BCC: MAGIC QUADS // FULL MOON // ROBUST 35 PARTICIPANTS // KIDS DOMINATE //

BOYLSTON CHESS CLUB

CAMBRIDGE

7 QUADS +3SS GAME 65 / 5"DELAY

QUAD 1

Brandon Wu scored 2.5 points for clear 1st place and a

+35 to 2019 rating. Bravo, Brandon, way-ta-go!

RELENTLESS CREATIVITY

Brandon Wu, white vs Mateos Sahakian, Round 4.

The post-mortem of this game suggests that Mateos had

chances to squeeze out a win in a blockaded position;

a draw for sure. But in the course of the game, Brandon

kept inventing fascinating complications and Mateos

made just one bad decision which cost him the point.

[Note: In reviewing Bobby Fischer's games 

I see that there were many time when Fischer's

opponents had moves which would have saved

their games (for a draw). Yet! They did not find

these equalizing lines.  Such is the fate of the

chess player.]

CONNECTICUT SCHOLASTIC STAR

10 yr old Maximillian Lu (2049) thinks out his

strategy vs Mateos Sahakian in Round 2: draw.

OPENING SALVOS: SYMMETRICAL ENGLISH

Brandon Wu calibrates his mind as he faces off

with Taylor Curtis in Round 2.

OPTIMUM VANTAGE POINT

Brandon Wu vs Taylor Curtis, Round 2.

[I watched the time-scramble at the end of this game from

the photo's perspective: Brandon had 3 minutes; Taylor had 6 

seconds! It was fascinating to see how Brandon took

his time and planned out his game, squeezing ever so 

slightly, the position towards a win on the board.

With 2 seconds left (5 second delay), Taylor just could

not hold the focus and blundered his knight.  A well

fought game by both sides. Brandon showed great maturity

of planning under pressure and nerves of steel at the

height of the time pressure denouement. Bravo, Brandon!

QUAD 2

With a smile, Natasha Christiansen sets up her game with

white vs Jason Tang. Natasha and Jason each scored 2 points

to tie 1-2nd in Quad 2. Jason was +8 to 1959 rating and

Natasha was +19 to 1905 rating. Bravo, Natasha and Jason!

10 yr old Alex Yu sets up his game in Round 2.

Alex was 1.5 for the day an even 50 percent and

a +2 rating to 1904. Bravo, Alex!

QUAD 3

Nisha Deolalikar scored 2.5 points to take

clear 1st place and a +21 to 1919 rating!

Brava, Nisha!

Juan Payan scored 2 points to claim clear

2nd place in Quad 3. A +15 point addition

brought his rating to 1868. Bravo, Juan!

11 yr old Suraj Ramanathan thinks hard for 1.5 points in Quad 3.

QUAD 4

3 time BCC Grand Prix winner, David Martin

scored 2.5 points to take clear 1st place, and

a +82 to 1770 rating. Bravo, David!

QUAD 5

Bharath Heggadahalli scored 2.5 points to capture

clear 1st place and a +50 to 1688 rating.

Bravo, Bharath!

FULL HOUSE!

Bharath Heggadahalli vs Bob Oresick, Round 1.

Bob scored 2 points for clear 2nd place and a

+19 to 1646 rating. Bravo, Bob!

QUAD 6

Bernie Xu, black vs Arthur Emanuel Williams, Round 2: draw!

Arthur scored 2 points for clear 1st place and a + 13 to

1634 rating. Bravo, Arthur! John Archibald and Steve Stepak

each scored 1.5 points to tie for 2-3rd place. (background): 

Bharath Heggadahalli plays black vs Boshen Li.

8 yr old John Archibald 2-3rd place and a

+7 to 1573 rating. Way-ta-go, Johnnie!

QUAD 7

Jerry Li scored a perfect 3 points to take clear 1st place

and a +29 to 1679 rating. Here Jerry is playing

Jeff Weinstein in Round 1 who he beat. Bravo, Jerry!

Jeff scored 1.5 points to share 2-3rd place with

Ray Behenna.

THOUGHTFUL AND ENGAGING

Jeff Weinstein plays white vs the ever congenial and

contemplative Ray Behenna. Jeff and Ray each scored

1.5 points to share 2-3rd place. Jeff was +13 to 1455

and Ray, +6 to 1482 rating, respectively.

(background): Lance Wong plays Lewis Tu.

3SS("SMALL SWISS")

Lance Wong plays his 4th tournament ever, and

first time at BCC. Lance and his younger brother

Neil participated in this wonderful event.

Lance was a perfect 3-0 to take top honors in the

Small Swiss. Bravo, Lance!

[ps: Lance, Neil and their mom drove 1 and a

half hours from Connecticut to get to this event!]

GETTING ON TOP OF THEIR GAMES

Evan Wang plays Lawrence Tu in Round 3.

(background): Neil Wong, black vs Tianna Wang.

Tianna Wang thinks about the position.

Tianna, her younger brother Ryan, and Lewis

Tu each scored 2 points for 2-5 place and a share

in some prize money.

SCENES FROM AROUND THE HALL

Professor Jerry Williams white, vs Boshen Li, Round 1.

Jerry won this encounter for a total of 1.5 points.

BCC Veteran Howard Goldowsky, Round 1.

CROWD SOURCING

(left to right): Professor Jerry Williams v Bharath Heggadahalli;

Arthur Williams vs Bernie Xu; Suraj Ramanathan (standing)

Alex Yu, Brandon Wu, Nisha Deolalikar, Taylor Curtis,

Juan Payan, Walther Driscoll, Howard Goldowsky,

Gabriel Birzu, Jason Xiong.

GLOVES OFF AND HAT ON THE SHELF

Derek Chubo Zhao, black vs Seth Lieberman, Round 2. 

Dean Bob Oresick plays Professor Jerry Williams.

TOURNAMENT ADMINISTRATION

Bernardo Iglesias, Chief TD;

Natasha Christiansen, Assistant TD

PAIRING BOARD

[Note: Friday Night Blitz Crosstable and prizes.]

PHOTOS: STEVE STEPAK