Young Norm Winners Highlight 2016 Chicago Open

The recently concluded 25th Annual Chicago Open was headlined by a quartet of young norm-seekers who all achieved their goal. The youth movement featured four competitors all under age 20: IM Luke Harmon-Velotti earned a GM norm while Michael Brown, Matthew Larson, and Zhaozhi Li all managed to achieve an IM norm during the 9-round event. The age of the norm-getters speaks to the grueling nature of the 9-round, 5-day event which at times felt more like an endurance test than a chess tournament. FM Matthew Larson got off to a good start right away, defeating GM Ilia Nyzhnyk in the first round.

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[Event "25TH ANNUAL CHICAGO OPEN"]
[Site "Wheeling, Illinois"]
[Date "2016.05.26"]
[White "Larson, Matthew"]
[Black "Nyzhnyk, Illia"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E91"]
[WhiteElo "2306"]
[BlackElo "2622"]
[Annotator "Karagianis,Pete"]
[PlyCount "165"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[Source "MonRoi"]

{FM Matthew Larson's first round encounter with Ilia Nyzhnyk propelled him to
an IM norm.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 Bg4 7.
Be3 Nfd7 8. h4 {A sideline that scores rather well for white - over 50% in my
database (where black manages to win barely 13% of the time). The idea is to
exploit the recent departure of the king's knight from f6 by lauching a quick
kingside attack on the squares h5/g4, which the f6 knight previously
controlled.} (8. Rc1) (8. O-O) 8... Nc6 9. d5 {White has no intention of
allowing black to fight for d4 with the quick e5.} Na5 10. Rc1 c5 (10... Bxf3
11. gxf3 {opening the g-file only helps white's goals.}) 11. Nd2 Bxe2 12. Qxe2
h5 13. g4 (13. a3 {atempting to take over both sides of the board while
exploiting the position of the a5 knight was also interesting, though less in
the spirit of white's idea.} b6 14. b4 Nb7 15. O-O {for example.}) 13... Nf6
14. gxh5 Nxh5 15. Rg1 Qd7 16. Qf3 Kh7 17. Ke2 Bf6 18. b3 e5 {Objectively,
probably the start of where things begin to go wrong for black. It seems in
this structure, maybe a6/b5 and playing on the queenside made more sense.} (
18... a6 {Now, how should white continue the attack?} 19. Nf1 {This knight
maneuver makes the most practical sense to me, trying to loosen up the h5
square and break through.} (19. Bg5) 19... b5 20. Ng3 Nxg3+ 21. Rxg3 {h5 is
now significant} Be5 (21... bxc4 22. h5) 22. Rh3 bxc4 23. h5 g5 24. Bxg5 cxb3 {
While this line is not forced, it becomes clear in many of these variations
that it is critical that black has broken through on the queenside.}) 19. dxe6
(19. Nf1 {with a plan similar to that mentioned in the note above (target: h5)
is also very logical.}) 19... Qxe6 20. Nd5 Nc6 {It's difficult to evaluate
this decision. Yes, the knight on d5 is very powerful and arguably worth the
a8 rook. Black instead plays for tempo - returning his knight to the action -
and probably has enough for the exhange when you also count the uncertain
situation of the white king. Nonetheless, Larson is able to consolidate very
carefully and use the material long-term.} 21. Nc7 Qe7 22. Nxa8 Rxa8 23. Qg4
Re8 24. f4 {Very precise - temporarily denying black pieces the e5 square
while also increasing pressure on the black king (f5).} Nd4+ 25. Kd3 Bg7 {It
was necessary to do something about f5. Maybe 25. ...Nc6, planning ...Ne5 in
the event of f5.} (25... Nc6 26. f5 Ne5+ {oops.}) 26. f5 Nxf5 27. Bg5 Nh6 {Now
white is able to remove the queens, and the brave king on d3 is perfectly fine.
} 28. Qxh5 gxh5 29. Bxe7 Rxe7 30. Rg5 Re5 31. Rcg1 Ng4 32. Rxe5 Bxe5 33. Nf3 {
Black will try to make some sort of blockade but with so many weak pawns (f7,
h5, d6) it is very hard to hold this ending.} Bf4 34. Ke2 Kg6 35. Ne1 Bh2 36.
Rg2 Be5 37. Nd3 Bf6 38. Nf2 Bxh4 39. Nxg4 hxg4 40. Rxg4+ Bg5 41. Rg1 Kf6 42.
Kf3 a5 43. Rh1 Kg7 44. Rd1 Be7 45. Kf4 Kf6 {Somewhere around this position, I
was kibitzing on this game in the skittles room and another player overheard
me say, "Larson is winning." He asked, "Can't black just hold on the dark
squares?" The problem is the queenside pawns are particularly weak. A common
plan in these positions it to use the rook to help the white king reach an
optimal position and then at the appropriate moment, return the exchange to
reach a won K+P ending.} 46. Rh1 Ke6 (46... Bf8 {keeps the b-pawn for now.} 47.
Rh8 Kg7 {and white still has to demonstrate a breakthrough.} 48. Rh5 Kf6 49.
Kg4 {The idea of these moves (Rh5/Kg4) is to bring the rook to g8, after which
Ke7 is forced (to defend the bishop and prevent Rb8 captures b-pawn).} b6 50.
Rg5 {Black is running out of moves...} Ke7 51. Rg8 {And the white king will at
last reach f5, while the black pieces are totally tied down.}) 47. Rh8 b6 48.
Rb8 Bf6 49. Rxb6 {Now it's only a matter of time.} Bc3 50. Ke3 Bb4 51. Rb8 f6
52. Rb7 Ba3 53. Rh7 Bb4 54. Rh5 Ba3 55. Rd5 Bb2 56. Rf5 Ba3 57. Kf4 Bb2 58. Kg4
Be5 59. Kh5 Kf7 60. Kh6 Bd4 61. Kh7 Be3 62. Rf3 Bg5 63. Rf2 Ke6 64. Kg6 Ke5 65.
Rf5+ Ke6 66. Rd5 Be3 67. Rh5 Bd4 68. Rh8 Ke5 69. Re8+ Kf4 70. Re6 Be5 71. Rxf6+
Kxe4 72. Rf2 Kd3 73. Kf5 a4 74. Rf3+ Kd4 75. Rh3 a3 76. Ke6 Ke4 77. Rh7 Bc3 78.
Kxd6 Bb4 79. Rh3 Kd4 80. Kc6 Ke4 81. Kb5 Kd4 82. Ka4 Ke4 83. Rh8 1-0[/pgn]

The open section was won by GM Vladimir Belous, of the Russian Federation, who managed a clear first score (and thus an extra $300 in prize money) with an impressive 7.5/9 score. Belous’ most critical game came in the penultimate round, when his opponent, fellow Russian GM Andrey Stukopin made a fatal misstep in the middlegame of an f3 Nimzo-Indian.

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[Event "25TH ANNUAL CHICAGO OPEN"]
[Site "Wheeling, Illinois"]
[Date "2016.05.30"]
[White "Belous, Vladimir"]
[Black "Stukopin, Andrey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E27"]
[WhiteElo "2557"]
[BlackElo "2595"]
[Annotator "Karagianis,Pete"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[Source "MonRoi"]

{GM Vladimir Belous' 8th round win propelled him to an overall clear first 7.5/
9 score.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 d5 {A
very topical line of the f3 Nimzo.} 7. cxd5 exd5 8. e3 Re8 {But this move has
been less-seen and seems to not score well for black. Popular of late has been
...c5 or ...Nh5.} 9. Ne2 c5 10. Ng3 b6 {Transposed to La Manna - Brunello,
2010, where white continued 11. Bd3 (0-1, 43)} 11. Bb5 Bd7 12. Bd3 Bc6 {It
seems like the bishop took the knight's natural square. Though this move adds
control to the center, it also makes black's development slightly less optimal.
} 13. O-O Nbd7 14. Qd2 Qc7 15. Bb2 Re6 {I supose black may want to double on
the e-file? But this somewhat awkward move quickly creates problems.} 16. c4
cxd4 17. cxd5 Bxd5 (17... Nxd5 {Was more or less necessary. Black is down a
pawn for the moment, but perhaps for example:} 18. Bxd4 Nc5 19. Bc4 Rd8 {In
time, white can likely consolidate, but this seemed more stubborn.}) 18. e4 {
White now has a serious edge. The position has opened up for the bishops,
white's center is strong, and the d4 pawn will likely be rounded up in time.}
Bc4 19. Bxc4 Qxc4 20. Nf5 Nc5 21. Rac1 Qa4 22. Nxd4 (22. Bxd4 {seemed a better
way to collect the pawn.} Nb3 23. Qg5 {this mate threat allows everything to
work out for white. Keeping the N on f5 was the key.}) 22... Rd6 23. e5 Nb3 24.
Qd1 {White allows black back into the game!} (24. Qe3 Rxd4 25. exf6 {And now
nothing seems quite good enough for black.} gxf6 (25... Rf4 26. Rc7 gxf6 27. g3
Rf5 28. Qd3 {black is very discoordinated.}) (25... Rdd8 26. Qg5) 26. Bxd4)
24... Rxd4 25. Bxd4 b5 {After being allowed back into the game, black then
returns the favor with this blunder. Instead Qxd4 and black was fine...} (25...
Qxd4+ 26. Qxd4 Nxd4 {The point is there is a check on e2...}) 26. exf6 1-0[/pgn]

The second place score group, on 7.0/9, featured GMs Varuzhan Akobian, Vasif Durarbayli, and Wenjun Ju. Ju, one of the top female players from China, won her last round encounter with Ukranian GM Yaroslav Zherebuk to move into the second group.

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[Event "25TH ANNUAL CHICAGO OPEN"]
[Site "Wheeling, Illinois"]
[Date "2016.05.30"]
[White "Ju, Wenjun"]
[Black "Zherebukh, Yaroslav"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A62"]
[WhiteElo "2559"]
[BlackElo "2595"]
[Annotator "Karagianis,Pete"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[Source "MonRoi"]

{Wenjun Ju's 9th round victory moved her into the second score group.} 1. d4
Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nf3 g6 7. g3 Bg7 8. Bg2 O-O 9.
O-O a6 10. a4 Re8 11. Bf4 Nh5 12. Bg5 Qc7 13. Qd2 Nd7 14. Bh6 {White is
scoring very well here - nearly 60% in my database.} Bh8 15. g4 {But this is a
"new" move - perhaps not a novelty but rarely seen. Very aggressive and
thematic - white grabs space while black is still unravelling.} Nhf6 16. h3 Rb8
17. Qf4 {White initiates an interesting idea with this move- intending to use
the maneuver Ng5-e4, swapping a pair of knights and attacking the d6 pawn.} (
17. Rac1 b5 18. axb5 axb5 19. b4 {was an interesting way to meet black's
queenside play.}) 17... b5 18. axb5 axb5 19. Ng5 Ne5 20. Nge4 Nxe4 21. Nxe4 {
White has found a role for the c3 knight, which was about to be pushed by b4
anyway. However black responds actively and accurately.} f5 22. gxf5 Bxf5 23.
Ng3 Bd7 24. Qc1 {Idea: preserve the dark square bishop, cover b2. White is
really fighting!} Nf7 25. Bd2 b4 26. f4 Ra8 {An oversight, now the b4 pawn is
lost.} (26... c4 {would have put a lot of pressure on white. Black has space
and pressure on the queenside, (mostly) well-placed pieces, and good control.}
27. e4 c3 28. bxc3 bxc3 29. Be3 (29. e5 {!?}) 29... Rb2) 27. Rxa8 Rxa8 28. Bxb4
Bd4+ 29. Kh2 Re8 30. Bc3 Be3 31. Bd2 Bd4 32. e3 Bf6 33. b4 {black is in
trouble. If the d-pawn needs to retake on c5, white's center pawn phalanx will
be devastating in the long run. This is the real calamity of losing the b4
pawn on move 28.} Bb5 34. Re1 Bd3 35. bxc5 Qxc5 36. Qxc5 dxc5 37. e4 {The
advance of the center pawn chain is lethal.} g5 {black tries to break up the
center pawns, but unfortunately it doesn't quite work.} 38. Nh5 Bd8 (38... Bd4
{to try to keep an eye on e5 was an option, but the problem is there will be a
fork threat on f6 after e5.} 39. e5 Kf8 (39... gxf4 40. Nf6+) 40. e6 {the
white pawns are just too fast.}) 39. fxg5 Nxg5 40. e5 {Two connected passed
pawns.} Bg6 41. Nf4 Be4 42. Bxe4 Rxe5 43. Bg2 1-0[/pgn]

The top seed, “Super” GM Yu Yangyi, sporting a 2737 FIDE rating, found his way into the third score group, with 6.5/9, after a rocky start. Yu lost his second round to the aforementioned norm-getter FM Michael Brown and also was held to a draw by local NM Gopal Menon before scoring 5 out of his final 6 to nearly make it all the way back to the top. In the under sections, the most remarkable result was a perfect 7.0/7 by 14-year old WCM Thalia Cervantes in the U2100 category. Cervantes increased her US Chess rating by 95 points, from 2066 all the way to 2161. Another incredible performance from a young talent. Rounding out the under sections, Chao Zhang, from Indiana, won the u2300 with 6.5/7, the U1900 saw a 4-way tie between Jack Hanson, Zvonko Juric, Nikolas Theiss, and William Stewart. Mikhail Tsiklauri won the U1700 with 6.5 while Vishal Meduri and Michael Lin, both also with 6.5, took top U1500 and U1300 honors, respectively. The shorter U1000 section was taken by Branden Wagner. In total, the 25th edition of the Chicago Open featured a stunning 932 participants (not counting the marathon Sunday-night blitz tournament), which makes it one of the biggest events on the US circuit, a billing it lived up to with a preponderance of titled players in the Open section itself. I look forward to a strong 2017 showing! Find full standings of the Chicago Open here.