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August 17, 2010
The Utah G/40 Championship August 14 turned out to be a striking success, with 27 players participating in the simul against IM Jacek Stopa and 42 participating in the four-round tournament.
The simul lasted approximately two and a half hours, with Stopa winning 23 and drawing 4. Those drawn include players Carly Atkinson, Antonio Padron, Ben Balter and Matt Boren. After the last remaining player in the simul resigned, Stopa received an enormous round of applause.
The regular tournament then commenced. There were four sections: U800, with eight participants; U1200, also with eight participants; U1600, with ten participants; and Open with sixteen participants.
IM Jacek Stopa was the clear winner of the tournament; the only player with 4.0/4.0 in the open section. Bryon Doyle came in second, with 3.0/4.0.
The fourth round, Stopa played David Vasquez (USCF 1921). After 6. …Na5 blunders, the game becomes one-sided. Instead, Vasquez should have played 6. …Nh6! (defending the f7 pawn), waiting to play Na5 until after 7. d4, going into one of the main lines of the complex Evans Gambit.
Stopa, Jacek (2554) vs. Vasquez, David (1921)
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb4 5. c3 Be7 6. Qb3 Na5? 7. Bf7 Kf8 8. Qa4 Kf7 9. Ne5 Kf8 10. Qa5 Nf6 11. d3 d6 12. Nf3 Bd7 13. Ba3 Bc6 14. OO b6 15. Qf5 g6 16. Qf4 Kg7 17. Nd4 Bd7 18. e5 de5 19. Qe5 Ba3 20. Na3 Re8 21. Qg5 c5 22. Nf3 Bf5 23. d4 Rc8 24. Rd1 Qc7 25. Nb5 Qb8 26. dc5 Rc5 27. Nd6 Re7 28. Nd4 Bd7 29. Qg3 Qc7 30. Rfe1 Re1 31. Re1 Bc8 32. c4 Kg8 33. Nc8 Qc8 34. Qd6 Ne8 35. Qe7 Ng7 36. Qa7 Rc4 37. Qb6 1-0
position after 6 ...Na5?
Sam Mason gained a whopping 91 rating points in the tournament after drawing Oscar Gonzalez (1668) and beating Jose Garcia (1680) and James Olmstead (1612). His rating jumped from 1488 to 1579. Congratulations Sam!
Everyone seemed to enjoy the tournament and the opportunity to talk chess with a titled player (and a handsome one at that). Kudos to the organizers for a successful and exciting tournament!
Check back soon for pictures from the event!!
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