2019 Chicago Open (Wheeling, Illinois)
Summer is here and just outside of the “Windy City” in the suburb of Wheeling, the Chicago Open has begun. Aleksandr Shimanov is the defending champion, but Jeffery Xiong is the top seed and wants to repeat his 2015 win. Then only 14-years old, he has since evolved into a member of the U.S. national team and is approaching the 2700 class. He will be challenged by a cadre of other young upstarts looking to make the same type of impact he did four years ago.
While the Chicago Open $100,000 prize fund is not enough to attract the true elite, it is enough to attract norm seekers and those trying to get a “major” win. A number of foreign Grandmasters are affiliated with American universities and will be coming from all of the collegiate powerhouse teams. Webster University, St. Louis University, Texas Tech and University of Texas-Rio Grand Valley and a few others have sent several players.
Blitz phenom Gopal Menon battles IM Atulya Shetty, 1/2
FM Justus Williams drew GM Alexander Shabalov. While Sandeep Sethuraman took down FM Jimmy Canty. The young lions are on the prowl!
WIM Megan Lee takes on FM Josh Posthuma, 1/2
Photos by Daaim Shabazz
The lower sections will be hotly contested with the unconventional section of under-2300, under-2100 and under-1900 which different from the 100-point increments seen at the World Open. Wheeling is just outside of downtown Chicago and fall during the busy Memorial Day weekend.
Official Site: https://chicagoopen.net/
Standings (Open): https://chessevents.com/chicagoopen/
Tournament Details: https://www.chesstour.com/chio19.htm
PGN Games: https://www.thechessdrum.net/games/chicagoopen2019.pgn
2019 Chicago Open (25 May 2019)
Photos by Daaim Shabazz/The Chess Drum
Jeffery Xiong holding down top board.
IM Sam Schmakel
IM Kassa Korley vs. GM Pavel Vorontsov
Aakaash Meduri vs. Deepak Aaron
Benjamin Chen
WIM Emily Nguyen
The eyes have it!
FM Joshua Colas vs. GM Alexander Shabalov, 1/2
3-day group
Charles Troutman vs. Daniel Jones
Sedrick Prude
#BigPawn
Elton Huang
Stephanie Ballom
Stephen Faulkner (Louisville), IM Kassa Korley (Brooklyn),
Kenneth Gaskin (Los Angeles) representing three iconic cities!
Justus Williams on the move
George David, “Permanent Supreme”
Charles Troutman of Atlanta
Go Cubs!
Photos by Daaim Shabazz/The Chess Drum
City of Wheeling
Remi Adekola goes over game with Daniel X Jones
Illia Nyzhnyk vs. Vasif Dararbayli
Dr. Okechukwu Iwu battling in Open Section
There are still a few Cavalier fans!
Jimmy Canty
Lazaro Bruzon vs. Qi Chen
Chicago Open
Sharika Luster, Trechelle Williams, Imani Hill
of St. Ethelreda School (8734 S. Paulina Avenue, Chicago)
…with coach Erik Luster
… and Daaim Shabazz!
Tim Speight II (center) tied for 1st in the under-1500.
Here he is analyzing with fellow Detroiters.
Remi Adekola vs. Kassa Korley in blitz battle
Jimmy Canty vs. Kassa Korley attracts crowd
Marvin Dandridge watching
Josh Colas vs. Daniel X Jones
Brian Wall trying to mate with a bishop and knight in the blitz tournament.
Justus Williams, Josh Colas and James Black
Photos by Daaim Shabazz/The Chess Drum
Round 8
Yuniesky Quesada vs. Vasif Dararbayli, 1/2
Jeffery Xiong vs. Illia Nyzhnyk, 1/2
Awonder Liang
GM Dariusz Swiercz
IM Guillermo Vazquez (Paraguay) vs. Atulya Shetty
FM Justus Williams vs. FM Alansafar Ramoutar (Trinidad)
Ken Gaskin of Los Angeles
Shakira Luster
Trechelle Williams
Vinay Sridhar
Lawrence Reed
The ornate chess sets are attracting a crowd.
Matia Chemngorem tests out the hardware.
Jimi Akintonde and Jonathan Corbblah
Blitz Battle! New York City vs. Midwest
Justus Williams vs. Daniel X Jones
IM Kassa Korley (NYC) takes on Chicago Chess Blitzers (CCB)
New York vs. Midwest
IM Kassa Korley (NYC) vs. NM Jimmy Canty (Detroit)
Video by Daaim Shabazz/The Chess Drum
L-R: Daaim Shabazz, Aderemi Taiwo Adekola, Jonathan Corbblah, Kassa Korley, Aderemi Adekola, Daniel X Jones, Jimmy Canty
Long-time friends Daaim Shabazz and Marvin Dandridge rolling back the clock.
Photos by Nathan Kelly