A Tale of Two Tournaments: New York Swisses

New York is one of the top chess states in the country.  However, central New York has not enjoyed the same level of success in terms of both players and tournaments .  From 1995 until last year, there were no two day or longer tournaments in the Syracuse area,  the largest city in Central New York.  Last year, New York State Chess Association and Continental Chess Association President Bill Goichberg sought to change that.  He created the inaugural Central New York Open at Syracuse University, but the event was a bit of a disappointment.  In spite of a $5000 guaranteed prize fund, the turnout was modest and entry fees did not even cover the prize fund.   Not to be deterred, Bill again organized the Second Central New York Open at Syracuse University on October 17-18 and the results were more promising.  The entry fees were reduced (with a reduction in prizes), and the attendance not only remained the same, but the tournament was a bit stronger at the top of the wallchart. This year the Open section was won by IM Colomban Vitoux and FM Dov Gorman.  They drew a hard fought game in round three Neither player achieved a meaningful advantage, but that did not stop them from playing for a win.

[pgn]
[Event "Central New York Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.10.18"]
[White "Vitoux, Colomban"]
[Black "Gorman, Dov"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C01"]
[WhiteElo "2520"]
[BlackElo "2410"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2015.10.18"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 Nc6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Be2 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8.
O-O Be7 9. d4 O-O 10. Nxd5 Qxd5 11. Be3 cxd4 12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. Qxd4 Qxd4 14.
Bxd4 Rd8 15. Rfd1 Be6 16. Bf3 Rd7 17. g3 h6 18. Be3 Rad8 19. Bxa7 Rxd1+ 20.
Rxd1 Rxd1+ 21. Bxd1 Bxa2 22. b3 Bb1 23. Bf3 Bf5 24. Bd5 Bb4 25. Kg2 Kf8 26. Kf3
Ke7 27. Bd4 f6 28. g4 Be6 29. Bxe6 Kxe6 30. Ke4 g6 31. Be3 Bd6 32. h3 h5 33. f3
Bc7 34. Bc5 Bg3 35. Bf8 hxg4 36. fxg4 f5+ 37. gxf5+ gxf5+ 38. Kf3 Be1 39. Bg7
Kf7 40. Bd4 Kg6 41. Kf4 Bd2+ 42. Be3 Bc3 43. Bf2 Kf6 44. Bh4+ Ke6 45. Bd8 Bd2+
46. Kf3 Kf7 47. Bb6 Kg6 48. Be3 Ba5 49. Bf4 Kh5 50. Bg3 Bd2 51. Bf2 Kg6 52. Be3
Ba5 53. Bd4 Bd2 54. Bb6 Bb4 55. Bd8 Bd6 56. Ke3 Kf7 57. Kd4 Ke6 58. Bg5 Bg3 59.
h4 Bf2+ 60. Kd3 Bg3 1/2-1/2 [/pgn]

In the class sections, the winners were both paired up every round! John Montfort finished with 4 ½ and picked up 178 rating points.  His only draw was to Michael Miller who tied for second place.  Miller also won all his other games, but he signed up for a half point bye in round 4.  In the Under 1500 section, the lowest rated player in the section won the tournament. Tyshaune Mack got the bye as the lowest rated in round 1 hen was paired up 4 times and finished with 4 ½ points, picking up 407 rating points in the process.  He tied for first with Larry Goodman. More coverage, selected games, and full results can be found at www.centralnewyorkopen.com. Last minute decisions and half point byes are keys to winning Eastern Chess Congress The Eastern Chess Congress was held at the Sheraton Hotel in Stamford, CT from November 6-8th.  This year 121 players participated which was slightly more than last year’s total.  The open section was not as strong at the very top (only 1 GM), but was very deep – 16 of the 20 players were masters including 1 GM, 2 IMs, and 3 FMs.  Every section had a clear first place winner! IM Jay Bonin was a last minute decision to play.  He started as the 4th seed, but started with a round one half point bye.  He won his games in rounds two through four and then played a quick draw which wound up being good enough for 4-1, clear first place and $1000.  

[pgn]
[Event "Eastern Chess Congress"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.11.08"]
[White "Bonin, Jay"]
[Black "Winer, Steven"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2437"]
[BlackElo "2443"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nbd2 Bf5 5. Qb3 Qb6 6. Nh4 Be6 7. e3 g6 8. Nhf3
Bg7 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Qa3 c5 12. b3 Ne4 13. cxd5 Bxd5 14. Nxe4 Bxe4
15. Bb2 cxd4 16. Qxe7 d3 17. Bxg7 dxe2 18. Rfe1 Rfe8 19. Qxd7 Bxf3 20. Bd4 Qc6
21. Qh3 Bd5 22. Rxe2 f6 23. f3 Bf7 24. Qh4 Re6 25. Qh6 Rd8 26. Rd2 Rc8 27. Rad1
a6 28. Kf2 Qe8 29. h4 Qf8 30. Qf4 Qd6 31. Qxd6 Rxd6 32. Bb2 Rxd2+ 33. Rxd2 f5
34. Kg3 Be6 35. Kf4 h6 36. Rd6 Kf7 37. Rb6 Rc7 38. Ke5 Rc5+ 39. Kd6 Rd5+ 40.
Kc7 Rd2 41. Bd4 Rxg2 42. Kd8 Rc2 43. Rxb7+ Kf8 44. Bg7+ Kg8 45. Bxh6 {White
won on move 71} 1-0 [/pgn]

In the Under 2100 section most of the leaders had opted for last round half point byes before the tournament started.  Omar Cunningham was 4-0 and his half point bye wound up being good for clear first and $800.   This was nice to see because in the Boardwalk Open the previous weekend, Cunningham was on board one the last round and lost and walked away empty handed.  Omar won his way into these tournaments by winning both a team and an individual prize at the Greater New York Scholastic Championships.  He certainly made the most of his free entry! The Under 1700 section had a clear winner. William Xia started 4-0 and was a half point ahead of the field going into the last round. He played a quick draw to assure at least part of first place.  Board two drew which gave Xia clear first and $700. In the Under 1300 section, Long Hua entered the last round leading the field by a point.  He drew quickly to take clear first and $500. For complete coverage, selected games, and full results see www.easternchesscongress.com Past CCA tournaments can also be found at www.chesstour.com/cross.html.