Despite failling to achieve the number one place, GM Benny remained unfazed, insisting on putting up a sporting front.
He surprisingly opted to shake hands with the champion and personally congratulating him on the stage - in public view, demostrating excellent sportsmanship in a highly competitive tournament. Something that Wayne Bridge might want to note down in his future meetings with John Terry...
The 19 years old International Superstar attained a respectable 4th place in the recent National Festival Chess Championship - just three places away from his targeted position.
On a tournament where several of the participants were predicting Ben to capture the championship position, the Singaporean-born Russian star failed to live up to that hefty demand from his fans. Instead he won 4 straight games and the 4th game proved to be his last win of the tournament, having drawn his last three games against the top 7 players in the tournament (7th, 5th and the champion himself)
The player who become champion is 17 years old Tan Han Liang, whom had 6 straight wins before conceeding half a point to GM Ben. The two seems to be sharing a few laughter during their game and appear to be in no mood for winning each other.
Game 5 and 6 Ben lived dangerously, in game 5 Ben was an exchange down before regaining material and soon found a way to deliver perpertual check and ended the game in a draw.
Game number 6, Ben - who was down to a few minutes on his clock called for the arbiter to claim a (much needed) draw, the opponent was proposal to win on time was rejected and the arbiter awarded half a point to both side. However spectators agreed that it was a clear draw in a opposite colored bishop endgame where the pawns are fixed to their squares.
The last game both side appeared to be in friendly terms, they played for 9 moves and agreed on a 'grandmaster draw'
Said private chess commentator and former RCI Classical Champion Abdul Jidi, who was there to witness all 7 of Ben's game - "J (Benny) played very solidly in all his games, and never looked like losing any of them, although he was very tired, he never gave up and his effort duly paid off, 4 stars to his performance".
The Openings
Round 1 - Caro-Kann Defence Exchange 0-1, win
Round 2 - Benko-English Transposer 1-0, win
Round 3 - Alekhine Defence Benikan Variation 0-1, win
Round 4 - Benjamin Tan Opening (London System) 1-0, win
Round 5 - Caro-Kann Defence Exchange 1/2-1/2, draw
Round 6 - (facing) Sicillian defence, O kelly Variation 1/2-1/2, draw
Round 7 - Caro-Kann Defence Classical 1/2-1/2, draw
As an added bonus, Ben finished the tournament unbeatable :)
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Ben roars back - in style
Despite going down in two consecutive games (round 2 and 3) GM Benjamin Tan did not give up, he fought to the very end and was duly rewarded for his effort.
The Russian International came back brilliantly, winning all of his last 4 games and clinching top 7 position, with his last game the most spectacular of all.
Openings
- Round 1 (white) Faced French (exchanged) 1-0
- Round 2 (black) Caro-Kann (classical) 1-0
- Round 3 (white) Faced Sicillian (sozin system) 0-1
- Round 4 (black) Indian game 0-1
- Round 5 (white) Benko-English 1-0
- Round 6 (black) Caro-Kann (advanced) 0-1
- Round 7 (white) Benjamin Tan Opening 1-0
Total - 5/7
The Russian International came back brilliantly, winning all of his last 4 games and clinching top 7 position, with his last game the most spectacular of all.
Openings
- Round 1 (white) Faced French (exchanged) 1-0
- Round 2 (black) Caro-Kann (classical) 1-0
- Round 3 (white) Faced Sicillian (sozin system) 0-1
- Round 4 (black) Indian game 0-1
- Round 5 (white) Benko-English 1-0
- Round 6 (black) Caro-Kann (advanced) 0-1
- Round 7 (white) Benjamin Tan Opening 1-0
Total - 5/7
No lost love between Melissa and Ben
Ben approaches the last round with cautious, knowing that only a win would see him squeeze into the top 10. He cannot ask for a more heated encounter after looking at his last round pairing - he was paired with Melissa Lo AGAIN.
The two met in a gritty encounter in the National Age Group barely a month ago. The conclusion of the game saw Ben edging out his tough opponent. Melissa went all the way down to 2 minutes plus in the 2 hours per side game.
Ben opted for an interesting and deep bishop sacrifice some 25 plus move into the game, only to activate his pieces tie his opponent's position up and win back the piece 10 moves later, reducing the position to king and pawns before promoting an extra pawn.
This time he knew it would be more challenging. With only 25 minutes on the clock, the time-pressured Russian star knew that he would have to think and act fast. He started the game with his trademark Benjamin Tan Opening (1. d4 d5 2. c3), Melissa looks like she has expected Queens Gambit, but it's not to be. An unknown spectator who witness the brilliant game jokingly said that the game was as good as won when Ben played 2. c3. The game ended in extreme gore when Ben (this time) sacrificed a knight to smash Melissa's kingside's pawn shelter, only to win it back some 5 moves later. The defending king was brutally exposed and checkmated in cold blood just only after 25 moves.
Both players left the playing table immediately after the game without even shaking hands or muttering 'good game'
Ben personally commented that 'it feels very good to defeat her in both standard and rapid!'
The two met in a gritty encounter in the National Age Group barely a month ago. The conclusion of the game saw Ben edging out his tough opponent. Melissa went all the way down to 2 minutes plus in the 2 hours per side game.
Ben opted for an interesting and deep bishop sacrifice some 25 plus move into the game, only to activate his pieces tie his opponent's position up and win back the piece 10 moves later, reducing the position to king and pawns before promoting an extra pawn.
This time he knew it would be more challenging. With only 25 minutes on the clock, the time-pressured Russian star knew that he would have to think and act fast. He started the game with his trademark Benjamin Tan Opening (1. d4 d5 2. c3), Melissa looks like she has expected Queens Gambit, but it's not to be. An unknown spectator who witness the brilliant game jokingly said that the game was as good as won when Ben played 2. c3. The game ended in extreme gore when Ben (this time) sacrificed a knight to smash Melissa's kingside's pawn shelter, only to win it back some 5 moves later. The defending king was brutally exposed and checkmated in cold blood just only after 25 moves.
Both players left the playing table immediately after the game without even shaking hands or muttering 'good game'
Ben personally commented that 'it feels very good to defeat her in both standard and rapid!'
Monday, November 30, 2009
GM Benjamin Tan hails 'five-star' IM Darren Chan
GM Ben praised his new team mate on sunday following his stunning display at SP.
IM Darren Chan Bai-Hong had won an incredible 5 out of 5 games in the tournament without even breaking a sweat, smiling in every single game he played.
The new signing had so far managed 7 wins and only 1 defeat after confirming his new contract at August.
In the other event GM Benjamin Tan himself came in 3rd in the Poly/JC and University category, after a neat game in his final round of the competition.
He also received 1st position in the Poly category.
IM Darren Chan Bai-Hong had won an incredible 5 out of 5 games in the tournament without even breaking a sweat, smiling in every single game he played.
The new signing had so far managed 7 wins and only 1 defeat after confirming his new contract at August.
In the other event GM Benjamin Tan himself came in 3rd in the Poly/JC and University category, after a neat game in his final round of the competition.
He also received 1st position in the Poly category.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Candidate Champion !
Singapore-International chess superstar Grandmaster Benjamin Tan swipt the board at last weekend's Linares Queenstown International Super-Tournament. The child-prodigy took 2nd place (out of 143 players) to finish as the Candidate Champion.
Out of the 7 games he played he managed to win 5, draw 2 and lost NONE !!. Of the 7 games he played 3 were against top-5 seeded players in the tournament. This successful outing has marked a different course in his chess career, the positionally gifted master has choosen chess as his permanent career and is one more step away from confirming his choice.
Beside winning the Candidate Champion, the young master also took home two more brilliancy prizes, the game of the tournament award - both positional (game 4) and attacking variation (game 6). However he created an uproar at the last round when he 'cowardly' accepted an early draw offer offered by his Indonesian opponent.
(his games would be posted up soon)
Out of the 7 games he played he managed to win 5, draw 2 and lost NONE !!. Of the 7 games he played 3 were against top-5 seeded players in the tournament. This successful outing has marked a different course in his chess career, the positionally gifted master has choosen chess as his permanent career and is one more step away from confirming his choice.
Beside winning the Candidate Champion, the young master also took home two more brilliancy prizes, the game of the tournament award - both positional (game 4) and attacking variation (game 6). However he created an uproar at the last round when he 'cowardly' accepted an early draw offer offered by his Indonesian opponent.
(his games would be posted up soon)
Final match ended in tears for IM Ricnesh
GM Benjamin Karpov 12 IM Ricnesh 1
The worst has finally came ! There is no disputed in who is king, the result speaks for itself. The final confrontation between the two ended in tragedy with only one man walking away alive, the other guy was ripped apart - 12 to 1 !
The final score is confirmed - Out of the 105 games they played GM Ben Karpov won 72, drew 13 and lost 20.
The worst has finally came ! There is no disputed in who is king, the result speaks for itself. The final confrontation between the two ended in tragedy with only one man walking away alive, the other guy was ripped apart - 12 to 1 !
The final score is confirmed - Out of the 105 games they played GM Ben Karpov won 72, drew 13 and lost 20.
Ben crushed Sean
GM Benjamin 'Benny' Karpov is crowned the 2009 RCI Cup Classical Champion after demolishing fellow finalist Sean Benedict Guttenson 13-0. The match is originally designed to host 24 games, but was cut down to 13 when Ben won all his games.
I can't celebrate yet, Ben explained "there is still the Undisputed Championship Match with GM Darren Chan next month.
I can't celebrate yet, Ben explained "there is still the Undisputed Championship Match with GM Darren Chan next month.
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