NAKAMURA WINS GIBRALTAR / SO FINISHES SECOND AT TATA STEEL APRIL 2015 Career Crossroads FM ALISA MELEKHINA is currently balancing her law and chess careers. Inside, she interviews three other lifelong chess players wrestling with a similar dilemma. IFC_Layout 1 3/11/2015 6:02 PM Page 1 OIFC_pg1_Layout 1 3/11/2015 7:11 PM Page 1 World’s biggest open tournament! 43rd annual WORLD OPEN Hyatt Regency Crystal City, near D.C. 9rounds,June30-July5,July1-5,2-5or3-5 $210,000 Guaranteed Prizes! Master class prizes raised by $10,000 GM & IM norms possible, mixed doubles prizes, GM lectures & analysis! VISIT OUR NATION’S CAPITAL SPECIAL FEATURES! 4) Provisional (under 26 games) prize The World Open completes a three 1) Schedule options. 5-day is most limits in U2000 & below. year run in the Washington area before popular, 4-day and 3-day save time & 5) Unrated not allowed in U1200 returning to Philadelphia in 2016. money.New,leisurely6-dayhas three1- though U1800;$1000 limit in U2000. $99 rooms, valet parking $6 (if full, round days. Open plays 5-day only. 6) Mixed Doubles: $3000-1500-700- about $7-15 nearby), free airport shuttle. 2) GM & IM norms possible in Open. 500-300 for male/female teams. Fr e e s hutt l e to DC Metro, minutes NOTECHANGE:Mas ters can now play for 7) International 6/26-30: FIDE norms from Washington’s historic attractions! both norms & large class prizes! possible, warm up for main event. Als o 8sections:Open,U2200,U2000, 3) Prize limit $2000 if post-event manyside events. U1800, U1600, U1400, U1200, Unrated. rating posted 6/26/14-6/26/15 was more 8) Free analysis by GM Sam Palatnik FIDE ratings used for Open. than 30 points over section maximum. 7/1-7/5. Free GM lectures 7/3 & 7/4, 9 am. $210,000 GUARANTEED PRIZES! OPENSECTION:$20000-10000-5000-2500-1300-1000-800-700- UNDER 1600 (no unrated): $10000-5000-2500-1300-900-700- 600-500, clear win or top 2 playoff $300 bonus, top FIDE 2300-2449 600-500-400-400, top Under 1500 $1600-800. $4000-2000-1000-800-500,top FIDEUnder2300/Unr$4000-2000-1000- UNDER1400(nounrated): $8000-4000-2000-1300-900-700-600- 800-500. FIDE rated, GM & IM norms possible. 500-400-400, top Under 1300 $1200-600. UNDER 2200/unrated: $12000-6000-3000-1500-1000-800-600- UNDER1200(nounrated): $4000-2000-1000-800-600-500-400- 500-400-400, top Under 2100 (no unr) $2000-1000. 400-300-300, top Under 1000 $1000-500. UNDER 2000/unrated: $12000-6000-3000-1500-1000-800-600- UNRATED: Trophies to top 10. 500-400-400, top U1900 (no unr) $2000-1000. Unr prize limit $1000. PROVISIONALLY RATED PLAYERS (July 2015 official rating UNDER 1800 (no unrated): $12000-6000-3000-1500-1000-800- based on 4 to 25 games) may not win over $1000 in Under 1200, $2000 600-500-400-400, top Under 1700 $2000-1000. in Under 1400, or $3000 in Under 1600 through Under 2000. Reserve early! Chess rate $99-99, 703- Mailed or phoned entries, titled player 418-1234, may sell out by about 5/31. entries: see Tournament Life. PAST WINNERS Time limit: 6-day & 5-day options 40/2, Entries are posted at chessaction.com 1973 Walter Browne, 1974 Bent Larsen, 1975 SD/30, d10. 4-day,rounds1-2G/60,d10,then (online entries posted instantly). $15 service Pal Benko, 1976 Anatoly Lein, 1977 John merges. 3-day, rds 1-5 G/35, d10, then merges. charge for refunds. Fedorowicz, 1978 Peter Biyiasas, 1979 Haukur Unrated: 3-day schedule only, G/60, d10. Bring set, board, clock- not supplied. Angantysson, 1980 Larry Christiansen, 1981 July official USCF ratings used (July Igor Ivanov, 1982 Nick de Firmian, 1983 FIDE ratings used for Open Section). 6-day schedule: Tue 7 pm, Wed 7 pm, Thu Kevin Spraggett, 1984 Joel Benjamin, 1985 Open to U1800 prizes & Unrated trophies 6pm,Fri11am&6pm,Sat11am&6pm, Maxim Dlugy, 1986 Nick de Firmian, 1987 awarded at site, others mailed by 7/20. Sun 10 am & 4:30 pm. Boris Gulko, 1988 Maxim Dlugy, 1989 5-day schedule: Wed 7 pm, Thu to Sat 11 Mikhail Gurevich, 1990 Igor Glek, 1991 Gata Open through U1400 entry fees: Online am & 6 pm, Sun 10 am & 4:30 pm. Kamsky, 1992 Gregory Kaidanov, 1993 Alex at chessaction.com, $308 by 4/15, $318 by 4-day schedule: Thu 11 am, 2:30 pm & 6 Yermolinsky, 1994 Artashes Minasian, 1995 5/15, $328 by 6/28, $350 at site to 1.5 hours pm, Fri & Sat 11 am & 6 pm, Sun 10 & 4:30. Alex Yermolinsky, 1996 Alex Yermolinsky, before game or online until 2 hrs before game. 3-day schedule: Fri11, 1:30, 3:30, 6 & 1997 Alex Shabalov, 1998 Alex Goldin, 1999 Open Section: All $100 more if not rated 8:30, Sat 11 & 6, Sun 10 & 4:30. Gregory Serper, 2000 Joel Benjamin, 2001 over 2199 by USCF or FIDE. Unrated schedule: Fri 11 am, 2:30 pm & Alex Goldin, 2002 Kamil Miton, 2003 Jaan U1200 Section entry fees: All $100 less. 6pm,Sat11,2:30&6,Sun10,1:30&4:30. Ehlvest, 2004 Varuzhan Akobian, 2005 Kamil Unrated Section entry fees: $28 online by Unrated Section plays three days only. Miton, 2006 Gata Kamsky, 2007 Varuzhan 6/28, $40 at site until 1 hour before game or Half point byes OK all, limit 4 (limit 2 in Akobian, 2008 Evgeny Najer, 2009 Evgeny online until 2 hours before game.. last 4 rounds). Open must commit before round Najer, 2010 Viktor Laznicka, 2011 Gata Seniors 65/up: entry fee $100 less in 2, others before round 5. Kamsky, 2012 Ivan Sokolov, 2013 Varuzhan U1400 & above. All merge & play for same prizes. Akobian, 2014 Ilya Smirin. CL_04-2015_masthead_JP_r1_chess life 3/12/2015 2:11 PM Page 2 Chess Life EDITORIAL STAFF Chess Life Editor and Daniel Lucas [email protected] Director of Publications Chess Life Online Editor Jennifer Shahade [email protected] Chess Life for Kids Editor Glenn Petersen [email protected] Senior Art Director Frankie Butler [email protected] Editorial Assistant/Copy Editor Alan Kantor [email protected] Editorial Assistant Jo Anne Fatherly [email protected] Editorial Assistant Jennifer Pearson [email protected] Technical Editor Ron Burnett TLA/Advertising Joan DuBois [email protected] USCF STAFF Executive Director Jean Hoffman ext. 189 [email protected] Director of Events Francisco Guadalupe 713-530-7820 [email protected] Titles, Certifications, Transfers Jerry Nash ext. 137 [email protected] and FIDE Youth Events National Education Consultant Jerry Nash ext. 137 [email protected] Special Projects Consultant Scholastic Associate & Clubs Susan Kantor ext. 136 [email protected] FIDE Associate and OTB Ratings Susan Kantor ext. 136 [email protected] Computer Consultant Mike Nolan [email protected] Director of Administration Judy Misner ext. 126 [email protected] Affiliate Relations Associate Joan DuBois ext. 123 [email protected] Senior Accountant Debra Robison ext. 130 [email protected] Bookkeeper Barbara Holt ext. 131 [email protected] Membership Services Supervisor Cheryle Bruce ext. 147 [email protected] Mailing Lists/Membership Assoc. 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