Chess Room Newsletter #472

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1) Mechanics Institute Chess Club News
2) Frank Ruys 1920-2009
3) Here and There
4) Berkeley Chess Club News by Marc Newman

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12-year-old NM Yian Liou made it three for three in his last three encounters with IM Ricardo DeGuzman in the 9th Annual Guthrie McClain G/45 held last Saturday by defeating him in round four. The Walnut Creek Junior High school student drew in the last round with Expert Romy Fuentes to share first place with him at 4.5-.5.

The Fall Tuesday Night Marathon is coming down to the wire. NM Michael Pearson, fresh from a win in the Fresno County Championship, defeated Expert Evan Sandberg to take the lead with one round to go with 7 from 8. Top-seed Andy Lee defeated fellow NM Oleg Shaknazarov to move up to second place with 6.5 with one round to go. Both Masters were defeated by Expert Igor Traub and Lee did a first round half point bye.

Mechanics' Grandmaster Vinay Bhat turned in another excellent performance in Spain. Playing in an event near Madrid where he was seeded ninth going in he finished alone in third with 7 from 9 against a field including three GMs 2 over 2600) and three IMs. His only loss was as Black to Ukrainian GM Fedorchuk, one of the two co-winners, in a tough fight that could have gone either way. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0–0 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Nd7 12.d5 Nb6 13.Nbd2 g6 14.Qe2 f5 15.b4 Nb7 16.a4 bxa4 17.Nc4 cxb4 18.cxb4 fxe4 19.Bxe4 Bd7 20.Bh6 Rf7 21.Nfxe5 dxe5 22.Nxe5 Nd6 23.Nxf7 Kxf7 24.Ra3 Bf6 25.Rf3 Kg8 26.g4 Nbc4 27.Bb1 Rc8 28.Ba2 Bg5 29.Rf8+ Qxf8 30.Bxf8 Kxf8 31.Qf3+ Kg7 32.Qg3 Nf7 33.h4 Bf6 34.g5 Be5 35.Qf3 Bf5 36.d6 Ncxd6 37.Qd5 Re8 38.f4 Be6 39.Qd2 Bxa2 40.fxe5 Nxe5 41.Rxe5 Rxe5 42.Qxa2 Nf7 43.Qc4 Rb5 44.Kf2 Kf8 45.Ke3 Nd6 46.Qc7 Nf7 47.Kd2 Kg7 48.Kc3 a3 49.Qc6 Rf5 50.Kb3 h6 51.gxh6+ Kxh6 52.Qxa6 Rf6 53.Ka2 Ne5 54.Qe2 Rf5 55.b5 Kg7 1–0 Black may have been better after 28...g5 while 35...Bd6, keeping the d-pawn blockaded, looks to have held the balance.

George Sanguinetti writes:

Out of a field of 7 players, last Wednesday Blitz results were:

First: Jelinek
Second: Bukh
Third: Sanguinetti

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Frank Ruys, who first began a lifetime relationship with the Mechanics' Institute in the late 1930s where he drew with Arthur Dake in a simultaneous exhibition, passed away just before Thanksgiving. Dr. Ruys was an active over the board player in the 1940s and early 1950s before his family and career caused him to turn to correspondence chess which he continued to play until the end of his life.

Frank was a long time Correspondence Master. Here is a nice win in a theoretical line of the English . 1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nb4 6.Bb5+ N8c6 7.d4 cxd4 8.a3 dxc3 9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 10.axb4 cxb2 11.Bxb2 e6! 12.0–0–0+ Kc7 13.Bxc6 bxc6 14.Be5+ Kb6 15.Rd8 Bb7 16.Rd7 Bxb4 17.Bc7+ Ka6 18.Kb2 c5 19.Ne5! Bxe4 20.Nxf7 Rhf8 21.f3 Bg6 22.Nd6 Rab8 23.Ra1+ Ba5+ 24.Kc1 Rb1+ 25.Rxb1 1–0 A contributor to George Koltanowski's California Chess News and Chess Digest in the late 1940s, forerunners of the California Chess Reporter, where he sometimes translating articles by Max Euwe as Dutch was his native tongue, Dr. Ruys also had a strong interest in endgame studies as he favored the artistic side of the game.

Frank Ruys will be remembered as one of the great gentlemen of California chess whose enthusiasm for the game and life never waned.

The following obituary appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle.

The family of Dr. Frank Ruys wishes to inform of his passing on November 23, 2009, at the age of 89. Frank was born in Maasluis, Netherlands in 1920, and travelled to the United States in 1927, where he lived the rest of his life. After graduating from Cal Berkeley and medical school at Tulane University, Frank served in the Navy in post WWII Japan, and later on the hospital ship Repose during the Korean Conflict. He met and married Joyce West in 1947, and together they located to Woodside, CA. where they raised five children, and lived for over 25 years. He also lived in Atherton, and Redwood Shores.

Frank was an Orthopedic Surgeon and Chief of Orthopedics at Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City, CA practicing for over 40 years. He was never happier than when he was healing and putting people back together. It was his life’s work and a great source of pride to him, along with his family. An avid stamp collector, amateur first violinist with the Peninsula Symphony, and a passionate and brilliant chess player, Frank began playing after reading a book about the game in 1937. By his mid-20’s he was competing successfully in chess tournaments statewide, even playing multiple blindfold games. He won the status of United States Chess Master in 1985, and played correspondence chess with internationally renowned chess experts all his adult life.

Frank is survived by his sister, Constance Ruys of Menlo Park, his ex-wife, Joyce Ruys of Los Gatos,CA, and his children, Elaine Ruys of Beaverton, Oregon, Patricia Stearns of Trinidad, CA, Tim Ruys of Chicago, IL, Jennifer Gill of Redwood City, CA, and Renee Iverson of Kirkland, WA, and Cassandra Ruys and stepson Terrell Thurston of Albuquerque, NM, and his 7 grandchildren who lovingly refer to him as "Opa"; Megan Russin, Kelly Stearns, Christopher Ruys, Vincent Gill, Emily Iverson, Jocelyn Iverson, and Brooke Ruys. A private memorial is planned. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that cards and condolences be sent to Jennifer Gill, 36 Duane St #7, Redwood City, CA, 94062. A donation in Dr. Ruys memory is welcomed at The Sequoia Hospital Foundation at www.sequoiahospitalfoundation.org.

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Bobby Fischer facts:

His USCF rating was 1726 on the May 20, 1956 list
2231 on May 5, 1957
2626 # 2 behind Reshevsky) March 1958.

The New York Knights are the new US Chess League Champions.

Miami Sharks			New York Knights
GM Julio Becerra: 2615	1.0	0.0	GM Giorgi Kacheishvili: 2666
IM Blas Lugo: 2351	0.5	0.5	GM Pascal Charbonneau: 2560
IM Alejandro Moreno Roman: 2331	0.0	1.0	NM Matt Herman: 2275
NM Eric Rodriguez: 2290	0.5	0.5	NM Yaacov Norowitz: 2354
Avg Rating: 2397			Avg Rating: 2464
Miami Total -------	2.0	2.0*	------- New York Total

1. NM Eric Rodriguez (MIA) vs NM Yaacov Norowitz (NY) 0-1
2. NM Yaacov Norowitz (NY) vs IM Alejandro M. Roman (MIA) 0-1
3. IM Alejandro Moreno Roman (MIA) vs NM Matt Herman 1-0
4. GM Pascal Charbonneau (NY) vs IM Alejandro M. Roman (MIA) 0-1
5. IM Alejandro M. Roman (MIA) vs GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) 0-1
6. GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) vs IM Blas Lugo (MIA) 1-0
7. GM Julio Becerra (MIA) vs GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) 0-1

Here are a couple of interesting links.

http://kevinspraggett.blogspot.com/2009/12/chess-in-news.html

http://www.boston.com/ae/games/articles/2009/12/05/chess_notes/ Go to http://www.ncchess.org/pdfs/CrittendenMeeting.pdf for a fascinating interview with former North Carolina champ and long time Southern California player Charles "Kit" Crittenden.

Garry Kasparov may be retired from tournament play but he is still keeping his head above water as the following article from the New York Observer reports.

Kasparov to Upper West• Russian chessmaster (and political force) Garry Kasparov has paid$3.4 million for a penthouse apartment at 205 West 76th Street.Kasparov to Upper West SideBy Chloe Malle

In 1985, at age 22, Garry Kasparov was the youngest world chesschampion in history. Now, almost a quarter of a century later, Mr.Kasparov has retired from chess, taking up politics in its stead as afierce critic of Vladimir Putin and a public enemy of the Kremlin. (Heonce declared of the current Russian government, "The system is notcorrupt—corruption is the system.") The chess prodigy and politicaldissident, who, according to an interview with Macleans Canada, "hasno life" due to his choice to enter politics, recently bought a $3.4million penthouse apartment on West 76th Street.

The UK Guardian reported in 2007 that Mr. Kasparov spends thousands ofdollars on bodyguards each month to protect him and his family. But, Iwouldn't worry about him having to sell the family silver as it seemsthat the chess grandmaster has money to spend. As well as his recent$3.4 million purchase on the Upper West Side, Mr. Kasparov keepsresidences in Paris, Moscow, Leningrad and that political hotbed: NewJersey. The deed for the penthouse condo was filed under the names ofboth Mr. Kasparov and his third wife, Daria, with whom he has a youngdaughter.

Mr. Kasparov, who was arrested during a protest in Moscow in 2007,told Playboy in an interview, "If something goes wrong with me or myfamily, I don't think there's a chance for them [the Kremlin] to saythey aren't guilty. For many Russians, I'm a symbol of national pride.I was the Soviet champion even for the left wing, even for thenationalists. I'm not Garry Kasparov, half-Armenian, half-Jewish born,but the Soviet champion, the man who was on top of the world of chess,the pride of the nation."

Mr. Kasparov may soon assume a new role as the international pride ofthe Upper West Side.

Source: http://www.observer.com

Go to the following links for Northern California tournament calendars courtesy of Tom Langland.

Scholastic:

http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=MG9yazlxZDB1ZGhmdDJsaGNzcHVkbGthb2NAZ3JvdXAuY2FsZW5kYXIuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbQ&mode=AGENDA

Regular:

http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=bGFldmp2aTdpcTJ0bjMzbHYzZXYxZzMzdmNAZ3JvdXAuY2FsZW5kYXIuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbQ&mode=AGENDA

John Hillery writes:

The 45th American Open, held at the LAX Renaissance Hotel November 26-29, attracted 200 players, along with another 199 in assorted side events. In the 37-player Open section, GM Melikset Khachiyan, IM Andranik Matikozyan, and young master Julian Landaw tied for first with 6/8, with Khachiyan taking the first-place trophy on tiebreak. Next at 5½ were IMs Enrico Sevilano and Vladimir Mezentsev and masters Tatev Abrahamyan and Takashi Iwamoto. Randy Hough and Anthony Ong directed.

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The BCC just wrapped up its annual championship. NM Roger Poehlmann and Farid Watson shared first place with four points out of five. Congratulations to both of them. Greg Lope and Steven Krasnov split third place, just half a point behind.

This weekend sees something new for the BCC, a four-round Saturday tournament with a faster time control. It’s G/45, starting at 10 am and you can find details and sign up here:

https://www.berkeleychessschool.org/signups/signup/320

A new Friday tournament will begin on December 18th.