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Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Metropolitan Chess: Hess, Arnold in Lead after Day 3
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
The latest chess news via Fide is that the Metropolitan Chess, Inc. is hosting a Grandmaster norm round robin tournament from August 3rd to August 7th of 2012. After the first three days, the field is led by GM Robert Hess and IM Marc Arnold with a 4-2 each.
The tournament is sponsored by California Market Center, Fashion Business, Inc, Law Offices of Steinfl & Bruno, Chess.com, MonRoi, LawyerFy, EventForte, and Betty Bottom Showroom.
This tournament is the 21st in its series and is being held the Radisson Los Angeles Airport Hotel. The tournament is organised by Ankit Gupta, FA, IO. The participants include: GM Robert Hess (USA), GM Melikset Khachiyan (USA), GM Dejan Bojkov (BUL), IM Enrico Sevillano (USA), IM Andranik Matikozyan (ARM), IM Roman Yankovsky (RUS), IM Mackenzie Molner (USA), FM Alexandre Kretchetov (RUS), IM Levon Altounian (USA) and IM Marc Arnold (USA). The tournament is a 10 player round-robin (all play all), with rounds scheduled as follows – 3rd: 7:00 PM, 4th: 11:00 AM & 5:00 PM, 5th: 11:00 AM & 5:00 PM, 6th: 11:00 AM & 5:00 PM, 7th: 10:00 AM & 4:00 PM. Spectators are welcome and encouraged to come to watch the games in person at the tournament site. The standings can be found on the Metropolitan Chess, Inc. website at: http://metrochessla.com/schedule.php.
It may also be mentioned that the Inc would be hosting World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand at a chess training camp from August 9-13.
US Junior Chess Champion Marc Arnold on How Chess Could be a Profession for More People!
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
FIDE VP Beatriz Marinello recently interviewed the reigning US Junior Chess Champion IM Marc Arnold. Here is the interesting chat with a champion chess players.
Beatriz Marinello: It has been an amazing summer for you! Congratulations on winning the US Junior Invitational for the second time and earning a Grandmaster norm at the World Open in Philadelphia. You are only 19 years old. What are your short term plans?
Marc Arnold: I hope to keep getting better, and gain elo points, and enjoy myself while doing it.
BM: Motivation is an important part of getting good results. How do you keep yourself motivated? MA: I think that every chess player is motivated just by being competitive. I try to do my best in each event and that keeps me motivated during tournaments.
BM: This year’s US Junior Closed had a total prize fund (for all places) of $18,000. You as the champion took home $4,000. Do you think it’s important to include prize money in junior events? MA: It is nice to have a monetary reward during tournaments even for juniors. I think that juniors as well as older players like having conditions and it makes juniors feel more professional. I think that juniors can also be motivated by prizes and it is indeed necessary.
BM: What are your thoughts about professional chess in the USA? Do you think it’s possible for a young talented player such as yourself to continue playing chess at a high level and at the same time pursue a different profession? MA: I think that it is very hard to have a second profession along with playing chess at a high level. Unless you can teach on the side while you play chess I would say that only players who are over 2700 can do this without teaching.
BM: Most players at some point need to make a decision regarding career choices and how to make it work. What do you think needs to change or improve in chess in order for chess to be a suitable career choice?MA: The only way for more people to play chess as a career is to have more tournaments with higher prizes as well as conditions that cover all, or almost all expenses to tournaments.
BM: So far, you have two Grandmaster norms, and you are playing very well. When is your next chess tournament? MA: I might already have all 3 norms but it is unclear. My next tournament starts August 3rd in LA and is a round robin.
BM: I wish you the best. You are a role model for thousands of American young players. Keep it up!
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
International Master Marc Arnold has won the 2012 U.S. Junior Closed Championship in the final game of a two-game playoff against Alec Getz. Marc will receive an invitation to the 2013 U.S. Championship.
In the closing ceremony, the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis (CCSCSL) crowned International Master Marc Arnold, 19, of New York City, the 2012 U.S. Junior Chess Champion.
The Junior Closed Championship is an invitation-only tournament that features the top chess players in the nation under the age of 21. Alongside the U.S. Chess Championship and U.S. Women's Championship, the Junior Closed Championship completes the "Triple Crown" of the three most prestigious chess tournaments in the country.
Arnold beat out 16 other players in a split round-robin tournament with a playoff final to clinch the title and the first-place prize of $4,000. As the winner of the U.S. Junior Closed Championship, Arnold will also receive an invitation to the 2013 U.S. Chess Championship, which is scheduled to be held in Saint Louis next year.
"I'm honored to have won this tournament because the competition was really tough," said Arnold. "I'm looking forward to getting a chance to come back to Saint Louis to compete with the nation's best at the U.S. Championship next year."
Arnold was ranked first by rating out of the 16 competitors and was considered one of the favorites coming onto the tournament. The 16 players were split into two groups of eight, and the winner of each section squared off in a head-to-head playoff for the title. Arnold went undefeated in his round-robin section, scoring five points out of seven games, to secure his spot in the playoff finals.
"Marc did an amazing job and fought hard throughout the entire tournament," said Tony Rich, executive director of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. "Our hope is that his passion for the game and the amazing sportsmanship he has demonstrated will encourage and inspire other young chess players across the country to become more active chess players."
Arnold defeated Alec Getz, 18, also of New York City, who was the winner of the other round-robin section, in a two-game playoff final. Getz received $3,000 for second place and entered the tournament ranked eighth out of the 16 players.
The junior tournament's winnings for first through last place totaled $18,000.
About The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that is committed to making chess an important part of our community. In addition to providing a forum for the community to play tournaments and casual games, the club also offers chess improvement classes, beginner lessons and special lectures.
Recognizing the cognitive and behavioral benefits of chess, the Chess Club and Scholastic Center is committed to supporting those chess programs that already exist in area schools while encouraging the development of new in-school and after-school programs. For more information, visit www.saintlouischessclub.org.
US Chess Scoop Video from World Open 2012 Featuring Sokolov, Shabalov, Others
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Here is the nice World Open (July 2-8, Philadelphia) US Chess Scoop video featuring tournament winners GMs Ivan Sokolov (the champ on tiebreak) and four-time US Chess Champion Alexander Shabalov. The video also features GMs Yury Shulman, Sam Shankland, US Women's Champion Irina Krush, James Black, and norm-earner Luke-Harmon Vellotti. Extreme Chess Champ Elliott Liu also has a special message for Marc Arnold, who earned a GM norm.
You can read our post on the tournament victory by GM Ivan Sokolov at this Chess Blog post.
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Round 1 of the 2012 U.S. Junior Closed Championship begins today in Saint Louis, and the marquee match-up pits GM-elect conrad Holt against IM Darwin Yang, who recently secured his second GM norm last month at the New York International. The first round begins at 11 a.m. CT, Noon EST, and the event will feature live play-by-play from GM Ben Finegold and FM Aviv Friedman. Round two will take place today at 5 p.m. CT, 6 p.m. ET. Access the live commentary by visiting www.uschesschamps.com/live.
Tournament play will run through July 15, and the event will feature two rounds per day. The event features an overall prize fund of $18,000.
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12th Women's World Chess Champion
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