2022 US Chess Championship

[JustinHorton]

Begins this week, first round Wednesday 7pm UK time (I think).

Any pointers, matters of interest, things to look out for?

[NickFaulks]

"Players who withdraw or forfeit a game may not receive any prize money".

[Mick Norris]

TWIC

I see Niemann is playing

[David Sedgwick]

Begins this week, first round Wednesday 7pm UK time (I think).

I believe that you are correct.

Play continues until Thursday 20th October.

Monday 10th October and Sunday 16th October are rest days.

Any pointers, matters of interest, things to look out for?

Any sign of any new Fair Play measures (No, I don't know anything significant

I wish all organisers, arbiters and players a successful and trouble-free event.

[JustinHorton]

Begins this week, first round Wednesday 7pm UK time (I think).

I believe that you are correct.

Although I think we might be looking at a half-hour transmission delay

[Tim Harding]

Begins this week, first round Wednesday 7pm UK time (I think).

I believe that you are correct.

Although I think we might be looking at a half-hour transmission delay

Yes, chess24 are starting to cover the moves at 7.30pm BST.
No Nakamura.

First round pairings in the Open are:
Lenderman-Aronian
Sevian-Moradiabadi [Qu: A former Iranian?]
Liang-So
Woo-Niemann
Xiong-Swiercz
Shankland-Robson
Caruana-Dominguez Perez

Seirawan and Chirila (aka The Count) commentating for chess24

PS: Actually Ukrainian WGM Anastazia Karlovich with Yasser, so presumably The Count will provide the analysis.

[IM Jack Rudd]

Yes, a former Iranian.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elshan_Moradi

[JustinHorton]

Nice win by Niemann

[Mick Norris]

Chess Mind round 1 report with game analysis

Hans Niemann defeated Christopher Yoo with the black pieces. Niemann played with something less than computer-like perfection, but still seemed to have little trouble outplaying his young opponent

[Joey Stewart]

If he has been cheating leading up to this tournament he would be mad to do so while the whole world has eyes on him, if anything he would be better off not preparing any openings to be on the safe side. In fact, so should all players not do advanced opening preparation, the world would be a much better place for it....

[Tim Harding]

If he has been cheating leading up to this tournament he would be mad to do so while the whole world has eyes on him, if anything he would be better off not preparing any openings to be on the safe side...

I very much doubt that Niemann has been cheating OTB.

What appears to have happened yesterday is that Niemann had done his opening preparation well in advance.
Apparently he has authored a Chessable course (which I haven't seen) for White on the Jobava London System. Young Christopher Yoo decided to see how Niemann would meet his own recommendations. Either clever or very unwise.

Niemann spent a few minutes at move 3 deciding how best to answer. By about move 16 (if not earlier) he had equalised and was soon better but the position became very complicated.
Niemann grew short of time and his 30...h3 was a mistake, but not fatal (just brought evaluation back to equal/unclear).
Yoo didn't make wise use of his near half-hour time advantage, trying to rush Niemann (well known to be the wrong policy in such situations), and missed 31 Nxd5 which was his best chance in the whole game. He only spent 2 minutes on his incorrect move.

Then White's move 36 e6 was near-suicidal. (He had probably planned 36 gxf5, seeing the reply 36...Rdh8 too late.)

At move 40, when Niemann had only 47 seconds left, Yoo could have given him a tricky choice by playing f4-f5 (though Niemann had at least three good replies to that) but instead his Bxe4 basically lost on the spot.
Afterwards Niemann refused to discuss any details about the game.
A more experienced opponent would probably have made it more difficult for him.
Tonight he has White against Jeffrey Xiong which could be lively, but round 3, when he will have Black against Shankland, could be his first tough test in this event.

[JustinHorton]

Then White's move 36 e6 was near-suicidal. (He had probably planned 36 gxf5, seeing the reply 36...Rdh8 too late.)

I was thinking at the time that he probably missed (in the game line) 39 Bg4 Rdh8.

[Geoff Chandler]

I too was watching the game.

36.e6 was tricky, may have been a decision regarding how short Hans was short on time.
A time trouble gamble?
I would never have played or even thought of 26...Ne8.
(too much ingrained Reinfeld and Alekhine about not breaking the connection of the Rooks.)
I'd have that a8 Rook away from masked attack by that f3 Bishop ASAP.

That was a good game considering the pressure he is under. A very good game.
The after game interview was good as well.

The game.
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=2385819

His game v Caruana will be interesting given things that have been said.

[LawrenceCooper]

https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-tourn ... 2022/2/1/6 the standout result of round 2.

[JustinHorton]

I was following this game but I was zonked and gave up while White was pondering his 24th, a few minutes before he let it slip.