Shulman shades Hess (11)

Yuri Shulman © official site

Yuri Shulman finally overcame Robert Hess in their fourth and final encounter, a King's Indian where Black's king became exposed. He will duly take his place in the final against the holder Gata Kamsky. Anna Zatonskih and Tatev Abrahamyan won through the rapid games to make it to the Women's final.

In the rapids, after another draw, Yuri Shulman won the fourth game and thus the match 2½-1½.

Semi-Final B (rapid play-off):

Game no.	White	Elo	Result	Black	Elo
3	Robert Hess	2565	½-½	Yuri Shulman	2622
4	Yuri Shulman	2622	1-0	Robert Hess	2565

Their first two games over the week-end were drawn:

Semi-Final B (classical games):

Game no.	White	Elo	Result	Black	Elo
1	Yuri Shulman	2622	½-½	Robert Hess	2565
2	Robert Hess	2565	½-½	Yuri Shulman	2622

Semi Final A (classical games):

Game no.	White	Elo	Result	Black	Elo
1	Sam Shankland	2512	½-½	Gata Kamsky	2733
2	Gata Kamsky	2733	1-0	Sam Shankland	2512

All games in the semi-finals were decisive. The highest-rated pair, Irina Krush and Anna Zatonskih, required five games to determine a finalist (3-2 to Zatonskih), whereas Tatev Abrahmyan won both rapid games to down Camilla Baginskaite 3-1.

Semi Final A (rapid and Armageddon games):

Game no.	White	Elo	Result	Black	Elo
3	Irina Krush	2472	0-1	Anna Zatonskih	2499
4	Anna Zatonskih	2499	0-1	Irina Krush	2472
5	Irina Krush	2472	0-1	Anna Zatonskih	2499

The first two games from this match were white wins:

Game no.	White	Elo	Result	Black	Elo
1	Anna Zatonskih	2499	1-0	Irina Krush	2472
2	Irina Krush	2472	1-0	Anna Zatonskih	2499

Semi Final B (rapid games):

Game no.	White	Elo	Result	Black	Elo
3	Tatev Abrahamyan	2326	1-0	Camilla Baginskaite	2342
4	Camilla Baginskaite	2342	0-1	Tatev Abrahamyan	2326

Their earlier games were both Black wins:

Semi Final B (classical games):

Game no.	White	Elo	Result	Black	Elo
1	Camilla Baginskaite	2342	0-1	Tatev Abrahamyan	2326
2	Tatev Abrahamyan	2326	0-1	Camilla Baginskaite	2342

The tie-breaks will consist of a two-game rapid match (G/25+5 second increment). If the contest is still undecided, the match will go to a rapid Armageddon bidding game with a base time of 45 minutes for each Player. Black will have draw odds. Each Player shall bid an amount of time (minutes and seconds, a number equal to or less than 45:00) they are willing to play with in order to choose their color. The Player who bids the lowest amount of time chooses his color and begins with that amount of time; the other Player receives 45:00. If both Players bid exactly the same amount of time, the Chief Arbiter will flip a coin to determine who shall choose their color.

The games will start at 2pm (local time).

There is a seven hour difference between St. Louis and Paris.

So 2pm (St. Louis) =

8pm London

9pm Paris, Madrid

11pm Moscow

For more informations go to the official site: http://saintlouischessclub.org/2011-us-championships/
For live play: http://saintlouischessclub.org/live/