(CROSSVILLE, TN)The 2006 U.S. Masters Chess Championship held at the Quality Inn & Suites concluded yesterday. After nine great rounds of chess in Hendersonville, North Carolina, five players were above the other 43 with a score of 6.5 points.

Tie-breaks put Daniel Ludwig of Florida at the top and he was awarded the championship plaque.

International Master Giorgi Margvelashvili from the Republic of Georgia made his American debut came in second on tie-breaks.

International Master Ronald Burnett of Tennessee and FIDE Master Bryan Smith of Pennsylvania were next in line on tie breaks.

FIDE Master Andrey Chumachenko of North Carolina also finished with 6.5 points to claim a share of the top prize money.

Thirty-nine players from 15 states and 5 countries competed in the event.

The national chess championship was under the direction of Chief Organizer Kevin Hyde and the associated affiliate was the Greater Henderson County Home School of Chess. You can contact Kevin at hyde@ioa.com. The website for this event is: http://www.ncchess.org. Final results and crosstable.

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The United States Chess Federation (USCF), founded in 1939, serves as the governing body for chess in the United States and is now headquartered in Crossville, Tennessee. USCF is devoted to extending the role of chess in American society. It promotes the study and knowledge of the game of chess, for its own sake as an art and enjoyment, and as a means for the improvement of society. The USCF is a not-for-profit membership organization nearing 90,000 members. For additional information on the USCF see: http://www.uschess.org.