The largest norm Round Robin invitational in U.S. history is underway at the Charlotte Chess Center (CCC). Taking place from November 18 to 22, the event consists of six concurrent ten-player Round Robins. Ten GMs join the norm-seekers in the three GM norm sections, and in total over half of the 60 participants already hold either a GM or IM title.
Before jumping into the halftime report, recognition needs to be given to International Organizer Peter Giannatos and International Arbiter Grant Oen. This is the 29th norm invitational to be held at the CCC, and it is the start of an ambitious ten-day stretch of tournaments for the regional chess hub.
The day after the invitationals conclude will be the start of the US Masters, which currently boasts 30 GMs and 40 IMs as competitors. For the cherry (cranberry?) on top, hundreds more players will join the foray for the North Carolina Open November 25 to 27.
The GM A group is currently lead by four players on 2½/4: GM Titas Stremavicius, GM Razvan Preotu, IM Dimitar Mardov, and FM Jakub Fus.
Here is a first-round theoretical clash in the London System by two of the norm-seekers.
The GM B group has two clear leaders at halftime with IM Irakli Beradze and IM Justus Williams leading the pack. Williams, despite arriving nearly a full day late to the event, is on a tear with 2½/3 with a make-up game against FM Bach Ngo scheduled for the rest day.
One of the youngest participants in the event, IM Andy Woodward, is showing good form. Here is a strong game against veteran GM Mark Paragua in a colors-reversed Benoni.
Home-grown Charlotte native IM Tianqi Wang is currently the sole leader of GM C with 3½/4.
Closely on his heels is FM Max Gedajlovic, who played a fantastic positional game in a solid Queen’s Gambit.
In IM D there are three players at the top: IM Tamas Petenyi, FM Alice Lee, and FM Ryan Amburgy.
Two are at the top of IM E: Grayson Rorrer and FM Liam Putnam. Rorrer showed excellent theoretical knowledge in a rare sideline of the Sicilian Taimanov, concluding the game with a beautiful tactic.
Veteran GM Gabor Nagy and norm-seeker Julian Proleiko lead IM F with 3½/4.
There are many players still in contention for norms with many instructive moments in these high quality games. Live action from the even can be followed here. It is not too late to register for the US Masters or the NC Open.
We leave the reader with six selected tactics from the event.
Stay tuned for a follow-up report to find out how many players earned norms.
Categories
Archives
- October 2024 (8)
- September 2024 (23)
- August 2024 (27)
- July 2024 (44)
- June 2024 (27)
- May 2024 (32)
- April 2024 (51)
- March 2024 (34)
- February 2024 (25)
- January 2024 (26)
- December 2023 (29)
- November 2023 (26)
- October 2023 (37)
- September 2023 (27)
- August 2023 (37)
- July 2023 (47)
- June 2023 (33)
- May 2023 (37)
- April 2023 (45)
- March 2023 (37)
- February 2023 (28)
- January 2023 (31)
- December 2022 (23)
- November 2022 (32)
- October 2022 (31)
- September 2022 (19)
- August 2022 (39)
- July 2022 (32)
- June 2022 (35)
- May 2022 (21)
- April 2022 (31)
- March 2022 (33)
- February 2022 (21)
- January 2022 (27)
- December 2021 (36)
- November 2021 (34)
- October 2021 (25)
- September 2021 (25)
- August 2021 (41)
- July 2021 (36)
- June 2021 (29)
- May 2021 (29)
- April 2021 (31)
- March 2021 (33)
- February 2021 (28)
- January 2021 (29)
- December 2020 (38)
- November 2020 (40)
- October 2020 (41)
- September 2020 (35)
- August 2020 (38)
- July 2020 (36)
- June 2020 (46)
- May 2020 (42)
- April 2020 (37)
- March 2020 (60)
- February 2020 (38)
- January 2020 (45)
- December 2019 (35)
- November 2019 (35)
- October 2019 (42)
- September 2019 (45)
- August 2019 (56)
- July 2019 (44)
- June 2019 (35)
- May 2019 (40)
- April 2019 (48)
- March 2019 (61)
- February 2019 (39)
- January 2019 (30)
- December 2018 (29)
- November 2018 (51)
- October 2018 (45)
- September 2018 (29)
- August 2018 (49)
- July 2018 (35)
- June 2018 (31)
- May 2018 (39)
- April 2018 (31)
- March 2018 (26)
- February 2018 (33)
- January 2018 (30)
- December 2017 (26)
- November 2017 (24)
- October 2017 (30)
- September 2017 (30)
- August 2017 (32)
- July 2017 (27)
- June 2017 (32)
- May 2017 (26)
- April 2017 (37)
- March 2017 (28)
- February 2017 (30)
- January 2017 (27)
- December 2016 (29)
- November 2016 (24)
- October 2016 (32)
- September 2016 (31)
- August 2016 (27)
- July 2016 (24)
- June 2016 (26)
- May 2016 (19)
- April 2016 (30)
- March 2016 (37)
- February 2016 (27)
- January 2016 (33)
- December 2015 (25)
- November 2015 (23)
- October 2015 (16)
- September 2015 (28)
- August 2015 (28)
- July 2015 (6)
- June 2015 (1)
- May 2015 (2)
- April 2015 (1)
- February 2015 (3)
- January 2015 (1)
- December 2014 (1)
- July 2010 (1)
- October 1991 (1)
- August 1989 (1)
- January 1988 (1)
- December 1983 (1)