U.S. Chess Championship begins today in Stillwater
PATTI WEAVER
CDC Correspondent

STILLWATER — Brain power, not brawn, will be the name of the game as 36 chess players, half of them grandmasters, gather in Stillwater today to begin their nine-day battle for the top crown at The Frank K. Berry 2007 U.S. Chess Championship.

“It gets pretty psychological — it’s very grueling,” said Berry, a retired Los Angeles businessman who is sponsoring America’s premier chess event in his hometown of Stillwater, to which he returned five years ago.

This is the first time that the U.S. Chess Championship — which Bobby Fischer won eight times on his way to becoming World Champion in 1972 — has ever been held in Oklahoma, Berry said.

Mayor Roger McMillian called it “truly amazing” to have the event in Stillwater. McMillian admitted that he’s no chess expert, but he plans to stop by to watch the extraordinary competition.

The public is welcome, without charge, to observe the tournament, which runs from May 15 through May 23 at the Quality Inn at 2515 W. 6th Avenue in a 4,000 square-foot banquet area, Berry said. It also be viewed live on www.monroi.com, Berry said.

All 18 timed games involving the 36 players will start simultaneously daily at 2 p.m. and end by 8 p.m., Berry said.

Grandmasters from New York, California and Illinois, will be among the contenders, Berry said.

The competition is so grueling that “chess players sometimes agree to an early draw after 20 moves, so they can save their stamina for the next game,” Berry said.

More than $65,000 in prize money will be given, including $12,000 to the champion, Berry said.
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Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Susan Polgar May 15, 2007 General News, USA Chess 6 Comments
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