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Chris Williams Wins Big Print E-mail
By Jennifer Shahade   
March 20, 2008
CWslidemain.jpgIn the first round of the Foxwoods Open (March 19-23), teenager Chris Williams of Boston Blitz and "Chris is Awesome" fame, defeated top-seed and U.S. Champion Alexander Shabalov in a thrilling game. This makes for a 440 point upset, and raises hopes for a very exciting Foxwoods.

Can you guess what Williams played in the following positions?

I.
Williams24.Ng3.jpg
Position after 24.Ng3


Show Solution



In light of the above variation, Alex avoided the queen trade, and they reached the following position after 33 moves.

II.
33...Bxf3.jpg
Position after 33.Nh5

Show Solution



Here is the full game:

1711

Participating GMs include Yury Shulman, Julio Becerra,  Alexander Stripunsky,  Alexander Ivanov,  Darmen Sadvakasov, Eugene Perlshteyn, Keith Arkell, Pascal Charbonneau, Ildar Ibragimov (who drew in round 1 to Alisa Melkehina), and Mark Paragua. Check out the round two pairings here. Beginning with round three, live games will be available on Monroi.com.

Read Jonathan Hilton's blog after the first round, and watch for more by Hilton from Foxwoods and from Michael Aigner from the Far West Open in Reno.


 
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