August 12th: 69 preregistered for tomorrow's events!

UPDATE: make that 82. I'm not counting the brothers who just missed the preregistration cutoff....

If you're reading this, please bring set, board, and clock, just in case. I doubt that turnout will break 100, but you never know!

Saturday's Pre-Opening Plus-Score #13 will have two sections. The top-rated player in the Open Section is Senior Master Alexander Velikanov.

We are NOT charging players under 1700 extra to play up in the Open Section. (We'll start doing this again in the fall.)

The Rated Beginners' Open #8 is NOT SOLD OUT. (Some folks received a "sold out" message this afternoon...sorry about that.) We have added some additional slots!

We provide the sets, boards, and clocks....up to 80 players. There's more than a slight chance that we'll be short a few sets & clocks. If a few of you would be so kind as to bring your own, we'll be covered.

Here's the list as of just before midnight....

Greetings from Norfolk, Virginia

I'm here for the US Chess business meeting, which is going on at the same time as the 2017 US Open Championship. Local FM Sam Schmakel drew two former U. S. Champions in successive rounds: first GM Alexander Shabalov, then GM Joel Benjamin.

Here's the Benjamin game with light and doubtless incorrect computer-aided notes. Click to replay.

Photos from Plus-Score 11

TD Daniel Parmet (visit his website at danielparmet.com) was kind enough to share photos of the players at Saturday's Plus-score 11.

I left out some great photos of young players because we didn't have parental clearance. We'll get photos of the Rated Beginners' Open players next time!

Current events have kept Solicitor General David Franklin busy, but he found time to play a couple nice games.

A classic Chicago matchup: NM Steve Szpisjak faces off against Steinitz's wildest disciple, Bill Smythe.

NM Michael Auger was part of the tie for second place.

Tournament winner Robert Perez is on the cusp of a 2500 rating.

Aakaash Meduri is gentle away from the board....

Few players work as hard at the board as FM Sam Schmakel.

Lizzy Brahin

The thrill of motocross is worth a broken forearm: NM Jonathan Hrach.