Finegold Wins FIDE Tournament

Congratulations to IM Ben Finegold of Michigan, who has won the 7th North American FIDE Invitational tournament, which concluded yesterday here in Chicago. Ben finished 8.0/9, edging out out Illinois state champ IM Angelo Young by a point. Dr. Tansel Turgut finished right behind Angelo with 6.5/9, and he too is to be congratulated for earning a norm toward the International Master title.

See all the games here.

IM Angelo Young looks on as IM Ben Finegold (left) battles Gauri Shankar in the final round

IM Angelo Young (white pieces) vs. IM Arjun Vishnuvardhan

Congratulations to tournament director Sevan Muradian of the North American Chess Association for another successful FIDE tournament in Chicago and to IM Young for hosting it at his Touch Move Chess Center, which incidentally now has a blog.

FIDE Tournament This Week

January is whizzing by so fast I almost forgot that this is the week of the latest mostly-masters tournament at Touch Move Chess Center by Sevan Muradian’s North American Chess Association. Some people will be angling for International Master norms in the 10-player round robin, in which IM Ben Finegold holds the lead after three rounds with a perfect 3.0/3. IM Angelo Young of the Chicago Blaze is right behind him, though, with 2.5/3. His Blaze teammate FM Mehmed Pasalic and local master Albert Chow are also playing.

It was originally thought that 13-year-old wunderkind Ray Robson would be here in search of his final IM norm, but young Ray got it at another tournament and has already qualified for the title.

The tournament, which is among the few in this country sanctioned by FIDE, the World Chess Federation, continues every night this week and during the day on Saturday. Schedule and latest standings here. You can watch the tournament in person at TMCC or on the Internet at MonRoi.