07.30.14 The Denker Tournament of High School Champions, the Barber Tournament of K-8 Champions and the National Girls' Invitational Tournament (NGIT) are underway here in Orlando at The Rosen Centre Hotel, site of the 2014 U.S. Open. Maine is well represented with a full team, with representatives to each tournament. In the Denker, State High School Champion Matthew Fishbein of Cape Elizabeth is back for the fourth consecutive year representing Maine in either the Barber or the Denker. K-8 Champion Ian Youth of Scarborough and The Breakwater School of Portland is the Barber representative, and Deer Isle's Bethany Humphrey, a student at The Maine School of Science and Mathematics in Limestone, is Maine's representative to the NGIT.

USCF crosstable of this event will be posted here when available

Thanks to Dan Fishbein for contributing to this report.

Orlando, Florida- July 28, 2014

The field this year is the best it has ever been. Up until 2011 there had been only the Denker tournament, now in its 30th year. The Barber was added in 2011, and the NGIT last year. In most years there would have been a wide range of ratings in the field, but most players this year are highly rated. Each field can have 53 players--one for each state, plus one from DC, a second from California and an alternate from the host state. With 139 of 159 possible spots filled, this is the largest field on record.

Last year's inaugural version of the NGIT attracted a limited field, but this year there are 45 players, including most of the top rated scholastic girls in the country. The highest rated player in the NGIT is Women's International Master Annie Yang of California who has a USCF rating of 2222. The NGIT also has 6 Experts, including 10 year-old phenom Carissa Yip of Massachusetts. Bethany Humphrey has the added distinction of having just competed two weeks ago in the annual Susan Polgar Invitational for Girls in St. Louis. Bethany (and her Mom Rosa) deserve special kudos for representing Maine in both events!

The Barber has 48 players, including an FM (FIDE Master), 9 National Masters and another 12 Experts. The highest rated player is Joshua Sheng of California, at 2316. To put it in perspective, everyone in this field is 13 or younger, and there are 6 players in it who are higher rated than any adult in Maine.

The 46 player Denker field consists of two FMs, 15 National Masters and another 12 Experts. There are three players rated over USCF 2400.

For the first time, there is also a team aspect to this set of tournaments. The scores of each state's representatives will be combined, including for class prizes. This adds a fun new aspect to the event, and is promoting a special camaraderie among the participants, including the Maine team. The Maine "team" is rounded out by parents Rosa Humphrey, Brian Youth, Ilene Fishbein and yours truly.

On Saturday at 3:00 PM the opening ceremony was held. With so many players and many family members, the room was packed with over 400 people. After some speeches and information, each player was given a medallion or pin, and some special gifts. This was followed by group photos.

Then at 7:00 PM it was on to Round 1, played in the same hall and at the same time as Round 1 of the 115th U.S. Open. In the Denker, Matthew Fishbein (2194) turned in a solid win against Zach Schuh (1785), the Kansas Champion. In the Barber, Ian Youth (1419) had to face an opponent more than 700 points above him in rating, Yoon-Young Kim of Connecticut (2121.) It was a long and well fought game, but Kim prevailed. Bethany Humphrey (1124) had a similarly daunting challenge in the first round of the NGIT, facing Georgia's Saithanu Avirneni (1773), with a similar result.

On Sunday there were two rounds, at Noon and 7:00 PM. In Round 2, Bethany earned a great win with her outstanding play, defeating Louisiana's Amelie Wyzywany (1488), a 364 point upset. Demonstrating the strength of the field, even though Ian had not won in the first round this earned him a match against the tournament's highest rated player, Joshua Sheng (2316) of California. Ian played well, but Joshua prevailed. In the Denker, Matthew found himself paired against Chris Gu (2417) of Rhode Island, one of the top scholastic players in the nation. Even though Matthew and Chris play a lot of New England tournaments, they had never faced each other before. They ended up playing an epic 114 move match that lasted nearly five hours. This seems nearly impossible since the time control was G90, but with a 30 second increment indefinite play is possible. (Chris Gu played for most of the last two hours of the match on the increment.) Their's was the very last match to finish, and was even for hours, but ultimately Gu prevailed.

In the evening round, Matthew, exhausted from his earlier marathon, succumbed to Tian-Shun Jiang (2040), the North Carolina champion. Ian finally got to face a more reasonably rated opponent, Alexander Fuhs (1144) of South Dakota, and they played to a draw. Bethany turned in another amazing performance, upsetting Deanna Alter (1697) of Colorado. In rounds two and three, Bethany's upsets combined to equal a 937 rating point differential!

On Monday, Round 4 was played at Noon, with Round 5 to be played again at 7:00 PM. Ian notched a win against Avery Brewer (1158), the Mississippi state champ. Bethany's upsets earned her a game against Veronika Zilajeva (1975) of Oklahoma, with Veronika the winner. Matthew was matched against Alabama's Stephen Adams (2009), and Matthew came out victorious.

After the 4th round the State team standings were posted for the first time. The Maine team is 40th amongst 50 teams based on rating, but with 5.5 points stands in 24th place. Maine is also currently in first place for the Under 1700 class prize. Looking at the average ratings and sizes of some of the 26 states Maine is currently ahead of, the team has a lot to be proud of!

As of this writing, Round 5 is in progress. I will provide another report after the completion of the tournament which concludes with Round 6 at 10:00 AM, Tuesday, followed by the awards ceremony.

Matthew Fishbein (right) chats with Dewain Barber before the start of his first round game.

Bethany Humphrey (left) plays her first round game in the National Girls' Invitational.

Ian Youth (right) with his signature "pencil-in-ear" plays in round one at the Barber Tournament of K-8 Champions.

The massive tournament hall

Matthew Fishbein's (left) game in round two against Chris Gu (2417) of Rhode Island, one of the top scholastic players in the nation, was the last one of the round to finish.

Bethany Humphrey (right) playing Louisiana's Amelie Wyzywany in round two.

Ian Youth (left) plays the tournament's highest rated player, Joshua Sheng (2316) of California.

Matthew Fishbein's round two game was broadcast live online on Monroi.com. At the end it was the only game being shown, including in the hall.

Matthew Fishbein (right) shakes hands to begin his round three game with Tian-Shun Jiang (2040), the North Carolina champion.

Bethany Humphrey (left) plays her round three game upsetting Deanna Alter (1697) of Colorado.

Ian Youth (left) battles Alexander Fuhs (1144) of South Dakota, to a draw.

Will it be the e-pawn or the d-pawn? Matthew Fishbein opens in round 4.

Ian Youth on his way to a win against Avery Brewer (1158), the Mississippi state champ.