2005 KANSAS OPEN CHESS TOURNAMENT RESULTS

            The 2005 Kansas Open was run at the Airport Hilton in Wichita Kansas the weekend of July 15^th to 17^th, 2005. The attendance was the most ever for a Kansas Open, partly increased by guaranteed money and by free entry for all paid campers participating in the Karpov Chess School Camps in Lindsborg, KS held the weekend before and the weekend after the camp. This also brought in participation by two of the chess camp coaches, titled players WGM Anna Zatonskih and Grandmaster Yuri Shulman. In all 172 participated in the Kansas Open in three sections (State Quick Championship: 48, Kansas Open-Open Section 36, and Kansas Open-Reserve Section [U1800] 88). Chess participants were from many states from as far away as West Virginia, Ohio, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Kansas, the host state, was the most represented in the tourney followed by Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, Iowa, and Illinois. There were three Grandmasters playing (Vladimir Georgiev, Yuri Shulman, and Nikola Mitkov), two International Masters (Michael Brooks and Stanislav Kriventsov), one Women’s Grandmaster (Anna Zatonskih), and one Women’s International Master (Liudmila Mokriak).

            The winner of the Kansas Quick Tournament (5 rounds, game in 10 minutes) were Grandmasters Yuri Shulman and Grandmaster Vladimir Georgiev, both with 4.5 of a possible 5 points. Tied for 3^rd through 7^th were Anna Zatonskih, Movses Movsisyan, Bob Holliman, Alexander Chua, and Sergey Galant. Our new Kansas Quick Chess Champion is Tournament organizer Mikhail Korenman at 3.5 points out of 5.0 possible. He won over Liudmila Mokriak by tiebreak points, as they both had 3.5 points.

            The Open section was particularly strong this year; with GM Vladimir Georgiev finishing is 1^st place alone with 4.5 points out of 5.0 possible. 2^nd through 5^th and all tied at 4.0 points were GM Yuri Shulman, GM Nikola Mitkov, IM Stanislav Kriventsov, and Sergey Galant. The new 2005 Kansas Champion, recently from the Ukraine but now living in Topeka, Kansas was WIM Liudmila Mokriak all by herself at 3.5 points. Hopefully she will be able to go to the Governor’s Cup in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in October to represent Kansas in that tourney’s tournament if state champions. Liudmila is the very first female state champion ever.

            The Reserve Section (U1800) tourney was also very competitive. Richard Smith, a Missouri player, tied Kansas players Chris Claassen, Raymond Paul, and Blake Mead for first place. 8 players tied for 5th through 13^th. Initially, Raymond Paul was awarded the state Reserve Championship and check. But, on later examination, Chris Claassen actually won, a computer error. So, both are awarded plaques and money: Co-Reserve Champions.

            Thanks go out to all participating and especially tournament organizer and director of the Karpov Chess School in Lindsborg, KS-Mikhail Korenman. Thanks to tournament director Kevin Nyberg. It will be very hard to ever top this Kansas Chess event for numbers, titled players, good management, facilities (Airport Hilton in Wichita, KS) and the enthusiasm for chess participation.            

KCA President and Treasurer
Laurence Coker

PICTURES FROM THE 2005 KANSAS OPEN CHESS TOURNAMENT IN

WICHITA, KS at the Airport Hilton Hotel

(Held July 15^th and 17^th, 2005)

Courtesy of Photographer Laurence Coker, KCA President

Grandmaster Vladimir Georgiev Kansas Open Champion- Open Section