The World Open: An experience
7/10/2015 – The World Open is one of the oldest and most prestigious tournaments in American history. One reason for GM Alexander Ipatov, World Junior Chess Champion 2012, to visit the USA and take part. He shared first prize with seven other players, won $ 5.000, and made a lot of experiences. Some good, some less pleasant, but all remarkable. Big illustrated report.
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World Open 2015: An experience
It has been 18 months since I played my last open tournament in the United States, and I kind of forgot how it feels to play two rounds per day, waiting for the pairings of the evening round till five minutes before the start of a game, and then scroll down through your opponent’s repertoire in the Mega Database in a super fast mode; or to be forced to bring your own set & clock (or hope that your opponent would bring one!), because none is supplied. The recently finished World Open made me recall all these memories from my brain and even added some new experiences.
The first time in my career I lost sleep and appetite because of drinking too much coffee during a tournament – you needed to keep your concentration up for 9 to 11 hours for a days average. I had thought coffee was a harmless thing, but after this tournament I am not so sure anymore. Right now I think that the players who consider themselves as professionals (which is a minority) should stay away from most of American opens; it is a nice choice for amateurs, though. Let me explain why: in almost all American tournaments GMs get no conditions, and, therefore, start a tournament with a minus. If they win a prize, a fixed $$$ is deducted from it (at the World Open - $200). It is as if a GM pays the entrance fee of $200 to participate in a tournament with a reasonable prize fund.
If a GM doesn’t win a prize, money is not deducted, of course. But the GM then loses on travel expenses, lodging and catering. In my opinion, the only tournament which has the right to require entrance fees from GMs is the Millionaire Open. Because the prize fund is really decent there, so I can understand and accept that business model.
Other drawbacks are the following ones: there is no time to prepare for the games, necessity to bring your own set & clock to each game, plus to be forced to pay a %30 tax in case of a won prize. Do not think, that I condemn all tournaments in the US! Not true. It was a very nice experience for me to play in the Bay Area International (in my opinion, the best organized American chess open – thanks, Arun!), Michigan Chess Festival (thanks, Alan!), Spice Cup (thanks, Susan!). Grandmasters get invited and there is no need to bring your own chess equipment. The Millionaire Open is another interesting tournament to consider.
Some remarkable moments from the tournament:
Smirin-Kunche
Jacobsen-Kovalyov
Alexander Ipatov
Ipatov-Preotu
Anyways, I think it was worth taking part in the World Open this year, because it is a lifetime experience to feel the spirit of one of the oldest and most prestigious chess opens in American history. Eight players tied for 1st place and since the prize money is equally shared in American chess tournaments, everyone who ended up on +5 should feel happy with the result.
Host of the tournament
But where's the tournament?
This way please!
It's close!
"
Almost there...
Finally some known face! To the right tournament winner Alexander Lenderman...
Luke McShane
Ilya Smirin
Artur Jussupov
Boris Avrukh
Romain Eduard
Irina Krush
Kayden Troff
...and Alejandro Ramirez, here with Varuzhan Akobian
Final result Open
| # | Name | Rtng | Tot | TB1 |
Prize
|
Amount
|
| 1 | GM Alex Lenderman | 2623 | 7.0 | 43.5 |
1st-8th/Bonus
|
$5462.50
|
| 2 | GM Rauf Mamedov | 2639 | 7.0 | 46.5 |
1st-8th
|
$5162.50
|
| 3 | GM Ilya Smirin | 2663 | 7.0 | 41.5 |
1st-8th
|
$5162.50
|
| 4 | GM Alexander Ipatov | 2615 | 7.0 | 41.5 |
1st-8th
|
$5162.50
|
| 5 | GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami | 2570 | 7.0 | 41 |
1st-8th
|
$5162.50
|
| 6 | GM Illia Nyzhnyk | 2627 | 7.0 | 39.5 |
1st-8th
|
$5162.50
|
| 7 | GM Romain Edouard | 2639 | 7.0 | 37 |
1st-8th
|
$5162.50
|
| 8 | GM Axel Bachmann | 2633 | 7.0 | 36 |
1st-8th
|
$5162.50
|
| 9 | GM Varuzhan Akobian | 2632 | 6.5 | 43 |
9th-10th
|
$137.50
|
| 10 | GM Anton Kovalyov | 2613 | 6.5 | 43 |
9th-10th
|
$137.50
|
| 11 | GM Gata Kamsky | 2672 | 6.5 | 42.5 |
9th-10th
|
$137.50
|
| 12 | GM Luke McShane | 2685 | 6.5 | 39 |
9th-10th
|
$137.50
|
| 13 | GM Sergei Azarov | 2618 | 6.5 | 39 |
9th-10th
|
$137.50
|
| 14 | GM Krikor Mekhitarian | 2589 | 6.5 | 39 |
9th-10th
|
$137.50
|
| 15 | John Michael Burke | 2258 | 6.5 | 38 |
1st U2300
|
$4000.00
|
| 16 | GM Felipe El Debs | 2515 | 6.5 | 37 |
9th-10th
|
$137.50
|
| 17 | GM Sergey Erenburg | 2585 | 6.5 | 29.5 |
9th-10th
|
$137.50
|
| 18 | GM Alejandro Ramirez | 2587 | 6.0 | 42.5 | ||
| 19 | IM Andrey Gorovets | 2505 | 6.0 | 42.5 | ||
| 20 | GM Jianchao Zhou | 2601 | 6.0 | 42 | ||
| 21 | GM Alexander Stripunsky | 2561 | 6.0 | 41 | ||
| 22 | IM Ashwin Jayaram | 2492 | 6.0 | 40 | ||
| 23 | IM John Daniel Bryant | 2388 | 6.0 | 40 |
1st-5th 2300-2449
|
$1383.33
|
| 24 | GM Boris Avrukh | 2605 | 6.0 | 39 | ||
| 25 | IM Luke C Harmon-Vellotti | 2430 | 6.0 | 38.5 |
1st-5th 2300-2449
|
$1383.33
|
| 26 | GM Magesh C Panchanathan | 2541 | 6.0 | 38 | ||
| 27 | GM Leonid G Yudasin | 2510 | 6.0 | 37 | ||
| 28 | GM Alonso Zapata | 2443 | 6.0 | 37 |
1st-5th 2300-2449
|
$1383.33
|
| 29 | IM Kassa Korley | 2430 | 6.0 | 36.5 |
1st-5th 2300-2449
|
$1383.33
|
| 30 | IM David Vigorito | 2415 | 6.0 | 36.5 |
1st-5th 2300-2449
|
$1383.33
|
| 31 | GM Kayden Troff | 2545 | 6.0 | 36 | ||
| 32 | GM Irina Krush | 2477 | 6.0 | 34 | ||
| 33 | Raven M Sturt | 2259 | 6.0 | 34 |
2nd U2300
|
$2000.00
|
| 34 | FM Nicolas De T. Checa | 2346 | 6.0 | 33 |
1st-5th 2300-2449
|
$1383.33
|
... 211 players
Before the tournament my best friend and I spent one week in New York City. We visited a bunch of museums, made it to the top of some famous skyscrapers, and in general covered most of the local worth-to-go places.
New York
Scenic view
But no clear sky
Manhattan - with the new One World Trade Center
South of it Liberty Island with the statue of liberty
Ferries bring lots of visitors
The statue of liberty, designed by Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi geschaffen, 1886 fertig gestellt, 93 Meter hoch-Auguste Bartholdi geschaffen, 1886 fertig gestellt, 93 Meter hoch-Auguste Bartholdi geschaffen, 1886 fertig gestellt, 93 Meter hochmetres high
The UNO building
New York, New York
USS Intrepid
The USS Intrepid, built in 1941 it was used in WW II and during the war in Vietnam but now serves as a museum.
Alexander Ipatov
American Museum of National History
The Willamette meteorite, found in 1902
Good to know that this animal is no longer a threat....
Washington
Lots of police in Washington, on wheels...
... and on horses.
And with dogs
Government area, NationalMallMall
The place where the president lives and works.
Washington Monument
Lincoln Memorial
The Eisenhower Executive Office Building is part of the White House
LinksThe games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download a free Playchess client and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase 12 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs. |
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Discussion and Feedback
Join the public discussion or submit your feedback to the editors
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I'm chess organizer from Malaysia.In Malaysia we provided set and chess clock.
I have no problem bringing my chess set and clock to my assigned seat for the next round of the tournament; except that...
...It is unfortunate that I have to bring my chess set for rounds where we end up using my opponent's set.
In such cases one of us is lugging our set around for no good reason. Worse, my feet have to content for space with my chess bag during the long game. And I have to worry about my bag being stolen when I take a bathroom break.
Whether the reasons are good or bad, surmountable or not, it is unfortunate when the pairings for any given round are not posted hours before it starts.
Maybe the convention that the Black player's equipment be used is suboptimal, because that criterion makes it impossible to know whose equipment will be used after the pairings are finalized (typically only 20 minutes before the round starts).
I dunno, maybe another criterion could be devised?
...It is unfortunate that I have to bring my chess set for rounds where we end up using my opponent's set.
In such cases one of us is lugging our set around for no good reason. Worse, my feet have to content for space with my chess bag during the long game. And I have to worry about my bag being stolen when I take a bathroom break.
Whether the reasons are good or bad, surmountable or not, it is unfortunate when the pairings for any given round are not posted hours before it starts.
Maybe the convention that the Black player's equipment be used is suboptimal, because that criterion makes it impossible to know whose equipment will be used after the pairings are finalized (typically only 20 minutes before the round starts).
I dunno, maybe another criterion could be devised?
Regarding the tax comment, whether or not a foreign player has a US tax ID isn't relevant to my question. What I'm asking is, if you play a tournament in Europe, Asia or anywhere else, doesn't the country you play in levy a tax on your winnings, same as in the United States? If so the writer's complaint is unjustified. If not I may begin thinking about moving to one of these magical "non-taxing" countries! Regarding his being forced to bring his own chess set, if this guy thinks this is an actual burden then I must assume he has never faced a real problem in his young life.
The Boss: "... like asking a professional Tennis player to bring his own balls. Terrible."
Actually, it's like asking professional tennis players to bring their own racquets, golfers to bring their clubs, shooters to bring their guns and sailors to bring their boats. You may not have noticed, but they do.
No American complains about bringing their clock and set to a tournament, it's taken for granted. Many large tournaments, though, furnish equipment for the top boards. I agree that this should be made the standard.
Actually, it's like asking professional tennis players to bring their own racquets, golfers to bring their clubs, shooters to bring their guns and sailors to bring their boats. You may not have noticed, but they do.
No American complains about bringing their clock and set to a tournament, it's taken for granted. Many large tournaments, though, furnish equipment for the top boards. I agree that this should be made the standard.
@Mike Regan -
There's a huge difference organizing a tournament for 1000+ players and a tournament for less than 90 players.
There's a huge difference organizing a tournament for 1000+ players and a tournament for less than 90 players.
Dear lord Mr. Ipatov is right. It's honestly malarkey to ask chess players to bring chess sets with them. Do you know how much those sets cost? How much they weigh? It's just too big of a burden. Asking a professional chess player to bring their own set is like asking a professional Tennis player to bring his own balls. Terrible.
There are other US open events that have better conditions than the World Open. The Washington International provides all equipment, pairs the next round ASAP, provides conditions for non-US GMs and IMs, breakfasts, and does not subtract anything from prizes. We do have to withhold money, but that's an IRS rule one can't avoid. This year's runs from August 8-13 and we're always looking for non-US GMs and IMs.
Mike Regan
Washington International Organizer
Mike Regan
Washington International Organizer
I don't believe it's a tax, simply US revenue service rules on withholding, if the recipient doesn't have a US social security or taxpayer ID number, which a non-resident foreign player would typically not. They can file a form for the tax year, to essentially get all or some of that withholding back.
The writer implies that other countries either do not tax chess winnings or tax such prizes at a lower rate than does the United States. Can anyone shed light on this, as it's difficult to believe.
GM Ipatov is correct that such opens are not ideal for professional GMs. But that does not mean the World Open is a bad tournament! It is indeed bootstrapped by the entry fees of a loyal cadre of chess enthusiasts, who enjoy briefly putting aside their regular jobs and lives, to get an intense holiday weekend fix of playing the game they love. The good news for GMs is that those amateurs are ok with some of their entry fees being used to fund bigger prizes in the open section. But that largess has its limits. They play primarily for their own enjoyment.
Of course we all want the US to have more chess patrons and sponsors. But other than Rex Sinquefield in St Louis, and the top tier collegiate programs (SPICE/Webster, UT Dallas, Texas Tech, UMBC & UT Brownsville), there is little interest from businesses or cultural entities in spending money on elite chess events in the US.
Of course we all want the US to have more chess patrons and sponsors. But other than Rex Sinquefield in St Louis, and the top tier collegiate programs (SPICE/Webster, UT Dallas, Texas Tech, UMBC & UT Brownsville), there is little interest from businesses or cultural entities in spending money on elite chess events in the US.
Large American opens are an absolute disgrace,that is a fact.
So the author had a take-home of nearly $4000 for a few days of hard work even though he tied with seven other players, and yet he still suggests that GM's should avoid these tournaments? I understand preferring to know an opponent's repertoire in advance, but it's a level playing field when nobody knows. And I can't imagine the requirement to bring a set and clock is really such a hardship for someone who makes a living at chess. That's what the other 95% of players have always done. Large open events have greatly contributed to the popularity of chess, and the conditions the author dislikes are inherent due to the structure. (I have been to opens where sets were provided for all, but they are inevitably cheap plastic ones; is that really better?)
Fortunately, regardless of Ipatov's belly-aching, large open events will continue to be popular and draw decent numbers of strong players.
Fortunately, regardless of Ipatov's belly-aching, large open events will continue to be popular and draw decent numbers of strong players.
The observations about American Opens are valid (and I'm a USA arbiter / tournament director!). The thin skinned among us would call it criticism. A systemic lack of sponsors, funds, and continuity have contributed to the USA's bootstrapped chess culture in large tournaments. There are pockets of sponsors and continuity (clubs and championship authorities), but by-and-large there is no country-wide effort that sustains large opens in the way GM Ipatov describes.
Non-GMs usually have full time jobs with reasonably good wages. I am not sure you can say that of GMs, most of whom, I would imagine, depend on chess for a living. I am not sure Ipatov's intention was to make a case for GMs not paying entrance fees in this article, but if he did, I would completely agree with this. I think it is fair, and, as I see it, it certainly also adds prestige to the tournament.
I am not sure I could disagree more with your comment that GM's shouldn't have to pay an entrance fee. They are more likely to win the prize money than someone rated 1900 and simply because they have earned the title doesn't guarantee a greater turn out by non-titled players. I will play a tournament because I want to play not because I might have the opportunity to face off with a GM or any other titled players. When they have to pay their entrance fee there is also more pressure to recover your costs to enter. Their travel expenses aren't any different than anyone else's who isn't titled but their chance of winning prize money is significantly higher than the untitled player. All you really do is make it more lucrative for a GM to play making his likely profit margin higher. If you charged them all entrance fees they would actually generate higher prize funds for them to compete for. Those who don't show because they aren't getting a free ride need to check their ego at the door.
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