Fritchle, Faber & Singson Win Spring Open
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5/16/2012
Melandro Singson (left) in his draw with Craig Faber.
Congratulations to Craig Faber (2202), Melandro Singson (2143) and Gregg Fritchle (2043) who tied for first place in the Arcadia Spring Open. The tournament featured a decent
turnout of 56 players, including nine experts and one Master (Faber).
Faber and Singson were paired against each other on board 1. The queens came off early in a London System and a draw was agreed after about 16 moves. This seemed to suit both players
because it guaranteed them a share of first place.
Gregg Fritchle went into the last round needing to win his game and hoping for board 1 to be drawn. With the early draw between Faber and Singson, Fritchle knew he needed to beat Jeff
Schroeder (1864) on board 3 to tie with the leaders. He soon got an excellent position playing his customary Sicilian Najdorf with the black pieces, his bishop pair dominating the board. White's
resignation ensured Fritchle also finished on 5/6 with Faber and Singson and, despite the loss, this was still a good tournament for Schroeder who gained 16 rating points.
On board 2, Jesse Victoria (2055) was held to a draw by Tim Thompson (1936), a result which put him out of contention to win the tournament. Thompson had the white pieces and was able to
draw the knight and pawn endgame and also gain 12 rating points in the process.
The two players on board 4, Dave King (1761) and Matthew Hayes (2063), went into the final round knowing that first place was out of reach. The first dozen or so moves were identical to the
last time King and Hayes played where Hayes, playing black, obtained a strong position out of the Nimzo Indian. White eventually deviated this time around and the position became more complex.
Black won a pawn and then eventually the endgame in what was the last game to finish.
The big rating gains this tournament came courtesy of Ryan Yeung (40 points), Dave King (52 points), Edward Wu (63 points), and Frank Wosczyna (67 points).
Special congratulations also go to John Anderson who (just!) reached a new rating high of 1900, the first time he has been a "high Class A" player. Anderson went into the last round needing to at
least draw his game against Oscar Ortiz (1997), a feat he managed as he did indeed earn a draw and his new 1900 rating.
A new tournament, the McGuire Challenge, will start Monday, May 21.
