48TH NORTHEASTERN OPEN1/19-20/2013Holiday Inn - Neenah, Wisconsin

USCF reults here.

I was apprehensive about playing in this event as there were going to be many underrated youngsters just waiting to take big chunks out of my rating.

I went into the event with a rating of 1962 and had to score at least 4/5 just to break even.

I was outplayed in round 3 by  FRANKLIN PUYANG ZHOU (1715) , but fortunately for me he gave me the game in the end.

I went in to the last round 3-1. I was paired against TROY JOSEPH ZIMMERMANN (2015)

We reached the above position with White to play. I spent a lot of time on the obvious Nxg6, which later analysis shows wins pretty comfortably. But I played Bxf8 and could not find the right moves in time.

A win would have  given me a share of 2nd place and a rating of 1973, but instead I ended up at 1955.

[Event "2013 NE Open"]
[Site "Nenah Holiday Inn"]
[Date "2013.01.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Wijetunge"]
[Black "Zimmerman"]
[Result "0-1"]


1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 c5 3. d5 Qb6 4. Bc1 e5 5. Na3 d6 6. c3 Be7 7. Nc4 Qc7 8. a4 b6
9. f3 e4 10. Bg5 Bf5 11. h4 h5 12. Nh3 O-O 13. Nf4 g6 14. Ne3 Bc8 15. Qc2 exf3
16. gxf3 Nh7 17. Bh6 Bf6 18. Bxf8 (18. Nxg6 fxg6 19. Qxg6+ Bg7 20. Rg1 Rf7 21.
Nc4 Nf8 (21... Bf5 22. Qxh5 Bc2 23. Kd2 Nf6 24. Qxf7+ Qxf7 25. Rxg7+ Qxg7 26.
Bxg7 Kxg7 27. Kxc2) (21... Kh8) 22. Qxf7+ Qxf7 23. Nxd6 Ng6 (23... Qf6 24.
Rxg7+ Kh8 25. Nf7+)) 18... Nxf8 19. Neg2 (19. Qe4) (19. O-O-O Qe7 20. Neg2 (20.
Nc4 Bxh4)) *

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History 
year / players / winner(s)
2012 101 (FM A BETANELI)
2011  69 (NM E SANTARIUS)
2009  98 (NM E SANTARIUS, H PAN) 
2008  95 (IM M AMANOV, FM A BETANELI, NM E SANTARIUS) 
2007  97 (FM A STAMNOV) 
2006 116 (A VAJA , G ARANOVICH) 
2005 100 (FM A STAMNOV, E SANTARIUS) 
2004 108 (IM S SMIATANKIN, FM A BETANELI, J ROWE)