Texas Masters

[Movses]

Some strange things happened to me at the Texas Masters this last weekend.
After a 0.5-point bye in round-1 and an easy victory over an expert in round-2, I was paired with Salvijus Bercys (2510) in round-3. I let the opening advantage slip and we entered a middlegame where my opponent had the pair of bishops and a mild attack on my king, but I would've had the better endgame in any exchange scenario. In other words, it was a roughly equal position in my opinion. Then my opponent went astray and decided to "finish me off" with unjustified complications. I went on to counter-attack that left him a piece down 5 moves later. So with that victory I had 2.5/3 with 2 more rounds to go. In round-4 I was paired against another young star: John Bartholomew (2500). The 20-move book line left me with a slightly worse endgame. I defended fairly well but instead of going for a R+PP vs. R+N+PP which would've been clear-cut draw (I'd be able to exchange the pawns), I opted for a weaker continuation that was losing. I was so disappointed going into the last round, that I blew my perfect attack in Round-5 against a kid-master and abruptly lost the game .
"Texas Masters" continues to be the most weird (and one of the toughest) chess series for me in years now...

[T_Braunlich]

Maybe it's all those burgers that make the chess weird there!?

Honorary Okie Conrad Holt also had a good event there, and lifted his rating over 2400 for the first time.
http://www.uschess.org/msa/XtblMain.php?20...179221-12937909

:-)TOM

[dentonchess]

I was so disappointed going into the last round, that I blew my perfect attack in Round-5 against a kid-master and abruptly lost the game .
"Texas Masters" continues to be the most weird (and one of the toughest) chess series for me in years now...

That would be NM Jarod Pamatmat, one of 7 national masters and one FM groomed
out of the Dallas Chess Club over the last 5 or so years. Fostering a pipeline
from scholastics to junior level chess truly improves an area's chess.

Rob Jones

[jameswilliamsons]

Movses, you will figure it out in Texas, eventually, even though that was a HARD section. I've been known to play up in many tourneys across the US, but that section would be a pass because of the UTD factor. I would play in the Texas State Championship in that division because historically, UTD does not show up for that tourney, thus diluting the pool slightly giving the 1900 a better chance than normal for rating point grabs. However, Movses, you did beat Bercys which most people would kill to have that win. Also, Kudos to Conrad Holt for tying for FIRST!! Frankly, I have never seen a player that had been born in the Oklahoma/Texas/Kansas region do as well as Holt in many years since the legendary Michael Brooks.

Joe Veal

[dentonchess]

Joe,

If you include North Texas in the mix, NM Alex Chua, and certainly FM
Darwin Yang would have to be at the top.

Rob Jones

[yogi]

I am equally awed by the performance of Conrad Holt. His name and ability seemed to have cropped up from almost nowhere, as his presence has been seen and felt only for the last couple of years at most. Darwin Yang also has been making quite an impression, especially given his tender age! Some time and grooming can/will do wonderful things with these great chess minds, and will certainly keep the level high in this area of the country, as well as the rest. Given the sheer poplulation of Texas, it is still surprising to see such a magnitude of talent in the state, as is evidenced by the Top 100! Sigh, I only wish that I had learned chess before the age of 30! Oh well, the game is still a joy to be shared by all, with players of all levels. Good chess to you all, Raymond

[jameswilliamsons]

To RJones,

My apologies for forgetting about A. Chua(Met him a few years ago, he was a nice guy who had a good understanding of what it took to be a better player.) Played him in a blitz tourney(0.5 out of 2), he thrashed my Dzindi, but I managed to draw his Petroff. I know that D. Yang is nearly of equivalent strength to C. Holt, but due to bad timing; I have never met D. Yang. Until recently, I was skeptical about C. Holt's strength until I faced him in November. He beat me pretty handily and his last two tourneys cannot be denied.

Joe Veal