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Round 6: Escaping and Flying

Elie Asmar did what Faisal opponents in previous rounds couldn’t achieve: making a break for Faisal’s perfect score. Adopting the French Defense needs from the player a certain level of preparation and a nice understanding of the issuing middle game pawn structure. And Elie was up to the task. His play on board 5 against Faisal Khairallah was full of confidence, reaching a somewhat balanced position. The risky 17..f6 enabled Faisal to take the advantage on the queen side, and create a weak black pawn on c4. Instead of continuing piece maneuvering in order to increase his advantage, Faisal wanted to take that c4-pawn, aiming perhaps to finish quickly the game, missing the stroke 22..Nd5!! accompanied by a draw offer. The Nd5 move was so strong that we can easily attach 2 question marks to the offer of the draw, as, without it, it could turn the table and enable Elie to play for a win. Faisal couldn’t believe what happened. He even went to contemplate a little bit the board 4 game between Najjar and Sharaf. When he convinced himself that Najjar’s position was winning, he accepted the draw offer, escaping with a valuable half pawn, and flying with a clear point lead from his followers.

On board 1, Dr. Mahmoud Maasarani adoptd the Nimzo-Larsen attack against Ibrahim Chahrour. The imprecise move order adopted by Maasarani enabled the current champion to equalize very easily. In order to complicate the position and create some attacking chances, the former sacrificed a pawn, which was gladly accepted by his opponent, who consolidated his position and kept his extra materials. White found himself on the defensive. A liquidation to the endgame enabled Black to obtain a winning position. A last stalemate trick adopted by Maasarani was quickly refuted by a counter stoke. Ibrahim joined Amr ElJawich with 4.5 points each, as the later won by forfeit against Khaled Shihab, who missed his game on board 3 due to sickness problems.

A solid game was played on board 2 between Jamal Shamieh and Antoine Kassis. After the exchange of the queens, a very balanced position arose, and both players agreed on the peace signature.

On board 4, the Bf4 system adopted by Ahmad Najjar didn’t bother Bassel Charaf King’s Indian setup. This system may be good against the Queen’s indian, but Ahmad has his own way to treat his position. A balanced middle game arose, with mutual chances. Just one mistake from Bassel (27..Qh4) enabled Ahmad to snatch a pawn. In trying to save his game, Bassel sacrificed the exchange, but want’t enough against the very coordinated White pieces. 2 exchanges and 2 pawns down convinced Bassel to stop the clock.

The calm Catalan setup adopted by AbdelAziz Mahmoud on board 6 didn’t bother Marwan Sharbel. A piece maneuvering initiated by each party in the middle game enabled him to play for the win! The time trouble affected both players, as the game point can go either way, till AbdelAziz made the last mistake, grabbing a rook, but putting his king under a threat of mat, enabled Marwan to score his first win in this championship.

Round 6 results:

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