Bermuda now has a new champion — Sami Lill (pictured), who has won the The 1st Annual Rapid Cup.To win a game within 30 minutes, Lill proved that he is the fastest in Bermuda. To get there he had to win in round one against Gary Cooper, in round two against Kennedy Simmons, in round four against Michael Webb, in round five against Nigel Chudleigh, and in round six against Larry Ebbin, which gave him five out of six.

Lill also represented Bermuda in the 2006 Olympiad in Turin, Italy. There he won most of his games as well.

Now that he has won the Rapid Cup there is even more to add to his score sheet.

This week’s game is from round six. Lill is playing white while Ebbin is playing black.

In diagram 1, Lill’s knight was on f4 and I had just moved my pawn to e5 to threaten it, thinking he would retreat. However, Lill came up with a brilliant move — he sacrificed a knight that took away all my king’s defenders.

In diagram 2, you can see that his sacrifice has paid off. He has a clear attack on my king.

In diagram 3, another knight is giving me trouble and if I don’t sacrifice my queen it’s checkmate. Very soon it was all over for me, as you can see in diagram 4. Checkmate.

The annual Bermuda International Open starts tonight at the Fairmont Southampton Princess Hotel at 8 p.m. for Round 1. Rounds 2 and 3 are on Saturday at 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. The same start times will be in effect on Sunday for rounds four and five.

For all those players who want to join this tournament, the entry fee is $70, so call 236-1622 or 234-2322. If not come to the hotel and ask to see chief arbiter Carol Jarecki.

You can also come to see the international players in action.

White: Sami Lill

Black: Larry Ebbi>

Bermuda’s 1st Annual Rapid Cup

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Be3 Nf6 4. c4 Nxe4 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. Nc3 e6 7. Qd2 h6 8. Nge2 Ng4 9. Qc2 Nxe3 10. fxe3 f5 11. 0-0-0 Nc6 12. a3 0-0 13. Nf4 Qe8 14. g4 Ne7 15. h3 b6 16. Rhg1 a6 17. d5 e5 18. Nxg6 Nxg6 19. gxf5 Nh4 20. Rdf1 Rf6 21. Rg4 Qh5 22. Rfg1 Nxf5 23. Bxf5 Qxf5 24. Rxg7+ Kf8 25. Rf8+ Ke7 26. R1g7+ Kd6 27. Ne4+ Qxe4 28. Qxe4 Rf1+ 29. Kc2 Rf2+ 30. Kc3 Rf6 31. Rg6 Rxg6 32. Qxg6+ Kc5 33. b$>

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