Comments on: Black Stars shine at World Open http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2009/07/09/black-stars-shine-at-world-open/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:00:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Daaim Shabazz http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2009/07/09/black-stars-shine-at-world-open/comment-page-1/#comment-14362 Daaim Shabazz Sun, 03 Jan 2010 06:12:54 +0000 http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/?p=2523#comment-14362 Jehron Bryant just made Expert! Jehron Bryant just made Expert!

]]> By: solomon kennedy http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2009/07/09/black-stars-shine-at-world-open/comment-page-1/#comment-13426 solomon kennedy Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:42:44 +0000 http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/?p=2523#comment-13426 this is wonderful for most players like some of my friends who have played in several events. i am the only player stuck because he is financially responsible for college tutition for his wife and mortgage i truly envy all those brothers and sisters who make strong effort to develop their chess skills. even as we speak i can not attend the US Open here in my own city this year and who knows when it will ever return. yes i know i seem to be bemoaning my own stance but i wonder sometimes how many other brothers who feel that if only...........does this seem wrong or is it just missed opprtunities? i hope that one day i will be able to meet brothers like yourself and others who play and maybe just test my strength and see if..............thank you for allowing me to speak keep up the good work. this is wonderful for most players like some of my friends who have played in several events. i am the only player stuck because he is financially responsible for college tutition for his wife and mortgage i truly envy all those brothers and sisters who make strong effort to develop their chess skills. even as we speak i can not attend the US Open here in my own city this year and who knows when it will ever return. yes i know i seem to be bemoaning my own stance but i wonder sometimes how many other brothers who feel that if only………..does this seem wrong or is it just missed opprtunities? i hope that one day i will be able to meet brothers like yourself and others who play and maybe just test my strength and see if…………..thank you for allowing me to speak keep up the good work.

]]> By: Daaim Shabazz http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2009/07/09/black-stars-shine-at-world-open/comment-page-1/#comment-13371 Daaim Shabazz Sun, 26 Jul 2009 11:44:42 +0000 http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/?p=2523#comment-13371 solomon, This is a problem for many of us at the World Open. It is certainly expensive and the chances of recouping investment is slim since the field is competitive. Entry fees are from $250-$400 depending on when you enter; plane fare is on average of $250-$350; hotel is $100/night; food and other expenses are another $200. If you add this up you are spending roughly $1500-$1800 to play in a tournament and that is merely flying to another state! There is another discussion about expensive tournaments in Africa, but many may wrongly assume that because this is America that people can afford these prices. It is a luxury that many of us cannot afford in a country where the cost of living is very high. We don't get conditions (hotel and lodging), but we find a way to compete. Unfortunately, I saw players sleeping on the street and in the hotel lobby to avoid paying for hotel. The best option is to get a roommate in a cheaper hotel. Some of us are fortunate enough to stay with other players in Philadelphia. I will say that you may try to reduce expenses by traveling with a friend. If you live within 700 miles, drive with others. Enter early and play in one of the shorter schedules to cut down on the length of stay. You can also pack your own food since the room have refrigerators. This is what many players do and they are able to cut the cost down to roughly $700-$1000. That is still an expensive tournament, but it is a great event. solomon,

This is a problem for many of us at the World Open. It is certainly expensive and the chances of recouping investment is slim since the field is competitive. Entry fees are from $250-$400 depending on when you enter; plane fare is on average of $250-$350; hotel is $100/night; food and other expenses are another $200. If you add this up you are spending roughly $1500-$1800 to play in a tournament and that is merely flying to another state!

There is another discussion about expensive tournaments in Africa, but many may wrongly assume that because this is America that people can afford these prices. It is a luxury that many of us cannot afford in a country where the cost of living is very high. We don’t get conditions (hotel and lodging), but we find a way to compete. Unfortunately, I saw players sleeping on the street and in the hotel lobby to avoid paying for hotel. The best option is to get a roommate in a cheaper hotel. Some of us are fortunate enough to stay with other players in Philadelphia.

I will say that you may try to reduce expenses by traveling with a friend. If you live within 700 miles, drive with others. Enter early and play in one of the shorter schedules to cut down on the length of stay. You can also pack your own food since the room have refrigerators. This is what many players do and they are able to cut the cost down to roughly $700-$1000. That is still an expensive tournament, but it is a great event.

]]> By: solomon kennedy http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2009/07/09/black-stars-shine-at-world-open/comment-page-1/#comment-13370 solomon kennedy Sun, 26 Jul 2009 06:35:06 +0000 http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/?p=2523#comment-13370 congrats to all the brothers and sisters who play in chess events all over, and yet, there are many more who have dreams of being a master or better and never get that opportunity. if dreams are what we live on then many african american players will have those and nothing more. i say all this because i have dreamt of playing in such events like the World Open and the US Open. but being financially stuck and with no believers even in my own family dreams will always be my trophy. imagining that i can play against the best that chess has to offer. i............i am sorry for blogging my sad state but there are many players who are like me who cant get the opportunities that many others get and enjoy and for a chess warrior that believes in himself that hurts. congrats to all the brothers and sisters who play in chess events all over, and yet, there are many more who have dreams of being a master or better and never get that opportunity. if dreams are what we live on then many african american players will have those and nothing more. i say all this because i have dreamt of playing in such events like the World Open and the US Open. but being financially stuck and with no believers even in my own family dreams will always be my trophy. imagining that i can play against the best that chess has to offer. i…………i am sorry for blogging my sad state but there are many players who are like me who cant get the opportunities that many others get and enjoy and for a chess warrior that believes in himself that hurts.

]]> By: Barry Davis http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2009/07/09/black-stars-shine-at-world-open/comment-page-1/#comment-13230 Barry Davis Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:10:19 +0000 http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/?p=2523#comment-13230 Congrats to all the the "brothers and sisters" who made "time, circumstance and oppportunity" collide at the World Open, as I have predicted almost 15 years earlier, given time water will seek its own level ...and given opportunity we will dominate all althelte endeavors in time! Also special shout out to Glen Westcott a local Buffalo chessplayer who I had the pleasure of working with for 3 weeks his comment was if we had started work a month ealier he might have come in 1st place instead of a threeway tied for second in his section but the $4000 dollars was greatly appreciated! Congrats to all the the “brothers and sisters” who made “time, circumstance and oppportunity” collide at the World Open, as I have predicted almost 15 years earlier, given time water will seek its own level …and given opportunity we will dominate all althelte endeavors in time! Also special shout out to Glen Westcott a local Buffalo chessplayer who I had the pleasure of working with for 3 weeks his comment was if we had started work a month ealier he might have come in 1st place instead of a threeway tied for second in his section but the $4000 dollars was greatly appreciated!

]]> By: Daaim Shabazz http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2009/07/09/black-stars-shine-at-world-open/comment-page-1/#comment-13226 Daaim Shabazz Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:11:28 +0000 http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/?p=2523#comment-13226 Glenn, That game appears in the Reflections piece I did here... <em>http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2009/07/09/reflections-of-2009-world-open/</em> Adu actually went over the game with me and I recorded his analysis. I hope to make a gamecast video, but been really busy. As far as I could see, there was no brother vs. brother issues this tournament. Of course there were a few matchups, but not any more than usual. You have to figure that these players having the same scores will eventually be paired. In one round there were six Black masters playing on consecutive boards and none were playing each other (photo above). Of course William played Pete, Chikwere played Dr. Kimani and Adu played Dr. Okey, but there wasn't anything peculiar. The video on Kassa was one I featured in a profile I did on him last year. That was shortly after I had first learned about his talent at the 2008 World Open. <em>http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2008/08/21/kassa-korley-makes-master/</em> Glenn,

That game appears in the Reflections piece I did here… http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2009/07/09/reflections-of-2009-world-open/

Adu actually went over the game with me and I recorded his analysis. I hope to make a gamecast video, but been really busy.

As far as I could see, there was no brother vs. brother issues this tournament. Of course there were a few matchups, but not any more than usual. You have to figure that these players having the same scores will eventually be paired. In one round there were six Black masters playing on consecutive boards and none were playing each other (photo above). Of course William played Pete, Chikwere played Dr. Kimani and Adu played Dr. Okey, but there wasn’t anything peculiar.

The video on Kassa was one I featured in a profile I did on him last year. That was shortly after I had first learned about his talent at the 2008 World Open.

http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2008/08/21/kassa-korley-makes-master/

]]> By: Glenn Bady http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2009/07/09/black-stars-shine-at-world-open/comment-page-1/#comment-13225 Glenn Bady Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:04:01 +0000 http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/?p=2523#comment-13225 Kassa was playing between the ropes in the last round of the World. He was on the top 10 boards. I didn't pay much attention to his games during the event, should have, because Dr. Ok, IM Morrision, IM Tate, FM Rogers and other established masters capture my attention. Drummers have you seen this video about Kassa? Very interesting. http://web.jrn.columbia.edu/newmedia/2008/masters/chess/. IM Adu and Dr. Ok had a giant struggle, maybe one of them will annotate their game and send it to the Drum. Why is it that brothers are always paired against each other? When at most there are only 6 of less brothers in a section which seed over 100 players? Oh! the brother who won the under 1400 section is a Philly player. He would play in McDonalds all the times with other street players. When the street players found that he won the money they all are saying that I could have won that section, lol. Kassa was playing between the ropes in the last round of the World. He was on the top 10 boards. I didn’t pay much attention to his games during the event, should have, because Dr. Ok, IM Morrision, IM Tate, FM Rogers and other established masters capture my attention. Drummers have you seen this video about Kassa? Very interesting. http://web.jrn.columbia.edu/newmedia/2008/masters/chess/. IM Adu and Dr. Ok had a giant struggle, maybe one of them will annotate their game and send it to the Drum. Why is it that brothers are always paired against each other? When at most there are only 6 of less brothers in a section which seed over 100 players? Oh! the brother who won the under 1400 section is a Philly player. He would play in McDonalds all the times with other street players. When the street players found that he won the money they all are saying that I could have won that section, lol.

]]> By: Daaim Shabazz http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2009/07/09/black-stars-shine-at-world-open/comment-page-1/#comment-13224 Daaim Shabazz Tue, 14 Jul 2009 22:58:08 +0000 http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/?p=2523#comment-13224 OK... thanks for pointing out Kola's win. African Disapora did well in under-2400. In the under-2200, there were a few notable results led by <strong>Abiye Williams' </strong>6½/9; <strong>Sylvester Smarty </strong>and <strong>Jerald Times </strong>got 6/9; <strong>Peter Roberts </strong>got 5½/9; <strong>Franklyn Gibson</strong> of the Bahamas, <strong>Jeffrey Johnson </strong>and <strong>Calvin Marshall </strong>had 4½; <strong>Daaim Shabazz </strong>and <strong>Josh Colas </strong>had 4/9. Scholastic standout <strong>Darrian Robinson</strong> had 3½/8. There were a few more, but most notable were <strong>Paul Obiwame </strong>and <strong>Adekunle Ogunmefun </strong>withdrawing without completing the schedule. <em>Full results are at the link below... <a href="http://www.worldopen.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.worldopen.com</a></em> OK… thanks for pointing out Kola’s win. African Disapora did well in under-2400. In the under-2200, there were a few notable results led by Abiye Williams’ 6½/9; Sylvester Smarty and Jerald Times got 6/9; Peter Roberts got 5½/9; Franklyn Gibson of the Bahamas, Jeffrey Johnson and Calvin Marshall had 4½; Daaim Shabazz and Josh Colas had 4/9. Scholastic standout Darrian Robinson had 3½/8. There were a few more, but most notable were Paul Obiwame and Adekunle Ogunmefun withdrawing without completing the schedule.

Full results are at the link below… http://www.worldopen.com

]]> By: Tolulope Ogunwobi http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2009/07/09/black-stars-shine-at-world-open/comment-page-1/#comment-13223 Tolulope Ogunwobi Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:35:51 +0000 http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/?p=2523#comment-13223 Hello ChessDrum Readers, How come none of you is leaving comments on this blog page of a staple of African chess, the world open. The best news for the Nigerian contigent in my opinion is Okechukwu Iwu's improved performance. Congrats though to Kola Adeyemi on his $4000, that hints we strong unrated African players on green prospects at the lower cadres of the world open. Watch out! Chikwere Onyekwere what is happening to your chess, you are definitely better than that. Cheers William Abiye. Cheers all. Hello ChessDrum Readers,
How come none of you is leaving comments on this blog page of a staple of African chess, the world open. The best news for the Nigerian contigent in my opinion is Okechukwu Iwu’s improved performance. Congrats though to Kola Adeyemi on his $4000, that hints we strong unrated African players on green prospects at the lower cadres of the world open. Watch out! Chikwere Onyekwere what is happening to your chess, you are definitely better than that. Cheers William Abiye. Cheers all.

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