Western States Open Chess Tournament 2018 at Reno

6-ROUND SWISS IN 5 SECTIONS I and my son Ahyan will be playing in the 2-day format of Western States Open Chess Tournament 2018 at Reno. The details are as follows. Friday 2 Rounds: 12 noon - 7:00 p.m. Saturday 2 Rounds: 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Sunday 2 Rounds: 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 2 Day Schedule plays 4 rounds on Saturday: Rd. 1 - 11:00am, Rd. 2 - 1:15pm, Rd. 3 - 3:45pm. Rd. 4 merge with regular schedule - 7:00 pm.Time Control: Open Section: 40 moves/2 hours, SD/55 minutes, 5 seconds delay for all six rounds. Class Sections: 40 moves/2 hours, SD/1 hour, 5 seconds delay in regular schedule. Game/1 hour, 5 seconds delay for Rds. 1-3 of 2-day schedule. Half-point byes available for any round (2 byes maximum in Open Section). $25,500 PRIZE FUND! Based on 275 players. At least 5 places paid in each section!THE FOLLOWING PRIZES ARE GUARANTEED: Open $2,000-$1,000-$800-$600-$500-$300-$300, plus 1/2 of all other prizes. NOTE: GM/IM free entry not eligible for class prizes 2399 and below. May elect to pay entry fee and become eligible. In case of tie for 1st place, a G/10x2 playoff will be held for $100 of prize fund. 120 Grand Prix points and FIDE ratings in top section. Trophies to top 3 in sections A-D. - OTHER PRIZES - TOP UNRATED IN D/UNDER SECTION: One year USCF membership + trophy. Unrated players not eligible for cash prizes except Open 1-7. TOP SENIOR (65 & Over): $200. Seniors not eligible include: Provisionally rated, unrated, and masters. CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP: $600-$300. Decided by total score of a fixed roster of ten scores from one club or area in main tournament. Club members not eligible include: GM/IM, and unrated. PROVISIONAL PLAYERS: May win only 50% of first-place money in a class section. (May win full prize in Open section, 1-7 overall.) PRIZE MONEY OVER $599: U.S. Social Security number and U.S. mailing address required for IRS Form 1099, or 30% of prize money withheld for taxes. Open Expert A B C D/Under $2,000 1,000 800 600 500 300 300 2399/below $1,000 $500 2299/below $1,000 $500 $2,000 800 400 300 200 $1,800 700 400 300 300 $1,700 700 400 300 300 $1,500 600 400 300 300 $1,000 400 300 200 1199/below $300 ENTRY FEES SECTION/RATING ENTRY FEE 2-Day Schedule Open Section GM and IM Free* 2-Day Schedule not available for Open Section Open Section (2200-Up) $159 Open Section (2000-2199) $200 Open Section (1999 and below) $300 Expert Section $159 $155 for 2-day schedule "A" Section (1800-1999) $158 $155 for 2-day schedule "B" Section (1600-1799) $157 $155 for 2-day schedule "C" Section (1400-1599) $156 $155 for 2-day schedule "D" Section (1200-1399) $150 $155 for 2-day schedule Unrated Players FREE** *Free GM/IM entry not eligible for class prizes 2399 and below. May elect to pay entry fee and become eligible. **Unrated FREE but must also pay one year USCF dues even if already a member. (Adult Premium $49, Youth Premium $30.) Unrated players play in "D" Section. Players may play up. No discounts for Unrated players in main tournament. $10 discount off entry fee to Seniors age 65+. ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS ADVANCE ENTRY BY MAIL: Add $11 if postmarked after September 19. Add $22 if entering at site. Do not mail after 10/12 or phone or email after 10/16. Print out the Entry Formand fill it out. Return the printed form with your check or money order payable to THE SANDS REGENCY or provide credit card information ($5 service charge on credit card entries) and signature. Mail to: SANDS REGENCY HOTEL/CASINO 345 N. Arlington Avenue Reno, NV 89501 No phone entries please. ADVANCE ENTRY BY E-MAIL: E-mail all information on the form to TD Weikel at wackyykl@aol.com. ADVANCE ENTRY BY PHONE: Call 775-747-1405 ENTRY AT SITE: Register on Thursday, October 18 between 5 and 8 p.m., or on Friday, October 19 between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. Entries after 10 a.m. Friday may have to accept a first round (1/2 pt.) bye at the discretion of the T.D. CCA ratings may be used to protect from possible sandbaggers. Current USCF membership required. $49 Adult Premium, $30 Youth Premium. New memberships/renewals available at site. Sets provided. Please bring clocks. OK to play up, but increased entry fees are applicable in Open Section. No smoking in game room. Smoking in casino OK. Pairings: To make an odd group even, the highest rated player from the next lower group will be moved up, when applicable. If the unlikely situation occurs, three blacks in a row could be assigned. Pairings not changed for color alternation unless three in a row or cause a plus 3. TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR Jerry Weikel, Chief T.D. (N.T.D.) 6578 Valley Wood Drive Reno, NV 89523 775-747-1405 email wackyykl@aol.com SPECIAL HOTEL RATES Thank you for staying with us! Discounted rates are $58.61 Sunday-Thursday, $88.12 Friday or Saturday, single or double occupancy, tax included. First night's deposit by check or credit card must be received by October 1st to guarantee these special rates. Players without reservations will be charged the current walk-up rate in effect on day of arrival. To guarantee hotel reservation with credit card by telephone call 1-866-386-7829 and ask for group code CHESS1018. (Please, no tournament entries by telephone at Sands phone number.) Remember, early entries must be postmarked by September 19. Add $11 after September 19. Add $22 if entering at site. First night's hotel room must be guaranteed by October 1. Players without reservations will be charged the current walk up rate on day of arrival.

Source: https://sites.google.com/site/renochessclub/wso/tournament

Ashik vs Colin Chow, 1st Round of Sacramento Chess Championship

Last weekend I played Sacramento Chess Championship (2 day format) and scored 4.5 out of 5. Here is the first game. I blundered a pawn and was in risk of loosing the game. But I won by some accurate defence and a nice end game tactics in Night vs Biship end game.

Ashik vs Art Zhao, Round 3, Hexes 3 Round Swiss Tournament, Fremont

White: Ashik Uzzaman (Rating 1797)
Black: Art Zhao (Rating 1863)
It was a relatively easy won for me. My opponent simply surrendered to my king side attack in the middle game where I came out a piece up but exchange down. The rest of the game was a routine.

Ashik vs Rahul, 2nd Round, Hexes 3SS, Fremont

White: Rahul Mohan (Rating 1596)
Black: Ashik Uzzaman (Rating 1797)
Result: 1/2 - 1/2
This is one of the worst games I played recently. I was completely in a lost position but due to my opponent's mistake was able to equalize and draw the game. I was having a headache all through today and it only went worse during this game and I was not able to think more than a few minutes. In that sense, I am happy with the result

Ashik vs Dikr, Round 1, Hexes 3 Round Swiss Tournament, Fremont

White: Ashik Uzzaman (Rating 1797)
Black: Dikr Karagueuzian (Rating 2157)
A good game of G/60 which was ultimately drawn as I could not take advatange of my one pawn up position due to a close Rook Ending.

Salesforce.com Chess Tournament Round 4 (Final): Ashik vs Ganesh

Ganesh and I picked lunched from Oasis Grill across the street and played our fourth round and final game in 15th Floor of our 1 California building. Ganesh played quite an attacking game but I kept the edge after winning the exchange. Finally in a time pressure he found himself a piece down before resigning.

With this win (4 out of 4) I am became the champion of this tournament. Good feeling!

37th People's Chess Tournament by Bay Area Chess

Last weekend I was quite busy with the 37th People's Chess Tournament in Fremont Marriott. As it was a long weekend, I registered it online through www.bayareachess.com after renewing my US Chess Membership.

After a successful World Cup Cricket 2011 opening ceremony in Dhaka where Bryan Adams, Shankar-Ehsan-Loy, Runa Laila, Sabina Yasmin et al perfomred in the midst of mind blowing fireworks, we gathered in Shahriar's house for the India vs Bangladesh opening match of the world cup in 19th February. He arranged lots of people and we had a nice time gossiping together (Ezaz, Amin, Dhanad, Sayeem, Wali Bhai, Sumit Bhai, Mamun Bhai, Dipu Bhai and some others). Although we lost due to a huge score from Sehwag (175) that took India's total to 370/4 in 50 overs, we gave it a fight by scoring 283/9 without being all out.

That meant I didn't get much sleep for the next morning's chess game in the tournament at 11:30 AM.

I won the first game nicely, drew a lost game against Kevin, got a win by forfeit in third round, won playing well in fourth game, drew a completely won game in fifth and finally lost a drawn Rook ending in the final (sixth) round. Despite this, I was in the prize list for my group (AB - 1700 to 1899) winning $66. I was jointly 6th-7th-8th for 4.0 out of 6 games. Look at the link below and check the AB section for my name in red in the prize list! I also gained 30 US Chess rating and my new rating now is 1797. I am planning to participate in short tournaments in future as well. This tournament was a 5 hour each game tournament for 6 rounds (move 30/90 + 60 each) spanning 3 days. My colleague Ganesh came twice during the tournament to watch my games and the final evening Amin, Shusmita, Ahyan and Suhaila came. Ahyan was very happy to see this vast gathering of chess players in Fremont Marriott (200+ participants in several groups).

http://bayareachess.com/events/11/221sp.php

In case you are interested for my games, please check  earlier posts in this blog for the game notations to replay yourself.

Ashik (1767) vs Tendoro Porlares (1897), 4th Round

Opening: Caro Kann Defence
It was interesting as he was the highest rated player in our AB group. After defeat in this game to me, he withdrew from the rest of the 2 games as he knew he won't be able to make it to the prize list.

In the 3rd round, I got a win by forfeit as my opponent Bryan Ling (1584) could not attend due to illness. I looked for alternate opponents but the tournament directors couldn't find someone interested to play at 1700+ player!

Arnold Hua (1674) vs Ashik (1767), 6th Round

Opening: Sicillian Defence
I made a very early and common mistake in the opening. However, I was able to hold the position till the very last move, where a one move mistake made the drawn game a lost one for me!

So the tournament standing finally was Kevin and Arnold joint champion with 5 out of 6 while 3 other guys were 4.5 followed by 3 of us 4 points each. So I was jointly 6th to 8th and will get some prize money. Also with this tournament, I gained 30 US Chess rating and my rating now is 1797!

Edward Li (1822) vs Ashik (1767), 5th Round

Opening: Slav Defence
I made a big blunder in the end game to make a completely winning game to a drawn one.

Kevin (1704) vs Ashik (1767), Round 2

Opening: Sicillian Defence
Kevin, 10 years old only boy, finally went on to become joint champion in AB group. He was crying with tears after making 2 blunders against me in a completely winning position. Finally when I was winning after his blunders, he offered me a draw as he was not able to think clearly or sit down on the board... I accepted the draw offer.

Ashik (1767) vs Terri (1702), 1st Round, 37th People Tourney, Fremont Marriott

Opening: Caro Kann Defence

I believe it was a hard fought, complexly calculated long game for me where I went into severe time pressure but could hold the strings together till end. And hence the victory brought satisfaction!

Salesforce.com Chess Tournament Round 3: Ashik vs Randy

I won the third round of the tournament against Randy Sepe. He is a Support Metrics Manager and sits in One California St.



It was a Caro Kann Defence game and as I was writing my moves, Ganesh was also writing our moves. Randy made a dubious opening choice against which i was able to create pressure on him to limit the movement of this pieces substantially. It ended with an attack from which I came out a piece up. The rest of time he defended well, but I was too ahead by then to make any difference in the end result.

Salesforce.com Chess Tournament Round 2: Ashik vs Ron

I won the round 2 of chess tournament in Salesforce.com a little earlier playing with black. My opponent was Ron Pragides who sits in seventh floor in the same building as mine. He is Senior Director of Software Engineering. Shishir and Maithili joined me to watch the game. The chess clock we had actually ran out of battery so Ron did an interesting thing. He downloaded a chess clock in his iPhone where we set 20 minutes for each of us. It served the purpose fine!



Ron made the first mistake but I made a follow up mistake too to bring him back in the game. So it went down to Ron to make the final mistake by him through which I was able to mate him. Unlike round 1, this time I was ahead of time.

Salesforce.com Chess Tournament Round 1 - Ashik vs Didier

I played the first round of the four round chess tournament in Salesforce.com. I won with White, although I felt I am out of touch by a good margin due to the lack of practice. My opponent was Didier Prophete who is PMTS and sits in 3rd floor in the same building as I do. Also I took lot more time than my opponent to move.

However, I will do some practice before next rounds so that I don't make simple miscalculations.



Soon after this, I exchanged the queens to make sure there is nothing left in the board except my Rook and Didier's Bishop while I have a bunch of queens side passed pawns to march for promotion. So he resigned here while I had some 3 minutes left in the clock as opposed to his 9 minutes.