Saint Louis Open 2010

The Bill Wright Saint Louis Open, the strongest open tournament in the history of Missouri, has finally wrapped up here at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. After a quick, round five draw between co-leaders GM Robert Hess and GM Alejandro Ramirez, the opportunity opened up for four others with 3.5. 

GM Hikaru Nakamura defeated WIM Alisa Melekhina to make it a three-way tie, and the final match between GMs Josh Friedel and Mesgen Amanov proved pivotal as the winner would make it a four-way split. Friedel's solid play wore Amanov down, and once he got into time trouble, Friedel was able to secure the victory.

SAINT LOUIS, February 15, 2010 -- The 2009 U.S. Champion, Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, has agreed to participate in the Bill Wright Saint Louis Open, scheduled to be held at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, April 10-11.

2009 U.S. Championship runner-up Robert Hess and 12-time Missouri State Champion and International Master Michael Brooks have both agreed to participate in the event as well. All three competed in the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship.

SAINT LOUIS -- The 2009 U.S. Chess Champion, Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, has agreed to participate in the Saint Louis Open, scheduled to be held at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center, April 10-11 in 2010.

Another GM, the CCSCSL's own GM-in-Residence Ben Finegold, will also be in town for the event, which will make this the strongest field in the history of the Saint Louis Open. The presence of these two chess giants is sure to attract interest from other masters around the region and, perhaps, the rest of the country.