11/08/2005

  A strong Round Robin in Miami, 4 Sharks are competing!
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by IM Greg Shahade                   
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 On the dates of November 16-20th there will be a closed GM norm tournament in Miami Florida at the World Chess Hall of Fame. The tournament features 3 experienced GM's along with many norm hopefuls. Boston Blitz player, IM Eugene Perelshteyn is one of the strongest IM's around and will be shooting for a GM norm. Sharks 2nd board Marcel Martinez is clearly IM level and it's just a matter of receiving the opportunities for him to receive his title. IM Blas Lugo of the Sharks will be going for his second GM norm, as he earned one in sparkling fashion many years ago at the New York Open. Other USCL players in the event are Miami's first board GM Julio Becerra, who will be shooting for first place as the 2nd highest rated player, and Dr Eric Moskow, whom despite being outrated quite a bit by the field, just narrowly missed an IM norm in a recent European tournament, and hopes to have a similar performance here.

 One nice feature to this event is that no draws will be allowed before move 30. I believe that such standards should always be set in such tournaments, as although there is more fighting chess these days at the top level, in "norm" tournaments you often find players coasting just to get the required score necessary for the norm.

 Below are the details of the tournament as given to me by Marcel Martinez:



From November 16th  till November 20th the World Chess Hall of Fame in Miami, Florida  will host a closed invitational tournament with chances to obtain IM and GM norms. There will be ten players, nine rounds under the round-robin system (all play all ). During 4 days double-rounds will take place and one day will be single rounded. Probably the singled rounded day will be around the middle of the event.
The 3 GM's taking part in the event will get a playing fee of $500.00 dollars.
 

  All of the games will be shown live on the Internet on ICC ( Internet Chess Club) the most active chess playing site on the net. There will also be an enforced dress code as a show of appreciation from the players to the sponsors and the venue itself. All the players must commit to play in suit and tie attire.There will also be in effect the 30-move draw rule. The players should not agree to a draw beforehand. They should at least play 30 moves.The prizes will be as follows:
 
1st $1500 USD
2nd $850 USD
3rd $650 USD
 
The complete roster for the event it's as follows:
 
GM Nick DeFirmian (USA)
GM Julio Becerra 2549(USA)
IM Eugene Perelshteyn 2523(USA)
IM Andranik Matizokian 2486 (ARM)
GM Alonzo Zapata 2485 (COL)
IM Roberto Martin del Campo (MEX) 2416
IM Angelo Young (PHI) 2416
IM Blas Lugo 2406(USA)
FM Marcel Martinez 2402(USA)
Dr Eric Moskow 2238(USA)
 
** Rogelio Antonio was replaced by Nick DeFirmian
 

 Average rating is  2445 FIDE which will probably give GM norms scoring 6.5 out of 9.


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