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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.
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
# | 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.
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
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
The Willamette meteorite, found in 1902
Good to know that this animal is no longer a threat....
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. |