Hello everyone! In a few days the Marchand will be well underway. I figured I should give you an updated list of GM’s that have preregistered this year. Last year we had a strong field led by current US Champion GM Gata Kamsky. This year we have another star studded field featuring some returning players and some new faces. Rumor has it that GM Gata Kamsky will be returning to defend his title. Last year he shared first place with a local player FM Ben Dean-Kawamura. If he does return, this will be a historic tournament. It will be the first time EVER that the NYS champion, US Champion and CNY champion are in the same room together. If GM Ivanov shows up then it will truly be the battle for NY; as he is the reigning NY State Open Champion. That’s enough empire circle jerk for the time being; let’s talk players.
This year some new faces include, GM Elshan Moradiabadi and GM Michael Rohde. Returning is GM Bryan Smith who has been a staple at our tournament in previous years.
- Gata Kamsky (USCF: 2768; FIDE: 2683)
- Elshan Moradiabadi (USCF: 2653; FIDE: 2568)
- Bryan Smith (USCF: 2530; FIDE: 2478)
- Michael Rohde (USCF: 2508 ; FIDE: 2455)
A Bit About Dr. Marchand and the Tournament:
Dr. Erich Marchand was a mathematician who worked for Eastman Kodak in Rochester, NY. He won the NY State Championship on a number of occasions and was the most active tournament player in the US for many years. He was also a skilled writer and wrote a column for Chess Life for many years. Dr. Marchand requested that his friends “play chess in his memory”. Here are a list of former Marchand Open Champions (dating back from 1992).
I’ve used the modified median tiebreaker to determine a sole winner although first place may have been shared at that time. This year I’ve added a new field to the table. The average of the 10 highest rated players I’m calling “10HRTD”. I’ve also decided to abbreviate the other two columns. The Rating average of the top ten is now, “RTAVG10”. The total rating average is now “RTAVGTOT”. This year I removed players that didn’t finish the tournament from the rating average total. Only included in the RTAVGTOT are players who played five (or four) games in the open section.
[table id=29 /]
* – In 1997 Lionel Davis also finished with 4.5/5 however using the modified median tiebreaker Dunne scored 13.5 and Davis scored 11.5.
** – In 1998 Alexander Ivanov also finished with 4.5/5 however using the modified median tiebreaker Blatny scored 16 and Ivanov scored 14.5.
*** – In 2000 Elvin Wilson also finished with 4.5/5 however using the modified median tiebreaker Nikolayev scored 15 and Wilson scored 14.
+ – In 2001 Enrico Sevillano also finished with 4.5/5 however using the modified median tiebreaker Wojtkiewicz scored 14 and Sevillano scored 13.5.
++ – In 2004 John Rouleau also finished with 4.5/5 however using the modified median tiebreaker Ehlvest scored 13 and Rouleau scored 12.5.
+++ – In 2008 Thomas Bartell also finished with 4.5/5 however using the modified median tiebreaker Perelshteyn scored 14.5 and Bartell scored 14.
# – In 2009 Bryan Smith also finished with 4.5/5 however using the modified median tiebreaker Lenderman scored 14.5 and Smith scored 12.5
## – In 2010 Ben Dean-Kawamura also finished with 4.5/5 however using the modified median tiebreaker Perelshteyn scored 14 and Kawamura scored 12.5.
### – In 2011 Mark Paragua also finished with 4.5/5 however using the modified median tiebreaker Gareev scored 15.5 and Paragua scored 13.
& – In 2012 There was a 7-way Tie! The tiebreaks are as follows: Kudrin – 15.5, Gelashvili – 15, Perelshteyn – 14, Kekelidze – 13, Aaron – 12.5, Parry – 12.5, Nikolayev – 11.5.
&& – In 2013 Bryan Smith also finished with 4.5/5 however using the modified median tiebreaker Kekelidze scored 13 and Smith scored 12.5.
&&& – In 2014 Ben Dean-Kawamura also finished with 4.5/5 however using the modified median tiebreaker Kamsky scored 13.5 and Kawamura scored 11.5