Mechanics' Institute Chess Room Newsletter #137

"Chess is work."

   Walter Browne



1) Shipman, Morkunaite and Ossipov lead TNM
2) DeGuzman and Mezentsev win Koenig Memorial
3) Evans and Poehlmann lead Thursday Masters
4) National and International Events
5) US Championship Qualifying Information
6) Master/Expert this weekend
7) Exhibition game: Yermolinsky-Shulman on May 7
8) Ansel and Zimmerman donations
9) Upcoming Events

1) Shipman, Morkunaite and Ossipov lead TNM

Top seeds IM Ricardo De Guzman and SM Vladimir Mezentsev tied for first with 4.5 from 5 in the 3rd Annual Imre Konig Memorial held April 26. Anthony Corrales directed the 51 player event for the Mechanics'.

2) DeGuzman and Mezentsev win Konig Memorial

Top seeds IM Ricardo De Guzman and SM Vladimir Mezentsev tied for first with 4.5 from 5 in the 3rd Annual Imre Konig Memorial held April 26. Anthony Corrales directed the 51 player event for the Mechanics'.

3) Evans and Poehlmann lead Thursday Masters

FM Bela Evans and NM Roger Poehlmann are the early leaders in the Thursday Masters round robin which ends in late May.

4) National and International Events

American players have been active the past month. Nick DeFirmian won a Category 8 (2426 +) GM round robin in Norway and IM Jesse Kraai of New Mexico scored 5 from 12 in the April First Saturday Tournament in Budapest. Yesterday the very strong 4th Karpov Tournament finished in Poikovsky, Russia with Alexander Onischuk of Maryland in 5th place.

Final Standings: 1. Svidler, Peter g RUS 2713 6.0; 2. Lautier, Joel g FRA 2666 6.0; 3. Rublevsky, Sergei g RUS 2670 5.5; 4. Zvjaginsev, Vadim g RUS 2664 5.5; 5. Onischuk, Alexander g USA 2647 5.0; 6. Vescovi, Giovanni g BRA 2615 4.5; 7. Bologan, Viktor g MDA 2663 4.0; 8. Pelletier, Yannick g SUI 2623 3.5; 9. Lputian, Smbat G g ARM 2638 3.0; 10. Obodchuk, Andrei m RUS 2417 2.0.

For more information go to: Info: http://www.chess-express.ru

IM Eugene Perelshteyn looks all but certain to make his first GM norm in the Generation Chess International being held in New York City at the Marshall Chess Club. Perelshteyn has 5.5 from 6 and needs only one draw from his final three games against GMs Ehlvest and Christiansen and IM Simutowe. Complete standings and games can be found at
http://www.generationchess.com .

5) US Championship Qualifying Information

John Henderson passes along the following information.

ONE of the richest prizes in the game is that of U.S. Champion, thanks to the generosity of patron Erik Anderson and his Seattle-based America's Foundation for Chess (AF4C).

Since taking over the ailing title in 2000, the AF4C have revitalized the 'sleeping giant' with some innovative ideas - most prominent being the increase of the prize fund to $250,000. Another novelty was the opening up of what was once a closed event with players qualifying from some of the big U.S. Opens.

In 2004, the field for the Championships will be increased to the "natural" chess figure of 64; of which only 17 players will be seeded: 7 top rated players including 2003 Champion Alexander Shabalov, 6 top rated women players including 2003 Women's Champion Anna Hahn, the 2002 and 2003 Grand Prix winners, and the 2003 and 2004 US Junior Champions. Two players will have wildcard spots as determined by the AF4C, and two will come from a new online tournament of US State Champions.

43 players, with 10 spots reserved for women players, will qualify from 11 US tournaments in the period April 2003 through August 2004 - these include: Foxwoods 2003 and 2004, Chicago Open 2003 and 2004, National Open 2003 and 2004, World Open 2003 and 2004, U.S. Open 2003 and 2004, and the 2003 North American Open.

6) Master/Expert this weekend

The Mechanics' will be hosting a Master/Experts open this weekend. The event, which is open to open to current and former Masters and Experts, will be both USCF and FIDE rated. Advance entrants include IM Walter Shipman and FM Bela Evans.

7) Exhibition game: Yermolinsky-Shulman on May 7

MI Grandmaster-in-Residence Alex Yermolinsky will face off with Dallas GM Yury Shulman on May 7. The game will start at 5:15 and last approximately two hours. The two players will be located in different parts of the club with a runner ferrying moves. During the game the two Grandmasters will explain their thoughts to the audience. Admission is free for all.

8) Ansel and Zimmerman donations

The MI Chess Room would like to thank Andy Ansel and Ian Zimmerman for their generous donations of barrister bookcases and chess books which are much appreciated. Remember, all donations to the Mechanics' (including your annual membership dues) are tax deductible due to the M.I.'s 501(c) (3) nonprofit status. If you have any chess books or equipment that has been lying around unused for some time consider donating to the Mechanics'. You will not only get a tax write off but also the satisfaction of seeing it put to good use.

9) Upcoming events

Upcoming Tournaments at the MI

Full details at www.chessclub.org

Master-Expert I: May 3-4
Charles Powell: May 17
Stamer Memorial: June 6-8
William Addison: June 28

Scholastic Quads: May 31

US OPEN AUGUST 3-15

LAX Radisson 6225 W. Century Blvd. · Los Angeles, CA 90045 · (310) 670-9000 $89 Chess Rate - Lowest in years!

A USCF National Championship

A Heritage Event!

Tournament Format
A one-section tournament with class prizes.
12 Round Swiss System. Several Schedules Available!
Traditional Schedule: One round daily at 7:30 pm 8/43-8/8 & 8/10-8/15.
Matinee 1st half: One round daily at 11 am 8/3-8/8, then 7:30 pm 8/10-8/15. Merges with Traditional after Round 6; 8-day option: All games 40/2, SD/1. Rounds 8/8-8/11 at 11 am and 7:30 pm, 8/12-15 at 7:30 pm. 6-day option: Rounds 1-7 are G/60. Rounds 8/10 12:30-3-6-9, 8/11 10:30-1:30-4, 7:30, 8/12-8/15 7:30 pm. 8-day and 6-day both merge with others after Round 7. Busy person special: Play only rds 7-12 at 7:30 pm 8/10-15. Over 2399 starts with 4 pts, 2200-2399 3.5, Expert 3, Class A 2.5, Class B 2, Class C 1.5, Class D 1, Under 1200 0.5, Unrated 0.5. Time Control 40/2, SD/1 except 1st 7 rounds of 6-day schedule are G/60. The August rating list will be used. 1/2 point byes are available. Maximum 2 byes available rds. 1-10. Half-point byes available in round 1, and in any round if player would have been rated above opponent. Bye counts zero if player would have been rated below opponent. Round 2-9 byes must be requested at least 3 hours before round; round 10 byes must be requested before round 9 and are irrevocable. No byes last 2 rounds. Players may not receive more bye points during the first 6 rounds than the busy player score for their class.

Prizes
$55,000 unconditionally guaranteed - second largest ever prize fund ever at a U.S. Open. Top places: $8000-4000-3000-2000-1500-1200-1000-800-600-400.
Qualifier for the 2004 U.S. Invitational Championship.
2449-2300: $2000-1000. 2299-2200: $2000-1000.
Expert: $2000-1000-600-500-300.
Class A: $2000-1000-600-500-300.
Class B: $2000-1000-600-500-300.
Class C: $2000-1000-500-400-300.
Class D: $1500-1000-500-400-300.
Class E: $1000-500-400.
Under 1000: $1000-400.
Unrated: $1000-400.
Unrateds are ineligible for Expert through Under 1000 prizes.
Elegant trophy for each class winner.
Biggest upset by non-prizewinner: $100.
Best games: $200-100-100 (one reserved for non-master).

Registration

If mailed by 7/26 or paid by phone, fax or online with credit card by 7/30.
$190 Traditional
$189 Matinee 1st half
$187 8-day
$186 6-day
$185 Busy Player
On site $220.
Registration closes 2 hours before 1st round in each schedule.
USCF Membership is required and must be current. You may pay USCF membership with your entry or on site. Regular Adult Memberhip, $49/year includes CHESS LIFE (12 issues) Senior Membership Age 65 & over, $36/year includes CHESS LIFE (12 issues) Youth Membership Age 19 and under, $25/year includes CHESS LIFE (12 issues) Scholastic Membership Age 14 and under, $19/year, includes CHESS LIFE (5 issues + Yearbook) Other membership categories available. Advance entries must include player's name and all fees to be accepted. Mail Entries to
U.S. Open Championship
U.S. Chess Federation
3054 RTE 9W
New Windsor, NY 12553.
Make Checks payable to USCF.
To enter by phone call (800) 388-KING.
Secure On Line Registration will be available soon.
All entries received will be posted here.
Advance registration is strongly encouraged.

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