Monday, December 12, 2011

Tansel Turgut wins Illinois Class

ICCF Grandmaster Tansel Turgut knows something about over-the-board play, too, as evidenced by his victory in this past weekend's 2011 Illinois Class Championships with a 3½-½ score.

Dr. Turgut had a narrow escape in the final round against 8-year-old (!!!) Awonder Liang.  It appeared to this kibitzer that Awonder (in clear first at the beginning of the round) had his esteemed opponent on the ropes at one point.  But he lost, and tied for second with FM Albert Chow with 3-1 scores (Chow was undefeated and beat NM Greg Bungo in the last round.  Don't ask me what I was thinking when I wrote the last sentence: Chow and Bungo played a very correct draw, and I even played a small role in the post-mortem.) 

In the skittles room, Awonder was disconsolate about his loss in an eight-year-old kinda way.  But his father and siblings reminded him that he played very well, that he should be proud, and it's that only a game. (Useful advice for adults, too.)  Dr. Turgut came to collect Awonder's signature on the scoresheet "so I can show other people someday that I beat a world champion."  Adream Liang chimed in, "But he's already world champion!"  Thus cheered up, Awonder started kibitzing my post-mortem:

Brock-Moskwa (variation)
White to play and win with style
(yes, 1.Bf4 and 1.Rf4 are good enough, but look for the coolest move)

I don't think it took Awonder more than two seconds to spot the shot.  (Hint: leave your queen and rook en prise, and allow Black to capture a third piece with check.)  What a phenomenal talent!

Thanks to the Orland Park Cultural Center, organizer Mikhail Korenman, and TD Sevan Muradian for a smooth and fun event.

A report on the other sections will follow: look for games on the ICA website in the next few days!

Edit: here are the crosstables!

6 comments:

Chris Falter said...

Interesting position, Bill!

White doesn't have to checkmate; he just has to emerge from the flurry retaining his extra piece. So 1. Bd4! wins.

* 1...Bxg3 2. Rh8#
* 1...exf3 2. Bxe5 +-
* 1...Bxd4+ 2. Nxd4 and the fact that black's queen is hanging allows white to escape unscathed. 2...Qxg3+ 3. Rxg3+-; 2...Qb6 3. Qe5 and the threat of mate on h8 allows white to come out ahead.

Vinny said...

It took me more than two seconds to find it, but objectively I don't think that its any stronger than 1.Bf4.

Bill Brock said...

Of course you're right, Vince. 1.Bf4 exf3 2.Bxe5 even transposes to Chris's line.

It's the kid's instant sight of the board that blew me away.

Vinny said...

It is scary. The worst thing is that he's still a few years away from getting distracted by girls.

My boy and I got to work on our endgames though. He should have drawn Awonder and I should have drawn Tommy Ulrich.

Bill Brock said...

I have the Hart-T Uhlrich scoresheet and was trying to make sense of it. (I think it's your copy.) Around move 24 (from memory) I see ...Rd8 on the scoresheet I have, which would hang the rook to Qc7xRd8. (This is the moment when the Nb6-Nd7 duo was hanging to the Be3: I actually saw that position while walking.)

Vinny said...

I just e-mailed you the pgn.