Jeffrey Xiong Leads U.S. Junior Chess Closed Championship after four Rounds
Hello chess blog friends, some update from the U.S. Junior Chess Championship 2014 now. Four rounds have been played at this premier event and we have a confident 13-year-old IM Jeffrey Xiong in the lead in Saint Louis. Brian Jerauld, reporting for the official website, writes Experience is starting to pay dividends -- on the board and in the standings. Thirteen-year-old IM Jeffrey Xiong, in his third Junior Closed Championship appearance, played with relaxed confidence on Monday despite leading a heavy mating assault through unclear waters. Xiong as white set the theme early with a 14. Nxe6 sacrifice, immediately exposing and launching siege on FM Arthur Shen’s uncastled king -- initiating a tension-filled game that demanded some act-like-you’ve-been-there posturing.
“Experience has been big,” Xiong said. “The first few times I played (in the Junior Closed), I haven’t been as comfortable and as confident as I feel now. Probably one or two years ago, I wouldn’t have been as confident in sacrificing a piece like I did in today’s game.”
The win sets Xiong (3.5/4) as the tournament’s first clear leader, with the Dallas star remaining undefeated and plus-3 after four rounds. Also winning on Monday was IM Luke Harmon-Vellotti (3/4), last year’s Junior Closed runner-up, who has now put together three consecutive victories -- the latest after cracking open a slight rook-and-pawn endgame advantage over IM Sam Sevian. Harmon-Vellotti’s win moves him into a second-place tie with GM Kayden Troff (3/4), who lost his share of the lead after Monday’s draw with IM Aleksandr Ostrovskiy.
Xiong’s accelerated pace also breaks the three frontrunners away from rest of the pack, as a four-way tie for fourth sits a full point behind (2/4) the leader group.
It is no longer a secret that Sevian (1/4) is having a rough tournament, now minus-three across four rounds after seeing breakdowns in all phases of his game -- this latest to Harmon-Vellotti in the form of an endgame collapse.
FMs Michael Bodek and Justus Williams played each other to a wonderful fighting draw, with both sides playing for wins -- and both players coming up just short of tempo to finish their attacks.
Each round of the 2014 U.S. Junior Closed will see its first move daily at 1:00 p.m. CT through June 29, with a rest day on Wednesday. The tournament will be streamed live on www.uschesschamps.com, with commentary, analysis and player interviews by GM Ben Finegold and FM Aviv Friedman.
From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
Labels: jeffrey xiong, saint louis chess, us junior chess
Marc Arnold is 2012 U.S. Junior Chess Champion
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
International Master Marc Arnold has won the 2012 U.S. Junior Closed Championship in the final game of a two-game playoff against Alec Getz. Marc will receive an invitation to the 2013 U.S. Championship.
In the closing ceremony, the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis (CCSCSL) crowned International Master Marc Arnold, 19, of New York City, the 2012 U.S. Junior Chess Champion.
The Junior Closed Championship is an invitation-only tournament that features the top chess players in the nation under the age of 21. Alongside the U.S. Chess Championship and U.S. Women's Championship, the Junior Closed Championship completes the "Triple Crown" of the three most prestigious chess tournaments in the country.
Arnold beat out 16 other players in a split round-robin tournament with a playoff final to clinch the title and the first-place prize of $4,000. As the winner of the U.S. Junior Closed Championship, Arnold will also receive an invitation to the 2013 U.S. Chess Championship, which is scheduled to be held in Saint Louis next year.
"I'm honored to have won this tournament because the competition was really tough," said Arnold. "I'm looking forward to getting a chance to come back to Saint Louis to compete with the nation's best at the U.S. Championship next year."
Arnold was ranked first by rating out of the 16 competitors and was considered one of the favorites coming onto the tournament. The 16 players were split into two groups of eight, and the winner of each section squared off in a head-to-head playoff for the title. Arnold went undefeated in his round-robin section, scoring five points out of seven games, to secure his spot in the playoff finals.
"Marc did an amazing job and fought hard throughout the entire tournament," said Tony Rich, executive director of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. "Our hope is that his passion for the game and the amazing sportsmanship he has demonstrated will encourage and inspire other young chess players across the country to become more active chess players."
Arnold defeated Alec Getz, 18, also of New York City, who was the winner of the other round-robin section, in a two-game playoff final. Getz received $3,000 for second place and entered the tournament ranked eighth out of the 16 players.
The junior tournament's winnings for first through last place totaled $18,000.
About The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that is committed to making chess an important part of our community. In addition to providing a forum for the community to play tournaments and casual games, the club also offers chess improvement classes, beginner lessons and special lectures.
Recognizing the cognitive and behavioral benefits of chess, the Chess Club and Scholastic Center is committed to supporting those chess programs that already exist in area schools while encouraging the development of new in-school and after-school programs. For more information, visit www.saintlouischessclub.org.
From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
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Labels: marc arnold, us junior chess
U.S. Junior Chess Championship 2012 Begins Today
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Round 1 of the 2012 U.S. Junior Closed Championship begins today in Saint Louis, and the marquee match-up pits GM-elect conrad Holt against IM Darwin Yang, who recently secured his second GM norm last month at the New York International. The first round begins at 11 a.m. CT, Noon EST, and the event will feature live play-by-play from GM Ben Finegold and FM Aviv Friedman. Round two will take place today at 5 p.m. CT, 6 p.m. ET. Access the live commentary by visiting www.uschesschamps.com/live.
Tournament play will run through July 15, and the event will feature two rounds per day. The event features an overall prize fund of $18,000.
Read more »Labels: aviv friedman, Ben Finegold, conrad holt, daniel naroditsky, darwin yang, marc arnold, st louis chess, us junior chess, victor shen
US Senior, Junior, and Not-So-Either Chess in Houston from July 13! Register Now
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
In one month, the Summer Chess Festival which includes the U.S. Senior Open and the U.S. Junior Open returns to Houston, this time to the Marriott Houston South at Hobby Airport.
The Junior Open (July 13-15) is for players under the age of 21 as of January 1, 2012, and the Senior Open (July 9-14) is for those who are at least 50 years old as of July 9th. Once again, for those who are not eligible for either National event, we will have the Not-A-Senior-Not-A-Junior Open, July 13-15. In addition to these three events, we will have the always fun Blitz and Bughouse side events.
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| Ruth Haring |
Among the participants in the Senior Open will be the defending Champion, GM Sergey Kudrin, as well as the USCF President, Ruth Haring. GM Kudrin will also be giving a Simul on Friday morning before the start of the Junior Open. In addition to her participation in the Senior Open, Ruth Haring will also be available to discuss USCF matters with participants and other attendees of the Chess Festival.
The U.S. Junior Open has four sections: U21, U15, U11, and U8 (age as of 1/1/2012). The U21 will have cash prizes and plaques, and the winner gets an automatic spot in the 2013 U.S. Junior Championship, if still eligible by age. The other three sections have trophy prizes. All sections have Place and Class (age and rating) prizes and all participants receive commemorative medals. In addition to the individual awards, the event will have team prizes and players are eligible to enter school or club teams! Top four scores, minimum of three, count towards team scores in each section. More information and online registration, please go to this link.
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| Sergey Kudrin |
The U.S. Senior Open has 6-Day and 3-Day Schedules. It has a guaranteed prize fund of $5,000 with the overall winner taking home $1,250! The top three finishers get Commemorative Clocks and six class (age) winners will receive plaques. The event is open to all players age 50 or over, but the top finisher born on or before January 1, 1952 is the official USCF entrant in the World Senior Chess Championship. More information and on-line registration for this National Championship visit this link.
The Not-A-Senior-Not-A-Junior Open offers a $3,500 Prize Fund, 70% guaranteed. This event has four USCF rated sections: Open (also FIDE rated), U2000, U1600/Unrated, and U1300. For information and on line registration at this link.
From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
Also see her personal blog at
Labels: ruth haring, Sergey Kudrin, st louis chess club, us junior chess, us senior chess, uscf
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