Round 1 of the North American Masters has completed with the following results:

Jon L Burgess - IM Arjun Vishnuvardhan : 0 - 1

IM Mehmed Pasalic - FM Robby Adamson: 0 - 1

IM Florin Felecan - FM Gauri Shankar - 1/2 - 1/2

The win by Robby was a key win for him, especially with the black pieces, giving him some breathing room and now needing 6 more points for his 1st IM norm. Gauri’s draw with black was also a good start for him on his quest for his 2nd IM norm (his first one was gained at the same time as Florin’s final IM norm).

We were also visited by a individual who is doing research on the amateur chess player and creating an independent short movie for submission to the film festivals. A number of chess players in a side event happening in parallel to the 24th North American Masters, the 10th MCA FIDE Futurity, were interviewed. Exciting that someone is making an independent short movie on the amateur chess player!

Games and pictures will be made available on Chess Life Online (www.uschess.org) on Saturday.

Good Chess to All,

Sevan A. Muradian, Founder
North American Chess Association
International Arbiter and International Organizer