Kansas crowns new chess champion

Lindsborg, Kan. – Forty-five chess players from throughout Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado and Missouri competed in the Kansas Open Chess Tournament last weekend at Bethany College in Lindsborg.

Chris Purdy, 18, a camp counselor for the Karpov Chess School, thought he would relax over the weekend by entering the Kansas Open Chess Tournament.

After two days of intense play, Purdy narrowly edged out Maxx Coleman, Derby, to become the new Kansas State Chess Champion.“It was gratifying to see Chris win this event; he’s a tough competitor,” said Karpov Chess School President Marck Cobb.

Maxx Coleman took home the second-place trophy, and Conrad Holt, from Andover, won third place. Holt recently won the U.S. Cadet Chess Championship and a full scholarship to the University of Maryland.

The Cadet Championship was held at the Karpov Chess School in Lindsborg. Holt went to the World Open the following week in Philadelphia where he tied for first place in his section.

The first place prize was $12,000. William Teague, Topeka, won first place in the Reserve Section of the Kansas Open. The Reserve Section is for players rated 1800 and below by the United States Chess Federation (USCF). Teague attended several chess camps at the Karpov Chess School, and he finished his last game at the Kansas Open in time to come down to the chess school to register for this year’s camp.

“Our number of players is down quite a bit from last year,” said Kansas Chess Association President Laurence Coker. “Last year we had several players from Colorado, but I didn’t see that many this year. It must have something to do with the price of gas.”

In other chess news, 22 students registered on Sunday to attend the second session of the Karpov Chess Camp that is being held this week. Students came from as far away as Memphis, Tenn., to attend this week’s camp.

Grandmaster Var Akobian, North Hollywood, Calif., will also be teaching the second session of the camp. Akobian is one of the top ranked chess players in the United States, and he has been selected to be one of the five U.S. players who will represent the United States in the upcoming Chess Olympiads that will be held in Dresden, Germany in November.

This coming weekend will mark the start of the U.S. Junior Open Chess Championships, which will be held at the Smoky Valley High School, Lindsborg. The event was also held in Lindsborg in 2004.

The Junior Open is one of the annual national events sanctioned by the USCF. About 100 students from throughout the country are expected to enter the event.

Additional information can be found on the Karpov School’s Web site: http://www.anatolykarpovchessschool.org/.

Social chess is held the first and third Thursdays of each month at 7 p.m. at the Karpov Chess School. It is free and ages and skill levels are welcome.

Source: http://www.mcphersonsentinel.com/

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Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
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