American Open Chess Tournament Tradition Continues
November 20, 2008
The 44th annual American Open (AO) chess tournament will be held over thanksgiving weekend on November 27-30, 2008 at the Renaissance Montura Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Being one of the most prestigious chess tournaments in the West Coast, the American Open is expected to draw about 400 players, which will create together a prize pool of $36,000 (50% guaranteed).
The American Open chess tournament is a long going tradition. First founded in 1965 by the late USCF President Ed Edmondson and organized by the Santa Monica Bay chess club, the event was planned to counterbalance corresponding national chess championships US Open and National Open. Though it is not as influential as the latter events, the American Open maintained its prestige as an American tradition, attended by all American World Chess Championship candidates including Gata Kamsky, Larry Kaufman (2008 American Senior Champion), Robert Byrne and more. The 43th American Open was championed by Grandmaster Alex Yermolinsky, chess author and a former US Chess Champion, number 21 on the United States FIDE ranking list with 2537 rating points.
The 44th American Open will feature, on top of the main 8-round chess tournament, variety of lectures and side events. International Master and gifted stand-up comedian Jeremy Silman will be giving his speech on November 30 at the afternoon, American Open Quick Chess Championship with $1000prize guaranteed will take place on November 29 morning, are only two examples. Chess videos and DVDs will be broadcast throughout the event, and the Chess Pieces, one of the sponsors of the event, will be auctioning the ebony, red sandal wood chessboard played and signed by the winner, bids starting from $800.
The 44th annual American Open (AO) chess tournament will be held over thanksgiving weekend on November 27-30, 2008 at the Renaissance Montura Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Being one of the most prestigious chess tournaments in the West Coast, the American Open is expected to draw about 400 players, which will create together a prize pool of $36,000 (50% guaranteed).
The American Open chess tournament is a long going tradition. First founded in 1965 by the late USCF President Ed Edmondson and organized by the Santa Monica Bay chess club, the event was planned to counterbalance corresponding national chess championships US Open and National Open. Though it is not as influential as the latter events, the American Open maintained its prestige as an American tradition, attended by all American World Chess Championship candidates including Gata Kamsky, Larry Kaufman (2008 American Senior Champion), Robert Byrne and more. The 43th American Open was championed by Grandmaster Alex Yermolinsky, chess author and a former US Chess Champion, number 21 on the United States FIDE ranking list with 2537 rating points.
The 44th American Open will feature, on top of the main 8-round chess tournament, variety of lectures and side events. International Master and gifted stand-up comedian Jeremy Silman will be giving his speech on November 30 at the afternoon, American Open Quick Chess Championship with $1000prize guaranteed will take place on November 29 morning, are only two examples. Chess videos and DVDs will be broadcast throughout the event, and the Chess Pieces, one of the sponsors of the event, will be auctioning the ebony, red sandal wood chessboard played and signed by the winner, bids starting from $800.