Glen Gratz, Alex Lim Top 2016 Northern IL Wrap Up

 

Nobody's perfect -- and 2016 was far from a perfect year.

The final event on the Illinois chess docket for 2016 demonstrated that adage in more ways than one.

North Boone High School coach Glen Gratz and Nequa Valley player Alex Lim battled to a time-influenced but theoretical draw in the first round of the 2016 Northern Illinois Wrap Up hosted by the DeKalb Chess Club.

Both players went on to win their other two matches to claim top honors in the Open section with matching 2.5/3's. Overall 39 participated in three sections.

Hiro Higuchi won his first two matches before falling to Gratz in the final round, taking clear third place.

Sam Henderson posted a wonderful upset in the opening round defeating a USCF-first-timer from Cuba.

In the Reserve (Under 1600) section, Anshu Indusekar was four-for-four to claim top honors.

Kaushal Dhumal was the lone 5.0/5 scorer in the Booster (Under 1200).

Dhumal defeated collegian Noah Baker in the fourth round to assure top honors.

Baker tied with fellow-collegian Paul Cappaert with 4.0/5, as Baker managed to win their third round match. 

Second grader Nisha Salian had the top score for K-2's with 3.0, losing only to Dhumal and Baker.

Sriram Ashokkumar posted a similar 3.0 for top honors among high schoolers, losing only to Dhumal and Cappaert.

Likith Kancharlapelli also tallied 3.0, losing only to Ashokkumar (first round) and the invincible Dhumal (final round).

In order to get folks on the road for their respective new year's observations, the delay was shortened to two-seconds -- and lower than normal time controls were allocated in each section.

This played a role in the outcome of several games -- but the organizer's promise to get folks out before 4 pm was met!

Onward and upward in 2017!

US Chess Crossstables are available here.