The transitive properties of chess

 One of the things that makes chess interesting is the uncertainty of the result in any one game. Normally 'stronger' players beat 'weaker' players, but not all 'stronger' players beat all 'weaker' players. And more interestingly, just because player A beats Player B, and Player B beats Player C, sometimes Player A won't beat Player C.

A practical example of this is in the current ACT Junior Chess League Summer Swiss. This event is designed to provide some serious (long time control) play for promising Canberra juniors, and has succeeded in doing so. With 1 round to player Fred Litchfield leads on 5/6, half a point ahead of Harry Press on 4.5. The key game from round 6 (given below) was between Press and Malik Amer. After a tough struggle the game ended in a draw, which saw Press drop back from equal first. It was also a relief for Amer, who had suffered a loss to young Minchen Yang during the week at the Gungahlin Chess Club. But Yang (playing in this event as well) wasn't able to repeat that result, instead suffering a loss himself to bottom seed Hunter Sanchez!

 

Press,Harry (2076) - Amer,Abdulmalk (1847) [C84]
ACTJCL Sunday Summer Tournament Canberra AUS (6), 12.02.2021

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 d6 7. c3 O-O 8. Re1 b5 9. Bc2 Re8 10. Nbd2 Bf8 11. d4 Bb7 12. d5 Nb8 13. Nf1 c6 14. dxc6 Bxc6 15. Ng3 g6 16. Bb3 Bg7 17. Bg5 h6 18. Bxf6 Qxf6 19. h4 Nd7 20. h5 Kh7 21. Bd5 Bxd5 22. exd5 Nc5 23. b4 e4 24. bxc5 exf3 25. Ne4 Qf4 26. Qxf3 Qxf3 27. hxg6+ Kxg6 28. gxf3 dxc5 29. Rac1 Bf8 30. Kh1 f6 31. Rg1+ Kf7 32. Ng3 Re5 33. c4 bxc4 34. Rxc4 Rd8 1/2-1/2