Live Blogging Round 6 - US Chess Champsionship 2009 - Results!
Check out all the live action beginning at 2pm @ www.uschesschamps.com...
| Board | White | Rating | Result | Black | Rating |
| 1. | GM Varuzhan Akobian (4) | 2664 | ½-½ | GM Yury Shulman (4) | 2697 |
| 2. | GM Gata Kamsky (3½) | 2798 | ½-½ | IM Robert Hess (3½) | 2545 |
| 3. | GM Alexander Onischuk (3½) | 2736 | ½-½ | GM Hikaru Nakamura (3½) | 2757 |
| 4. | IM Michael Brooks (3) | 2419 | 0-1 | GM Joshua Friedel (3) | 2568 |
| 5. | GM Melikset Khachiyan (2½) | 2632 | 0-1 | GM Joel Benjamin (3) | 2650 |
| 6. | GM Gregory Kaidanov (2½) | 2662 | 1-0 | IM Samuel Shankland (2½) | 2464 |
| 7. | IM Enrico Sevillano (2½) | 2549 | 1/2-1/2 | GM Jaan Ehlvest (2½) | 2649 |
| 8. | GM Larry Christiansen (2) | 2681 | 0-1 | IM Ray Robson (2½) | 2542 |
| 9. | IM Irina Krush (2) | 2496 | 1-0 | GM Julio Becerra (2) | 2672 |
| 10. | Tyler Hughes (2) | 2293 | 0-1 | GM Ildar Ibragimov (1½) | 2628 |
| 11. | GM Alexander Shabalov (1½) | 2620 | 1-0 | FM Doug Eckert (1) | 2278 |
| 12. | Charles Lawton (0) | 2350 | 0-1 | GM Boris Gulko (1½) | 2631 |
More Results
Results! IM Brooks Lost :(
Check out this beautiful mate by GM Ibragimov
Results: Kamsky indeed draws with Hess, Hess is indeed a great young talent, but with his eyes on Princeton will he even stick around to play more tournament chess? "He seemed a little upset...I stumped him I guess...I'm happy about that..." says Hess.
and Nakamura has fought to a draw as well.
Game Update: Seems like Kamsky vs. Hess is headed for the draw. Hess has put up a real fight against the highest rated GM's in America and Kamsky can't seem do much else but play to draws. Kind of a dissapointing performance really.
Robson continues to hold Christiansen in all kinds of awkward positions.
Akobian vs. Shulman is dragging on as well, but it does look like Nakamura is going to lose vs. Onischuk!
Tournament Update: I had no idea about this, and am actually kind of surprised, but Saint Louis in May it's not uncommon for their to be intense thunder storms (capable of turning out the lights, intense), but should the club lose power, there is a plan B.
Club founder Rex Sinquefield who lives down the street has actually set up an alternative tournament hall in his ballroom...wow...the boards are all set up and waiting for the players should some disaster befall the Chess Club.
Update: Anna Zantonskih is alive and well, back at the CCSCSTL and on air live right now, assisting with the analysis of the Kamsky game. She looks very well, is feeling great, a little upset at having been forced to withdraw on Sunday.
Executive Director Tony Rich asks her who she was looking forward to playing before withdrawing, her response "Kamsky," because she has never really played anyone that high rated. Zantonskih has played Nakamura but prior to his rating climbing as high as it is at the moment.
Game Update: Board 2! Kamsky vs. Hess is heating up. I have really enjoyed watching Hess play this week, he's got some attacking skill and will be awarded his GM title soon. Hess has unfortunately played all the top rated players with the black peices, but as commentator Sutokvsky points on, "He's fortunately played all the lower rated players with white and winning."
Game Update: Akobian v. Shulman, defending US Championship faces off against Akobian who hasn't dropped a round since his first game defeat to Kamsky. They are playing into a positional game, below is the current board.
Below are the pairings for round 6. Apparently GM Ibraginov spent some time at our riverfront casinos last night :)
| Board | White | Rating | Result | Black | Rating |
| 1. | GM Varuzhan Akobian (4) | 2664 | - | GM Yury Shulman (4) | 2697 |
| 2. | GM Gata Kamsky (3½) | 2798 | - | IM Robert Hess (3½) | 2545 |
| 3. | GM Alexander Onischuk (3½) | 2736 | - | GM Hikaru Nakamura (3½) | 2757 |
| 4. | IM Michael Brooks (3) | 2419 | - | GM Joshua Friedel (3) | 2568 |
| 5. | GM Melikset Khachiyan (2½) | 2632 | - | GM Joel Benjamin (3) | 2650 |
| 6. | GM Gregory Kaidanov (2½) | 2662 | - | IM Samuel Shankland (2½) | 2464 |
| 7. | IM Enrico Sevillano (2½) | 2549 | - | GM Jaan Ehlvest (2½) | 2649 |
| 8. | GM Larry Christiansen (2) | 2681 | - | IM Ray Robson (2½) | 2542 |
| 9. | IM Irina Krush (2) | 2496 | - | GM Julio Becerra (2) | 2672 |
| 10. | Tyler Hughes (2) | 2293 | - | GM Ildar Ibragimov (1½) | 2628 |
| 11. | GM Alexander Shabalov (1½) | 2620 | - | FM Doug Eckert (1) | 2278 |
| 12. | Charles Lawton (0) | 2350 | - | GM Boris Gulko (1½) | 2631 |
Update:
Some really bold and creative chess going down already today at the CCSCSTL. Kansas City's wild card entrant IM Michael Brooks is continuing to surprise the field, with 2.5 points so far. Today he plays GM Josh Friedel. Interesting game so far. Brooks has the white peices.
Roy Robson v. Christiansen is looking really sharp, young vs. old are playing aggressive chess on board 8.
Hello again from Saint Louis! Today is my birthday, what better way to spend it that hanging out with you guys on chess.com and continuing my live blog of the US Chess Championship 2009, live from the Saint Louis Chess Club and Scholastic Center.
Yesterday I also had the fortune of shooting interviews with John Henderson, from the ICC, interviewing both Shulman and Onischuk. Premier links being pushed right here, right now on chess.com enjoy!
Here's some photos from yesterdays action in the commentary room. It's been a real pleasure listening to the grandmaster commentary, particularly Sutovsky's insight. The way his brain works at instantly analyzing new lines of attack is incredible. Being Kamsky's second and training partner he definitely has a bias as he doesn't believe anyone else in the tournament stands a chance.
