13, Saint Louis) closed Rusudan Goletiani (2391) – Anna Al Pena with Anna Zatonskih picking up Zatonskih (2462) Contributors a $15,000 check for her incredible U. S. Women’s Championship, St. Chuck Ensey Randy Hough 8½/9 score! Zatonskih also won the Louis 2009 Mick Bighamian Goddesschess fighting spirit award A09 BENONI DEFENSE Barbara McCaleb ($500) and the 9queens #1 best 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. g3 Nc6 4. Chris Roberts game prize ($300) for her win over Bg2 e5 5. d3 Nf6 6. 0–0 Nd7 7. e3 John Donaldson Melekhina. Be7 8. exd4 exd4 9. Re1 0–0 10. Na3 Another very happy player at Nc5 11. Ne5 Nxe5 12. Rxe5 c6 13. Subscriptions/Address Changes the closing ceremony was Camila Nc2 a5 14. b3 Bd6 15. Rh5 Ne6 16. Randy Hough, Membership Secretary Baginskaite, who took clear second Bb2 Be7 17. Re5 Bf6 18. Re1 Qb6 19. P.O. Box 205 for $12,000. She also picked up the Rb1 Bd7 20. h4 c5 21. Qh5 Bc6 22. Monterey Park CA 9754 2nd World Women’s Championship Bh3 g6 23. Qg4 Rfe8 24. f4 Ng7 25. (626) 282-742 [email protected] spot and an IM norm. Tied for 3rd- Qd1 Nh5 26. Kh2 Qc7 27. Bg4 4th were Alisa Melekhina and Irina Rank & File — ISSN 8750-964 USPS Krush, good for $7500 each. Tatev Continued on page 9 ... 738-230, published bimonthly by the Abrahamyan’s second half rally put Southern California Chess Federation, 300 her in clear fifth. Her prize was PHOTOS. Cover, pp. 6, 8: John Hillery. P. Ballista, La Puente CA 9744. Periodical $6000. 2: Suzy Gorman. P. 19: Chris Roberts. postage paid at Industry, CA. POST- Executive director Bill Hall an- P. 20: Sheri Reneau. MASTER: Send changes of address to nounced that the USCF and the SCCF, PO Box 205, Monterey Park CA Chess Club and Scholastic Center of 9754. Subscriptions: $8 adult, $0 junior. Copyright © SCCF 2009. One-time only publication rights have been obtained from Advertising Rates: Full page $80, half page $45, signed contributors. All other rights are 1/4 page $25, 1/8 page $15, back cover (3/4 page) SCCF Online hereby assigned to the authors. The opinions $80. (All rates are for camera-ready copy.) Flyer expressed are strictly those of the contribu- insert $50 (advertiser must supply flyers). 50% The SCCF Web discount for tournaments requiring SCCF mem- tors and do not necessarily reflect the views bership. Display ads should be sent to the Editor, page is located at: of the SCCF, its officers or members. flyers to the Publisher (addresses at right). Pay- ment should be sent with order to the Editor. SCCF www.scchess.com reserves the right to reject any advertising. 4 RANK & FILE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2009 31st Annual Southern California Open he 31st Annual Southern California Open, held at the Crowne 39. … Rxg1 40. Nxg1 Nh2 41. Qh3 Qxe4+ 42. Kd1 Qxa4+ 43. Kc1 TPlace Hotel in San Diego September 5-7, saw a slightly disap- Qa1+ 44. Kc2 Nf1 45. Rxe7 Ne3+ pointing turnout of 131, but the strength of the top section, with 46. Kb3 a4+ 47. Kb4 Nxd5+ 48. three GMs and three IMs, more than made up for it. Kc4 Ne3+ 49. Kb4 Qxb2+ 50. Kxa4 Qa2+ 51. Kb4 Nd5+ 52. Kb5 Qa6# Tying for first were GM Melisket GM Jesse Kraai (2584) – Evgeny 0–1 Khachiyan, GM Alejandro Ramirez, Shver (2233) and master Evgeny Shver, with Southern California Open, San GM Jesse Kraai was awarded Khachiyan taking the State Cham- Diego 2009 the 2nd Best Game Prize for his pionship title of tiebreak.