2006 KANSAS OPEN CHESS TOURNAMENT RESULTS

The 2006 Kansas Open was held at the Airport Hilton in Wichita, Kansas the weekend of July 21^st to 23^rd, 2006. The attendance was down from the previous year but was still above the average over the last 5 years. There were 88 participating in the main 2 day tournament (18 in the Open and 70 in the Reserve-U1800). 27 participated in the Friday night Quick chess event (5 rounds, game in 10 minutes). Eight states were represented in chess tourney. Almost all players that participated in the Quick tourney also participated in the two day events, except one Oklahoma player. Other than the home state, Kansas (56), other states represented with their numbers of participants: Oklahoma (15), Missouri (6), Nebraska (4), Arkansas (2), Texas (2), Colorado (2), Maryland (1) and Arizona (1).

The winner of the Quick tourney and the Open section of the main event was IM Michael Brooks. As opposed to last year, he was the only titled player. He scored a perfect 5.0 in the 5 round Quick tourney and 4.0 in the 5 round Open section (3 wins and 2 draws). In the Quick tourney there was a tie for 2^nd through 5^th with four players finishing with 4 points. This log jam included new Kansas Quick chess champion Maxx Coleman.

In the Open section, other than Michael Brooks finishing first with 4 points, there was a four way tie in 2^nd through 5^th all with 3.5 points. This again included Maxx Coleman, our new Kansas State chess champion. He is state champion by having the highest score of any Kansas resident and KCA member in the Open section. Also at 3.5 points were Bob Holliman (MO), Thomas Braunlich (OK), and Leonid Sukharnikov (OK).

In the Reserve section we had a surprise winner. Young Kansas scholastic player, Conrad Holt, scored a perfect 5.0 in this 5 round event. Along the way he scored 4 impressive upsets in a row leading up to the final round (his rating prior to this event was 1325 in this U1800 section). Francis Crow of Missouri finished all alone with 4.5 points, garnering the second place award. In the Reserve section after Francis Crow there was a seven way tie for 3^rd through 9^th places, all these chess players scored 4.0 points.

Thanks to tournament director Kevin Nyberg and his assistant CJ Armenta. Thanks to the others who worked in the background to make this event happen. Last, thanks to the Wichita Airport Hilton for the use of their great facilities and for their great customer service provided during the three day event. Hope to see all of you next year.

Laurence Coker

KCA President and Treasurer

2006 Kansas Open Organizer and Planner

Michael Brooks with one his checks:

Michael finished first overall in

Quick and Open sections.

Maxx Coleman in the 4^th round vs. Tom Braulich:

Maxx is our new Kansas State Champion. He was also the 1^st place Kansas finisher in the Quick tourney.

Conrad Holt was 1^st place overall in the Reserve

section. He also was the 1^st place scholastic

finisher in the Quick tourney.

Francis Crow finished 2^nd in the Reserve section.

Jaime Fernandez playing Tim Steiner in the

4^th round of the Open section

Jason Wawrzaszek vs. Conrad Holt in

the 4^th round of the Reserve Section

LAST PICTURE

Tony English waiting for the 4^th round

of the Reserve section to start