2009 World Open (Philadelphia, USA)
The marquee event in the USA has begun and a projected 1100 players will make their way to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to compete for a $250,000 prize fund. The tournament has added several new side tournaments and will be featured throughout. However, the main event will feature the world’s top players including U.S. Champion, GM Hikaru Nakamura. The Chess Drum is on site and will be blogging and filing reports during the event.
The 37th World Open. July 1-5, 2-5, 3-5 or June 29-July 5, Pennsylvania, USA
9 round Swiss, 40/2, SD/1 (4-day option, rds 1-2 G/75, 3-day option, rds 1-5 G/45). Under 900/Unr Section plays separate 3-day schedule only, G/45. At Sheraton Philadelphia City Center Hotel, 17th & Race Sts., Philadelphia, PA 19103. Special parking rates: $5/day with guest room at Sheraton, $12 without. Downtown location, Franklin Institute and many other museums as well as stores & restaurants within a few blocks.
$250,000 GUARANTEED PRIZE FUND. Free analysis of your games by GM Sam Palatnik; free lectures by other GMs 7/3 10 am, 7/4 10 am, 7/5 9 am. In 9 sections (Unrated eligible only for Open, Under 2400, or U900/Unr).
Open Section: $20000-10000-5000-2500-1500-1000-800-700-600-500, clear winner bonus $200, top U2500/Unr $2000-1000. If tie for first, top 2 on tiebreak play speed game 7/5 11 pm (white 5 minutes, black 3 minutes & gets draw odds, 5 second delay) for title & bonus prize. GM & IM norms possible in 5-day & 7-day schedules. FIDE rated.
Details: https://www.chesstour.com/wo09.htm
Coverage: https://www.worldopen.com
GM Vinay Bhat
GM Giorgi Kachievshvili plays IM Joseph Bradford in round #1 of the World Open. GM Vinay Bhat has played 1.d4 and awaits GM Timur Gareev.
FM Farai Mandizha (Zimbabwe)
The Rogers (My Hosts)
FM Norman “Pete” Rogers, Norman Rogers III, Jaden Rogers
FM Norman Rogers showing his game against FM Bhindi Cheng to NM Ernest Colding. FM Farai Mandizha watches on the left. Gene Scott has his back to the camera.
More Analysis… very lively position from a Rauzer Attack!
Jaden playing a game on the porch with neighbor, Jonathan.
A few games from last night!
Kraai,J (2531) – Bareev,E (2556) [D17]
World Open Philadelphia United States (3), 01.07.2009
1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Nh4 Bd7 7.e4 e6 8.Nf3 b5 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bxf6 Qxf6 11.Be2 Bb4 12.0-0 0-0 13.Qc2 a6 14.Rfd1 Ra7 15.b3 Bxc3 16.Qxc3 cxb3 17.Qxb3 Rd8 18.Qe3 Rb7 19.e5 Qe7 20.Bd3 Be8 21.Qe4 g6 22.Qe3 Kg7 23.Be4 bxa4 24.h4 Rb3 25.Qf4 c5 26.dxc5 Rxd1+ 27.Rxd1 a3 28.h5 g5 29.Qd2 Rb5 30.Bb1 Nd7 31.c6 Rd5 32.Nd4 Nxe5 33.Qc2 Qc5 34.Qh7+ Kf6 35.Qxh6+ Ke7 36.Qxg5+ f6 37.Qg7+ Bf7 38.c7 Nf3+ 39.gxf3 Rg5+ 40.Qxg5 Qxg5+ 41.Kf1 Qc5 42.h6 Qxc7 43.h7 Qh2 44.Nc6+ Kf8 45.Rd8+ Be8 46.Bg6 Kg7 47.Rxe8 Kxg6 0-1
Akobian,V (2684) – Shabalov,A (2624) [E61]
World Open Philadelphia United States (3), 02.07.2009
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Nf3 0-0 5.Bg5 d6 6.e3 c6 7.Be2 a6 8.0-0 b5 9.a3 Nbd7 10.Qc2 bxc4 11.Bxc4 c5 12.Rfd1 Bb7 13.Rac1 Bxf3 14.gxf3 cxd4 15.Rxd4 Nc5 16.Rdd1 a5 17.b4 axb4 18.axb4 Ncd7 19.f4 Rc8 20.Qb3 Rb8 21.Bb5 Kh8 22.Bc6 Nb6 23.Nb5 Nc8 24.Nc3 e6 25.b5 Qb6 26.Qa3 Kg8 27.h3 d5 28.f5 Nh5 29.e4 h6 30.fxe6 fxe6 31.Be3 d4 32.Na4 Qa7 33.Bd2 Nb6 34.Bb4 Qxa4 35.Bxf8 Rxf8 36.Qc5 Nf4 37.Rd2 Qa5 38.Rcd1 Qc3 39.Qxc3 dxc3 40.Rc2 Nc4 41.Kf1 Nxh3 0-1
Friedel,J (2616) – Robson,R (2553) [B76]
World Open Philadelphia United States (4), 02.07.2009
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.0-0-0 d5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Bd4 Bxd4 13.Qxd4 Qb6 14.Na4 Qa5 15.b3 Qc7 16.h4 h5 17.Kb2 Rd8 18.Bc4 Bf5 19.Nc3 Bxc2 20.Bxd5 Bxd1 21.Qc4 Qe5 22.Bxf7+ Kg7 23.f4 Rd2+ 24.Kc1 Rc2+ 25.Kxd1 Qxc3 26.Qxc3+ Rxc3 27.Bc4 Rd8+ 28.Ke2 Rd4 29.Rf1 Kf6 30.a4 Kf5 0-1
Will have Java games when Monroi starts to log games. Here are the pgn files.
Nice to have to have talked with you in Philly. While my tournament showing was not a good one. I enjoyed myself while I was there. However trying to make a quick getaway I promptly locked my car keys in my trunk. Home now…looking forward to the world open pics and drum beats.
Hey Robert,
Just got in about an hour ago from the Sheraton.
It was great chatting with you at some length. I’ll be getting those stories up soon. I interviewed Hikaru Nakamura and took a load of pictures.
A few stories and pictures coming in a World Open index! There will be the story and interview with Nakamura, presence of top players of African descent and of course a reflections piece.
Also stay tuned for a story on Simutowe’s GM journey and a story on the “King of Pop” Michael Jackson. Jackson played chess and can be seen in videos playing chess with his son.
My apologies to the chess community for not covering the event on a daily basis. It was difficult to do so since I was playing in the tournament. It is doubtful that I will play next year and will probably play in the Philly International and then cover the World Open tournament.
Hey, Daaim! I missed another chance to participate in the BIG one, the World Open! I have missed this excellent tournament for the past 3 years. And while I love being able to enjoy the 4th of July holiday with my family, I still found myself sitting alone and daydreaming about the many enjoyable time I traveled to Philly for the World Open! I especially have fond memories of when the tourney was help at the Adams Mark Hotel in North Philly! But I do think the downtown location at the Sheraton is quite nice too! Did you play this year, and how did you do? I saw that you stayed with the Rogers family. I met Norm years ago at one of the World Opens at the Adams Mark… a very pleasant fellow, indeed! I can’t wait to see you pics for the 2009 installment of this tournament… BTW, who won the Open Section?
ETJ,
I didn’t have a good tournament and finished on 4-5. I played some good games, but mostly it was an event of missed opportunities. One bright spot was that I played Darrian Robinson! We drew a tough game. As you know I have covered her for a long time. I will post that game soon.
Norman “Pete” Rogers is a class act. In terms of his support of me and The Chess Drum, he is perhaps the most supportive person of anything I do. I thoroughly enjoyed staying with him and his family. It was an opportunity that I’m glad I took because it’s not everyday we get to know a legendary chessplayer for anything more than his name, place of origin and style of play. His two sons (Norman III and Jaden) are both energetic, well-mannered and cheerful. I played catch with his oldest son. 🙂
Although I didn’t get my target of 6-3, I enjoyed the tournament and my time with “Pete” immensely. I will also have a reflections piece.
Philadelphia’s City Hall
Chikwere Onyekwere (Nigeria)
National Master Kassa Korley playing GM Dmitri Gurevich (1/2-1/2)
GM Robert Hess
Orrin Hudson had a prime spot and got a lot of traffic.
Young star Darrian Robinson with Daaim Shabazz. The two met in round #8 and played to a hard-fought draw.
GM Alexander Stripunsky vs. Canada’s FM Bindi Cheng (1-0). FM Marc Esserman plays GM Julio Becerra in background (0-1).
Advertisement for Michael Jackson tribute.
U.S. Champion Hikaru Nakamura against IM Robert Hungaski.
IM Emory Tate in deep thought.
The Chess Drum’s Daaim Shabazz and Besomeone’s Orrin Hudson.
Siddarth Ravichandran of India analyzing their game with Zimbabwe’s Farai Mandizha. Ravichandran got an IM norm at the Philadelphia International and got 7-2 in the under-2400.
Alejandro Ramirez, Costa Rica’s only GM.
Phenomenally-talented IM Ray Robson.
Players from the Sudan… Kamanyola Awan Bior (left) scored 8/9 in under-1400 section. Also pictured was David Malual Mhial .
Najer vs. Nakamura (0-1) and Michalevksy vs. Kamsky (1-0).
Nakamura with an intense look.
Arbiters Chris Bird and Carol Jarecki checking on some technicalities.
Daaim Shabazz with rising star Kassa Korley.
Daaim, thanks so much for the great photos of this year’s World Open! I was very impressed with “rising star Kassa Korley” being able to hold the experienced GM to a draw! As for your game with young “rising star Darrian Robinson” I was equally impressed, because I know that you are a tough opponent! I must admit that when I read that you met Darrian in the 8th round, I was overwhelmed with nostalgia, because of the several female players I’ve met over the board at World Opens… For some reason I usually got my butt whipped against the ladies!? Anyway, the photos are top knotch and quite enjoyable… thanks again!
Oh…. I’m not finished. I have more photos… a lot more. 🙂
Expert Darrian Robinson
‘Drum Majors’ (L-R): NM Dr. Okechukwu Iwu, IM Oladapo Adu, FM Farai Mandizha, IM Emory Tate, FM William Morrison, NM Norman Rogers.
Round #7 Battle! Najer-Nakamura & Michalevski-Kamsky
Blitz session between Canada’s Eric Hansen and America’s Alex Barnett.
Daaim Shabazz analyzing with Norman Rogers.
NM Glenn Bady and ‘Sammy’ of New York.
GM Hikaru Nakamura and Daaim Shabazz of The Chess Drum.
10-year old Josh Colas… watch this player!
William ‘Exterminator’ Morrison and Farai Mandizha playing blitz.
Talented twin duo, Nigel and Jehron Bryant
Kassa Korley playing Eugene Perelshteyn for an IM norm.
GM Sergey Kudrin glances at camera.
Original Chess Pose
Chikwere Onyekwere at blitz tournament with his striking friend watching intently. Maybe Chi-Chi was trying to distract his opponents.
Daaim Shabazz and Orrin Hudson keeping the beat!
The legendary Emory Tate blitzes!
A note of appreciation from one of your non-chess friends: While I can’t comment on the intricacies of chess or what appears to be great and talented minds, I am tickled pink at the presence of adolescents and teens who are there to compete. I’ve enjoyed looking at all your pics, especially the one with Darrian Robinson. You always do an awesome job of reporting, documenting and capturing these events photographically.
Michael Renee,
Teens and adolescents rule chess! 🙂
I’m absolutely thrilled that you posted on my blog.
(by Michael Williams)
Kamanyola Bior (Sudan), under-1400 champion
Antoine Hutchinson and Norman Rogers in action
Jorge Renteria (left) of Columbia playing in a blitz battle.
NM Dr. Okechukwu Iwu
IM Emory Tate
FM Eric Hansen playing Yaacov Norowitz in a blitz session.
The legendary Frank Street, 1965 U.S. Amateur Champion.
Tom Murphy… blitz impressario
Dr. Daaim Shabazz, The Chess Drum
Entire set of pics from 2009 World Open!
https://picasaweb.google.com/daaimshabazz/2009WorldOpen#
Robert Hungaski is from Connecticut, not Poland.
Not sure how that happened. It’s fixed.
Orrin sent me this link once again. I had forgotten about this segment, but it’s not bad!