The Opryland Hotel, a grand location for the Senior Open

The 2006 Senior Open Championship kicked off on August 27th. After four rounds only one chess veteran, FM Joe Bradford, has a perfect score. This national event is the second of three tournaments taking place at the beautiful and enormous Gaylord Opryland Hotel during perhaps the busiest chess week ever in Nashville, Tennessee...
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Photo J.Shahade

Newly designated Grandmaster, Eugene Perelshteyn took clear first at the Atlantic Open (August 26-28) in Washington, D.C. Find out how in Elizabeth Vicary's report, filled with photos and brilliant games including a scorcher over Larry Kaufman by Thomas Bartell.
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The second season of the U.S. Chess League kicks off this week. The two new teams, the Seattle Sluggers and the Tennessee Tempo face off 9 pm Aug.28 for this week's Monday night featured game. The other four matches will take place on Wednesday, August 30. Hear from League commissioner Greg Shahade why this season will be more exciting than ever!
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GM Maurice Ashley and Darrian Robinson

On a summer day in Washington Square Park of New York City, Grandmaster Maurice Ashley met two promising American stars, 15-year-old Medina Parilla from the Bronx and 11-year-old Darrian Robinson from Brooklyn. Both girls will participate in the World Youth Championship in Batumi, Georgia (October 18-29,2006.) It will be the first time two African-Americans participate in a World Youth team. Read more about the girls, and Maurice's tips for them.
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Our August edition of Key Krackers features "progressive twin" mates. Don't know what that is? Don't worry- they're beautiful problems and perfectly designed to entertain friends at chess parties.
E-mail or mail the correct answers before anyone else and get a free, signed copy of U.S. Problem Anthology, a problem collection compiled by Edgar Holladay.
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Irina Krush and four other Americans, including our U.S. Champion Alexander Onischuk, played in the Montreal Empresa International (Round Robins,August 8-16). Irina blogs about her running start, and other bright spots in what was overall, a disappointing showing for the American squad.
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GM Joel answers two juicy ones - hear his thoughts on cheating and also how to find a great chess coach and how to detect if one might be ripping you off.

Also online now is the August Chess Life Magazine, with two articles by Joel.

Robert J. D'Amato as Botvinnik, Daniel Hendricks Simon as Tal.

The Fringe Festival art festival in New York City features a play, The French Defense , by Dimiti Raitzin about the 1960 Botvinnik-Tal match. Check out Jennifer's thoughts on the play on her blog. If you're a New Yorker, you can still catch the final Fringe showing on Aug.25 at 5:30 pm. For details, check The French Defense website.
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Kamsky tops the rating list for the second list in a row. Photo J.Okada

Once again,GM Gata Kamsky tops the rating list while CLO columnist Joel Benjamin makes the biggest leap forward. On the women's side, Susan Polgar is back and easily the top rated woman in the country. For more insights into the summer ups and downs of our top players, read Greg Shahade's full report.
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Yury Shulman, our new U.S. Open Champ

GM Yury Shulman takes clear first in the U.S. Open! His key victory was in Round 8, in which he defeated GM Alexander Shabalov. In round 9, he met a peaceful Emilio Cordova. GM John Fedorowicz was unable to win a better endgame against Michael Aigner, leaving Yury's 8/9 untouchable. For full CLO report, click here. For final results, click here.
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Abby Marshall

Abby Marshall, a clear point ahead of the field going in to the final round, held a draw to clinch her second consecutive Polgar title. The decisive game was in Round 5, against Amanda Mateer from Arizona. For photo gallery and full report, click here.
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Elliott Liu won first place in the Boys U 18 section. Photo Jacob Okada.

We got seven medals in Cuenca,Ecuador including two golds and a 9-0 sweep by Tatev Abrahamyan. Elliott Liu, winner of the U18 Gold Medal is happy to be home, and not just to show off his medal. Read the full report for games, photos and the scoop on the cheating dispute involving Elliott's competition....
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Sears Tower and the largest concrete building in America. Who will emerge on top in the U.S. Open? Photo JS

The seventh round was the most exciting so far in the Open. Alexander Shabalov thrilled crowds watching both live and on the internet, with a sacrificial gem against Georgian GM Giorgi Kacheishvili. Meanwhile, on board one Joel Benjamin declined a draw and fought toward the win against slightly higher rated GM Gregory Kaidanov. Both fascinating games in the report. Shulman defeated IM Alfonso Almeida to join Joel and Alex with 6.5/7.
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Nelson Lopez

Nelson Lopez II from North Carolina defeated Tyler Hughes of Colorado to take clear first in the Denker tournament of high school champions. He then went on to win an impromptu blitz match against Polgar Invitational winner, Abby Marshall. For photos, his last round win and his secrets to success, click here. Click here for final standings.
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Hall fills up as new schedules begin.

The six-day and five-day schedules are on! GMs Yuri Shulman, Alexander Shabalov and John Fedorowicz have joined the fray.Our report includes games, photos and Denker/Polgar updates.
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IMs Elisabeth Paehtz and Irina Krush. Can you tell who won from the photo?

In Dortmund, Germany IM Irina Krush defeated German IM Elisabeth Paehtz 3.5-2.5. She brings us a photo gallery, plus thoughts on her match and the concurrent super GM tournament. Read the full text to learn why Irina thinks that laptops may not be worth the extra luggage after all. this is the sixth time he's won clear first or tied for first
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