Foreclosure Doctors Win U.S. Amateur Team Nationals

M Klein/J Shahade

Chess Life online

The U.S. Amateur Team Playoffs, conducted Saturday April 12 on the Internet Chess Club and directed by Carol Jarecki, concluded with a resounding victory for the team from the South division. "The Foreclosure Doctors" got fast starts in both of their matches, winning the first two games against Eastern team 1.d4 in the semifinals and against Western champs "We Have Cox" in the finals. Top board Bruci Lopez, who was the highest rated player in the event, and third chair Javier Gonzalez went a combined 4-0, and Jeffrey Haskel and Gilberto Luno navigated toward a trio of draws to clinch each match.

FM Bruci Lopez led the team with sparkling Sicilian play in the finals. Below is the game against Western Champs player Daniel Yeager.

U.S. Amateur Team Playoffs
White: Lopez, Bruci Black: Yeager, Daniel
1.e4 c5
2.Nf3 d6
3.d4 cxd4
4.Nxd4 Nf6
5.Nc3 a6
6.Bc4 e6
7.Bb3 b5
8.O-O Be7
9.Qf3 Qb6
10.Bg5 O-O
11.Rad1 Qb7
12.Rfe1 Bd7
13.a3 Nc6
14.Qg3 Kh8
15.Kh1 Rac8
16.f4 h6
17.Qh4 Kg8
18.Nf3 hxg5
19.Nxg5 g6
20.Qh6 Rfe8
21.Nd5 exd5
22.Bxd5 Be6
23.Bxe6 Bf8
24.Qxg6+ Bg7
25.Bxf7+ Kf8
26.Rxd6
1-0


All the players were TDs at Super State V in Orlando and left after the first round to play the East, After winning they went into seclusion again to defeat the East at the Marriott Hotel where the scholastic tournament was being held. Asked how he felt, Jeffrey Haskel shrugged his shoulders and yawned. Then bursts out laughing as Gil Luna punched him on the shoulder.