Open and closed competitions
Chess competition is mostly divided into two categories: open tournaments and closed ones. Generally, the first allow anyone to participate while the second restrict who is eligible to play. Actually though, most open events do restrict participants to certain categories. For example, the U.S. Open Women’s or Seniors’ Championships. Also, most tournaments have skill-level sections open to just those who fall into rating categories.
Titles earned in Open events are often not considered to be as high-level as those won in closed competitions. In every round of a closed (or invitational) Championship, the winner will have to face someone who has qualified to compete by a high rating or outstanding performances in previous events. Outscoring such a fearsome group is one reason for being considered a true champion.
In open competitions, the winner may face a number of lower-ranked players before having to play his strongest foes. Nevertheless, the sheer numbers of people involved in open competition often guarantees that most of those “lesser” foes will be quite respectable. Outperforming them is a remarkable accomplishment, which makes the ultimate winner fully deserving of the champion’s crown he receives.
The World Open Championship is a case in point. This appropriately named annual competition attracts players from everywhere. At this year’s event, held in Arlington, Va., the Open Section contained 182 players rated Expert, Master or above. After nine rounds, eight GMs were tied for first with seven points apiece. In the subsequent playoff, GM Alex Lenderman prevailed to be crowned World Open Champion. Undefeated throughout, he had played six GMs and four other Masters on his way to the title. This column features his Armageddon playoff game in which White is given a time advantage but a drawn game would go to Black.
Champ’s style
The following entertaining game was played in the recent Southern California Championship by its winner Michael Brown: Serpik,Ilia vs. Brown,Michael - 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Nb3 Bb6 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.Qe2 a5 8.Be3 a4 9.e5 0–0 10.exf6 axb3 11.fxg7 Re8 12.cxb3 d5 13.0–0–0 d4 14.Qf3 Ra5 15.Na4 Ne5 16.Qf4 Ng6 17.Qg3 Ba7 18.Bd2 Rd5 19.b4 b5 20.Nc5 Bxc5 21.bxc5 Rxc5+ 22.Kb1 Qd5 23.Bb4 Bf5+ 24.Bd3 Rc4 25.Bf8 Ra4 26.b3 Re2 27.Bxf5 Raxa2 28.Qf3 Nf4 29.Qxd5 Reb2+ 0-1. Note how Brown busted fatally into his foe’s king’s position by taking advantage of two rather unusual pins [See 26...Re2!; neither rook can be taken].
Upcoming event
The 37th annual Southern California Open is scheduled for Sept. 5-7 in San Diego at the Town & Country Hotel. A total of $20,000 in guaranteed prizes will be distributed among the top performers in six rating-defined sections. Contact Chuck Ensey at (858) 432-8006 or chucnglo@aol.com.
Game of the week
Lenderman-Mamedov 43rd World Open Armageddon Playoff Arlington, Va.
1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.Nf3 d6 5.d4 exd4 6.Nxd4 Bg7 7.Nc3 0–0 8.0–0 Nbd7 9.e4 a6 10.Re1 Rb8 11.h3 Re8 12.Rb1 Ne5 13.b3 c5 14.Nc2 Be6 15.a4 Nc6 16.Bb2 Qa5 17.Ba1 Rbd8 18.Kh2 Ne5 19.f4 Nc6 20.Qd2 Nd4 21.b4 Qc7 22.Nxd4 cxd4 23.Nd5 Nxd5 24.cxd5 Bd7 25.a5 Rc8 26.Rbc1 Qb8 27.Bxd4 Rxc1 28.Rxc1 Bxd4 29.Qxd4 Rc8 30.Rxc8+ Qxc8 31.Qf6 Bb5 32.Qxd6 Qc2 33.Qc5 Qd2 34.e5 Bf1 35.Qg1 Bb5 36.d6 Qxb4 37.Qb6 Qd2 38.Qxb7 h5 39.Qd5 Qxa5 40.e6 Qd8 41.e7 Qe8 42.Qe5 Qc8 43.Be4 Be8 44.f5 Qc4 45.Bg2 Qb5 46.Qxb5 axb5 47.f6 b4 48.Bd5 g5 49.h4 gxh4 50.gxh4 Kh7 51.Bxf7 b3 52.Bxb3 Kg6 53.f7 Bxf7 54.d7 1–0