The 2018 Fall Chess Classic was held from 10-18th October at the Saint Louis Chess Club. There were two 10-player round robins for the total prize fund of $36,000.
The 49-years old Russian GM Aleksey Dreev dominated the Fall Chess Classic A, finishing the event with 6,5/9 points, a full point ahead of the nearest follower. The former World Championship candidate performed at 2821 elo and earned 20 rating points. The top prize was 6000 USD.
Armenian GM Hovhannes Gabuzyan won the Fall Chess Classic B by an even bigger margin. He scored 7,0/9 points, leaving the chasing pack full two point behind. Gabuzyan, who was the top seed in this section, performed at 2711 elo and earned 4000 USD for the effort.
GM Aleksey Dreev
2018 Fall Chess Classic A standings:
1. GM Dreev Aleksey RUS 2649 – 6,5
2. GM Bruzon Batista Lazaro CUB 2653 – 5,5
3-4. GM Kuzubov Yuriy UKR 2652 and GM Lenderman Aleksandr USA 2630 – 5,0
5-6. GM Robson Ray USA 2682 and GM Akobian Varuzhan USA 2641 – 4,5
7-8. GM Hammer Jon Ludvig NOR 2662 and GM Hansen Eric CAN 2629 – 4,0
9. GM Sethuraman S.P. IND 2673 – 3,5
10. GM Swiercz Dariusz POL 2669 – 2,5
2018 Fall Chess Classic B standings:
1. GM Gabuzyan Hovhannes ARM 2592 – 7,0
2-4. GM Moradiabadi Elshan USA 2534, GM Zierk Steven USA 2506 and GM Ashwin Jayaram IND 2495 – 5,0
5. GM Azarov Sergei BLR 2565 – 4,5
6-8. GM Holt Conrad USA 2561, GM Chandra Akshat USA 2471 and GM Boros Denes HUN 2439 – 4,0
9. FM Jacobson Brandon USA 2443 – 3,5
10. FM Yoo Christopher Woojin USA 2402 – 3,0
