USCF National Events / 2012 U.S. Open
Shetty and Yang Win the Denker 48 players from around the nation com-
peted in the 28th annual Denker
Tournament of High School Champions, founded at the impetus of U.S. Champion Grandmaster Arthur Denker and the orga- nizational efforts of legendary scholastic activist and sponsor Dewain Barber of Cal- ifornia. “The Denker,” held every year in conjunction with the U.S. Open, invites 52 state-federation representatives (including southern and northern California and Dis- trict of Columbia).
The prize package includes a full, four- year scholarship to the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD). This year, 13 masters topped the wallcharts, with the rating spread stretch- ing from nearly 2600 to 1200. The heavy pre-tournament favorite was IM Darwin Yang of Texas, a 15-year-old with two recent grandmaster norms. Almost 200 points back was second seed Atulya Shetty, 16, of Michigan, closely followed by southern California’s Michael Brown (2367), New York’s Deepak Aaron (2348), Indiana’s Sean Vibbert (2328), and Ari- zona’s Dipro Chakraborty (2310). After a perfect start, Yang gave up draws in the final two rounds, allowing Shetty to catch him at 5-1. The Michigan star took the scholarship to UTD, valued at approximately $70,000, by a slim half of a tiebreak point, as well as qualifica- tion for the World Youth Championship.
OTHER WINNERS
Sam Schmakel of Illinois took third place with 41
2⁄, ahead on tiebreaks of Brown
(still just 14), Aaron, and Kevin Bu of Min- nesota. Yang won the $500 Ursula Foster Award as the highest finisher under 16. Best Game was awarded to Eldon Naka- gawa of Hawaii and Top Upset to Carl Steele of North Dakota. GM Yasser Seirawan presented the awards at the combined ceremony for the Denker and Barber championships. Franc Guadalupe directed both events.
In addition to UTD’s scholarship, the U.S. Chess Trust, Arnold Denker’s son Mitchell, and the National Scholastic Chess Foundation awarded a total of $2,200 in scholarships designated for college expenses. Mitchell Denker also provided partial expense money to each participant of the Denker and Barber. American Chess Equip- ment donated a commemorative medallion to each participant, as well as gift certificates for best game and top upset. The final round of the Denker featured a showdown between the tournament leaders.
24 November 2012 | Chess Life Atulya Shetty (left) and Darwin Yang (right) receiving their award from GM Yasser Seirawan.
Gruenfeld Defense (D94) IM Darwin Yang (2569) Atulya Shetty (2406)
Denker Tournament of High School Champions (5), 08.06.2012
Edited notes by Shetty
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 a6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Bd3 Bg7 7. h3 0-0 8. 0-0 dxc4 9. Bxc4 b5 10. Bd3 c5
I had been looking forward to this
game from the beginning of the tourna- ment. Until now, this was all preparation. However, I was now expecting dxc5.
11. Qe2
If 11. dxc5 Nfd7, and Black will soon equalize.
11. … cxd4 12. exd4 Nc6 13. Rd1 Nb4 14. Bb1 Nbd5 15. Ne4 Nxe4 16. Bxe4 Bb7 17. Bg5 h6 18. Bd2
I was very happy with how the open- If we ever reach an endgame, my pieces
are very strong and his isolated pawn would become weak.
22. Re1 If 22. Rxc8+ Bxc8 23. Qd3 Be6 24.
ing turned out and felt that I had a very comfortable position.
18. ... Rc8 19. Ne5 Qd6 20. Rac1 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Rc8
PHOTO: AL LAWRENCE
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