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Chess Life Online 2008 July Two IM norms in Chicago
Chess Life Online 2008 July Two IM norms in Chicago | Two IM norms in Chicago |
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| By Sevan Muradian | |
| March 29, 2008 | |
FM Mehmed Pasalic
Both players were in time trouble for the latter half of the game but Marc kept his cool and wound it down to the endgame where he outplayed his opponent. Marc was well prepared by his coach, GM John Fedorowicz on the night before the crucial game. Looks like the preparation paid off. 1761 
Marc Arnold
To earn his first IM norm, Marc scalped all 3 IM's in this tournament but was in turn defeated by FM Mehmed Pasalic, who also earned a norm. The other norm, and the first one scored in this event, occurred in Round 8 when FM Mehmed Pasalic took out his opponent, also IM Arjun Vishnuvardhan. 1762 This is Mehmed's second IM norm. He scored his first one in April 2006 at the 3rd North American FIDE Invitational. Mehmed's rating has already surpassed the 2400 mark so all he needs is his third and final norm and he can celebrate his IM status! It is to note also that Mehmed, should he score his final IM norm at a North American FIDE Invitational event, will be the first complete IM resulting from this tournament series. Be on the lookout next month for the 10th North American FIDE Invitational where FM Pasalic will search for his final IM norm. Just to make a brief recap of norms resulting from this tournament series since 2005: 1st North American FIDE Invitational - April 2005: Ben Finegold (2nd GM norm) and Jan van de Mortel (3rd IM norm) 3rd North American FIDE Invitational - January 2006: Pascal Charbonneau (3rd GM norm) 4th North American FIDE Invitational - April 2006: Giorgi Margvelashvili (1st GM norm) and Mehmed Pasalic (1st IM norm) 6th North American FIDE Invitational - October 2007 - Ray Robson (1st IM norm) 7th North American FIDE Invitational - January 2008 - Dr. Tansel Turgut (1st IM norm) 9th North American FIDE Invitational - March 2008 - Mehmed Pasalic (2nd IM norm) and Marc Arnold (1st IM norm) |