2014 WQT in the United States

[Hugh Devlin]

Congratulations to Lubabalo Kondlo on a terrific performance in winning this WQT.

1st Lubabalo Kondlo 22pts (SB 90), 2nd Sergio Scarpetta 22pts (SB 79), 3rd Alex Moiseyev 21pts, 4th Jack Francis 18pts, 5th Ron King 18pts, 6th Jim Morrison 17pts.

Its always great to see a new match-up and Michele Borghetti Vs Lubabalo Kondlo WCM 2015 should be a great contest if last year's Sportaccord Games is anything to go by.

[Ingo_Zachos]

Hugh,

Ladies first,

so

CONGRATUATIONS

to the "old" and young

World Champion

Nadiya Chyzevska (Ukraine) for clincing the title again, despite trailing after the first rounds.

Congratulations to Vitalia Doumesh (Netherlands) for a strong second place. She came very close this time, but who knows what happens next time...


As for the men, congratulations to the surprise winner GM Lubabalo Kondlo (South Africa). He did not lose a single game and despite not being a specialist in 3-move he showed his amazing tactical and technical abilities and took his chances when he needed it.

Can he be the first African to become World Champion in Checkers/Draughts since Baba Sy, who became recognized World Champion in Draughts 100 only after his premature death?

On a side note: defending World Champion GM Michele Borhgetti (Italy) just clinched his 12th title in Italian Draughts during the time of the QT. So we can expect a great match by two excpetional cross board Players in 2015!!!


Congratulations to World Champion (GAYP) Sergio Scarpetta, who came close to earn the right to play for the 3-move title, but like in Lille 2012 he again "only" managed to finish a brilliant second.

Congratulations to Alex Moiseyev (USA). In the end a bit of bad luck with the ballots sealed his fate. Next time might be different. He still got it.


Also, GM Jack Francis showed that he is also not too bad in 3-move, while former Word Champion Ron King will certainly not be satisfied by his performance.

[George Hay]

Congratulations to Kim Willis and Alex Moiseyev, of the USA and ACF, for taking home the third place trophies.
--George Hay

[rich beckwith]

I meant to post the Overall WQT standings last night, but something went screwy with hotel Wi-Fi last evening, and then I couldn't get on ACF site later. Anyway:
After final round 8:

1° Lubabolo Kondlo 22 $1300
2° Sergio Scarpetta 22 $1300
3* Alex Moiseyev 21 $700
4° Jack Francis 18 $400
5° Ron King 18 $400
6° Jim Morrison 17 $200
7° Joe Moore 15
8* Michael Holmes 15
9° Charles Freeman 13
10° Luca Iacovelli 8

Mark Sokolovsky 10 (withdrew after 6th round)
Alex Holmes 9 (withdrew after 7th round)

On tie-breaks, Kondlo and Moore won head-to-head over whom they tied with, and Francis had more Sonneborn-Berger pts.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

W. Ryan "Atomic cook" didn't work this time! See position on diagram. Sergio just played 1-6 which was considered as lost at one time and 8-12 was the only defense. After 1-6 W. Ryan won a good game against W. Hellman in 1948 World Title Match

S. Scarpetta vs A. Moiseyev,
WQT 2014, Rd. 7. G2


White to move

My game with Sergio continued:

26-23, 6-10 (A), 23-18 (B) 3-7, 18x11, 8x15, 30-26, 9-14, 22-17, 13x22, 26x17, 15-18, 28-24, 18-22, 24-19, 14-18, 17-14, 10x17, 21x14, 7-11, 16x7, 2x11, 14-9, 4-8, 19-16, 11-15, 16-12, 8-11, 9-6, 11-16, 6-2, 15-19, 29-25 Draw

A. Improvement of W. Hellman 9-14? which seems to be a loss by shot 22-17 13x22, 31-26, 22x31, 16-12, 31x24, 28x1, 8-11, 1-5, 11-15, 5-9, 15-18, 23-19 and white gets a man after 30-25, 25-22 etc. Instead shot, W. Ryan play 16-12, 8-11, 30-25 (6-9), 28-24 which also looks like a win for white.

B. I spent significant amount of time here looking for win or something better. Any improvement ? The program proves that 16-12 is good try but still a draw if red play accurately.

Did Sergio corrected published play or it was already known that "Atomic cook" doesn't win ?

Diagram #2. Position for analysts.

White to move

[liam stephens]

Re Position for analysts Diagram 2:
After 23-18, (with 32-27 not played 8-12 is available after 23-18) then if 3-7, 18x11, 8x15, 30-26, 9-14, 22-17, 13x22, 26x17, 15-18, (here move 32 -27 is already played in previous diagram)
Continue 29-25, 18-23 A, B, 25-22, 23-26, 28-24, 20-27, 32-23, 26-30, 22-18, 4-8, 18-9, 8-12, 23-18, 12-19, 18-15 etc., wins.
A - if 2-6, 31-27 !
B - if 7-11, 16-7, 2-11, 17-13, 10-15, 13-9, 18-22, 25-18, 15-22, 9-6 is winning.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Liam, I am horribly apologize for typo in diagram #2. Man on 32 is already on 27.

Diagram #3. Position for analysts.

White to move

[liam stephens]

Yes, Alex - that makes a big difference.