Results Round 1
By Sean P. Trani
24 of the strongest chess players in the world were seated at the tables of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center Saint Louis as club founder Rex Sinquefield rang a large bronze bell to signify the start of the tournament. The players varied in their poses from confident to irritated as cameras circled the room and they pushed their opening pieces forward.
The Chess Club and Scholastic Center seemed ready to receive the international attention that world-class chess playing tends to generate. With so many exciting players with unique styles and varying levels of experience the tournament is headed right for the history books.
With Chess super stars like Gata Kamsky on hand the media room was busy blogging as the most technically advanced chess club in nation broadcasted to an international audience. The Chess FM media team featuring WGM Jennifer Shahade and GM Emil Sutovsky (Kamsky’s training partner) and Macauly (Chess FM’s international correspondent and producer) gave move-by-move analysis of the games being played.
The Saint Louis community, chess enthusiasts and many new observers of the game, swarmed to the club, many cheering for Delmar’s own, IM Charles Lawton. Former Rams’ player Aenneas Williams was on hand as well as the Cardinals’ Todd Worrell.
The early upsets were brought about by some of the youngest competitors: Robert Hess has defeated the 5th seed, GM Larry Christiansen. Victories by tournament favorites GM Kamsky and GM Hikaru Nakamura were to be expected as they proved their attacking skills with great confidence.
Highlights of the day included the unexpected generosity of the players as they gravitated to the commentary room, signing autographs on their way, and gave their own insight to the internet audience.
The Chess Club and Scholastic Center staff is working full speed and providing a wonderfully hospitable atmosphere. The CCSCSTL is on its way to creating one of the most memorable US Chess Championships in the tournament’s long history. With many exciting games to come this will be a great May for Saint Louis.
