Gregory Kaidanov is U.S. Senior Champion 2021!

by ChessBase
7/27/2021 – GM Gregory Kaidanov won the 2021 U.S. Senior Championship title after defeating GM Larry Christiansen in an exciting playoff tiebreak, scoring 1.5 - 0.5 in the two-game rapid match. After a draw in game one, Kaidanov seized his chance in game two, finding a brilliant resource to win an exchange and convert his advantage in the ensuing complications. It was the first national title victory for Kaidanov. | Photo: Courtesy of Saint Louis Chess Club, Lennart Ootes
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U.S. Senior Championship Playoff Recap

By IM Kostya Kavutskiy
Press release of the Saint Louis Chess Club

The format for the playoff was a match consisting of two 10+2 (delay) games, followed by an Armageddon Game (5 minutes for White vs. 4 minutes + draw odds for Black) in case of a tie.

Game 1: Kaidanov - Christiansen | ½-½, 34 moves

The first game saw Kaidanov miss a golden opportunity out of the opening as Christiansen fell into trouble early on in a Bogo-Indian Defense. Despite winning a clear extra pawn, Kaidanov was not able to consolidate his advantage, as Christiansen created enough counterplay to win the pawn back and equalize the game. After more trades the players ended up in an equal rook endgame, agreeing to a draw soon thereafter.

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 a5 5.g3 b6 6.Bg2 Bb7 7.0-0 0-0 8.Bf4 Be7 9.Nc3 Ne4 10.Nb5 c6 11.Nc7 Ra7 12.Qb3 b5 13.cxb5 a4 14.Qc2 14.Qe3! would have won by force for White, as 14...cxb5 15.d5! opens up a winning double attack against Black’s rook and knight. cxb5 15.Nxb5 Ra8 16.Ng5 Bxg5 17.Bxe4 Bxe4 18.Qxe4 d5 19.Qe3 Bxf4 20.Qxf4 Qb6 21.Nc3 Nc6 22.e3 Qxb2 23.Rfc1 Qb7 24.Rab1 Qd7 25.Nb5 Rab8 26.Qd6 Qxd6 27.Nxd6 Rxb1 28.Rxb1 Rd8 29.Nb7 Rb8 30.Rc1 Rxb7 31.Rxc6 g5 32.Ra6 Rb4 33.a3 Rc4 34.g4 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Kaidanov,G2547Christiansen,L2567½–½2021E16USA-ch Seniors 2021-TB1.1

Kaidanov showed some fantastic opening preparation in Game 1, but couldn’t capitalize. | Photo courtesy of Saint Louis Chess Club, Lennart Ootes

Game 2: Christiansen - Kaidanov | 0-1, 33 moves

In the second game Christiansen essayed the London System, to which Kaidanov responded to in an aggressive manner, playing an early Qxb2 to isolate White’s queenside pawns. Christiansen in turn continued to play for the initiative, sacrificing a pawn for development. While under pressure, Kaidanov found an incredible resource to refute White’s attack, temporarily sacrificing a piece but leaving White with multiple pieces hanging. After the dust cleared, Kaidanov was left with an extra exchange, which he duly converted into the full point, winning the tiebreak and the national title.

 
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1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.Nbd2 Qb6 6.dxc5 Qxb2 7.Rb1 Qc3 8.Bb5 g6 9.Be5 Qxc5 10.Bxf6 exf6 11.c4 Bf5 12.Rc1 dxc4 13.Bxc4 Qe7 14.Bb5 Bd7 15.Rc4 a6 16.Re4 Be6 17.Qa4 Qd7 18.Nd4 f5 19.Nxc6 Rc8‼ 19...Rc8!! was a brilliant find, leaving several of White’s pieces hanging and securing Black a decisive advantage. 20.Rxe6+ fxe6 21.Qb3 axb5 22.Ne5 Qd5 23.Qxd5 exd5 24.Ke2 Bd6 25.Nef3 Rc2 26.Nd4 Rxa2 27.Rb1 b4 28.Nb5 Kd7 29.Kd3 Rc8 30.Nxd6 Rc3+ 31.Kd4 Rxd2+ 32.Ke5 b3 33.Nxb7 b2 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Christiansen,L2567Kaidanov,G25470–12021D02USA-ch Seniors 2021-TB1.2

Check out the full replay of live coverage from the day here.

Final standings

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