[imagefield_assist|fid=11259|preset=fullsize|title=GM Ben Finegold arrived in Shanghai to take in the sights before heading to Ningbo.|desc=|link=none|origsize=|align=center|width=640|height=427]
Day One
It’s Chinatown!
[imagefield_assist|fid=11100|preset=fullsize|lightbox=true|title=The U.S. team in round one featured (from left) GMs Alex Onischuk, Gata Kamsky, Robert Hess and Yury Shulman.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=700|height=495]
By Tony Rich
[imagefield_assist|fid=11260|preset=fullsize|title=GMs Gata Kamsky, Yury Shulman, Alex Onischuk and Robert Hess talk shop over dinner.|desc=|link=none|origsize=|align=center|width=640|height=427]
By Tony Rich
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I arrived at the 2011 Las Vegas Chess Festival in the usual way, a few days early, so I could ... Oh wait, I just remembered the title of this article!
What was I saying? Oh yeah ... chess! The Chess Festival is just that. The event consists of a big tournament (National Open), a chess camp (I was one of the four GM teachers, with over 35 students!), a ten-minute tournament, a five-minute tournament, and lots of lectures and simuls.
[imagefield_assist|fid=10649|preset=fullsize|lightbox=true|title=GM Boris Gelfand will challenge GM Viswanathan Anand for the World Championship title next year.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=700|height=467]SPECIAL ALERT - GM Boris Gelfand will present a special lecture at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center on Sunday, July 17. Gelfand will go over some of the games from the recent Candidate's Matches. His superb performance at the Candidate's Matches a few months ago earned him the right to challenge GM Viswanathan Anand for the title of World Champion.
[imagefield_assist|fid=10647|preset=fullsize|title=The competition at the Chicago Open proved just enough to deny GM Ben Finegold prize money this year.|desc=|link=none|origsize=|align=left|width=700|height=585]
Vergilesov & Eckert took a quick draw, leaving the door open for Josh Frank to join them in first place after his win over Jim McLaughlin. Margaret Hua defeated her former teacher Joe Garnier! Way to go Margaret! She joins Spencer Finegold fourth place with 3/4.
Matt Larson was able to complete a perfect tournament, and will take clear first with 4/4. Congratulations Matt! Second place is shared four ways, between Katurah Gadson, Daniel Thurber, Haozhe Wang, and Marek Ziolkowski.
[imagefield_assist|fid=10589|preset=fullsize|lightbox=true|title=The Saturday WOW brought out more than 20 players who were tournament rookies.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=700|height=464]
Overall Winner: Steve Bange 4/4
U1800: Jacob Wilkins 4/4
U1400: Jacinda Lee 3/4
Biggest Upset: Jacinda Lee, 571 pts
Youngest Player with a Win: Ronan Townes, 6yo
[imagefield_assist|fid=10553|preset=fullsize|lightbox=true|title=Youth trumped experience last month as GM Ray Robson defeated GM Ben Finegold 6-4 in Saint Louis.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=700|height=464]
I am going to write a long three-part blog for my readers who missed me this Spring. I was quite busy with the following:
Part 1 - Match with Ray Robson
Part 2 - Chicago Open
Part 3 - National Open
[imagefield_assist|fid=10540|preset=fullsize|lightbox=true|title=NM Gregory Young sits with GM Ben Finegold after his round two victory over FM John Bryant.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=700|height=467]
By Ken West
Gregory Young is the 2011 U.S. Junior Champion, taking the title with a win Friday before the final round of play even began.
OUR MISSION It is the mission of the Saint Louis Chess Club, an educational organization, to maintain a formal program of instruction to teach the game of chess and to promote and support its educational program through community outreach and local and national partnerships to increase the awareness of the educational value of chess.
Wheelchair access is available in the rear of the STLCC building. Please proceed through the parking lot to our east and around to our back door. If you need additional assistance, please contact us at 314-361-2437 .
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Any violation of this policy should be reported the General Manager, Joy Bray, jbray@saintlouischessclub.org - 314.361.2437, Administrative Director, Tad Middleton, tmiddleton@saintlouischessclub.org -314.361.2437 and/or the HR Manager, Cathy Gallaher, cgallaher@saintlouischessclub.org - 314.332.5582.
The integrity of Saint Louis Chess Club's relationship with minor players is paramount to the Chess Club's educational mission and success. All individuals employed by or working under the direction or authority of the Saint Louis Chess Club are expected and required to maintain appropriate boundaries and relationships with minors and are strictly prohibited from engaging in sexual misconduct, hazing and harassment.
We encourage any victim or other persons with information regarding inappropriate conduct to contact Cathy Gallaher, Saint Louis Chess Club HR Manager at cgallaher@saintlouischessclub.org. You may also make a report confidentially, and if you wish, anonymously, through our ethics reporting hotline managed by Navex at (833)221-3624.