The Pensacola versus Mobile Match

The Pensacola Chess Club played the Mobile Chess Club in a match. (Time control: Game/90 minutes.)

The match was held Sunday, November 5th, 2006 at the Baptist Hospital. (11:00 AM in the Medical Meeting Rooms.)

Mobile had promised to bring over around 10 people, but could only manage seven - after several late withdrawals.

The lineup for Round One was:
Pensacola - Goldsby, Perciballi, Sims, Thornton, Greiner, Hekimian, and Stewart.
Mobile - Jurjevich, Russell, Olson, Singleton, Greiner, Clarke, and Bingham.

Former AL State Champion Joe Jurjevich defeated A.J. Goldsby, after A.J. opened up the game and allowed White's Knights full access to the Kingside. Perciballi played a nice game that lasted well into the second time control before Russell resigned. Mike Thornton got an outside passed pawn and made it count in a long and tense battle against Chuck Singleton. Bart Hekimian dispatched Clarke in a strong effort that featured a cool knock-out blow. (Ne7+!) And Joshua Stewart completely outplayed Matt Bingham, and notched one of the first points for Pensacola. (Pensacola won the first round.)

The lineup for Round Two was:
Pensacola - Goldsby, Perciballi, Thornton, Hekimian, Nielsen, Fournier, and D. Woods.
Mobile - Jurjevich, Russell, Olson, Singleton, Greiner, Clarke, and Bingham.

This author, (A.J.) did not get to watch too many games, as I was too occupied with my own monster effort.

Perciballi defeated Russell; Thornton and Olson drew; Mr. Singleton beat Mr. Hekimian; Abraham Nielsen defeated a much higher-rated opponent, (Dr. F. Greiner); Clarke dispatched Fournier, (although the TD told me that Don appeared to emerge from the opening two pawns ahead); and Damon Woods lost one to Matt Bingham.

The real battle of the round was on Board one ... and was the last game to finish. A.J. seemed to have outplayed Joe in the opening. Then the Life-Master lost the thread of the game and appeared to be quite lost, but suddenly made an incredible sacrifice. In a wild turn of events, A.J. {now} appeared to have winning chances, but was running desperately short of time. A hair-raising time scramble ensued, and eventually the point was split. (A.J. played his last 25 or so moves with only seconds left on the clock. The full game score is given below.)

A.J. Goldsby I (2200) - Joe Jurjevich (2172); [A45]
Pensacola vs. Mobile Match / Pensacola, FL (R2), 05.11.2006

1.d4 Nf6; 2.c4 e6; 3.Nf3 c5; 4.d5 exd5; 5.cxd5 d6; 6.Nc3 a6; 7.a4 g6; 8.h3 Bg7; 9.e4 0-0; 10.Bd3 Re8; 11.0-0 Nbd7; 12.Bf4 c4; 13.Bc2 Nc5; 14.Re1 Qb6; 15.Ra2 Bd7; 16.a5 Qc7; 17.Bh2 b5; 18.axb6 Qxb6; 19.e5 dxe5; 20.Nxe5 Bb5; 21.Ra1 Rad8; 22.Qd4 Nfd7; 23.f4 Nxe5; 24.fxe5 Nd7; 25.Qxb6 Nxb6; 26.Rad1 Nd7; 27.e6 fxe6; 28.Rxe6 Nc5; 29.Rb6 Bxc3; 30.bxc3 Re2; 31.Rc6 Bxc6; 32.dxc6 Rxd1+; 33.Bxd1 Re1+; 34.Kf2 Nd3+; 35.Kg3 Re7; 36.Bf3 Ne5; 37.Bd5+ Kf8; 38.Kf4 Ke8; 39.Kg5 Kd8; 40.Kf6 Nd3; 41.Bd6 Re8; 42.Bxc4 Nf2; 43.Kf7 Ne4; 44.Bb4 Ng5+; 45.Kf6 Ne4+; 46.Kg7 Kc7; 47.Bd5 Re5; 48.c4 Kb6; 49.Kf7 a5; 50.Ba3 Nc3; 51.Bd6 Rf5+; 52.Ke6 Nxd5; 53.cxd5 Rf2; 54.g3 a4; 55.Kd7 Rc2; 56.Be5 a3; 57.c7 Kb7; 58.d6 a2; 59.Kd8 Rc6; 60.d7 Rxc7; 61.Bxc7 a1Q; 62.Bd6 Kc6; 63.Ke8 Qa8+; 64.d8Q Qxd8+; 65.Kxd8 Kxd6; 66.Ke8 Ke6; 67.Kf8 Kf6; 68.Kg8 h5; 69.Kh7 Kf7; 70.h4 Kf6; 71.Kh6 Kf7; 72.Kh7 Kf6; 73.Kh6, ½-½

I submitted this game, (on Nov. 10th, 2006); to "Chess Games" (their website) with the following comments:

<< This is maybe ... one of the most interesting chess game I have ever played.

First of all, I played 1.d4. (I have only played this a handful of times in my entire career, and I have NEVER played the White side of the Benoni!!)

Secondly, I completely outplayed my opponent in the opening, but never played e4-e5! (Until later.)

Thirdly, Fritz 9.0 does NOT find 31.Rc6!!! (Even after 15 minutes.) And I have not yet been able to refute this sacrifice.

Finally, I missed several opportunities to win.

The time control was "Game in 90 minutes," (with a five second delay); I played the last 20-30 moves with only seconds left on my clock. >>

- A.J. Goldsby I

Mobile won the second round, but since Pensacola won the first round, the entire event was a drawn match!

My thanks to ALL of the players who played!!! Congrats to Dr. John Perciballi and Mr. Mike Thornton, they were the anchors for this team, and scored 3.5 points out of a possible four. (Good job!!!)

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