- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

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.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

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)








- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

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.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

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.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

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.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

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.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad