USCF Home arrow Chess Life Online arrow 2008 arrow May arrow Americans Abroad Update
Americans Abroad Update Print E-mail
By Jennifer Shahade   
March 24, 2008
AnnaZlead.jpg
Anna Zatonksih. Photo courtesy Scandanivian Ladies Open
This has been an active week for American chessplayers abroad. GM Varuzhan Akobian won the O2C Doeberl Cup in Australia (March 19-24). Watch for a blog on his win by frequent CLO contributor GM Ian Rogers, who will for once, write about chess in his home country! Varuzhan Akobian is also the April 2008 Chess Life Magazine cover star.

02c Doeberl Cup
Final Standings

1. GM  Varuzhan Akobian- 7.5

2-8. GMs Zhang Zhong, Surya Ganguly, Gawain Jones, Merab Gagunashvili, Dejan Antic and IMs Stephen Solomon and Atanas Kizov- 6.5

akobianaprilcover225.jpg


Meanwhile, former U.S. Women's Champions and IMs Anna Zatonskih (2006) and Rusudan Goletiani (2005) are playing in a strong Ladies Open in Stockholm, Sweden from March 20-25. 126 women and girls are participating from all over the world. After seven rounds, Zatonskih has 4/7, while Rusudan has 3.5/7. IM Sopiko Khukhashvili of Georgia leads with 6/7 and a 2620 performance rating.

Here is a wild win by Khukhashvili over Dana Reizniece:



Scandinavian Ladies Open
Standings after seven rounds

1. IM Sopiko Khukhashvili- 6/7
2-7. IMs Harriet Hunt, Anna Muzychuk, Inna Gaponenko, Jana Jackova, Elina Danielian, Carolina Lujan- 5.5/7

Here is one of Anna Zatonskih's victories:



For more information, check out the official website and the standings and pairings pages.
 

Hikaru Nakamura just travelled to France, where he is playing in the French league. More info is not available on the web at this time, but you can check Hikaru's blog for updates from the young GM himself.

Despite a solid start, Irina Krush finished badly in the Ataturk International Women Masters (March 10-21) in Istanbul. She lost her seventh round game to the meteoric star 14-year-old Hou Yifan, who won the event with 7/9. Here are two of the young Chinese whiz's games, including her victory over our U.S. Women's Champion.




 
Advertisement

May - Chess Life Online 2008

Response to Irina's Open Letter Open Letter from Irina Krush Hilton on Midwest Open TeamsFinal Tulsa Media Gallery Hilton Blogs from Chicago, Part II GM Joel on Reasons to Decline Akobian Wins; Friedel and Zenyuk WowHilton Blogs from ChicagoMedia Gallery on Women Champs Join the Party in Vegas The Short and the Long of the U.S. ChampsFantasy Chess FinishesAnna Zatonskih U.S. Women's Champ!Yury Shulman U.S. Champion!Chicago Chess Summer Begins FridayFantasy Down to WireShulman Clinches Playoff; Krush LeadsHighlights from I.S. 318 in PittsburghOrrin Hudson on CBS Fantasy Day 7 UpdateShulman and Krush Pull AheadRound Six Fantasy UpdateShulman and Zatonskih Take Clear LeadsRound Five Fantasy ChessShulman Wins; Krush and Zatonskih Roll onFantasy Standings Round Four UpdateKudrin Leads Men; Krush and Zatonskih Still PerfectQuestions Surround Kamsky MatchJen on ChessFest and Queens vs. RooksHappy Press but Little Space in Tulsa Round 3 Fantasy Update Five Lead in TulsaEmotions Run High in Pittsburgh Fantasy Round 2 UpdateKaidanov and Kudrin Tied in TulsaTwo Games Left Standing UTD Arrives in China Round 1 Fantasy Update Round One Closes in Tulsa Spotlight on Courtney Jamison Opening Round Shocker Players Arrive in TulsaA Parent's Perspective: Part IIDaily Fantasy Prizes A Parent's PerspectiveAnand Wins Oscar; Kamsky ThirdU.S. Championship Round 1 PairingsAmerican battles blindfolded Bulgarian4-Way Tie in Asian-American ClassicElementary Team Predictions 2008 U.S. Championship Details Tulsa Fight Club Three-Way Tie in BakuU.S. Championship UpdateEnter Your Fantasy U.S. Champ Team Now!Larry Kaufman Wins Senior OpenIrina Krush on the All-Girls-Nationals

Announcements