Yermo wins '97 United States Open
By Kristianus Liem
JAKARTA (JP): The 1997 United States Open, the 98th in the series, was won by GM Alex Yermolinsky with an impressive, undefeated score of 10.5 points from twelve rounds Swiss system. Yermo picked up the US$7,000 first prize in Orlando in workmanlike fashion and continued a run of successes in the United States Chess Federation's premier open event.
Tying for second in the 540-player field held from Aug. 3 to Aug. 15, were GM Alexander Ivanov, GM Gildardo Garcia and GM Gabriel Schwartzman. Their 10-points scores good for $3,000 apiece.
Other top scores: 5. NM Michael Mulyar 9.5 points (US$1,500); 6. GM Alexander Goldin, GM Alexander Shabalov, GM Pavel Blatny, GM Alex Wojkiewicz, IM Igor Schliperman, FM Miles Ardaman, NM Alexander Reprintsev, NM Slava Mikhailuk, NM Dean Ippolito, NM Eugene Perelshteyn, NM Andrew Karklins, and NM Danny Shapiro 9 points. Each received $418, except Shapiro who got $2,000 for being the highest-placed player with an elo rating of under 2400.
Here is a game from the champion in round five. Yermo demonstrates the power of a Knight against a bad Bishop.
White: NM Dean Ippolito Black: GM Alex Yermolinsky Gruenfeld Defense
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 0-0 7. 0-0 Nb6 8. Nc3 Nc6 9. e3 Re8 10. Qe2 e5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Bxe5 13. Rd1 Qe7 14. e4 h5!? 15. h3?
A weak move. Better here 15.Be3 Bg4 16.f3 Be6 17.Bd4 maintains equality. Because the text move, Black will exploit that weakening of the dark squares.
15...h4 16.g4 g5
Paralyzing White's king-side pawns Black has a permanent grip on e6 or g6.
17.a4 c6 18.a5 Nd7 19.Qd2 Bf4 20.Qd4 Ne5 21.Ne2
Natural move, but White should aim for his own dark-square bind by 21.Bxf4 gxf4 22.f3 Qf6 23.Na4 White still has a slightly advantages.
21...Qf6 22.Be3
After 22. Nxf4 gxf4 23. f3 Be6 Black will take the d-file.
22...Be6 23. Qc3 Bxe3 24. Qxe3 Nc4 25. Qd4 Qxd4 26. Nxd4 Ne5
A promising endgame for Black. The greedy 26...Nxb2 27. Rdb1 Nd3 28. Rxb7 would squander his advantage.
27. Rac1?!
No better is 27.Nf3 f6 28.Nxe5 fxe5 as White's f-pawn is worthless. Maybe White can defend with 27. f3 Rad8 28. Kf2 intending Bg2-f1 and Kf2-e3.
27...Rad8 28.b4 f6
See diagram.
29.Kh1?!
Worse are 29. Bf1?? Rxd4 30. Rxd4 Nf3+ and 31 ... Nxd4 Black wins a piece; and 29. f3 Rd6 30. Kf2?? Red8 31. Ke3 Nc4+ and White lost the Exchange. Even the best chance 29. Nxe6 Rxd1+ 30.Rxd1 Rxe6 31. Rd8+ Kf7 32. Rb8 Re7 should not save White, as Black's King and Knight operate freely.
29...Rd6 30.Nxe6
White will suffer with a bad Bishop against a Knight, and he does not get an active Rook as consolation.
30...Rexe6 31. Bf1 a6 32. Kg2 Kf8 33. Be2 Ke7 34. Kf1 Rxd1+ 35. Rxd1 Rd6 36. Rxd6 Kxd6 37. f3 c5
Break-through! After 38. bxc5+ Kxc5 the pawn at a5 falls.
38. b5 axb5 39. Bxb5 c4 40. Kf2 Kc5 41. a6 bxa6
Of course not 41...Kxb5?? because 42. a7! and the pawn Queens.
42.Bxa6 Kd4
The dark-square invasion continues.
43.Bb7 Nd3+ 0-1
White resigned here because after 44. Ke2 Nf4+ 45. Ke1 Nxh3 Black wins easily.