"Fire on Board.."
---- Title of Shirov's new chess book.

The 2002 Masters Knockout Tournament heats up this weekend with the Semi final games getting underway this Saturday at Utech., at 1:00pm. In the first semi final game, many time National Champion NM Jomo Pitterson, will face the reigning Jamaica National Champion, FM Warren Elliott.

The second semi final game will see Jamaica's Highest rated player, NM Shane MAtthews square off against "Open Guru" ad one time Masters Knockout finalist, NM Russel Porter.

In earlier Quarter final games, NM Mark Holness had sidestepped Jomo's Preparation to register the first upset of the Masters Tournament, by defeating Pitterson with the white pieces. by defeating NM Pitterson. However, the following Sunday, Jomo Pitterson levelled the score One all (1-1) by maintaining a lasting initiative in a Centre Counter defence game and then pressing for the victory when Holness blundered in time trouble.

This had sent the series into an exciting rapid playoff in which Holness again obtained the advantage with the White pieces, only to blunder and allow Pitterson to escape with a draw. Pitterson outplayed Holness in the final rapid playoff, to squeeze into the semi final, and setup a Clash between himself and Jamaica National Champion, FM Warren Elliott.

To see the analysis of Game 1 NM M.Holness vs NM Jomo Pitterson, click here

To see the analysis of Game 1 NM M.Holness vs NM Jomo Pitterson, click here

NM Russel Porter also squeezed past veteran and many time National Champion, NM Robert Wheeler by defeating him 1.5 to .5 in ther two game series. While the first game was a tame draw, in the second game, NM Wheeler could not stand up to NM Porters feared c4 Opening.

To see the analysis of the second game between NM Russel Porter and NM Robert Wheeler, click Here

After drawing the first game with Mark Smith, NM Shane Matthews, Jamaica's highest rated Player, easily defeated Mark Smith in the second game of their two game series to advanc eto the semi finals where he will clash with NM Russel Porter

END

Click here to see Masters Knockout Group B reports