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The curse of the last round

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JMB2010
GM JMB2010
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Jul 8, 2013
0
#1

Hi people of chess.com! I just finished playing in the World Open U2200 section, taking half point byes in 2 of the rounds, and I have annotated all my games for you to enjoy,analyze,crticize,etc.

Round 1-Against a 2040. Luckily, all the repairings that were going on didn't affect my section. However, the U1800 had to "add 53 to their board number!"

 
 
In the 2nd round I took a half point bye, but they accidentally paired me for the round! However, we were able to clear it all up.
 
Round 3-Against a 1999.
 
 
 
Round 4-Against a 1978
 
 
Round 5-Against a 2026
 
 
Now at this point, counting the bye, I was doing well with 4/5! In round 6, I played a 2185 that I played in the last World Open. That time I spectacularly destroyed his French, but this time things turned out differently.
 
 
Round 7-Against a 1989 who I played once quite a while ago. Recently, his rating had taken a huge jump up to 1989, and, at this point, had won his previous 3 games.
 
 
Round 8-Against a 2176. Now, I was taking a bye in the final round, so if I won here, I would finish in the money guaranteed. On the other hand, if I lost, I would have no chance. Naturally, I lost. It seems I have a curse set upon me. Whenever I am in contention in a big tournament to win, well, anything, I always lose in the last round. I am really getting sick of this streak :(
 
 
Well, in general I think this was a good tournament. Even though that loss at the end was the 3rd most painful of my life, according to the rating estimator I will gain 14 points to a new high of 2155. And, according to my spreadsheet/formula thing, I will gain my 5th and final USCF candidate master norm! Hopefully I can break through to 2200 soon. Until then, chess friends!
 
 
 
 
JMB2010
GM JMB2010
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Jul 8, 2013
0
#2

Oh, it seems some things aren't aligned correctly. Oh well.

Wizard_Chess97
Wizard_Chess97
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Jul 8, 2013
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#3

Nice games. Smile

JMB2010
GM JMB2010
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Jul 8, 2013
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#4

@sahilmd-Thanks, are you posting your games too? And I noticed that mistake too and edited it.

@Maroon5fan-Thanks! Laughing

Abhishek2
NM Abhishek2
Closed: Inactive
Jul 8, 2013
0
#5

good job!

Suvel
Suvel
Jul 8, 2013
0
#6

Come on John! Don't worry about your last round losing streak...

Who cares about a little money. I would rather haved played a game I could learn from the win a little money...

Besides, in the next couple years you're gonna be a prodigy...Ten years old and a 2140!?!
That's amazing!

Good luck in the future, and your playing style is awesome!
Keep it up! 

waffllemaster
waffllemaster
Jul 8, 2013
0
#7

Nice games, picked up some rating points too.  You're really close to 2200!  Very impressive to me.

JMB2010
GM JMB2010
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Jul 8, 2013
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#8

@abhishek2 and wafflemaster:Thanks!

@Suvel:Yeah, I'm probably too obsessed with this whole last round thing. And I'm not 10...and thanks!

Suvel
Suvel
Jul 8, 2013
0
#9

haha oops...

how old are you...

Sorry

JMB2010
GM JMB2010
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Jul 8, 2013
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#10

Well I probably shouldn't be posting my age in public forums so I'll PM you :)

Elubas
Elubas
Jul 8, 2013
0
#11

Very nice -- my personal favorite is the very clean positional game in round 1 -- seems like you made few to no major oversights there. I like how you were able to keep all of your pieces in neatly organized positions lol.

JMB2010
GM JMB2010
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Jul 8, 2013
0
#12

Thanks Elubas! Anothing major point I forgot to put in the post is the major difference between tournaments on the west coast and east coast. Here in the east if the pairings are up 10 minutes late it's considered early lol.

Elubas
Elubas
Jul 8, 2013
0
#13

Yeah, tournaments here almost never seem to start on time.

Abhishek2
NM Abhishek2
Closed: Inactive
Jul 8, 2013
0
#14

really

Elubas
Elubas
Jul 8, 2013
0
#15

lol, and in a tournament last month I was talking in the skittles room too long and I (and the others who were there) almost lost time on the clock. I figured they wouldn't have the pairings and start at the scheduled time so I was like "Damn, the one time you start on time, why did it have to be now?" :D

It was just a weekend tournament though.

Abhishek2
NM Abhishek2
Closed: Inactive
Jul 9, 2013
0
#16

Let me guess..the mall tournament?

Elubas
Elubas
Jul 9, 2013
0
#17

lol, no Smile

MSC157
MSC157
Jul 9, 2013
0
#18

Well done JMB!

JMB2010
GM JMB2010
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Jul 9, 2013
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#19

Yeah, it's funny how at the World Open you see all the Western players coming down to check on the pairings 10 minutes early and the Eastern players 10 minutes late Laughing. And thanks MSC!

JMB2010
GM JMB2010
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Jul 10, 2013
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#20

Hmmmm, the tournament was rated and the Rating Estimator on the USCF site is off by a lot more than it usually is. Anyone else experiencing this?