2017 Texas Collegiate Super Finals, Brownsville, TX, October 21-22
by Chief Arbiter Korey Kormick

Introduction & Opening

The sun arose bright and warm over the Lone Star State on this late October morning, with play over the chessboards only going to get hotter as the weekend progresses. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is hosting the 2017 Texas Collegiate Super Finals, a relatively recent addition to the professional chess calendar in the region. Individuals representing the state's many colleges and universities competed at the Southwest Collegiate Championships last season in Lubbock, acquiring points for their teams, with the top three institutions earning the right to send two, four-player, fixed-board lineups here to the Finals. Whereas many of the students are accustomed to the rigors of individual or individual-team events (like the aforementioned qualifier), fixed-roster team competitions are quite a different beast. Here, no one person can win a match by themselves, yet any one person can successfully clinch a victory or let defeat conquer at the last moment. Every team will play every other team from opposing schools once. At the Opening Ceremony, players anxiously sought their seats while coaches put finishing touches on those final words of wisdom. A very cordial welcome by Dr. Kristin Croyle (UTRGV Vice President for Student Success) and Dr. Douglas Stoves (UTRGV Associate Dean for Student Rights & Responsibilities) encouraged all to compete at their very best, because it is only by playing against the best can one be forged into being the best. Four rounds, two days, it's time to play!

Round 1 Report

If the first round is any indication, I doubt there are any lingering fears about a lack of fighting spirit. With only one quick opening GM draw on Board 2, and one relatively quick demise on Board 12 (which is expected when an IM plays a FIDE-unrated), the remaining ten games were all still being contested after the three hour mark of the time period. As such, each of the three team matches had taken on a unique character. The UTRGV-A/UTD-B match was calm and professional, its players almost expressionless from start to finish. After the one quick draw, the next game to finish was another draw on Board 1. One would think this would mount some pressure on the two remaining host A-team members to over-achieve and perhaps try to do too much, but GM Belous launched a cold-blooded kingside attack, gaining a decisive positional edge on Board 3, and GM Hevia created a monster of a c-pawn on Board 4, utilizing threats of promotion to force trades until the pawn was indeed going to promote.
UTRGV-A 3 : 1 UTD-B.

The Texas Tech B squad is going to be an underdog throughout this event, with the highest titled player on the team being a WGM. After the first loss, the other three players knew it would be up to all of them to hold their own. Unfortunately, time trouble would end up being a major factor in all three other games. At one point, each player had under 3 minutes, and each opponent had greater than 30 remaining. Despite valiant efforts, playing against an opponent and an adversarial clock proved too much to overcome.
UTD-A 4 : 0 TXTECH.

The final match to be determined was a slugfest between UTRGV-B & TXTECH-A. These games had a definitive ebb and flow to them, with surprise and confidence alternating on the players faces at differing times during play. IM Ynojosa was also bitten by the time pressure bug in his game on Board 6, down to mere seconds on a few occasions, before being wrapped up in a mating net. After IM Shtemuliak won a second point for TXTECH-A, the remaining UTRGV-B players knew that drawing would now mean accepting a team loss. In the attempt to play for wins, both flew too close to the sun, and like a modern Icarus, went down in flames.
UTRGV-B 0 : 4 TXTECH-A.

Round 2 Report

The first evening match was started without several members of the UTD-A team who were still en route back from the quick turnaround for lunch (an hour had been slotted, and most got more than that, but as the Coach was driving, and Coach wasn't leaving until all players were finished, the players arrived with just a few minutes having ticked from their time. The first game didn't conclude until just under the two-hour mark, again indicating just how competitive, and how resistant to defeat, is each and every one of these collegiate student-athletes.

The three matches this evening can be summarized in three theme words: Patience, Pizzaz, & Pressure.

The first heavyweight bout was this round, as UTRGV-A and TXTECH-A went right at it. Like boxers, they circled around, looking for a good moment to strike, and they waited, and improved their position, feigning left then regrouping to prevent any countermeasures, patiently waited some more, with ever increasing tension, yet few furious flurries of action to account for. And perhaps it should not be surprising, as players at this level are not prone to blunders nor tragic accidents. Their technique has gotten them far, and unfortunately, it requires imbalance to allow for either victory or defeat. Some say this is boring (in boxing as in chess) - but it is undeniable how skilled are both teams of players. Sometimes, however, Patience is rewarded, as when that hook does land, even the mightiest may fall. IM Vorontsov on Board 3 landed what everyone thought was to be a KO against UTRGV-A by deftly winning a key light-squared complex, material, and the game. But it wasn't quite to be, as GM Stukopin held a draw on Board 2 and GM Hevia won the longest game thus far of the tournament (in 96 moves) after a mutual Queening situation went awry, with the odd scenario of being able to promote one of his two remaining Rook-pawns.
TXTECH-A 2 : 2 UTRGV-A.

Pizzaz was the name of the game in the match UTD-A against UTRGV-B. IM Ruiz strikes back early in this round on Board 7, steadily outmaneuvering his higher-rated & higher-titled opponent, culminating with a suffocating attack against his castled King. GM Kovalyov against IM Vazquez on Board 5 was a minor piece tango, with shuffling, repositioning, subtle maneuvering, all suddenly blowing up to a massive series of trades, leaving N+B with a few pawns for each in a reduced, but complex, endgame. Yet the most impressive part is watching the Grandmaster position perfectly from there to reach a won position. Not to be outdone, both victors on Boards 6 & 8 also employed beautiful finishing combinations to achieve success. A truly Romantic Era chess match.
UTD-A 3 : 1 UTRGV-B.

TXTECH-B and UTD-B is the match which reminds us that nerves and how players deal with the Pressure of the moment can sometimes be just as important as the moves made themselves. All players have fallen victim to the dreaded tactical oversight at one point or another in their careers. After that point, it is oftentimes true that one plays 'on inertia' not wanting to admit defeat when things seems going so well just a moment ago. A couple of missteps, and TXTECH-B found themselves quickly in an 0-2 hole. On Board 10, WGM Heredia was pushing with an advanced b-Pawn, looking to secure a victory, when instead she allowed a Threefold-repetition to occur, resulting in a game draw and match defeat. However, on Board 9 at exactly the same time, WIM Andrenko was down to literally one second in a drawish K+N endgame, made an Illegal move, but was able to survive and take home a draw of her own. The pressure can give, and the pressure can taketh away.
TXTECH-B 1 : 3 UTD-B.

Round 3 Report

At halftime (the end of Day 1), a sole leader has emerged in UTD-A as the only perfect score with 2.0 match points, both TXTECH-A & UTRGV-A close at their heels with 1.5 match points. This round has the potential to be critical, as it will likely determine who keeps a chance for victory in the Final showdown.

UTD-B playing TXTECH-A seemed to have a very cohesive team strategy. Outrated on every board, the ideas seemed to be: play offbeat opening, keep tension low, make trades whenever possible, hope for a solid draw. This has been known to work on occasion, yet it is also said that the most difficult position to play in chess is one where you are playing for a draw, and not to lose. Boards 9 and 11 went to plan, with Black having to force a draw in both positions when it looked like the UTD players could try to push for more. But unfortunately, both TX Tech players with White were able to press, ultimately getting the small advantages: initiative, space, material; which grew to be too much for the defenses.
UTD-B 1 : 3 TXTECH-A.

That the UTRGV-B team won all its games against TXTECH-B, as the ratings difference was so sizeable, cannot be said to be surprising. It comes down to small things: technique, finding the right tactical blow, looking past one's horizon of calculation to intuitively understand when a move should be correct, even if it appears unclear. These are the things that the highest caliber of players can produce, and why the rest of us are sometimes on the outside looking in.
TXTECH-B 0 : 4 UTRGV-B.

Sometimes a game proceeds with both players throwing their resources forward, wondering which of the threats will end up striking a significant blow. This reminded me of the great ship battles on sea, where it would often take several shots, in conjunction with deft maneuvering, to emerge victorious. As Oliver Hazard Perry wrote, "We have met the enemy, and they are ours!" Such was the match UTRGV-A against UTD-A. On Board 3, GM Belous took advantage of an overly aggressive Queen sortie by his opponent to trap her or mate and forced resignation in a twenty-move miniature. Meanwhile, GM Arribas utilized his dominance of the d-file to infiltrate to the seventh, in a classic yet ever-so-effective motif. Then again, after firing away at each other, sometimes both agree it is best to retire and refit to fight another day, like the draws on Boards 1 and 2, with open Kings and major pieces lurking, neither side believed that this was their moment for glory.
UTRGV-A 2 : 2 UTD-A.

Round 4 Report

Going into the last round, the "A" teams are going to be battling it out for top honors, but the "B" teams may be where the championship is finally decided... UTD-A & TXTECH-A lead with 2.5 match points, followed by UTRGV-A with 2.0 (and having played, and drawn, each of the leaders). Therefore, with it set up for the leaders to play each other, and UTRGV-A playing one of the "B" teams, it isn't out of the realm of possibility for a three-way tie after Round 4. If that occurs, then per the regulations, the results of the "B" teams from the same school ends up determining the winner. Things could get interesting...

The Marquee matchup in the last round started off with both a surprise and a whimper. UTD-A opted to sit their regular Third board player in favor of their regular Fourth (who moved to Board 3) and Alternate (who plays on Board 4). As if that would make things different, both Boards 1 & 2 accepted quick draws (each lasting a mere eleven moves), so not only are they playing with a surprising lineup, it's been placed on their shoulders to decide this championship. Board 3 was a more sporting affair, with a draw being a valid result from a complicated game, each side with solid claim to their respective territory. Board 4 goes until almost four hours into the period, both players trying their best to be the hero for their team... but it was not to be. A fourth consecutive draw sends all eyes to the match in the middle.
TXTECH-A 2 : 2 UTD-A.

Trying to play catchup, UTRGV-A knows the order in front of them. In order to squeak into a three-way tie for first place, they have to blank the team TXTECH-B. Any less than a perfect score will mathematically end their run at being repeat champions. Then, they'd require a drawn top match, and only then, would it fall to the UTRGV-B team to try and save the day. A bit of a stretch? If that's what you know is needed, anything's possible. Boards 1 & 4 go according to plan, but on Board 3, WCM Munoz attempted to play the spoiler, seeking to hold her fortress in a R+B endgame. An absolutely amazing effort, she played one accurate move after another, only surviving on increment time, but in a still unclear position, her time expired. On Board 2, GM Stukopin was able to grind out the final win.
TXTECH-B 0 : 4 UTRGV-A.

B is sometimes associated with 'backup', but that isn't quite the case in this round. Knowing the potential for being the decisive match if neither their respective teams can achieve success, every one of these games suddenly has additional ramifications well above your regular bout for Fourth place. Board 5 had GM Hernandez shred his opponent's castle for a forced draw. No other game ended before the other two matches had concluded. With the sudden realization of the tournament situation, each game now could decide the Championship. GM Raznikov strikes first, reaching plus two pawns in a knight endgame, securing a crucial point for UTD-B. Could UTRGV-B come back to equalize or win? Boards 7 & 8, side by side, end moments from one another. GM Preotu forces a draw in a Q versus R+B endgame when he sees his teammate IM Rao is going to lock up a bonus victory in a same colored Bishops ending, and the tournament comes to a dramatic conclusion.

UTD-B 3 : 1 UTRGV-B.

Closing Ceremony

The 2017 Texas Collegiate Super Finals now in the books, the Closing Ceremony was a time to congratulate the new champions, UTD-A, who got an assist from UTD-B to secure victory. This is in some ways most fitting, as with most collegiate athletics it is impossible to separate the success of one part of the team from the work and achievements of the rest. True, a Quarterback may make a game-winning pass, but it took the receiver to catch, and the linemen keeping him from being sacked. A team effort and a team championship. After a few brief words on behalf of the Organizers and Arbiters, the Guest of Honor, Ms. Rebecca Gadson (Associate Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students, UTRGV) presented the Championship trophy 2017 to the University of Texas at Dallas - A. Following its conclusion, there was a brief press session, with journalists and photographers speaking to the participants, especially the champions. Until the next event, hosted by UTD later this season, thank you for following the tournament.