Berkeley Norm-Hunting Update
January 6, 2011
Keaton225.jpg
Keaton Kiewra, Photo Inga Gurevich
Norm-hunting at the  Berkeley International (January 2-8) intensifies with just three rounds left. Preliminary calculations by organizer Arun Sharma show that Denys Shmelov and Keaton Kiewra have already earned IM norms! Congrats!

US Junior Champion Sam Shankland probably needs one out of two for the GM norm, though it's possible that depending on his pairings .5 out of two will also do it.

Other preliminary calculations:

IM Danny Rensch needs 2/2 for the GM norm
FM Darwin Yang needs 1.5/2 for the IM norm
FM Conrad Holt needs 1.5/2 for the IM norm (also possible that 1/2 will be good enough depending on pairings)
FM Roman Yankovsky needs 1.5/2 for the IM norm
FM Carreto some chance at an IM norm with 2/2 depending on pairings

Meanwhile, Van Wely still has the clear lead in the tournament with 6/7. See full standings here.

Also check out games from rounds 1 to 5 at this link: http://dotq.org/chess/firstfiverounds