The struggle between Baniel and Drake will be a fight for second place. The game to watch is Duke vs. King. Both players will be motivated to draw if they want to enhance their chances for making the team but we shall see how this particular contest plays out. The last four rounds will be more about trying to make the team now.

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This year’s invitees to the annual championship are listed below. Other top Army players like SSG Rudy Tia (seven-time champion), LTC David Hater and LTC Michael Cerezo were not in attendance.

1LT Arthur Macaspac
Fort Dix, NJ

CPT Christopher Pitts
William Beaumont Army Medical Center
Chief, Health Physics WBAMC
Fort Bliss, TX

SPC Jhonel B. Baniel
C Co LRMC
Landstuhl, Germany

COL Michael Donovan
National Nuclear Security Agency, NA-16
Dept of Energy, Wash DC

SGT Darryl L. West
377th TSC, G6 Section
Camp Amfjer, Kuwait

SPC Sherwin Duke
Armament Aviation Electrician
Fort Campbell, KY

PVT David Corona
PACOM
Fort Lewis, WA

PFC Christopher King
EWS Operator
Camp Casey, South Korea

SGT Christopher Floto
Second class Driver
Fort Schafter, HI

SGT Christopher Drake
HUMINT Collector
Fort Bragg, NC

SGT Daniel Fissel
CENTCOM Desk NCO
Fort Bragg, NC

PVT Derek Shepherd
767th EOD Co
Fort Bragg, NC

Macaspac and Pitts finished their games fairly quickly. Both are entertaining games especially Pitts'. He was behind two pawns but West’s 19…d5 was an error. He underestimated and reacted poorly to Pitts’ king-side aggression. Allowing the queen to stay on g5 allowed the knight fork on h5. West seemed oblivious to the threat because he recaptured on f6 with the queen instead of the rook which would just cost him an exchange.

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Macaspac won as I predicted. Now, he is 6-0. His path to the crown is now set. He just has to avoid accidents in the remaining five rounds. Drake is now clearly second. Baniel and Pitts follow in third and fourth places, respectively.

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