Western States Underway
By Randy Hough   
October 24, 2010
Sandsliead.jpgThe Western States Open, a fixture on the Western circuit for 27 years, attracted 232 players to the Reno Sands Regency this year, down a bit from last year's 268. Update 10/25/10: Khachiyan wins tiebreak over Shabalov. Full story coming soon!  The 44 players in the Open section include GMs Alex Shabalov, Alexander Ivanov, Jesse Kraai, Mesgen Amanov, IM Salvijus Bercys, IM Vladimir Mezentsev, WGM Angelina Belakovskaia, WIM Iryna Zenyuk, Ed Formanek, and Walter Shipman.

With four of the six rounds in the books, the leaders with 3 1/2 are Shabalov, Kraai, and Amanov. Shabalov beat Sevillano in Round 3 and then drew with Kraai. Zhanibek Amanov, an IM from  Kazakhstan now living in Los Angeles, drew Khachiyan in the second round and beat Smith in the fourth.

Trailing close behind with three are Ivanov, Kudrin, Khachiyan, Bercys, FMs John Bryant, Robby Adamson, and Alex Kretchetov, and young Yian Liou of San Francisco, who drew with Khachiyan in the third round. Look for a full story early in the week, after the tournament's conclusion.