Round 2: Primates v LeChess Maestros

Sorry to be late on the posting for Round 2:
Here is the line up
Campagnolo (2035) White - Chessduke (2108) Black: Time Still TBD
Nosalt - Fegary 0-1
Livis (1944) White - Smitty120 (1936) Black: Friday, Oct 31 @ 1600
Dnmuscg - Chessateer 1-0 (forfeit)

Primates 3.5 – Tomato Paste 0.5

Round 1 went well, with Tom, Don & Kristian all triumphiant while I drew on board 1 in an interesting endgame. I frankly was pretty closed to being busted, in a game that my only hopes lay in pushing for a Rook and Pawn endgame – which in fact happened.

Here is what happened next:

I have managed to force myself back into the game and now am up a rook for 2 pawns. White offered a draw and I accepted, not being sure if in fact I could stop that h pawn, especially with my king so far out of play.

Here is some analysis, which confirms my suspicions

56...Rf5 57.Kh6
This is pretty much forced (and what I expected to play). All other moves lose

- 57.h6 Rg5 58.b5 Rxg3 59.b6 Rg6 (59...f5?? throws the game away 60.b7 Rb3 61.Kg6 f4 62.h7 Rb6+ 63.Kf5 f3) 60.b7 Rb6 61.Kg7 Rxb7 62.Kf6 Rb6+ 63.Kxf7 Rxh6

57...f6
- 57...Rb5 (This doesn't work) 58.g4 Rxb4 59.Kg7 (59.g5 Rg4 60.g6 f5 61.Kg7 f4 62.h6 f3 63.h7 f2 64.h8Q f1Q 65.Qh5 Qe2–+) 59...Rxg4+ 60.Kxf7 Rh4 61.Kg6 Rg4+ 62.Kf7 Rh4 63.Kg6 Ke2 64.h6 Kf3 65.h7=]

58.Kg6 Rg5+ 59.Kxf6 Rxh5
- 59...Rxg3 (This doesn't work either) 60.h6 Rh3 61.Kg7 Rg3+ 62.Kf7 Rh3=

60.g4 Rb5 61.g5 Rxb4 62.g6 Rb6+ 63.Kf7 Ke2 64.g7 Rb8= ½–½

Round 1: Primates take on Tomato Paste

Here is the line up for Round 1:

SonofFlash (2200) White – Campagnolo (2035) Black: Friday, 24 Oct @ 2000
DFME (2000) Black – Nosalt (1994) White: 0-1
MrKarma (1651) White – livis (1944) Black: Friday, 24 Oct @ 1700
Cory (1521) Black – dnmuscg (1930) White: Friday, 24 Oct @ 1945

Tomato looks tough on the upper boards, but Tom posted an early, impressive win yesterday – a great start to our season. The rest of our games will be going on this evening, conceivably all three could be going on at the same time if Kristian’s game goes long.

Also, Kudos to Mutaant, the Magnolia Division TD, who promptly fixed a glitch in Tom’s game score. Thanks!

Of note, I did sign up to play for the Peons U2200, so I have that game at 0500 Sunday morning!!! Yikes, but the family plans on going to Busch Gardens after Church, so I have to wedge the game somehow. I guess I will sleep while the wife drives.

I’ll post the results probably Saturday.

Return of the Primates!!!

Tournament #39 has begun. We have assembled the “Primates of the Caribbean” together once again, with all five players returning and the addition of Kristian (aka “Livis”). Trond wanted to stay on the team, but because of work commitments, wanted to play more in a reserve role vice playing every week. All in all, I think the team has good chemistry (if there can be such a thing as chemistry when the team play is all online), especially given that Don, Tom and I play on the same team at US Amateur Team East every year and have known each other for years and years. I also was asked to play as a sub for the U2200 division team “The Peons”, so hopefully I will get some more good games in. I am slated to play 2 games with them, which I think I can handle without too much difficulty.

Getting back to the ICC Team 45 45 Tournament #39, we are seeded in the U2000 Magnolia Division with the following teams: “Tomato Paste”, “Runners U2000” and “LeChess Maestros”. First round kicks off next Tues, October 21st. Once the lineup and game times are announced, I will post them.