NM Chris Williams setting his mind v NM Carissa Yip.
Exact same match-up as BCC Legends February 2015:
Dragon B70. This time Chris varies and essays B52
"Canal-Sokolsky (Rossolimo) Attack. Chris devised a piece
sacrifice in the center of the board for complications
but Carissa held fast, and Chris lost the endgame
down 2 pawns.
ROUND 4: vs NM Lawyer Times, 51 yr old (2301)
NM Carissa Yip in pre-game friendly talk with former
BCC Champion, NM Lawyer Times. Lawyer had also lost
with the white pieces to Carissa last winter at the BCC Game 80,
Round 2, on November 2014 Somerville. Carissa plays 1.e4 and
Lawyer likes to feature 1. . . . Nf6, the Alekhine Defense. In the
New England Open Chess Championship, in 2014, Carissa
knotched her first win of a grandmaster, playing 1.e4 to GM
Alexander Ivanov's 1. . . . g6 to start the "Modern Defense" .
Well, at any case, Lawyer knew he was in for a tough game, in
this last round of a very dynamic tournament. Fatigue often creeps
in at this critical time (Round 4), dulling the mind, for players of all
ages and genders. So anything was possible here. At the time I looked
at the position, the pieces were set up in a way which reminded me
of a rugby scrum. Not wanting to disturb, I glanced at the board and
then walked away, scratching my head. I could not make heads or tails of
things, to even offer a speculative comment as to who might be
winning or even holding a slight edge. It was just too rugby for me.
LET'S SEE: WHAT DO I DO NOW (?)
Carissa cogitating in her game vs Lawyer Times.
Deep planning. Setting up the structure. Deception +
intrinsic layers of of attack.
SOUL ON FIRE
NM Yip, showing no signs of tiredness, was
a soul on fire,
completing her moves with confidence to prevail in her game vs
NM Lawyer Times. So: 4 wins; 0 losses; 0 draws
= 4 points and total domination of the Open Section.
TIME FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE
PRIZE MONEY
NM Carissa Yip stands next to her proud father, Percy Yip after
her win over NM Lawyer Times in Round 4. She waits for TD
Andrew Hoy,
(left: in turquoise) to set up the prize money hand-outs.
(background): Jianglin Wu (Brandon's dad) and Mr. Kevin
Bartkovich, Director, Chess Program, Exeter Prep, NH,
organizer of the 6NH group to the BCC, from NH campus.
WOW! I'M RICH
Carissa, holding her winnings in
US currency, decides whether to
celebrate by inviting her dad out to dinner
or putting the stash away for college!
2-3rd PLACE: FOCUSED DETERMINATION
NM Chris Williams, still smarting from loss to Carissa in Round
3, recruits all his focus power to defend against NM Andrew
Hoy, no doubt rather tired from all the work he was doing since
early morning as event TD. Chris remained focused, executed
his plan, and collected the full point to go 3/4 for 2-3rd place
in the Open Section. Andrew was a good sport about it all,
scoring 1.5/4 in a rather hectic activities schedule.
Jerry Williams sets up his game vs Brandon Wu in Round 2.
Brandon won this encounter and went on to score 3 points
for the day, losing only to NM Chris Williams, to share 2-3rd
place in the Open Section.
Ellen Xiang, from Exeter NH plays white vs her young
prodigy, Brandon Wu in Round 4. Brandon was +10 to
2050 rating. Ellen was 1.5/4 for the day.
NM Lawyer Times scored 2.5 points
to share 4-5th place with Pinyi Hu.
Pinyi Hu (right) scored 2.5 points to share 4-5th place in the
Open Section and a +16 to 1837 rating. Here he is seen playing
Professor Jerry Williams who was 1/4 on the day.
U1950 SECTION
Bryant Vernon, MIT Sloan, MBA 2007, back in chess action,
scores 4-0 to convincingly win the U1950 Section hands-down.
Bravo, Bryant. Great come-back. [Little historical
note: Bryant's last tournament before this one was
BCC Reubens Landy, 2006. It also seems that Bryant
played in the last Harvard Open (ever ?) in 1/27/2002!]
Bryant illustrates well that there is a demonstrable interface
between operational acumen in business strategy and
delivery of a successful chess performance.
Darrith Bin Phan,
(right) defends with black, vs Mark
Robert Neale in Round 4. Darrith won this game and
scored 3.5 overall: 3 wins and a draw! This secured Darrith
clear 2nd place in the U1950 section.
(background): Ed Chiu.
(background bio notes): Darrith will graduate from BB&N
this June and begin his freshman year at Stanford U.
in the Fall.
Bravo, Darrith,
way-t-go!
3-6th Place in the U1950 Section
ENDGAME TIME
Tom Shneer (right) scores with black vs Eugene Park: Round 1.
Tom scored 2.5 points to share 3-6th place in U1950 section.
John Archibald, 8 yrs old, vs Bryant Vernon, Round 2.
Mark Robert Neale, white vs Boshen Li; Boshen scored
2.5 points to share 3-6th place in U1950 section.
(background): Tom Shneer v Darrith Bin Phan: draw!
CAUGHT LOOKING!
Ed Chiu takes a moment to say "hi" from his game vs
Wei Hang Fan in Round 2. (background): Michael Baldyga v
Eugene Park; Joseph Bartkovich vs Charles Bing.
Ed scored 2.5 points to share 3-6th place in U1950 Section.
CENTER STAGE
Alon Trogan, black vs Patrick Dickinson, Round 2.
(center): Joseph Bartkovich scoring 2.5 points for 3-6th
place in U1950 section. Bravo, Joseph!
KEEP YOUR EYE ON THIS YOUNG LAD!
John Archibald, 8 plays Patrick Dickinson, Round 4, a high
schooler from Exeter, NH. John remained razor-sharp focused
for this win with the white pieces, 2/4 on the day and a
1551 rating. 8 yrs old !! Bravo, John. Determination does
pay off in chess, as in life! John was devastated by his
Round 3 loss, upset to the point of tears. He almost quit
the tournament. But drawing on an inner strength, rare for
an 8 yr old, John pulled himself together and made the
choice to return to the event to play Round 4, come what
may. He gathered his focus-power and essayed a win: how
sweet the victory, after the pain of defeat. John: a truly
remarkable 8 yr old sportsman. Bravo, John! You
are an example to us all.
SERENDIPITY
Patrick W. Dickinson sports his high school
logo. I did not have this in my scope when I framed
this shot, but, indeed, there it is, for all to see, my
photo of former World Chess Champion GM
Mikhal Tal (upper right corner), which I took at the
Boylston Chess Club, YMCU, Boylston Street,
Boston, in 1988. I hope this portends as well
for Pat's chess career as it did for my career in
chess photo journalism! Bravo, Pat for helping
me make this wonderful photo of you and
Misha Tal, together, for all of us to enjoy.
Dorm Logo (navigation): Exeter
Ellen Xiang, from Texas, was 1.5/4 Open Section
(USCF rating at the start of this event: 1900).
Licet tibi esse rex, sed specta reginam superantem.
[loosely translated: 'whatever you do, do it well'!]
PHILLIPS EXETER ACADEMY
Michael Baldyga, 1.5 points in the U1950
Section starting with a 1508 rating.
EXETER: POST-MORTEM ANALYSIS
Pat Dickinson, Bryant Vernon, Joseph Bartkovich, Wei Hang
Fan deep in chess thought as 8 yr old John Archibald,
(right, corner) soaks up all the chess knowledge being shared.
NOVICE AND DETERMINED
7 yr old Charles Bing, in his 3rd adult chess tournament.
Charles was 1.5/4 for a 1032 rating! Bravo, Charles!
(background): Ellen Xiang vs Harold Dondis.
POSTURE IS EVERYTHING
As I have said many times, the way you hold
yourself during the chess games, indicates to
what degree you are committed to putting forth
the energy it takes to win the game. Look at Carissa
in this photo: she is literally, in the driver's seat.
She is in total control, both physically and
mentally. This is what it takes to be a great
chess player and Carissa is on the road to
becoming a great chess player. Brava, Carissa!
[This is a good time to put in my final parenthetical
remark: On April 7, 2015, Carissa played former
Mass State Champion NM Mika Brattain (USCF
2460) a Game 60 4SS event at the MetroWest
Chess Club. Carissa won this game and finished
3-7th in a field of 18 players in the Open Section.
Carissa, keep up the great work! ]
Harold Dondis, Esq. prepares his defense vs
Ellen Ziang from Exeter, NH. Ellen won this
game and was 1.5/4 on the day.
CASH PRIZE DISTRIBUTION
OPEN SECTION:
1st: NM Carissa Yip: $180;
2-3rd: NM Chris Williams: $45;
2-3rd: Brandon Wu: $45.
U1950 SECTION:
1st: Bryant Vernon: $100
2nd: Darrith Phan: $50
U1650 SECTION:
1-2nd: Boshen Li: $20
1-2nd: Tom Shneer: $20
1-2nd: Edward Chiu: $20
1-2nd: Joseph Bartkovich: $20
ANDREW HOY: EVENT TD
PHOTOS: STEVE STEPAK
PS
