2006 US Open: Shulman, Polgar, Marshall, all Winners!

by John Lee Shaw



The 2006 United States Open began on the 5th August, and concluded over the August 13th weekend. The event has been won by GM Yury Shulman, with the strong score of 8 points from 9 games. The tournament was an extremely close affair, however, with 10 players finishing just a half point behind Shulman, on 7.5 points from 9. Grandmaster John Fedorowicz, for example, had a better endgame against Michael Aigner, but the game was drawn. Shulman himself drew his final round against Emilio Cordova, a rather peaceful ending to the tournament for him, but with the title.


Top Finishers

GM Shulman, Yury -- 8; GM Fedorowicz, John; GM Kaidanov, Gregory; GM Izoria, Zviad; GM Shabalov, Alexander; GM Benjamin, Joel; GM Gurevich, Dmitry; GM Kacheishvili, G.; IM Almeida, Alfonso; IM Cordova, Emilio; Aigner, Michael -- 7.5

Also held at the event was the blitz tournament of course, and this was won by Grandmaster Susan Polgar with 12.5 points. Susan finished 2 clear points ahead of her nearest rivals, Barnett and Ju, both on 10.5 points.


Top Finishers, blitz

Polgar -- 12.5; Barnett, Ju -- 10.5; Paschall -- 10; Almeida, Elezaj, Yeager, Smith, Barclay, Lau

Winner of the 2006 Polgar Invitational for girls, (founded by Susan Polgar's 'Polgar Chess Foundation' in 2004), was Abby Marshall. Abby wins the event for the second time in a row, finishing a half point ahead of her nearest rivals, Louiza Livshitz, and Elina Kats, both on 5/6. There was also victory for Ashley Carter from Michigan, who took victory in the Polgar Puzzle Solving Tournament, getting 10 out of 10 correct, in the fastest time.