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Day One Recap at the Saint Louis Open

[imagefield_assist|fid=3565|preset=frontpage_200x200|lightbox=true|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=200]SAINT LOUIS, APRIL 10, 2010 -- Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura has been playing an exceptional brand of chess over the past year. Since winning the 2009 U.S. Championship, his stellar performance tournament after tournament has vaulted him into the international spotlight and cemented his place as the player to beat in the United States.

But the heavy favorite coming into this year’s Bill Wright Saint Louis Open ran into a round-three roadblock. WIM Iryna Zenyuk provided stiff opposition against Nakamura’s Leningrad Dutch to hold on to a draw in a hectic finish.

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Saint Louis Open: Round Three Recap

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After three rounds, four titled players share the first place lead at the Bill Wright Saint Louis Open, but the heavy favorite coming into the tournament ran into a tough round-three opponent.

Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, the 2009 U.S. Champion, drew WIM Iryna Zenyuk in round three. IM Irina Krush and GMs Dmitry Gurevich, Robert Hess and Alejandro Ramirez all share the first-place lead with scores of 3/3. GMs Ben Finegold, Josh Friedel, Mesgen Amanov and WIM Alisa Melekhina all took a round-three bye, which left them tied with Nakamura for second.

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Saint Louis Open: Round 2 results and recap

[imagefield_assist|fid=3563|preset=frontpage_200x200|lightbox=true|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=200]After round two, the usual suspects are still leading the pack. In round two, GM Hikaru Nakamura defeated USCF Executive Director Bill Hall and GM Robert Hess took the victory on board two against 2009 U.S. Women's Championship competitor Yun Fan. Thirteen others join Nakamura and Hess atop the pack with scores of 2/2.

A couple of youngsters have put on a good showing early on in the tournament. Sean Vibbert of Indiana, Daniel Gurevich of Atlanta and the CCSCSL's own Kevin Cao are all vying for a top spot and a chance to play top competition in the later rounds.

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Saint Louis Open: Round 1 updates

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The Bill Wright Saint Louis Open is underway here at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, and the Open field saw few upsets in the first round. GMs Hikaru Nakamura, Robert Hess, Ben Finegold, Alejandro Ramirez, Josh Friedel and Dmitry Gurevich all won as did IMs Irina Krush and Michael Brooks.

WIMs Alisa Melekhina and Iryna Zenyuk both won as well, but Christopher Prather managed to knick WIM Tatev Abrahamyan for a draw in round one. Click Read more to view round one results and pairings, and stay tuned for updates.

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Record field set for Saint Louis Open: Pre-register now

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The heat is on, and Saint Louis is just getting warmed up.

In May, Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura is set to return to Saint Louis to defend his title at this year's 2010 U.S. Chess Championship, but first he'll stop by the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis (CCSCSL) for a tune-up at the Bill Wright Saint Louis Open.

The Bill Wright Saint Louis Open, held at the CCSCSL this weekend, April 10-11, features a $5,700 prize fund and some of the top players in the country.

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Chess Club parking guide: the handy handout

[imagefield_assist|fid=3557|preset=frontpage_200x200|lightbox=true|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=200]Avoid those pesky parking tickets with our new handy parking guide!

Finally, the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis has put together an easy-to-follow, color-coded map for members and visitors alike to find the best parking options for any occassion.

Simply click the Read more link at the bottom of this story to access the Chess Club parking guide. The guide contains easy instructions to find the best ways to access the club via public transportation, and also lists the free and paid parking zones in the CWE.

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Ben's Blog: Easter Updates

[imagefield_assist|fid=3556|preset=frontpage_200x200|lightbox=true|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=200]Happy Easter everyone!

I have not blogged in a while, as I am still recovering from my long trek. I was =2nd in Lubbock, Tx and =1st in Skokie, Il, and was able to score 6 wins and 12 draws (with no losses!) in 13 days, with no rest!  Luckily, I was able to workout on the treadmill in Skokie, and walk a lot in Lubbock to keep fit as well as staying on the straight and naarrow food-wise. I have lost 27 pounds thus far this year, and have about 100 more to go!

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Three-way tie for title of Club Champion

[imagefield_assist|fid=3554|preset=frontpage_200x200|title=|desc=|link=none|origsize=|align=left|width=200|height=200]Five out of the 10 competitors of the 2010 Club Championship had a shot to win it all going into round five, and in the end, three emerged from the heap to claim the title of co-champion.

Jim Voelker topped Tony Rich early on in round five to finish the tournament with 3.5/5. Richard Benjamin needed a victory over Paul Mechem to claim the title outright, and Mechem had a shot to tie Voelker with a win. The hard-fought match between the two ended in a draw, securing a first-place tie between Benjamin and Voelker.

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Ben's Blog: NACA FIDE INVITATIONAL - Final Report

[imagefield_assist|fid=3547|preset=frontpage_200x200|lightbox=true|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=200]It's been an interesting two weeks, but the tournaments are over, and it is time to "wrap it up."

I drew quickly yesterday with IM Angelo Young, and Mackenzie Molner was able to hold a draw against GM Mesgen Amanov, so we tied for first place, and Molner earned his first GM norm!  Molner played the five highest rated players in the event, in rating order, in the final five rounds --- all GMs!  An amazing performance.

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Ben's Blog: NACA FIDE INVITATIONAL - Third Report

[imagefield_assist|fid=3545|preset=frontpage_200x200|lightbox=true|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=200]The last round is going to start in 20 minutes!  I am currently the co-leader, with FM Mackenzie Molner, who has already beaten 3 GMs this tournament, and needs a draw for his first GM norm!

I had a good day yesterday, beating Molner in a nice game, and drawing a very long, tough game, with GM Mesgen Amanov.

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