The Saint Louis Invitational, a GM norm tournament, started on Monday at 5 p.m. CDT at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. This marks the second norm tournament held at the CCSCSL (outside of U.S. Championship events) in as many years.
The ten-player, round-robin event is scheduled to be held from April 9 through April 13.
The field is as follows:
1 GM Margvelashvili Giorgi GEO 2547
2 GM Moradiabadi Elshan IRI 2542
3 GM Finegold Benjamin USA 2505
4 IM Sevillano Enrico USA 2502
5 IM Arnold Marc T USA 2502
6 IM Gerzhoy Leonid CAN 2489
7 IM Molner Mackenzie USA 2465
8 IM Brooks Michael A USA 2456
9 IM Yang Darwin USA 2448
10 IM Young Angelo PHI 2321
The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis (CCSCSL)
Last year’s GM norm tournament required a score of 6.5/9 and produced no norms, but this year’s event is stronger, with an average FIDE rating of 2478, and will require a score of 6/9 to achieve a GM norm.
* Time Control: 40/90, G/30 plus 30 sec. from move 1 increment
* Average Rating: 2478
* Points Needed for GM Norm: 6/9
* Points Needed for IM Norm: 4.5/9
* Prize Fund: Few norm tournaments feature prizes, but the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis went a step above and is offering place prizes for first through third ($1,000, $750, $500) in addition to other conditions for the players, including hotel and travel money.
Round 1 results:
IM Yang Darwin USA 2448 – GM Margvelashvili Giorgi GEO 2547 1-0
IM Molner Mackenzie USA 2465 – IM Brooks Michael A USA 2456 ½-½
IM Sevillano Enrico USA 2502 – IM Arnold Marc T USA 2502 ½-½
GM Moradiabadi Elshan IRI 2542 – GM Finegold Benjamin USA 2505 1-0
IM Young Angelo PHI 2321 – IM Gerzhoy Leonid CAN 2489 1-0
