Results from April 18
The third Sac Pawn Storm attracted 19 participants on a socially distanced Saturday. Five newcomers joined their first online club tournament. The competition remained fierce with half of the field rated over 1800 USCF. Without further ado, here are the winners:
- 1st NM fpawn (Michael) with 4.5
- =2nd championps (anonymous) with 4.0
- =2nd grcridlan (Graham) with 4.0
- 4th Yash_Mago (Yash) with 3.5
- Top U1600 USCF chessboi2010 (Kritin) with 2.0
Five players survived the first two rounds with a perfect score: NM fpawn, WFM nicecream18, Mossyhorn, championps and MattDanger. Unfortunately, top rated FM KyronGriffith of San Francisco experienced network difficulties during his first game and had to withdraw. Round 2 saw grcridlan place his lady en prise, giving championps his first of four upsets. Meanwhile on top board, fpawn quickly won a piece, but Yash_Mago refused to be subjugated without a fight.
The titled players both won in round 3 while championps overcame a pawn deficit to draw a lengthy rook endgame. Way down on the bottom board, newpawn67 scored the full point in a wild tactical melee, demonstrating that, he who makes the next to last mistake, wins.
The two perfect scores clashed in round 4, as NM fpawn converted a slightly superior knight endgame in time pressure against WFM nicecream18. Meanwhile on board 2, championps won a tricky rook ending by trapping Mossyhorn's rook inside the pawn chain.
These results left fpawn (4.0 points) to face young championps (3.5 points) for all the marbles in the final round. The game turned out rather dull, allowing white to clinch first place while black earned a draw against a master. Far more exciting was board 2, where grcridlan exposed the white king with an exchange sacrifice and then exploited inaccurate defense to close the deal.
Please join us for another Pawn Storm next Saturday at the usual hour (3:00 PM). The club will host the inaugural kids & amateurs tournament, restricted to players with a Chess.com rapid rating under 1400, on the same day starting at 1:30 PM. Be there - and invite your friends!
The final standings of Sac Pawn Storm #3 are posted below.
