It’s Anatoly Karpov versus 25
The National Open Chess Championship has become widely considered the most enjoyable tournament available to players every year. Of course, it has the advantage of being held in Las Vegas, the reputed “Entertainment Capital of the World.” Since it is an open event containing seven sections for players of all strengths, it is attractive as a combination vacation and chess experience.
The tournament is known for its many extras such as show tickets, discounted meals, daily drawings and side events. This year, for instance, the offerings included a grandmaster chess camp, youth blitz, lectures by titled players, newsletters, a puzzle-solving competition and even a poker tournament [go figure!]. Famous players traditionally agree to play simultaneous exhibitions, giving everyday players a chance to face them.
This year, Anatoly Karpov, one of the greatest world champions, gave 25 players a once-in-a-lifetime game. Being in Vegas, a lottery was drawn to determine most of his opponents. Even though he has been in retirement mode for some years, Karpov disposed of 23 foes, with two escaping with draws. Lenderman wins
Russian-American Grandmaster Aleksandr Lenderman of New York won the 2005 World Youth Championship in France in the under-16 division. Two years later, he was crowned the U.S. high school champion. Now 22, he has just earned the title of U.S. National Open Chess Champion. To accomplish that feat, he had to outscore 15 GMs, 12 international masters and 60 other masters and experts. He did so in straightforward fashion, winning five games in a row and drawing in Round 6 to end up undefeated and alone in first place.
Just last year, in recognition of his many achievements, Lenderman was awarded the Frank P. Samford Jr. Chess Fellowship, the most prestigious fellowship bestowed upon young players. The award of $42,000 enables a player to focus upon chess development, and it is renewable for a second year. Drawing Karpov
This column’s game features a non-master for a change, one of the two who managed to draw Karpov in his Vegas exhibition. As one of history’s best players, Karpov demonstrated remarkable skills in all aspects of chess from opening play through the end games. Although many of his games reveal great tactical prowess, he is considered to be a consummate positional player. He could slowly maneuver his pieces to superior places, gradually encroach upon enemy space, exploit microscopic weaknesses and eventually wear opponents out or down to nothing. He tried that against Jose Ramirez, a Class A player who lost only one game in his section of the National Open. Check out how he manages to nullify Karpov’s attempts to gain space and create weaknesses, while trading pieces when possible, leading to an eventual position containing active rooks. It was Karpov who ended up repeating positions for the draw.