U.S. Junior Chess Championship: Parker Zhao maintains lead after five rounds

Eric Rosen who upset FM Warren Harper

to pull the latter down to fourth place.

Hello Everyone!

Parker Zhao maintained his lead at the U.S. Junior Championships being held in St. Louis after five rounds. He beat FM Steven Zierk even as FM Conrad Hold held defending champion GM Ray Robson to a draw. Darwin Yang drew his game to be in joint second place with Robson while Warren Harper lost his game to slip to the third place after five rounds.

Results of Round 5

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1. FM Conrad Holt-GM Ray Robson ½-½

2. NM Parker Zhao-FM Steven Zierk 1-0

3. FM Warren Harper-NM Eric Rosen 0-1

4. FM John Bryant-FM Darwin Yang ½-½

5. IM Sam Shankland-NM Tyler Hughes 1-0

Standings after Round 5

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1. NM Parker Zhao 4.5

2. GM Ray Robson 3.5

3. FM Darwin Yang 3.5

4. FM Warren Harper 3.0

5. IM Sam Shankland 2.5

6. NM Eric Rosen 2.5

7. FM Steven Zierk 2.0

8. FM John Bryant 1.5

9. FM Conrad Holt 1.0

10. NM Tyler Hughes 1.0

Here is the Bishop and pawn endgame that Zhao won after a long struggle to keep his lead. You can run it in our pgnplayer or watch it in flash below. You can also check the official website for a full report.

PGN: 1. d4 f5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bg5 e6 4. e4 fxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Qh5+ g6 8. Qh6 b6 9. Nf3 Nc6 10. c3 Bb7 11. Bd3 d5 12. Nxf6+ Qxf6 13. O-O O-O-O 14. Rae1 Rde8 15. Ne5 Nxe5 16. Rxe5 c5 17. Qe3 cxd4 18. Qxd4 Kb8 19. Rfe1 Rhf8 20. f3 Bc6 21. Qb4 Kc7 22. Qa3 Bb7 23. Bb5 Re7 24. c4 dxc4 25. Bxc4 Rd8 26. Qe3 Kb8 27. b3 Ka8 28. a4 Rd6 29. a5 bxa5 30. Rxa5 Qd4 31. Qxd4 Rxd4 32. Rxe6 Rxe6 33. Bxe6 Kb8 34. Rc5 Rd2 35. Bg8 h6 36. Bc4 g5 37. h3 Ba8 38. Ba6 Rd8 39. Kh2 Bd5 40. Kg3 Ka8 41. b4 Bb7 42. Bc4 Rd4 43. b5 Kb8 44. Be2 Rd2 45. Kf2 Rd5 46. Rxd5 Bxd5 47. Kg3 Be6 48. h4 Kc7 49. hxg5 hxg5 50. f4 gxf4+ 51. Kxf4 Kd6 52. g4 Ke7 53. Kg5 Bb3 54. Kh6 Kf6 55. g5+ Kf7 56. g6+ Kf6 57. Bd3 Bg8 58. Bc2 Bc4 59. g7 Ke5 60. Bd3 Bg8 61. Kg6 Kd6 62. Kf6 Bd5 63. Bg6 Bg8 64. Bf7 Bh7 65. Bc4 Kc5 66. Be2 Kd6 67. Kf7 Kd7 68. Kf8 Kd6 69. g8=Q Bxg8 70. Kxg8 Kc7 71. Kf7 Kb8 72. Ke6 Kc7 73. Kd5 Kd7 74. Kc5 Kc7 75. Kb4 Kb6 76. Bf1 Kc7 77. Ka5 Kb7 78. Bg2+ Kc8 79. Ka6 1-0

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com