This past weekend I competed in the Southern Rocky FIDE Open in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was quite a shock when 2220 rated Lior Lapid won the tournament ahead of two Grandmasters and two International Masters. Lapid upset 2450 IM Istvan Sipos in the last round and finished with a perfect 5-0 score.
I ended up tying for second with GM Kekelidze with 4.5/5. In round 4 Kekelidze and I drew a complicated game. My student Kesav Viswanadha had a great tournament, finishing with 4.0/5 losing only to IM Sipos. This gave him a 45 point rating jump! Great job Kesav!
The blitz tournament was won by yours truly with 9.0/10, ceding only one loss (and nearly a second) to GM Melikset Khachiyan, who finished clear second with 8.5/10. The top scorers were rounded off by GM Kekelidze, who finished clear third with 8.0/10.
