In the latest Frank Berry U.S. Championship(May 15-23,Stillwater, OK) update, the USCF announces four new categories of Patron entry fees for titled players and special prizes donated by the National Open (June 7-11, Las Vegas.)
Read more...

Photo Chris Bird

You may remember Jorge Zamora from the early 90s, when he won the World U10 Championship, defeated Polgars and Shirov in blitz matches and impressed Mikhail Tal. After a 12 year break, he's back as Jorge Sammour-Hasbun. His recent wins in Dos Hermanas and the Eastern Class show that he still has plenty of game.
Read more...

Yulia Cardona and Reiner Gonzalez from third place finishers, Miami Dade. Photo Jason Janik

March chessboard madness went down over the weekend at the Final Four of College Chess. (Dallas, March 24-25)See how University of Texas at Dallas emerged victorious, extending UTD's undefeated streak to 60 games!
Read more...

Daniel Ludwig Photo Kellie Harding

On March 24 on the ICC, "Four Found Fischers" from the South (Daniel Ludwig, Cory Acor, Jeffrey DeJesus and Anthony Felicione) became U.S. Amateur Team Champions. They defeated "Beavis and Buttvinnik" from the East in Round 1 and "Repeat Offenders" from the North in the finals.
Read more...

Photo courtesy http://www.cappelle-chess.com

In Part II of his Cappelle Le Grande (March 3-10, France) report, Josh Friedel shows off two of his exciting draws, gives counting lessons, and explains how David Pruess reeled in his first GM norm.
Read more...

Photo Jennifer Shahade

This weekend features two major team events, the US Amateur Team playoffs (Mar.24, ICC) and the Collegiate Final Four (Mar. 24-25, Dallas). So go ahead and watch the spring flowers bloom and your NCAA picks get knocked out, but keep one eye on the chess madness!
Read more...

Photo Jennifer Shahade

Jaan Ehlvest scored 7.5/9 in the U.S. Masters (Hendersonville,NC), winning clear first by a full point. Todd Andrews reports on Jaan's result and also profiles two lesser known participants: a Mongolian student and a German-American veteran.
Read more...

Photo H.Rumph

FIDE officially awarded Stephen Muhammad his IM title after he reached the 2400 rating. Read full story to see who the Georgian-based positional player thanks for the title, and play over one of his favorite games.
Read more...

16 and under champ Karsten McVay, looking at the game of 18 and Under winner Krista Selby.

The field at the 4th All Girls' Nationals in Chicago may have been diminished by last weekend's snowstorm, but according to Betsy Dynako, exciting chess and spirit abounded. For games and a huge photo gallery, read full story.
Read more...

Photo courtesy http://www.cappelle-chess.com

IM Josh Friedel reports from the Cappelle Le Grande Open in France(March 3-10) where his friend IM David Pruess had a breakthrough event to score his first GM norm. In the first of a two part series, Josh quotes from David's journal, explains why TDs should never give David two whites in a row and wonders when chess maturity sinks in.
Read more...

Two talented elementary school students: Lillia Poteat and Maddie Bender. Photo J.Shahade

On March 11, CLO editor Jennifer Shahade hosted an advanced womens' chess class at the Marshall Chess Club. This weekend, the 3rd Annual Girls' Nationals is on in Chicago. (March 16-18) Check out Jennifer's Blog to read about her class, Chicago and her thoughts on women's training and tourneys.
Read more...

GM Hikaru Nakamura and IM John Bartholomew

Hikaru rockets up to the number one overall spot, John Bartholomew officially earns his IM stripes and the South represents with new top junior list additions Kazim Gulamali and Daniel Ludwig. Read this and more in Greg Shahade's report.
Read more...

Ray Robson (left) photo by Dujiu Yang; Kazim Gulamali photo courtesy Georgia Chess Association

Tennessee State Champion Todd Andrews reports from the U.S. Masters in Hendersonville, North Carolina (March 10-18) where young stars Kazim Gulamali and Ray Robson are shining at the halfway mark.
Read more...

This month's problem column shows off the flashy problems of the "German Sam Loyd", Fritz Geigold. In Dr.Dowd's own words: "Anyone who plays through these and isn't jazzed must be numb!"
Read more...

Motivated organizers such as Sevan Muradian and Chris Bird are providing a steadier stream of American norm tournaments than ever before. In last week's Chicago IM norm round robin (March 5-11)IM Jesse Kraai prevailed by a full point.
Read more...

Photo Clint Ballard

The final leg of the 2007 "Champion of Champions" was held on the Internet Chess Club, March.10 in collaboration with the US Chess Federation. GM Julio Becerra of Florida prevailed over NM Xiao Chiang, earning a coveted U.S. Championship spot.
Read more...