2019 U.S. Open and Premier Invitationals Complete in Orlando, Florida. GM Illia Nyzhnyk is the 120th U.S. Open champion; GM Elshan Moradiabadi qualifies for 2020 U.S. Championship; four premier invitationals held concurrently.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA: Grandmaster Illia Nyzhnyk scored an astounding 8/9 to win the 2019 U.S. Open. He takes home $6,400 for his efforts, plus a bonus of $200 for uncontested first place. Over 350 players competed in the 120th edition of this US Chess national championship at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Florida from August 3-11. Also at stake was a seat at the 2020 U.S. Championship for the top-finishing American player; this went to GM Elshan Moradiabadi after he defeated IM Bryce Tiglon in an Armageddon game after they finished tied in the main event.

Other national invitational championships were held in conjunction with the Open, including three of the premier scholastic events on the US Chess calendar: The Arnold Denker Tournament of High School Champions (Denker), The Dewain Barber Tournament of K-8 Champions (Barber), and the Ruth Haring National Girls' Tournament of Champions (Haring). The newest national championship on our calendar, the National Senior Tournament of Champions (Seniors), rounded out these prestigious events. Winners from these events were (in the case of ties, all are co-champions):

Denker: IM Ben Li of Troy, Michigan; WIM Emily Nguyen of Austin, Texas; and IM Bryce Tiglon of Redmond, Washington. Based on tiebreak scores, Tiglon is awarded a $5,000 scholarship to the school of higher learning of his choice provided by the U.S. Chess Trust.

Barber: Robert Shlyakhtenko of Los Angeles, California; and FM Jason Wang of Mason, Ohio. Based on tiebreak scores, Shlyakhtenko is awarded a $5,000 scholarship to the school of higher learning of his choice, funded by Dewain Barber and awarded through the U.S. Chess Trust.

Haring: WFM Martha Samadashvili of Albany, New York earns a $5,000 scholarship to the school of higher learning of her choice, funded by Robert and Barbara Schiffrin.

Seniors: FM Shelby Getz of Bel Air, Maryland.

US Chess Executive Director Carol Meyer said, "Our mission to empower people, enrich lives, and enhance communities is on full display at the U.S. Open. Hailing from across the United States and beyond, we have members who range from top players to beginning players; students to seniors; men and women; delegates and volunteers--all who represent a wide range of ethnic backgrounds and who share a passion to grow the game of chess. This demonstrates how healthy US Chess is and how well-positioned we are to meet our mission, while serving our members' various interests and needs."

More info: https://new.uschess.org/news/nyzhnyk-wins-2019-us-open/
Photos: John Hartmann


Elshan Moradiabadi and Carol Meyer (photo: John Hartmann)


Anand Dommalapati and Illia Nyzhnyk (photo: John Hartmann)