Pavlo Vorontsov wins St. Louis Norm Congress

by Macauley Peterson
2/16/2018 – The Saint Louis Chess Club hosted the 2018 Saint Louis Norm Congress, from February 8th to 13th. The tournament features invited players from outside the USA to ensure Grandmaster and International Master title norm opportunities. Pavlo Vorontsov (Ukraine, 2548), the top seed in the GM tournament (pictured left), won clear first, while the IM tournament Sergei Matsenko (pictured right) dominated! | Photos: Austin Fuller

Chess News

At the airport, in the hotel or at home on your couch: with the new ChessBase you always have access to the whole ChessBase world: the new ChessBase video library, tactics server, opening training App, the live database with eight million games, Let’s Check and web access to playchess.com

Saint Louis Norm Congress 2018 

The 2018 Saint Louis Norm Congress took place February 8th to 13th and featured two ten-player fields comprised of hungry juniors, veteran IMs and GMs, and other top players from the USA and abroad, competing for $15,000 in prize money. 

International students from Texas Tech University took clear first in both the GM and IM tournaments. Pavlo Vorontsov was first in the GM event with 6.0 / 9 with Russia's Sergei Matsenko outclassing his nearest rival by two full points, scoring 7.0 / 9.

One player had a standout performance which was more than enough for an IM norm: Stavroula Tsolakidou scored 5½ to finish in clear second place in the GM tournament. ChessBase readers may recall her name from an impressive performance a few months ago at the European Team Championship. She also finished fourth in the World Junior Championship for Girls.

Stavroula Tsolakidou

Stavroula Tsolakidou | Photo: Austin Fuller, Saint Louis Chess Club

The other woman in the tournament also did well. FM Tatev Abrahamyan already has the required norms for the IM title, but needs to get her Elo rating above 2400. Her 4½ / 9 score, while only good enough for seventh place, still nets her about 37 rating points, and was well above her expected score.

Unfortunately for other norm seekers, no one met the requisite minimum score.

Final standings

Loading Table...

GM tournament games

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.Nbd2 C65: Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defence (3...Nf6), unusual lines and 4 0-0 Bc5 6.0-0 keeps more tension. Bd6 7.Nbd2 Be6 8.b3 Nd7 9.Nc4 6...Be6 7.0-0 Nd7 8.Nb3 8.a4 with more complications. a5 9.b3 0-0 10.h3 Nb6 11.Ba3 8...Bb6 9.Ng5 Bxb3 10.axb3 f6 11.Nf3 Nc5 12.Nd2 0-0 13.Nc4 Ne6
14.b4N Qe7 15.Bd2 Kh8 16.Kh1 c5 17.bxc5 Bxc5 18.Qg4 Nd4 19.Rac1 19.Ne3= 19...b5 20.Ne3 c6 20...a5 21.f4 exf4 22.Rxf4 g6 23.Rcf1 a5 24.Qd1 Ne6 25.R4f3 Ng5
25...Bxe3 26.Bxe3 a4 26.Rxf6‼± Bxe3 26...Rxf6? perishes. 27.Bc3+- 26...Qxf6 27.Rxf6 27.Rxf8+ Rxf8 28.Rxf8+ Qxf8 29.Bxe3 Ne6 30.d4 Qb4 30...Kg8 31.c3 Qf6 31.h3+- a4? 31...Kg8 keeps fighting. 32.c3 Qd6 32.Qf3 32.d5 Qd6 33.Qf3 cxd5 34.exd5 32...Kg8 33.d5 cxd5 34.exd5 Ng7
35.d6? White has to play 35.c3!+- Qe7 36.Kh2 35...Qxd6= 36.Qa8+ 36.Bf4!? Qf8 37.Qd5+ Qf7 38.Qd2 36...Kf7 The position is equal. 37.Qb7+ Qe7 38.Qd5+ Qe6 39.Qb7+ Qe7 40.Qd5+ Qe6 41.Qb7+ Qe7 Precision: White = 47%, Black = 53%. ½–½
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Chandra,A2510Paragua,M2513½–½2018Norm Congress-GM 20181
Khamrakulov,D2496Bartholomew,J24721–02018Norm Congress-GM 20181
Gurevich,D2483Vorontsov,P25590–12018Norm Congress-GM 20181
Boros,D2445Abrahamyan,T23321–02018Norm Congress-GM 20181
Tsolakidou,S2412Patel,A24781–02018Norm Congress-GM 20181
Paragua,M2513Gurevich,D24831–02018Norm Congress-GM 20182
Khamrakulov,D2496Tsolakidou,S24120–12018Norm Congress-GM 20182
Patel,A2478Boros,D24451–02018Norm Congress-GM 20182
Bartholomew,J2472Vorontsov,P2559½–½2018Norm Congress-GM 20182
Abrahamyan,T2332Chandra,A25101–02018Norm Congress-GM 20182
Vorontsov,P2559Paragua,M25130–12018Norm Congress-GM 20183
Chandra,A2510Patel,A2478½–½2018Norm Congress-GM 20183
Gurevich,D2483Abrahamyan,T2332½–½2018Norm Congress-GM 20183
Boros,D2445Khamrakulov,D2496½–½2018Norm Congress-GM 20183
Tsolakidou,S2412Bartholomew,J24720–12018Norm Congress-GM 20183
Khamrakulov,D2496Chandra,A25101–02018Norm Congress-GM 20184
Patel,A2478Gurevich,D24831–02018Norm Congress-GM 20184
Bartholomew,J2472Paragua,M25131–02018Norm Congress-GM 20184
Tsolakidou,S2412Boros,D24451–02018Norm Congress-GM 20184
Abrahamyan,T2332Vorontsov,P25591–02018Norm Congress-GM 20184
Vorontsov,P2559Patel,A24781–02018Norm Congress-GM 20185
Paragua,M2513Abrahamyan,T2332½–½2018Norm Congress-GM 20185
Chandra,A2510Tsolakidou,S2412½–½2018Norm Congress-GM 20185
Gurevich,D2483Khamrakulov,D2496½–½2018Norm Congress-GM 20185
Boros,D2445Bartholomew,J2472½–½2018Norm Congress-GM 20185
Khamrakulov,D2496Vorontsov,P25590–12018Norm Congress-GM 20186
Patel,A2478Paragua,M25131–02018Norm Congress-GM 20186
Bartholomew,J2472Abrahamyan,T23320–12018Norm Congress-GM 20186
Boros,D2445Chandra,A25100–12018Norm Congress-GM 20186
Tsolakidou,S2412Gurevich,D2483½–½2018Norm Congress-GM 20186
Vorontsov,P2559Tsolakidou,S24121–02018Norm Congress-GM 20187
Paragua,M2513Khamrakulov,D24961–02018Norm Congress-GM 20187
Chandra,A2510Bartholomew,J24720–12018Norm Congress-GM 20187
Gurevich,D2483Boros,D2445½–½2018Norm Congress-GM 20187
Abrahamyan,T2332Patel,A24780–12018Norm Congress-GM 20187
Chandra,A2510Gurevich,D24830–12018Norm Congress-GM 20188
Khamrakulov,D2496Abrahamyan,T23321–02018Norm Congress-GM 20188
Bartholomew,J2472Patel,A2478½–½2018Norm Congress-GM 20188
Boros,D2445Vorontsov,P25590–12018Norm Congress-GM 20188
Tsolakidou,S2412Paragua,M25131–02018Norm Congress-GM 20188
Vorontsov,P2559Chandra,A2510½–½2018Norm Congress-GM 20189
Paragua,M2513Boros,D24451–02018Norm Congress-GM 20189
Gurevich,D2483Bartholomew,J2472½–½2018Norm Congress-GM 20189
Patel,A2478Khamrakulov,D24960–12018Norm Congress-GM 20189
Abrahamyan,T2332Tsolakidou,S2412½–½2018Norm Congress-GM 20189

Commentary playlist

All webcasts from GM Josh Friedel and Ben Simon.

IM Tournament

Final standings

Loading Table...

IM tournament games

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 Be7 9.Qd2 0-0 10.0-0-0 a5 11.Qe1 B90: Sicilian Najdorf: Unusual White 6th moves, 6 Be3 Ng4 and 6 Be3 e5 Qc7 11...Qc8 12.a3 Na6 13.Kb1 Nc7 14.g4 a4 15.Nc1 b5 16.N1a2 d5 17.g5 d4 18.gxf6 Bxf6 1-0 (38) Jakovenko,D (2730)-Tsydypov,Z (2523) Khanty-Mansiysk 2017 12.Nb5 Qc6! 13.Nxa5 White is slightly better. Qd7 Wrong is 13...Rxa5? 14.Qxa5 d5 15.Na7+- 14.c4N 14.a3= Predecessor: 14.a3 d5 15.exd5 Nxd5 16.Bc4 Rxa5 17.Qxa5 Nxe3 18.Rxd7 Nxc4 1-0 (41) De la Pena Balbuena,I (2317)-Jorgensen,P (2337) ICCF email 2012 14...Nc6 15.Nb3 Rxa2 16.Kb1 Rfa8 17.Nc3 17.Bc5 was worth a try. 17...R2a6-+ 18.Nd5 Bd8! 19.Bg5?
19.g4 Ra4 20.h4 19...Nd4! 20.Rxd4 20.Nxd4 exd4 20...exd4 21.Nxf6+ Bxf6 Weaker is 21...gxf6 22.Bh6= 22.Bxf6 gxf6 23.Bd3 Qa4 24.Nd2 Qb4 25.Kc2 Ra2 26.Nb3
26...Qa3 26...Rxb2+! 27.Kxb2 Qa3+ 28.Kc2 Qa2+ 29.Kd1 Qxb3+ 30.Ke2 Ra2+ 31.Kf1 Qxd3+ 32.Kg1 Qe3+ 33.Qxe3 dxe3 34.g4 Ra1+ 35.Kg2 Rxh1 36.Kxh1 e2 37.Kg2 e1Q 38.c5 Bc4 39.f4 Bf1+ 40.Kf3 Qe2+ 41.Kg3 Qg2+ 42.Kh4 Qxh2# 27.Qg3+ Kf8 28.Rb1 Qb4 ( -> ...Qc3+) 29.Qe1 Qb6? 29...Qa4 30.Qd1 Bxc4 31.Bxc4 Qxc4+ 32.Kd2
32...Rxb2+! 33.Rxb2 Qc3+ 34.Ke2 Qxb2+ 35.Nd2 Ra2 30.Nc1 Ra1 31.Rxa1 Rxa1 32.Qf2 Ra4 33.b3 Ra1 34.Qd2 Qc5 35.f4 35.Kd1 Qa3 36.Qc2 35...b5 36.b4 Qa7 37.cxb5 Qa4+ 38.Kb2 Qa3+ 39.Kc2
39...Bb3+! Precision: White = 29%, Black = 76%. 0–1
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Wang,J2368Torres Rosas,L23700–12018Norm Congress-IM 20181
Stearman,J2335Grabinsky,A23881–02018Norm Congress-IM 20181
Zhou,Q2230Matsenko,S25610–12018Norm Congress-IM 20181
Turgut,T2224Jacobson,B23511–02018Norm Congress-IM 20181
Colas,J2207Banawa,J24011–02018Norm Congress-IM 20181
Matsenko,S2561Colas,J2207½–½2018Norm Congress-IM 20182
Banawa,J2401Turgut,T22241–02018Norm Congress-IM 20182
Grabinsky,A2388Jacobson,B23511–02018Norm Congress-IM 20182
Torres Rosas,L2370Zhou,Q2230½–½2018Norm Congress-IM 20182
Stearman,J2335Wang,J23680–12018Norm Congress-IM 20182
Wang,J2368Grabinsky,A23880–12018Norm Congress-IM 20183
Jacobson,B2351Banawa,J24010–12018Norm Congress-IM 20183
Zhou,Q2230Stearman,J23350–12018Norm Congress-IM 20183
Turgut,T2224Matsenko,S2561½–½2018Norm Congress-IM 20183
Colas,J2207Torres Rosas,L23700–12018Norm Congress-IM 20183
Matsenko,S2561Jacobson,B23511–02018Norm Congress-IM 20184
Grabinsky,A2388Banawa,J24010–12018Norm Congress-IM 20184
Torres Rosas,L2370Turgut,T2224½–½2018Norm Congress-IM 20184
Wang,J2368Zhou,Q2230½–½2018Norm Congress-IM 20184
Stearman,J2335Colas,J22070–12018Norm Congress-IM 20184
Banawa,J2401Matsenko,S25610–12018Norm Congress-IM 20185
Jacobson,B2351Torres Rosas,L23701–02018Norm Congress-IM 20185
Zhou,Q2230Grabinsky,A2388½–½2018Norm Congress-IM 20185
Turgut,T2224Stearman,J23351–02018Norm Congress-IM 20185
Colas,J2207Wang,J2368½–½2018Norm Congress-IM 20185
Grabinsky,A2388Matsenko,S2561½–½2018Norm Congress-IM 20186
Torres Rosas,L2370Banawa,J24010–12018Norm Congress-IM 20186
Wang,J2368Turgut,T22241–02018Norm Congress-IM 20186
Stearman,J2335Jacobson,B23511–02018Norm Congress-IM 20186
Zhou,Q2230Colas,J22070–12018Norm Congress-IM 20186
Matsenko,S2561Torres Rosas,L23701–02018Norm Congress-IM 20187
Banawa,J2401Stearman,J23350–12018Norm Congress-IM 20187
Jacobson,B2351Wang,J23681–02018Norm Congress-IM 20187
Turgut,T2224Zhou,Q22301–02018Norm Congress-IM 20187
Colas,J2207Grabinsky,A23880–12018Norm Congress-IM 20187
Grabinsky,A2388Torres Rosas,L23700–12018Norm Congress-IM 20188
Wang,J2368Banawa,J24011–02018Norm Congress-IM 20188
Stearman,J2335Matsenko,S25610–12018Norm Congress-IM 20188
Zhou,Q2230Jacobson,B2351½–½2018Norm Congress-IM 20188
Colas,J2207Turgut,T22241–02018Norm Congress-IM 20188
Matsenko,S2561Wang,J2368½–½2018Norm Congress-IM 20189
Banawa,J2401Zhou,Q22301–02018Norm Congress-IM 20189
Torres Rosas,L2370Stearman,J23350–12018Norm Congress-IM 20189
Jacobson,B2351Colas,J22071–02018Norm Congress-IM 20189
Turgut,T2224Grabinsky,A23881–02018Norm Congress-IM 20189

Links

Macauley served as the Editor in Chief of ChessBase News from July 2017 to March 2020. He is the producer of The Full English Breakfast chess podcast, and was an Associate Producer of the 2016 feature documentary, Magnus.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.