We have a new address and fax number:

North American Chess Association
4957 Oakton Street
Suite 113
Skokie, IL 60077-2903
United States of America

Fax: +1-847-779-0324

Good Chess to All,

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

After the dust settled two players emerged with their norms, IM Ray Robson who secured his 2nd GM norm, and Mackensize Molner who secured his second IM norm.

Mac Molner went on a tear early on in the tournament which allowed him to score his IM norm with 4.5/9. Hopefully we’ll see Mac back during his spring break or over the summer.

Ray’s second GM norm was special not only for him but also for the tournament. If you remember Ray scored his first IM norm at this tournament series which started a chain reaction of his last two IM norms. This time he’s scored his second GM norm which hopefully will kick off the run for his final norm.

Games from this event will be available within the next 10 days.

Good Chess to All,

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

23rd North American FIDE Invitational — FIDE                Final Standings
1. Robson, Ray (6)……………  FL 2491 W20   D2    W12   W5    D22   D3    W6    W8    D4      7.0

2. Kacheishvili, Gior (1)……..  NY 2606 W19   D1    W15   D22   D6    W7    D8    D4    W9      6.5

3. Amanov, Mesgen (5)…………  IL 2497 W21   D16   L22   W18   W15   D1    L4    W13   W11     6.0
4. Mulyar, Michael A (14)……..  CO 2390 W30   D6    L5    W23   D8    W22   W3    D2    D1      6.0

5. Izoria, Zviad (2)………….  NY 2604 W17   D8    W4    L1    D11   D12   D16   D6    W15     5.5
6. Finegold, Benjamin (4)……..  MI 2513 W25   D4    D8    W17   D2    W16   L1    D5    D7      5.5
7. Ippolito, Dean J (7)……….  NJ 2455 D13   W18   D16   D15   W19   L2    W12   D9    D6      5.5
8. Shankland, Samuel (8)………  CA 2448 W14   D5    D6    D9    D4    W11   D2    L1    W16     5.5

9. Mitkov, Nikola (3)…………  IL 2526 W24   L15   W21   D8    L16   W19   W22   D7    L2      5.0
10. Arnold, Marc Tyler (10)…….  NY 2407 D27   L22   W24   D16   D12   D17   W21   L11   W20     5.0
11. Felecan, Florin (12)……….  IL 2399 D22   D23   D27   W13   D5    L8    W18   W10   L3      5.0
12. Kleiman, Jake (16)…………  TN 2350 D23   W13   L1    W27   D10   D5    L7    D18   W22     5.0
13. Santarius, Erik F (24)……..  WI 2267 D7    L12   W28   L11   W23   D24   W25   L3    W27     5.0
14. Yang, Darwin (25)………….  TX 2262 L8    L17   W30   L21   L24   W29   W28   W19   W18     5.0

15. Vigorito, David (11)……….  MA 2400 W26   W9    L2    D7    L3    D21   W17   D16   L5      4.5
16. Molner, Mackenzie (13)……..  NJ 2393 W28   D3    D7    D10   W9    L6    D5    D15   L8      4.5
17. Young, Angelo (18)…………  IL 2318 L5    W14   W29   L6    D21   D10   L15   D24   W25     4.5

18. Sarkar, Justin (15)………..  NY 2388 D29   L7    W25   L3    W27   W20   L11   D12   L14     4.0
19. Lee, Michael (17)………….  WA 2347 L2    D25   W26   W20   L7    L9    D27   L14   W28     4.0
20. Arjun, Vishnuvardh (21)…….  IL 2295 L1    W30   D23   L19   W29   L18   W26   D22   L10     4.0
21. Betaneli, Alex (22)………..  WI 2287 L3    W28   L9    W14   D17   D15   L10   D27   D26     4.0
22. Thaler, Michael (28)……….  NY 2235 D11   W10   W3    D2    D1    L4    L9    D20   L12     4.0
23. Velikanov, Alexand (32)…….  WI 2069 D12   D11   D20   L4    L13   D28   D24   D26   W29     4.0

24. Adamson, Robby (20)………..  AZ 2302 L9    D26   L10   D25   W14   D13   D23   D17   -U-     3.5
25. Shankar, Gauri (23)………..  IL 2270 L6    D19   L18   D24   W28   D26   L13   W30   L17     3.5
26. Pitterson, Jomo (27)……….  FL 2254 L15   D24   L19   D29   W30   D25   L20   D23   D21     3.5
27. Chow, Albert C (26)………..  IL 2254 D10   D29   D11   L12   L18   W30   D19   D21   L13     3.5

28. Matthews, Shane (29)……….  WI 2228 L16   L21   L13   W30   L25   D23   L14   W29   L19     2.5
29. Vaja, Ashish (31)………….  WI 2195 D18   D27   L17   D26   L20   L14   W30   L28   L23     2.5

30. Fouts, Matthew (30)………..  IN 2206 L4    L20   L14   L28   L26   L27   L29   L25   -B-     1.0

Well the week is finally drawing to a close and the following hunters either have their trophies or will be fighting for the last point.

IM Ray Robson has clinched his 2nd GM norm by having a monstrous first 8 rounds and going 6.5/8. He plays IM Mulyar in the morning and regardless of win, lose, or draw, Ray will have his second GM norm. He is going to be at the SPICE Cup next month going for his final GM norm. His rating will already be over the 2500 mark!

Mac Molner of NY has also had a great event. He has 4.5/8 and is paired with IM Shankland. Win, lose, or draw Mac has secured his IM norm.

Finally we have another young New Yorker, Michael Thaler, who needs to win his final round for his first IM norm. Michael is paired against FM Kleiman and must fight to the bitter end for his norm.

The final round starts at 10am Chicago time.

Good Chess to All,

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

Round 9 Pairings and Results

IM Mulyar - IM Robson: 1/2 - 1/2

GM Mitkov - GM Kacheishvili: 0 - 1

IM Ippolito - IM Finegold: 1/2 - 1/2

FM Felecan - GM Amanov: 0 - 1

GM Izoria - IM Vigorito: 1 - 0

IM Shankland - Molner: 1 - 0

IM Arnold - IM Vishnuvardhan: 1 - 0

IM Sarkar - FM Yang: 0 - 1

Thaler - FM Kleiman: 0 - 1

Santarius - FM Chow: 1 - 0

FM Shankar - IM Young: 0 - 1

FM Betaneli - FM Pitterson: 1/2 - 1/2

FM Lee - Matthews: 1 - 0

Vaja - Velikanov: 0 - 1

Good Chess to All,

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

Round 8 Pairings and Results

IM Robson - IM Shankland: 1 - 0

GM Kacheishvili - IM Mulyar: 1/2 - 1/2

IM Finegold - GM Izoria: 1/2 - 1/2

GM Mitkov - IM Ippolito: 1/2 - 1/2

GM Amanov - Santarius: 1 - 0

FM Felecan - IM Arnold: 1 - 0

Molner - IM Vigorito: 1/2 - 1/2

FM Kleiman - IM Sarkar: 1/2 - 1/2

IM Vishnuvardhan - Thaler: 1/2 - 1/2

FM Yang - FM Lee: 1 - 0

IM Young - FM Adamson: 1/2 - 1/2

FM Chow - FM Betaneli: 1/2 - 1/2

Fouts - FM Shankar: 0 - 1

FM Pitterson - Velikanov: 1/2 - 1/2

Matthews - Vaja: 1 - 0

Good Chess to All,

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

23rd North American FIDE Invitational — FIDE                Cross Table, Page 1

No.    Name / Title                        Country Rate 1     2     3     4     5     6     Score

1. Kacheishvili, Giorgi (GM)  (1)……..  GEO 2606 W20   D3    W15   D13   D2    W9      4.5
2. Finegold, Benjamin (IM) (4)……..  USA 2513 W23   D6    D5    W17   D1    W10     4.5
3. Robson, Ray (IM) (6)……………  USA 2491 W22   D1    W12   W7    D13   D4      4.5

4. Amanov, Mesgen (GM) (5)…………  TKM 2497 W18   D10   L13   W11   W15   D3      4.0
5. Shankland, Samuel (IM) (8)………  USA 2448 W26   D7    D2    D8    D6    W16     4.0
6. Mulyar, Michael A (IM) (14)……..  USA 2390 W32   D2    L7    W27   D5    W13     4.0

7. Izoria, Zviad (GM) (2)………….  GEO 2604 W17   D5    W6    L3    D16   D12     3.5
8. Mitkov, Nikola (GM) (3)…………  MKD 2526 W21   L15   W18   D5    L10   W20     3.5
9. Ippolito, Dean J (IM) (7)……….  USA 2455 D19   W11   D10   D15   W20   L1      3.5
10. Molner, Mackenzie (13)……..  USA 2393 W28   D4    D9    D14   W8    L2      3.5
11. Sarkar, Justin (IM) (15)………..  USA 2388 D29   L9    W23   L4    W25   W22     3.5
12. Kleiman, Jake (FM) (16)…………  USA 2350 D27   W19   L3    W25   D14   D7      3.5
13. Thaler, Michael (28)……….  USA 2235 D16   W14   W4    D1    D3    L6      3.5

14. Arnold, Marc Tyler (IM) (10)…….  USA 2407 D25   L13   W21   D10   D12   D17     3.0
15. Vigorito, David (IM) (11)……….  USA 2400 W24   W8    L1    D9    L4    D18     3.0
16. Felecan, Florin (FM) (12)……….  USA 2399 D13   D27   D25   W19   D7    L5      3.0
17. Young, Angelo (IM) (18)…………  PHI 2318 L7    W26   W29   L2    D18   D14     3.0
18. Betaneli, Alex (FM) (22)………..  USA 2287 L4    W28   L8    W26   D17   D15     3.0
19. Santarius, Erik F (24)……..  USA 2267 D9    L12   W28   L16   W27   D21     3.0

20. Lee, Michael (FM) (17)………….  USA 2347 L1    D23   W24   W22   L9    L8      2.5
21. Adamson, Robby (FM) (20)………..  USA 2302 L8    D24   L14   D23   W26   D19     2.5
22. Arjun, Vishnuvardh (IM) (21)…….  IND 2295 L3    W32   D27   L20   W29   L11     2.5
23. Shankar, Gauri (FM) (23)………..  IND 2270 L2    D20   L11   D21   W28   D24     2.5
24. Pitterson, Jomo (FM) (27)……….  JAM 2254 L15   D21   L20   D29   W32   D23     2.5
25. Chow, Albert C (FM) (26)………..  USA 2254 D14   D29   D16   L12   L11   W32     2.5

26. Yang, Darwin (FM) (25)………….  USA 2262 L5    L17   W32   L18   L21   W29     2.0
27. Velikanov, Alexand (32)…….  USA 2069 D12   D16   D22   L6    L19   D28     2.0

28. Matthews, Shane (29)……….  JAM 2228 L10   L18   L19   W32   L23   D27     1.5
29. Vaja, Ashish (31)………….  USA 2195 D11   D25   L17   D24   L22   L26     1.5

30. Fouts, Matthew (30)………..  USA 2206 L6    L22   L26   L28   L24   L25     0.0

Good Chess to All,

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

Round 7 Pairings and Pairings

IM Shankland - GM Kacheishvili: 1/2 - 1/2

IM Robson - IM Finegold: 1 - 0

IM Mulyar - GM Amanov: 1 - 0

GM Izoria - Molner: 1/2 - 1/2

Thaler - GM Mitkov: 0 - 1

IM Ippolito - FM Kleiman: 1 - 0

IM Sarkar - FM Felecan: 0 - 1

IM Arnold - FM Betaneli: 1 - 0

IM Vigorito - IM Young: 1 - 0

Santarius - FM Shankar: 1 - 0

FM Lee - FM Chow: 1/2 - 1/2

Velikanov - FM Adamson: 1/2 - 1/2

FM Pitterson - IM Vishnuvardhan: 0 - 1

Matthews - FM Yang: 0 - 1

Vaja - Fouts: 1 - 0

Good Chess to All,

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

Round 6 Pairings and Results

GM Amanov - IM Robson: 1/2 - 1/2

GM Kacheishvili - IM Ippolito: 1 - 0

Molner - IM Finegold: 0 - 1

IM Mulyar - Thaler: 1 - 0

FM Kleiman - GM Izoria: 1/2 - 1/2

FM Felecan - IM Shankland: 0 - 1

IM Vishnuvardhan - IM Sarkar: 0 - 1

IM Young - IM Arnold: 1/2 - 1/2

GM Mitkov - FM Lee: 1 - 0

FM Betaneli - IM Vigorito: 1/2 - 1/2

FM Adamson - Santarius: 1/2 - 1/2

FM Shankar - FM Pitterson: 1/2 - 1/2

FM Chow - Fouts: 1 - 0

Velikanov - Matthews: 1/2 - 1/2

FM Yang - Vaja: 1 - 0

Good Chess to All,

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

Round 5 Pairings and Results

Thaler - IM Robson: 1/2 - 1/2

IM Finegold - GM Kacheishvili: 1/2 - 1/2

GM Izoria - FM Felecan: 1/2 - 1/2

Molner - GM Mitkov: 1 - 0

IM Vigorito - GM Amanov: 0 - 1

FM Lee - IM Ippolito: 0 - 1

IM Shankland - IM Mulyar: 1/2 - 1/2

IM Arnold - FM Kleiman: 1/2 - 1/2

FM Betaneli - IM Young: 1/2 - 1/2

IM Sarkar - FM Chow: 1 - 0

Vaja - IM Vishnuvardhan: 0 - 1

Santarius - Velikanov: 1 - 0

FM Adamson - FM Yang: 1 - 0

Matthews - FM Shankar: 0 - 1

Fouts - FM Pitterson: 0 - 1

Good Chess to All,

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