Comments on: Cinderella Dropped A Slipper http://www.thechessmill.com/2006/07/03/cinderella-dropped-a-slipper/ Ramblings and ruminations on chess in SE Wisconsin, the USA and the World Fri, 16 May 2008 04:48:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Chris Richards http://www.thechessmill.com/2006/07/03/cinderella-dropped-a-slipper/#comment-4355 Chris Richards Fri, 07 Jul 2006 20:46:04 +0000 http://www.thechessmill.com/general/cinderella-dropped-a-slipper/#comment-4355 Those of us from Madison who have seen Erik play over the past five years weren't all that surprised at his showing. In fact, the bigger surprise among some of our local players was not that Erik came so close to winning, but that he didn't, in fact, win. He is a talented player who keeps gaining in strength--no doubt playing at UTD is an asset in his development. He's just 19 and the perspective in the local chess community is that Erik has a long way to go before he reaches his ceiling. Perhaps this year's Western will prove to be less a Cinderella Story and more of a Coming Out Party...? Thanks again for the reports from the tournament. I enjoyed the update as I was unable to be there. Those of us from Madison who have seen Erik play over the past five years weren’t all that surprised at his showing. In fact, the bigger surprise among some of our local players was not that Erik came so close to winning, but that he didn’t, in fact, win.

He is a talented player who keeps gaining in strength–no doubt playing at UTD is an asset in his development. He’s just 19 and the perspective in the local chess community is that Erik has a long way to go before he reaches his ceiling. Perhaps this year’s Western will prove to be less a Cinderella Story and more of a Coming Out Party…?

Thanks again for the reports from the tournament. I enjoyed the update as I was unable to be there.

]]> By: Administrator http://www.thechessmill.com/2006/07/03/cinderella-dropped-a-slipper/#comment-4207 Administrator Tue, 04 Jul 2006 16:24:10 +0000 http://www.thechessmill.com/general/cinderella-dropped-a-slipper/#comment-4207 It was one of the more suspenseful of the past years. The way Erik was playing, I almost believed he was going slip by Stas there at the end to take first. It would have been poetic justice had he done so, since the leaders were so sure he couldn't they settled for a quick draw rather than try and guarantee he wouldn't pass one of them. In the past 3 or 4 Westerns I could accurately predict the distribution of the top prizes after three rounds. This time there was actually a bit of uncertainty. It was one of the more suspenseful of the past years. The way Erik was playing, I almost believed he was going slip by Stas there at the end to take first. It would have been poetic justice had he done so, since the leaders were so sure he couldn’t they settled for a quick draw rather than try and guarantee he wouldn’t pass one of them.

In the past 3 or 4 Westerns I could accurately predict the distribution of the top prizes after three rounds. This time there was actually a bit of uncertainty.

]]> By: Chris Richards http://www.thechessmill.com/2006/07/03/cinderella-dropped-a-slipper/#comment-4144 Chris Richards Tue, 04 Jul 2006 05:51:11 +0000 http://www.thechessmill.com/general/cinderella-dropped-a-slipper/#comment-4144 Thanks for the recap. Sounds like it was a terrific tournament. Thanks for the recap. Sounds like it was a terrific tournament.

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