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Thanksgiving Open: Pairings for Round 3

[imagefield_assist|fid=8526|preset=frontpage_200x200|lightbox=true|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=200]Round two of the Thanksgiving Open is complete at the Khorassan Ballroom in the Chase Park Plaza, located just one block from the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. Round one witnessed no major upsets as all titled players advanced with 1/1.

The big surprise of round two was CCSCSL standout Kevin Cao's draw against GM Gregory Kaidanov. 

The three-day option started today and brought out more than 100 participants. The two-day option begins tomorrow at 9 a.m. and should add an additional 20+ participants to the field. The fileds will merge during round four, which begins tomorrow at 6 p.m.

Stay tuned for a more complete recap of the first two rounds tomorrow.

 

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Kasparov and Short in Saint Louis after Thanksgiving Open

[imagefield_assist|fid=8555|preset=frontpage_200x200|lightbox=true|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=200]SAINT LOUIS, November 23, 2010 – Grandmaster Garry Kasparov, widely recognized as the world’s greatest chess player, has announced he will be making an appearance at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis on Monday, November 29, just one day after the conclusion of the Thanksgiving Open tourney featuring renowned GM Nigel Short and an $11,000 prize fund. 

Kasparov, who is coming to Saint Louis to deliver a political lecture, will make an appearance at the CCSCSL from 4-5 p.m. The club has arranged a special setting in which club members and the general public can meet and greet the living legend.

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Meet and Greet a Legend

[imagefield_assist|fid=8521|preset=frontpage_200x200|lightbox=true|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=200]Legendary GM Nigel Short will put on a special lecture following the Thanksgiving Open tournament on Monday, November 29, at 6 p.m. The event will be free for club members but will cost $10 for non-members.

The lecture will be followed by a simul exhibition, in which Short will take on all comers. The simul will also be free for members of the CCSCSL, but will cost non-members $10.

Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take on one of the greatest chess players of all time. There will be players from all over the world attending the event.

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U.S. Championships return to Saint Louis in 2011

[imagefield_assist|fid=8390|preset=frontpage_200x200|lightbox=true|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=200]SAINT LOUIS, October 13, 2010 – The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis (CCSCSL) has been selected to host the U.S. Championship and the U.S. Women’s Championship for the third year in a row. These two prestigious events will be held concurrently in Spring 2011 and will feature the largest per capita prize funds in history.

A prize fund of at least $170,000 is guaranteed for the 2011 U.S. Championship, and $60,000 for the 2011 U.S. Women’s Championship.

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Reaching the 8th Rank with Jennifer Shahade

[imagefield_assist|fid=8534|preset=frontpage_200x200|lightbox=true|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=200]Don't miss your chance to sit in with WGM Jennifer Shahade for a special guest lecture on Thursday evening at 6 p.m. 

Shahade, who regularly provides commentary for the U.S. Championships and is the Web editor of Chess Life Online (CLO -www.uschess.org), will present a lecture regarding the tactics on pawn promotion with her special lecture: Reaching the 8th Rank.

 

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SPICE Cup: Rounds 6-8

[imagefield_assist|fid=8528|preset=frontpage_200x200|title=|desc=|link=none|origsize=|align=left|width=200|height=200]Round 6: Back to the "drawing" board

I had an unusual game against GM-elect Gergely Antal. I played 1.e4, which I have recently started playing (although my opponent doubtless expected 1.d4), and Gergely decided to play 1...Nf6 for the first time!

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SPICE Cup Update: Rounds 4 and 5

[imagefield_assist|fid=8519|preset=frontpage_200x200|lightbox=true|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=200]Round 4: Finegold loses two in a row!

I have not lost two USCF rated games in a row in years. Also, I have not lost with white since November 2008. Also, The Lions and Rams both won! What a day!

I was white against Danny Rensch, and was not able to get any advantage. I was outplayed most of the game, missing most of the key ideas and tactics. When we reached move 35 or so, it was time to resign, but, I made it to move 40, and Rybka says I am -9 or so.....then.... Danny's technique let him down, and I escaped to a double rook ending with only 1 pawn minus.

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SPICE Cup Update: Rounds 2 and 3

[imagefield_assist|fid=8514|preset=frontpage_200x200|title=|desc=|link=none|origsize=|align=left|width=200|height=200]Round 2: An Exciting Draw

Another day, another draw, but not after some excitement. I played a bit too aggressively in the opening, but the game was quite complex and my opponent, the highest rated in the B group, GM Davorin Kuljasevic, and I used a lot of time in the opening and early middle-game.

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Spice Cup Begins

[imagefield_assist|fid=8508|preset=frontpage_200x200|lightbox=true|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=200]I arrived today for the 2010 Spice Cup, held on the campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX. There are two GM groups, A and B, and the A group is the highest rated RR ever held in the USA! I am playing in the B group, which has 5 GMs, 4 IMs, and 1 FM. There were a lot of draws today, as the A group, a 6 player, double round robin saw draws in all three games.

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Margaret Hua represents U.S. in Greece

[imagefield_assist|fid=8420|preset=frontpage_200x200|lightbox=true|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=200]CCSCSL phenom Margaret Hua is putting together a stellar tournament in Greece with a score of 4/6 after six rounds. Margaret, 12, is once again representing the U.S. at the World Youth Championship, this time held in Halkidiki, Greece, October 20-30.

She is currently tied for 20th place in the U12 girls division after six rounds.

According to the October supplement of the USCF rating system, Margaret is currently ranked sixth in the country for girls under the age of 13 and 70th out of all female chess players in the country with a rating of 1845.

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