2018 USA Chess Championship

[Chris Rice]

Rd 7 saw Shankland change his policy to that of halving out against the big 3 while Caruana beat Akobian and they jointly lead on 5/7. Izoria after beating Caruana earlier in the tournament also beat Nakamura who really doesn't seem to be firing at all.

In the Women's event, FM Annie Wang who is doing her homework so she doesn't get behind during the tournament won again and she has a full point lead over the rest of the field on 6/7.

[JustinHorton]

. In fact the only item of interest was Nakamura who was asked to weigh in on his thoughts from Caruana's loss yesterday and the bigger picture.

"I think Fabiano underestimated Zviad (Izoria) ."

Heh

[Tim Harding]

Two big games in tonight's round 8 line-up:
So (4.5) v Caruana (5)
Nakamura (3.5 !!) v Shankland (5)

Realistically there are no possible winners from those on 50% or less, but there is still an olympiad place to be won (assuming Shankland is probably going to get in again):
Robson (2.5) v Akobian (3.5)
Liang (3) v lenderman (3.5)
Zherebukh (3.5) v Izoria (3.5)
Onischuk (2) v Xiong (3)

Izoria looks like the best bet here but it could come down to his last round game with Lenderman.

In the Women's Championship, 15-year-old Annie Wang had a strange game yesterday (better with Black at least once early on, then losing, then catching her opponent in a clever trap). Her full point lead is likely to evaporate by the end as she has a very tough run-in but she will surely make the olympiad team.
Today's pairings:
Wang (6) v Krush (4.5)
Foisor (3) v Paikidze (5): the 2017 champion faces the 2017 winner.
Feng (3.5) v Zatonskih (4)
Abrahamyan (4) v Sharevich (3)
Yu (3.5) v Gorti (3): we are unlikely to see 1 b4 again, I guess.
Goletiani (1) v Derakshani (1.5)

[LawrenceCooper]

Two big games in tonight's round 8 line-up:
So (4.5) v Caruana (5)
Nakamura (3.5 !!) v Shankland (5)

Realistically there are no possible winners from those on 50% or less, but there is still an olympiad place to be won (assuming Shankland is probably going to get in again):
Robson (2.5) v Akobian (3.5)
Liang (3) v lenderman (3.5)
Zherebukh (3.5) v Izoria (3.5)
Onischuk (2) v Xiong (3)

Doesn't Nakamura have 3? He lost yesterday and had all draws before that?

[Matt Mackenzie]

Yes, he is indeed (rather incredibly) on a minus score.

[Mick Norris]

Chess Mind round 7 report

round 8 pairings:

So (4.5) - Caruana (5)
Nakamura (3) - Shankland (5)
Robson (2.5) - Akobian (3.5)
Liang (3) - Lenderman (3.5)
Zherebukh (3.5) - Izoria (3.5)
Onischuk (2) - Xiong (3)

[Tim Harding]

Indeed yes minus one! Sorry for the typo

[LawrenceCooper]

In the Women's Championship, 15-year-old Annie Wang had a strange game yesterday (better with Black at least once early on, then losing, then catching her opponent in a clever trap). Her full point lead is likely to evaporate by the end as she has a very tough run-in but she will surely make the olympiad team.

Her win against Krush suggests she may take some shifting although Paikidze at least has the chance to catch her when they play in round 9.

[NickFaulks]

Her full point lead is likely to evaporate by the end as she has a very tough run-in but she will surely make the olympiad team.

I don't think that is correct. She must win this tournament, otherwise she will probably not make the team. Who would they leave out?

[Tim Harding]

Her full point lead is likely to evaporate by the end as she has a very tough run-in but she will surely make the olympiad team.

I don't think that is correct. She must win this tournament, otherwise she will probably not make the team. Who would they leave out?

I don't follow your argument here, Nick. There are lots of people they could omit, especially the ones who are not in this event or having a dreadful time.
USA will almost certainly select for the men's team boards 4 and 5 the top two in the Championship outside Caruana/ So/ Naka (though Naka had better watch out he is not put on board 4 if Shankland wins the title.)

In other sports such as athletics there is a long meritocratic history of USA omitting for Olympics and World Championships some great stars who fail to perform in national trials.

Let's look at the top of the USA women's ratings (from the current FIDE list), classical ratings only and omitting birth years:
700088 Polgar, Susan GM WIM FA,FST 2577 inactive
14101572 Zatonskih, Anna IM WGM 2444
2012782 Krush, Irina GM WGM 2422
2005956 Levitina, Irina WGM 2405 inactive
2078341 Yu, Jennifer FM WIM 2367
13301918 Abrahamyan, Tatev WGM 2366
13603620 Paikidze, Nazi IM WGM 2352
2011905 Shahade, Jennifer WGM 2322 inactive
2053900 Wang, Annie FM WIM 2321
So Annie is sixth on the active list. Whatever points she recently lost will be coming back soon,
though she probably won't overtake any active player.

Below her are:
322750 Nemcova, Katerina WGM 2315 not playing this year
2000784 Akhsharumova, Anna WGM 2310 inactive
1212915 Foisor, Sabina-Francesca WGM 2308 losing points in this championship
12500330 Derakhshani, Dorsa IM WGM 2306 marked as inactive but back now, but with poor result

On my argument, Foisor is surely out (even if she beats Wang in the last round) because even if she finished 3/3 and Wang 0/3, the teenager would still be a point ahead.
Paikidze is playing well, will probably win or finish second, so is surely safe.
Krush is some kind of icon and probably safe for that reason but she has lost horribly twice in the event so if she fails again the unthinkable might be thought, as in athletics.

Jennifer Yu looked like being out but has recovered so might just do enough to be considered. Probably she will be the one to make way.

Zatonskih and Abrahamyan may be WGM but neither can count on being selected unless they finish strongly.
If Paikidze beats Wang today the event will be open to the end, but Wang could finish in a tie for second even if she loses all her remaining games.

They would be crazy not to give her the experience of going to an olympiad, even if only getting a handful of games as reserve.

[NickFaulks]

In other sports such as athletics there is a long meritocratic history of USA omitting for Olympics and World Championships some great stars who fail to perform in national trials.

That's because it's what it says in USATF rules. It isn't meritocratic, it is arbitrary and has cost them a number of medals over the years. The USCF has no such rule.

They would be crazy not to give her the experience of going to an olympiad, even if only getting a handful of games as reserve.

That's your opinion, and it may well be a sensible one, but my guess is that if she doesn't win here they will take their top five. We shall see - or, more likely, not!

[Tim Harding]

Well I agree she might be a risk: she has just won two lost positions but it proves she is a fighter.
I would tip Paikidze to beat Wang today but some crazy things have been happening.

[Tim Harding]

I nearly forgot to post today's line-ups.
Caruana (5.5) v Nakamura (3.5)
Shankland (5.5) v Zherebukh (4)
Akobian (3.5) v So (5)
Lenderman (4.5) v Robson (3.5)
Izoria (4) v Onishchuk (2.5)
Xiong (3.5) v Liang (3)

Lenderman is in with a chance of snatching that reserve spot. He plays Xiong tomorrow and Izoria with Black in the last round.

As we already discussed, there is a good chance the Ladies will be effectively decided today:

Paikidze (6) v Wang (7) with the 2016 champion hot favourite but if she doesn't win...

Also hotly contesting olympiad spots:
Zatonskih (5) v Foisor (3)
Krush (4.5) v Abrahamyan (5)
Derekshani (1.5) v Yu (4.5)

Also ran:
Gort (3) v Feng (3.5)
Sharevich (3) v Goletiani (2)

[Tim Harding]

Draw for Wang to maintain her clear lead.
Wesley So draws his seventh game in a row.
Shankland in pole position to retake sole lead (but his game and Caruana's still in progress)

[LawrenceCooper]

Draw for Wang to maintain her clear lead.
Wesley So draws his seventh game in a row.
Shankland in pole position to retake sole lead (but his game and Caruana's still in progress)

Yes, Shankland won to reach 6.5/9 with Caruana on 6 and So on 5.5. Annie Wang retains her point lead from Paikidze with Krush, Yu and Zatonskih a further point behind.