2014 US Championship Round 9

Akobian's chances fell greatly today after he lost to Shankland. Kamsky was unable to convert against Molner, while Lenderman won and is now tied for 1st with Akobian. Lenderman now has excellent chances since he faces an easier schedule than Akobian; the next round features Akobian - Kamsky and Molner - Lenderman. The most important games in the last round are Kamsky - Friedel and Lenderman - Akobian.

Friedel is in contention for 1st, but the model is very pessimistic that he will win; his rivals are much higher rated.

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A chess blog is rather incomplete without any chess games, so here is one of my losses to Akobian in a blitz tournament. I was able to reconstruct most of this game afterwords but not the other game I lost to him. He makes it look easy...

Wilson, Matthew (1944) - Akobian, Varuzhan (2683) [B07]
Washington Speed Chess Championship Seattle (2), 31.07.2010

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 c6 4.g3 Qc7 5.Bg2 e5 6.Nge2 Nbd7 7.0–0 Be7 8.h3 0–0 9.Be3 b5 10.a3 a5 11.f4 Bb7 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Qe1 b4 14.axb4 axb4 15.Rxa8 Rxa8 16.Nd1 Ra1 17.c3 c5 18.cxb4 cxb4 19.fxe5 Nxe5 20.Bf4 Nxe4 21.Bxe4 Bxe4 22.Nd4 f5 23.Nxf5 Qc5+? [23...Bxf5! 24.Bxe5 (24.Qxe5 Qxe5 25.Bxe5 Bxh3 26.Re1 Bg4 wins) 24...Qc2! and the threat of 25...Bxh3 is decisive.] 24.Be3 Qc7 25.Nxe7+ Qxe7 After 26.Bd4, White, though much worse, is still alive. 26.Qf2?? Nf3+ 27.Kh1 and Black went on to win. 0–1