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The 11th Annual Chicago Open has become a strong attraction for most of U.S. top players and many of the world's elite. The nation's second largest open chess event attracted 19 Grandmasters and 13 International Masters all vying for a $100,000 guaranteed prize fund and a possible slot in the 2003 U.S. Championship. The site was the Oak Brook Hyatt, the perennial home of the event. Overall 743 players trekked to the outskirts of the beautiful Windy City to blow away the competition.
After the smoke cleared, seven GMs shared joint 1st with 5½-1½: Gregory Kaidanov, Jaan Ehlvest, Alexander Shabalov, Leonid Yudasin, Ildar Ibragimov, Giorgi Kacheishvili and Alex Yermolinsky. Eight players were knotted at 5 points including 13-year old wunderkind IM Hikaru Nakamura (USCF rating: 2511).
In terms of U.S. Championship qualifications, five players and the best scoring woman won berths. They were: GM Alexander Fishbein (5 points), FM Stephen Muhammad (4½ points), IM Jesse Kraai (4½ points), GM Anatoly Lein (4½ points), and expert Marc Esserman (4½ points). Elina Groberman received the woman's berth with 3½ points.
Posted by The Chess Drum: 31 May 2002
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