Kristo Miettinen To Be Awarded Correspondence SIM Title
By Joan DuBois   
January 14, 2010
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Robert Rizzo
ICCF-US Titles Officer
Phone 516 984 7438
[email protected]


 

Kristo S. Miettinen has earned the title of correspondence chess Senior International Master (SIM), as confirmed yesterday in an email from the International Correspondence Chess Federation (ICCF) Qualifications Commissioner, Neil Limbert.  Kristo’s Medal and Title Certificate will be awarded at the ICCF Congress to be held in October in Kemer, Antalya, Turkey.

The two Norms needed for this title were earned in the Reg. Gillman Memorial B and in the 11th North American Invitational CC (NAICC) tournaments.   The Reg. Gillman Memorial B, which started in 1999, was a category X event.  Kristo scored 6.5 points equaling the SIM standard for that 14-player group.  He also earned the International Master (IM) title based upon that performance.  While at the time he faced 3 Grand Masters (GMs) in that event, another 4 of his opponents would also eventually earn GM titles in the coming years and another 5 now hold the SIM title.  In the category V 11th North American Invitational CC tournament he recently clinched first place with 10.5 points exceeding the SIM Norm.  Since the NAICC also serves as the North American Zonal event, this win earned Kristo a spot directly into the Correspondence Chess World Championship Finals.  His almost 10 years between Norms could possibly be a record for perseverance!  The crosstables of the two qualifying events can be located at the following sites:

http://tables.iccf.com/invi/GillmanB.html
and
http://www.iccf-webchess.com/EventCrossTable.aspx?id=16198

Below is a game from the 11th NAICC of which Kristo is especially fond.  He describes it as an example of “all-out fighting chess” where both sides had chances.  That speaks volumes for the person - that he would select a game which resulted in a draw!  See if you agree with Kristo that “engrossing” chess doesn’t always conclude with a decision.  Congratulations Kristo!

ECOCode: B93
White: IM Miettinen, Kristo (USA)
WhiteElo: 2297
Black: Labonte, Richard (CAN)
BlackElo: 2399
Event: 11th NAICC ch.
Date: 2007
Result: 1/2
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f4 e5 7.Nf3 Nbd7 8.Bd3 Be7 9.0–0 0–0 10.Kh1 b5 11.a4 b4 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.exd5 Bb7 14.fxe5 dxe5 15.d6 Bf6 16.Bf5 g6 17.Bh3 e4 18.Nd4 Bg7 19.a5 Ne5 20.Nb3 Bc6 21.Bf4 f5 22.Nc5 Qe8 23.Qd4 Bb5 24.Rfd1 Nc4 25.Qd5+ Qf7 26.Qxf7+ Kxf7 27.b3 Ne5 28.d7 Rfd8 29.Rab1 Ra7 30.g4 Nxg4 31.Bxg4 fxg4 32.Bg5 Rdxd7 33.Nxd7 Bxd7 34.Be3 Rc7 35.Bf4 Rb7 36.Rd6 Bb5 37.Rbd1 Re7 38.Be3 Rc7 39.Rb6 Bf6 40.Rd5 Rxc2 41.Rdd6 Bh4 42.Rb7+ Kg8 43.Rxb5 axb5 44.a6 Ra2 45.a7 Ra1+ 46.Kg2 Kf7 47.Rc6 Ra2+ 48.Kf1 Bf6 49.Bb6 Be5 50.Rc8 Bxh2 51.a8Q Rxa8 52.Rxa8 Ke6 53.Ra5 Bf4 54.Rxb5 g3 55.Rxb4 Kf5 56.Rc4 h5 57.Bc7 g5 58.b4 h4 59.Kg2 Kg4 60.Bxf4 gxf4 61.Rxe4 ½–½