The National Middle School Championship has over 1,250 players. Franc Guadalupe, Chief Tournament Director, says 1,260 players registered. Bill Buklis, Chief Tournament Director for the backroom (computer area), calculates that, taking out no-shows, the final player count is 1,251. After the fifth round, Saturday night, perfect scores remain in all but one section.
As the American Cup progresses, it is becoming clear who is in their best form. The semifinals of the champion's bracket saw GMs Hikaru Nakamura and Wesley So progress to the first final. The two have already clashed in finals matches, namely in the Speed Chess Championship. Nakamura has had much success in these encounters, but expect So to be up for a challenge.
Ladies Knight host Jennifer Shahade had the opportunity this Winter to meet an epic guest: Holocaust Survivor and 1956 French Women’s Chess Champion Isabelle Choko.