Chess News!

It's been awhile since I looked at the tournaments at The Week in Chess, etc. I've been so hung up working on the family tree stuff (now working on Mr. Don's family and his family is sure a lot more interesting than mine...)

First up - a chess acquaintance dating back to 2001, NM Brian Wall of Colorado, took clear first place at the NAO Oklahoma held over Memorial Day Weekend (May 29 - 31, 2010) (29th North American FIDE Open, held in Stillwater, Oklahoma).  [Not to be confused with the North American Open promoted by CCA each year].  Brian scored 8.5/10 in a field of 74 players.  Great playing, Brian, congratulations!  From the website of the Oklahoma Chess Federation:

May 28-31, 2010 - 29th North American FIDE Open - Stillwater - 20 GPP 10-SS G/90+30 sec, Quality Inn - 2515 W. 6th Ave (Hwy-51) Stillwater, OK 1-405-372-0800. HR: 65-65-65. One section open to all. EF: $50 at door. $10 OCF membership required from all players. Reg: Fri 10:30-11:45; Rds: Fri 12, 4:30, Sat-Sun 9-1:30-6:00, Mon 9-1:30. $$G 2,250 will not be lowered. $$G, $400, 300, 200. 100 $$G $300 each class ($150-100-50) A,B,C,D & below. Unr. competes in D & below. $50 - upset, Three (3) half pt byes rds 1-8; Free Parking. Ent: Frank Berry, 402 S. Willis, Stillwater, OK 74074. fkimberry@AOL.com NC, CMV, LS, W, USCF, OCF, FIDE.

There is a cross-table -- go to the website, click on "Cross Tables" in the left-hand column, scroll down to 29th North American FIDE Open, click.

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IM Irina Krush tried for her second GM norm again playing in Group A at the Copper State International.  Krush didn't get her norm, but McKenzie Molnar did.  Molnar finished in 2nd overall (10 players in the A Group) with 6.0, tied with GM Timur Gareev (UZB 2599); Krush finished in 7th with 4.0.  Standings for all groups. 

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The 2010 Ruy Lopez International Chess Festival is going on, and in the Masters Group GM Pia Cramling (SWE 2536) and WIM Deysi Cori (PER 2409) are battling for first place with six chess dudes.  GM Ivan Cheparinov is running away with the event, scoring 4/5, and his last two games are against Cramling and Cori. 

Cramling and Cori are having a tough time.  Cramling seems off form this year; Cori is gaining tons of experience and insight playing against this field where the next rated player is more than 100 ELO points above hers.  Cramling stands at 1.5/5, Cori at 1.0/5.  With only 2 rounds to go the ladies will both go home with negative scores. 

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The Dutch Women's Championship (June 11 - 20, 2010) is taking place at the moment.  Here's the website.  Sorry, I do not read Dutch so I cannot tell you very much.  I'm not sure, but it looks like the six women are playing something like a double-round robin.  So far, GM Pen Zhaoqin is on cruise control, scoring 6.0/6!  None of the other players are close to her.

Nr Naam Rating 1 2 3 4 5 6 Score

1 GM Peng, Zhaoqin 2397 x 1 1 1 11 1 6.0
2 Haast, Anne 2220 0 x ½ ½ ½ 11 3.5
3 IM Lanchava, Tea 2364 0 ½ x 0½ 1 1 3.0
4 WGM Muhren, Bianca 2295 0 ½ 1½ x ½ ½ 3.0
5 WFM Slingerland, Caroline 2080 00 ½ 0 ½ x ½ 1.5
6 Dirksen, Marieke 1976 0 00 0 ½ ½ x 1.0