IM Andranik Matikozyan discovered some great moves on Columbus Day Weekend! He swept through a field of four Masters (including 2 IMs), racing to a 2751 performance rating, before trimming his sails with a last round draw against US Women's Olympian WGM Tatev Abrahamyan to breeze to a first place finish, a whole point ahead of the rest of the galleon.  

He won the $1,498 First Prize, plus the additional $75 bonus prize for finishing clear first. See some key games from top finishers below: 

6506  

6501  

6502  

6503  

IM Roman Yakovsky tied for 2nd with Abrahamyan and California Master Shijie Chen; they each won $499. Find full standings and information at http://www.losangelesopen.net/

Steve Immitt is an organizer and TD for Continental Chess.