Home Page arrow Chess Life Online arrow 2010 arrow October arrow Far West Open Begins
Far West Open Begins Print E-mail
By Michael Aigner   
April 3, 2010
hometowns.jpgHello from the 10th Far West Open in Reno!  I am writing these paragraphs from the rear of the playing hall, specifically on board 16 of the D section.  My cell phone tells me it is Saturday morning, while my brain still thinks it is Friday night.  Eight games are in progress at this late hour-certainly well beyond the bedtime of at least three of the players.  Anxious parents are waiting, either in the hallway outside or on the sides of the playing hall.  The Grandmaster on board 1 is playing an endgame down a pawn, but at a quick glance it looks like he can hold the draw. 


Update on 4/4/2010:
Four players are tied for first at 3.5/4 in the Far West Open: GM Melik Khachiyan, GM Jesse Kraai, IM Enrico Sevillano and Washington state champion NM Howard Chen.  The chase group at 3.0 is topped by GM Alex Yermolinsky and FM Steven Zierk.  The final two rounds are scheduled for Sunday with cash prize payouts in the casino at 11:00pm.

The peanut gallery of spectators circles around board in the Open section.  Both kings are nearly checkmated.  The 2000 rated high school kid is in deep thought, well aware that he must find the right continuation or else lose.  His nationally ranked opponent, four years younger yet 200 points higher rated, has already seen it.  A few minutes later, they bang out a couple of moves-mate!  Congrats to Arthur Liou on pulling out a difficult victory against a talented challenger.

In the skittles room across the hallway, a few gentlemen play blitz.  The room was full two hours ago; only the last blitz players and bookstore salespeople remain.  The Chess Palace from Southern California is selling books, software, sets and clocks to students of the game as well as hobbyists.  A flyer on the wall announces the special event on Saturday afternoon: the youngest chess author in the world, FM Daniel Naroditsky, will sign books between 4 and 5pm. 

The quiet of the skittles room gives me an opportunity to study the wall charts carefully, searching for my friends and students.  Over 200 chess enthusiasts drove or flew to Reno, an increase of about 25 from last year.  Veteran organizer Jerry Weikel made little effort to hide his pleasure with the turnout.  Given the ongoing recession and a late spring snowstorm, it could easily have been much worse.   Thanks also to the Sands Regency casino hotel for supporting chess tournaments in Reno, twice a year for a full decade.

Yermo300.jpg
GM Yermolinsky
A dozen FIDE titled players headline the 56 player Open section.  Four competitors are rated above 2500: Grandmasters Melik Khachiyan, Alex Yermolinsky and Jesse Kraai plus strong International Master Enrico Sevillano.  Of course, I expect the other six International Masters (plus a WIM) to also fight for the top prizes.  Reno has always attracted a large number of titled players thanks to the friendly care of organizer Weikel, his family and the entire staff.

khachsevian.jpg
Sam Sevian and GM Melik Khachiyan
Don't forget the kids!  How could I?  By my count, the Open section includes four youngsters ranked #1 for their age on the April Top 100 lists (and three more at #2): FM Tanuj Vasudeva (8), Samuel Sevian (9), NM Kayden Troff (11), NM Yian Liou (12), NM David Adelberg (13), FM Daniel Naroditsky (14) and FM Steven Zierk (16).  I wonder who will prevail: the professionals or the kids?

Finally the games on boards 1 and 2 finished.  The Grandmasters both held their ground, drawing the exciting endgames.  In fact, seven of the top eight boards were drawn tonight-but all were fighting draws.  Consequently, there are only three perfect scores left after two rounds.  Unfortunately, IM Enrico Sevillano showed no mercy to me, taking my f-pawn to the bank when I sacrificed it for insufficient compensation.  The others at 2-0 are NM Garush Manukyan and NM Howard Chen.  Most of the titled players sit at 1.5 points, which should make for some interesting pairings tomorrow morning.

The Grandmasters left the stage.  The audience has also dispersed.  It is 1:45am and only two A players managed to reach the third time control after 6 hours and 60 moves.  It will be a short night with the morning round scheduled for 10:00am.  On that note, I will hit the sack.

Don't forget to check out my chess blog and Twitter page for more updates throughout the weekend.  Watch CLO for a final report-complete with a few games-at the middle of next week.


 
Advertisement

October - Chess Life Online 2010

Nakamura Falls to Ivanchuk in FinalsKaufman on the World Senior: Midpoint Update Zierk Golden at World Youth; Silver for Xiong & Troff Carlsen a Smash Hit in Nanjing Medal Prospects Bright as World Youth Approaches FinaleUSCF Affairs: Register to Vote & a Reminder to DelegatesWorld Youth Round 9: Zierk Wins Again; Xiong Wins Gamechanger Time for SPICE Cup at Texas Tech Nakamura Nails Hammer in QuarterFinals Khachiyan Atop Western States Open Again Troff Increases Lead at the World Youth; Zierk Clinches IM NormGM Kaufman on the 2010 World Senior: Arrival in ArcoWorld Youth Gallery and Update Juniors Excel in National Action Events GM Robert Hess on Top of the Boardwalk Open Larry Larkins: 2010 US Armed Forces ChampionNakamura on a Roll in Cap D'Agde Western States Underway US Chess League Week Nine Highlights: Frenzy for Playoff SpotsAction Packed Weekend Set for Skokie and Reno 11 Still Perfect at the World Youth The Response to Donaldson's Olympic Impressions GMs Hess and Van Wely to Play in Berkeley InternationalWorld Youth Underway USCF Email Server AlertBartell and Melekhina Share PA State Title Amanov Unstoppable at the Midwest Class Softball Icon Jennie Finch Visits the Dean of Chess US Chess League Week 8 Highlights: Playoffs Loom2010 Chess Olympiad: Final Impressions Register as a USCF Voting Member More on National Chess Day: From Alabama to Arizona US Chess Championships Return to Saint Louis in 2011 Daniel Steininger 2010 US Blind Chess ChampionUS Blind Championship Underway3rd Annual Schein-Friedman Awards AnnouncedKacheishvili Wins Continental Class Mike Goodall, Chess Promoter, Dies at 64 New US International Titles Ratified at FIDE CongressNational Chess Day Round-Up: From Freeport to Bakersfield National Chess Day Parties Kick Off!Happy National Chess Day!US Chess League Highlights: Week SevenContinental Class Kicks Off in VirginiaThe Scoop on Nuit Blanche The October Check is in the Mail Mauricio Flores Wins U.S. ClassNational Chess Day on October 9th: It's Official! Ukraine & Russia Take Gold; US Teams Finish Strong USA Falls to Israel, Women Sweep Peru US Chess League Highlights: Divisions Battle in Week Six