The U.S. Open Update

Only around 380 players are competing in the 2008 US Championship in Dallas. This is one of the lowest attendance in a while. What is even more surprising is there are only 2 GMs (Shabalov and Yermolinsky) and 7 GMs.

The most pleasant news so far is the comeback of IM Douglas Root of Texas (husband of former women’s champion WIM Alexey Root). He has not played chess since 1998 (I don’t count the 1 game he played in 2000). He was one of the most talented junior in America a while back and he definitely has the talent to become a GM. But he chose to pursue his academic career. So did his wife. Ater 6 rounds, IM Root is tied for first 6 other players including GM Yermolinsky.

Here are the standings of some of the leaders after 6 rounds:

1 Yermolinsky, Alex SD 2589 5.5
2 Root, Douglas D TX 2570 5.5
3 Sevillano, Enrico M CA 2546 5.5
4 Bradford, Joseph Mark TX 2467 5.5
5 Mulyar, Michael A CO 2454 5.5
6 Battaglini, Gabriel GA 2443 5.5
7 Kuderinov, Kirill TX 2426 5.5

8 Shabalov, Alexander PA 2656 5.0
9 Fernandez, Daniel TX 2434 5.0
10 Milovanovic, Rade TX 2422 5.0
11 Arnold, Marc Tyler NY 2421 5.0
12 Tate, Emory A IN 2392 5.0
13 Banawa, Joel CA 2386 5.0, etc.