The Home Stretch

May 16, 2009 • General

This is just going to be a very short blog since I need to continue preparing for a very critical round 8 game against IM Michael Brooks later today. Overall, I’ve been satisfied with my results and today the final stretch begins. After the tournament I’ll definitely add a few blogs with analysis from my games, but I have been so focused on the tournament thus far that any and all distractions have been avoided.

11 Comments

  1. You did it ! and against a great field! Congratulations Hikaru 2009 U.S. Chess Champion!!!! A well-deserved and hard-fought games. You continue to amaze me with your play, dont ever give up on chess you can go all the way! We need some freakin invitations now to the big tourneys. I think you have earned it to say the least.

    Jimmie Beatty

  2. FirebrandX

    Congrats Hikaru! There were a couple of games that were very close calls (like versus Kamsky for example), but you showed excellent form in holding the difficult draws and winning the key games. Lookign forward to your next trounament!

  3. Congrats Champ!

  4. morganv2851

    BALLIN!

    good work sir, now go mix it up in europe!! i hope to see you have a lot more success, and not just because yr the only super GM without a heavy accent…

    cheers.

  5. I was really impressed with your play. I’m happy to see that you are champ again. I read on Chessbase that you got a bonus for being the outright winner on points. It must be especially satisfying to win without a tiebreak. Good luck in the future; I’ll continue to follow your matches with interest!

  6. glanmaster

    Congratulations Hikaru!!! While I had picked Shulman to wiin again ( not because he is better but because he is under-rated and simply gets incredible positions which he sometimes screws up with time trouble issues) I also stated that if you had your openings together you certainly could win. I knew you were in your ” Suttles” phase and I thought it might impact how you played. I hope you are successful in San Sebastion. I am also hoping you get invited to the tournament being finalized for England. That being said Suttles is interesting and perhaps suits your style.

    I believe the chameleon style adjusted to an opponents weaknesses is the ultimate strategy. One who adopts this fighting style is invincible. Chess strategy is excellent but a thorough read of Jeet Kune Do, The Art of War, and other ways of fighting treatises might be of use. The inability to adapt is what kept many from the highest echelon. A Lasker approach comes closes to the Jeet Kune Do philosophy. Imagine Lasker today with Rybka….OMG!!!

    Welll sir good luck in all you do.

  7. darklion66

    Woo congrats! Im a huge fan and I was rooting for you the whole time! Looking forward to the next tournament you attend!

  8. chessplan22

    FANTASTIC Tournament Hikaru ! A well deserved first place and the U.S Champion title at the end.

    Congratulations on the overall victory, achieved in great style ! It’s very satisfying that you beat the number 2 ( Hess ), drew with number 3,4 ( Onischuk,Kamsky) and beat number 5,6 ( Akobian and Friedel). thus having faced ALL the major contenders and remaining undefeated.

    I noted that you adjusted your opening depending on your opening, for instance 1 d4 against Hess but 1 e4 against Friedel, where both games were key.
    An excellent tournament strategy !

    I was just wondering if you were worried in game 2 against Ehlvest, did you think he could try to push for a win in the final position ?
    What about the game against Kamsky, could he have avoided the Qh6 and Ng6 drawing combination or was the game level at all times ? It’s a very complex game so I am looking forward your comments.

    Finally, I am hoping that your 2700+ rating and title will yield you invitations to the top tournaments ( Linares, Corus A, Dortmund, FIDE Grand Prix ) etc.
    There’s also a very strong LONDON Tournament advertised on http://www.theweekinchess.com for the end of 2009, with 7 players announced ( Carlsen,Kramnik,etc) with 2 spots left to fill.

  9. chessplan22

    I meant in the middle of the previous post adjusting your opening repertoire for each player, i.e alternating 1.e4 and 1.d4 🙂

  10. Congratulations on the 2009 Title and payday!

    I hope you analyze the 8. Bd3 for us a bit more what if he had actually played the mainline response… h6

  11. Endgame

    Congrats!! It looked like a first class tourney all the way.

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