Hawkeye Mind Challenge XIV Mar. 24-25 Iowa City, IA

Betaneli scores 4.5/5, wins clear first and $500

Tournament Results

Beteneli (left). On the right is Siem Tesfaslase from Iowa City, who tied for 2nd and gained 101 rating points. He has brought he rating from 1573 to 1760 in the last two tournaments (10 games) !

Siem is also the current Iowa Quick Chess Champion finishing ahead of an expert and several A-players.

---

I scored 2-2=0 with a bye in round 2.

I won with black against Brian Blackbarth (1450) in the first round. My 10 game unbeaten streak ended when I lost to Betanel in round 3. I won with white against Thomas Gaul (1792) in round 4. I then lost the last round to Iowa master Tim Mc Entee.

I gained a few rating points to end with 1874. (which will be my highest published rating for the May 2007 supplement)

---

Round 1 Click to replay Blackbarth vs Wijetunge

Final position

---

Round 3 Click to replay Wijetunge vs Betaneli

I had an interesting game againts Betaneli, I sacrificed a Bishop for 2 pawns in an equal position, but lost my way. Later analysis shows that the postion is unclear.
[Event "Hawkeye Mind Challanege"]
[Date "2007.03.24"][Round "3"]
[White "Wijetunge, Ivan"]
[Black "Betaneli, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"][ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "1866"]
[BlackElo "2274"]
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c6 3. e3 Nf6 4. c4 e6 5. Nc3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Be2Bb7 9. O-O a6 10. a3 c5 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. b4 Qxd1 13. Rxd1 Ncd7 14. Bb2 Be7 15.Nxb5 (15. e4 Nxe4 16. Nxe4 Bxe4 17. Bxg7) 15... axb5 16. Bxb5 Bxf3 17. gxf3O-O-O 18. Rdc1+ (18. Rac1+ Kb8 19. Bc6) 18... Kb8 19. Bc6 Bd6 20. b5 (20. f4 e5) 20... Be5 21. Rc2 Bxb2 22. Rxb2 Ne5 23. Rc2 Rc8 24. Rac1 Nxc6 25. Rxc6 Rxc626. Rxc6 Kb7 27. a4 Ra8 28. Rc4 Nd5 29. Rg4 g6 30. Rh4 h5 31. e4 Rxa4 0-1

Black (Betaneli) to move