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4 - 1 - 1 Tourney ends with game six win

Jack didn't have much mental energy left, but he had enough to win the final game. Four wins and one tie is the third best score and good enough for some prize money, how much depends on the number of players tied.

The winner ended 5-0-1 and he was, of course, the player that Jack lost to in game five. And in that championship game, the player who lost, who Jack would have faced had he won game 5, he played an opening that Jack is very familiar with, very confident against. So close.


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3 - 1 - 1

Jack lost game 5. Wide open, intense, and as exciting a chess game as you are likely see. With his time down to under ten seconds he could not fend off the attack.

Orlando, Nashville, Philadelphia - he has been competing at a fairly intense level for about a year now and for the past two days we thought this could this could be his break through win in a big name tournament. He put himself in a position to compete for 1st going into the last day. All week long he has used every last second he had, thinking deep into every position, but this time it caught up to him as the attack intensified with Jack down to the last few minutes versus an opponent with no time pressure.

And you know the worst thing about losing a game like that? Afterwards someone will point out the move you missed. Which is always when I want to say - "what about the other 500 moves that I didn't miss". Jack has played near flawlessly for 20-plus hours of nerve-wracking chess, games at a very high level of competition. It's too bad this one got away, but there's no way to feel bad about this performance. Great tournament.


(and he will win one of these)








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Game Five Very Tense as Clocks Wind Down

Jack has been under attack but the game is still too close for me to say who has the upper hand. Jack is behind on time (under 10 minutes) but that is typical and may not be a concern as he could get another hour should the game continue to move 40. Let's go Jack. It's hard to watch without feeling the tension that comes with concentrating for hours straight with no margin for even the most minor slip, and that's in addition to the normal pressure Jack always puts on himself. For that reason alone, let's hope he can pull this one out.


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Game 5 starts with Jack in fifth place

If you've got a lucky shirt, today is the day to wear it. Jack enters the tournament's final day in 5th place, one of six players at 3.5, one-half game off the lead. There are two games today. Lets go Jack.

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3 - 0 - 1 Jack wins game four

Jack wins game four to head into the final day with three wins, no losses, and one tie. Once again the game went into extended time, this time with only 10 seconds left on Jack's clock. But with the extra hour Jack had the time he needed to make the most of the small advantages he had built up. Jack was playing black against a higher rated opponent - very impressive win. Two games tomorrow. Let's go Jack.


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2 - 0 - 1

Jack takes game three. He's playing well. This game looked a lot like game one - close all the way but Jack had a better position, and this time he was able to capitalize. Next game at six.


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Game three underway

Game 3 just started, let's go Jack.

Three days in NYC and we're having a great time - Times Square, Marshall Chess Club, Washington Square Park, if this fun and friendly week goes on much longer I'm afraid we're going to start saying things like "actually, New York City is not so bad", or "you know, if it wasn't for the filth and the crime, I wouldn't mind coming back here". Jack in particular seems to be coming dangerously close to saying something along the lines of "I like New York"

This can't go on much longer. And it won't! Because now we are going to ride the subway




Filth, muggings, and getting groped by perverts, we'll bring our video camera, maybe we'll get a viral video of a rat crawling across a homeless guy's face.

But no! here's our ride on the E train, just another clean, spacious, well air-conditioned experience with our new friends, the people of New York. Check out the video and ask yourself: "does the Red Line look this nice?" ........ FUHGEDDABOUDIT



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1 - 0 - 1 jack wins on disqualification

opponent number two cheated and jack caught him!!

Jack has often suspected that opponents have cheated, when the guy looks lost but then returns from a bathroom break with the perfect move. So it is a good feeling to finally catch one. I'll let Jack describe



How to Attack the French!!. HAHAHA what a dumbass. But it does make you wonder how many other, slightly less stupid cheaters have gotten away with it. It's too bad the people who run these things can't put a little more effort into preventing this, so the honest players don't have to follow their opponents around during breaks. More on this later, including I hope video of the little scumbag trying to explain his way out of it. That video is on my phone and I get 'file too big to transfer' when I tried to upload. Anyway, congratulations to Jack

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GAME TWO SHOCKER - OPPONENT CAUGHT CHEATING

Developing ... Jack thinks he caught the other guy cheating, controversy, several tournament directors involved, I've got my camera phone updating the action


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0 - 0 - 1

Game one draw. And now Jack only has 10 minutes before round two.


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Game One enters sixth hour

Jack's first game is still going, very close, both players have around ten minutes left on their clocks. Check out this photo, that's Jack in the red - the only game that hasn't ended yet.



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Manhattan Open is underway

Jack's first game has started. Beautiful ballroom - not the typical convention hall basement type room.

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Washington Sq Park

Jack at the Marshall Chess Club

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St John's tour - AAARRGGHH

Colleges love bragging about their alums, so get ready to hear that the US Ambassador to Whocares-Istan went here! Unless you are on the St John's tour - this is where we taught the guy who invented Pirate Booty!!




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NYC sightseeing

We've checked into the Hotel New Yorker and while Jack watched the early round in the open division, I walked over to Times Square and asked one of the laid back, super-friendly New Yorkers to snap this photo.
Jack doesn't play until Friday, so we're going to Queens tomorrow to check out St Johns. Hopefully Al Qaeda won't blow up our train

Welcome to New York, and watch out for falling garbage trucks!

Manhattan Open

We're off to New York City!
Hello chess fans, Jack and I are on our way to NYC, capital of the chess world, home of the legendary Marshall chess club, and this week - the site of the Manhattan Open. The tourney is in the New Yorker Hotel, Jack's in the U1900, seven games, play starts Friday.

Jack's has been playing great but the competition will be tough - it's always tough at this level, but these guy are from New York and they have the best players in the nation. And you know what else they have in New York? Really big rats!!!

4 - 4 - 1

Easy win. Jack's final opponent played an opening that Jack was very familiar with, and he dismantled it. His first low stress win, that game looked one sided before the first piece was taken as Jack seemingly had every one of the other guy's pieces either pinned or threatened. Nice way to end. And no doubt that he can play at this level. i think tonight's opponent was the first sub-1900 that he has faced, and he made it look easy.






Time for the fireworks? HA, good one, no, it's time for more chess. These guys are all signed up for the all-night blitz tournament! Starts at 11:30 and no, I won't be posting updates.

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3 - 4 - 1

Game eight ends in a draw. Jack was not discouraged, high ranked opponent, he'll take the draw. Final game tonight at 5:00!


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3 - 4

Jack thought he had weakened his position when he rushed a few moves to get the extra hour on his clock. He got back to the room too late to recap but it sounds like the loss was very close and tense. Still counting yesterday as a positive due to his excellent early game.
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!



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Game 7 goes to OT

You might not want to stay up for this one. Jack's game just past 40 moves, which means each player adds an hour to his clock. Game looks even to me, but jack thinks he weakened his position while hurrying moves to beat the deadline for the extra hour.


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3 - 3

Excellent win, Jack just recapped his game and that looked like one of the best games he's played. Jack played white. He reviewed the game against the computer. He always does, to learn from the game, see if there were any better moves, etc. Well, his opponent played the best move available for the first 15 or so moves, a quality opponent, and Jack really had to work for the win. Impressive! Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

2 - 3

Tough loss. Two hours into this game and neither side had taken a piece. Jack said it was another opening variation that he was unfamiliar with. Thats becoming common, it seems to play at this level you need to be skilled at a larger arsenal of openings. Even a slight disadvantage coming out of the first 15 - 20 moves can be fatal. Anyway, the turnaround starts tomorrow, two games on both sunday and Monday.


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Location:Race St,Philadelphia,United States

2 - 2

Jack lost game four. He was playing white and had a solid position after the opening, but couldn't capitalize. We get a break before the next game, only two games per day now thru Monday.


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2 - 1

Jack lost game 3. His opponent played an opening variation that he was not familiar with, he fell behind a pawn and couldn't recover. Given that he played black for two of the three games today .....
Two outta three ain't bad












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2 - 0

Great start, Jack wins his second game, another close one down to the wire. Jack was way behind on time - I think his opponent had 30 minutes and Jack was down to 5 - so Jack sacrificed a pawn just to open things up, see if he can make something happen, "I went into Pavillion mode" he said. And it worked, game three tonight, he'll be playing black against another undefeated, good luck Jack.


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1 - 0

Jack wins game one. Both players down to their last few seconds! How about that, very exciting. Jack thinks he had about four seconds left, and his opponent had about the same. the game was close all the way and easily could have been a draw, but the other guy made a mistake with time running out and Jack pulled it out. Game two is just starting now.


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It wouldn't be a chess tournament without a registration screw-up. A little frustration, a little standing in line, and we cleared it up - Jack "USFC Expired" Mallers is ready to play game one.

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Test

Elton john


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World Open in Philadelphia

We haven't seen Obama, but we did enjoy our first Phillie Cheese steak. Jack is signed up for the U2000 four-day schedule. There are 9 rounds - 3 games Friday and 2/day on Sat/Sun/Mon. This is a big money tournament - $300,000 total prize money, $18k for the winner of Jack's division. Very well attended, U2000 will be a tough division.

Friday 7/1/2001: 11:00, 2:30, and 5:00

Thanks for following and wish us luck, I'll be posting results, let's go Jack.

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Location:N 17th St,Philadelphia,United States

These are Jack's chess clocks. They are used to count down the time during chess games. You want to know something else about chess clocks? The airport security guys think they look like explosive devices especially when you put them in your carry-on bag and then leave them ticking!! Ha, sorry guys. I actually didn't see it, I was getting the metal hip screening at the time. Jack says one of the TSA guys was pretty scared, but the other saw quickly that it was just a clock. Anyway, we're here!

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3 wins, 3 losses, 1 tie

Quick update - low on batteries and running for the plane.
Jack lost one this morning and won one this afternoon to finish 3-3-1 (but undefeated against non-New Yorkers! take that Ohio Texas Tennessee. Gotta go, jack will update at the airport


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Location:Opryland Dr,Nashville,United States

Next opponent

Check out this next kid - Jack gets to play some "learning disabled" kid from the deep south!
Ha, good one, just kidding of course, Jack's next opponent is again a 2100 from NY, (2100 is terrific, jack's #1 at ETHS and he's 1744), four out of top five in this mornings standings are from NY, maybe they clone them. And Jack's playing black, so this will be a tough one.


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Jack wins game 5

Maybe it was my pre game motivational speech, or maybe it was my rally cap, or maybe it was when Jack forked his queen! Either way the comeback has begun. After a series of 3 to 4 hour games Jack blitzed thru game 5 in a little over an hour like it was the old days at an Orrington Chess Club rout. A win tomorrow (or 2?) and we come home at least .500, against the toughest competition Jack has ever seen. And with the quick game we've got more time to shop for a souvenir for Betsy , go to the big bash at the nurse's convention get some rest for tomorrow's games.


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Location:Briley Pkwy,Nashville,United States

Game four = draw

Jack's dad with the update, jack is pretty drained, four long, close, demanding games. He'll get to a recap after he gets something to eat but he gave me the quick rundown - his opponent was white and played such a super safe opening that it almost always results in a draw. C'mon Jing Dai, this isn't even a money tournament, why come all the way to Nashville and play for a draw?!? Next game coming up after dinner, then two more tomorrow.


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Location:Briley Pkwy,Nashville,United States

UGH! we're 1-2

Well I never especially cared for New York before this tournament. And now I can't stand the place. Jack dropped his second game in a row to a NY whiz kid, don't those kids do anything but study chess?
A long and exhausting match, jack went off to analyze the game with some experts he knows, I'm sure he'll recap later. For now, let's cheer him up with a pic of my new best friend!



Say hi to a big goofy dumb looking stuffed something yeah! Me and Goofus are gonna go play! Next game at two.

Location:Briley Pkwy,Nashville,United States

Good morning

Jack's dad here, ready for round three and I gotta say the chess gods are not being very nice to our man Jack - for game three he drew yet another highly ranked NY kid. Not as strong as James last night (2200) but close, this mornings match is rated 2075 (vs Jack's 1744). I told him last night "I should have raised you in NY!", those kids are all so good. Anyway, jack's in good spirits, game time in about ten minutes, GO JACK!


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Location:Opryland Dr,Nashville,United States

Round 2 Results

Hello everybody it's Jack again. As I predicted earlier today I got paired against a top seed. I was the black pieces against James A Black Jr., the 7th grade chess prodigy straight out of New York, the chess machine. James is a 2196 rated player, fresh off his middle school championship. The only reason I know who he is is because he is all over the chess world. James is about to break all kinds of records and is the future of American chess. So going into this game I was a little bit intimidated, but of course I tried to crush him like anyone else. Well he opened with 1.d4, and we went into kings Indian. He played Rc1on move 8 which I had never seen or studied before which confused me enough to go down a pawn. Unfortunately my game wasn't the only thing I could focus on. Behind me a player unfortunately had a seizure. Yeah I know pretty crazy...but I wish the bet of luck to him. So anyways, I ended up creating counter play and made the game interesting, but James was able to calmly defend my threats because of his extra pawn. So in the end I lost, but I can't be that upset I mean he is probably going to be a future U.S. Champion. And for all my chess players, I will be doing videos reviewing my games when I get back so that we can all learn from them. Well I'm back to studying for round 3 at 9am tomorrow, but thanks for the support again and talk to you tomorrow.

Location:Opryland Dr,Nashville,United States

jamesblack

Still learning this app, hit the above link for article about jack's opponent

(sorry about the last link, it was 2 years old)

Next opponent

Jacks next opponent is one of the top kids in the tournament, and check this out - he's kind of famous. Here's a link to a recent article about him, in case the link doesn't come thru I'll tell you why he is so noteworthy, he's a seventh grader! One of the top high school players in the country and he's Cian's age, he's a 12 year old black kid from NY, jack knows all about him, I guess he's been a prodigy for awhile, jack says he's a cool kid, wears Jordans, plays hoops, jack wants to beat him now so he can tell the story when the kid becomes world famous
http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2011/03/04/black-ascends-toward-masterdom/


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Game 1 notation

Jack is playing white









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Round 1 Results

Hey everybody it's Jack Mallers. In round 1 I faced a 1500 from New York named Leutrim Rexjah. I was white and after my always first move 1.e4 Leutrim played the najdorf variation of the sicilian. This tournament I was preparing a new variation against the najdorf with my coach, and it worked out very well. I gained many tempos after his mistake of playing Qa5, which eventually turned into me up a pawn and about to win a piece, when he resigned. So I am 1-0 for now, but expect a top seed opponent next round at 7 because of how they are pairing the players. Well I'm going to my computer to study for round 2, but I will update my blog after the round. Thanks for all your support, talk to you soon.

Hotel atrium

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Location:Briley Pkwy,Nashville,United States

Ready to start

Tournament ready to start -
2 hours on each players clock, so games may last up to 4 hours
All grades combined. Jack thinks this is bad news because there are some very strong seniors here
Jack is starting on board 85
Tournament seems to be very well attended, higher quality than the last high school nationals in Orlando
(I just saw a 7 year old that is rated 2,000!?)

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Testing photos

Testing photos
Yes! I figured out how to post photos, as you can see I successfully posted this pic of a deranged homeless crack addict my beautiful stepdaughter Betsy


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Location:Briley Pkwy,Nashville,United States

We're here

A few travel headaches but we're here. And we're not leaving
Hotel is excellent, weather is gorgeous, I'll send photos as soon as I get out of the hot tub figure out how to do that from my ipad

Traveling sucks

Well maybe we should have taken the car instead. Flight delayed, the delays are only 10 minutes, but there's been 6 of them!!

Puzzle of the Day (4/27/11)

Hello everybody. Here is my first instructional video. This is a beginners puzzle, involving tempo and knight forks. I am open to all suggestion for videos. Beginner-advanced videos or opening study or me playing blitz or game review, I'm open to anything, just let me know. Thanks.