And an American One

Approximately at the time when Akito's title was confirmed the US All Nationals Championship took place. Ashritha Eswaran confirmed her title from the last year in a most convincing way. She won all her games! A critical game was the one in round five when everything was hanging by a thread:
Arab,Kiana (1957) - Ashritha (1999)
All girls nationals 2013 5th rd Shredder for iPad, 28.04.2013
[Bojkov,Dejan]



[White's initiative on the king's flank is most unpleasant. Ashritha decided to go for counter attack.]

16...Nxe5!? 17.fxe5 Nxg4 18.Qxf7+ Kh8 [It seems as White should checkmate at any moment. However, it turns that her king is vulnerable too.]

19.Qxg6 [The most obvious continuation lets the initiative slip away.]

[19.Rf4 Qh4 would transpose into the game but:; 19.Qf4! was extremely strong. The logic of the game have changed, and White needs no longer to attack, but to play against the knight on g4 which lacks pawn defense. Endgame would work best! 19...Qh4 20.Rf3 Rf8 21.Qg3 Qxg3+ 22.Rxg3±]

19...Qh4 20.Rf4



20...Bxe5! [The point of Ashritha's counter attack. ]

21.Qxg4? [Black would be also close to winning in case of: 21.dxe5 Rg8! 22.Rxg4 Rxg6 23.Rxg6 d4!; Only a narrow path would have kept the balance- 21.Rxg4! Qh2+ 22.Kf1 Rg8 23.Qxg8+ Rxg8 24.Rxg8+ Kxg8 25.dxe5 Qxe5 when a draw is a most likely result.]

21...Rg8!



Tables have turned. It is Black who completely overtook the initiative!]

22.Bg6 Rxg6! 23.Qxg6 Bxf4 24.Kf1 Rg8 25.Qxg8+ Kxg8 26.exf4 Qh1+



with decisive material advantage and attack as compensation, Black wins easily.]

27.Ke2 Be8 28.b4 Bh5+ 29.Kf2 Qh2+ 30.Ke1 Qg1+ 31.Kd2 Qxd4+ 32.Kc2 Bg6+ 33.Kb3 Qd3 34.f5 Bxf5 35.Bb2 Qc4+ 36.Ka4 Bc2+ 37.Ka5 b6#

0–1
The trophies of the winners were presented by Garry Kasparov himself!




To many's surprise Ashritha's younger sister Aksithi became a champion in her age as well! She scored 5.5/6. "Now they will no longer fight about who got the bigger trophy", joked their delighted father.



One more of my students did very well in Chicago. Chenyi Zhao scored 5/6 and tied for the second place in her section.