Top players show their skill and style at World Open

U.S. #1 GM Gata Kamsky and newly minted GM Robert Hess show they can not only play well, but do so in style. Sporting their Chess Club and Scholastic Center garb, obtained during their participation in the 2009 U.S. Championship, both are expected to perform quite well at the World Open. Held June 29-July 5, 2009 in Philadelphia, PA, this event promises to be quite the tournament, with a $250,000 guaranteed prize fund! Many of the nation's best players turned out to compete for their share of that pie.

(GM Gata Kamsky, photo Chris Bird)

Familiar faces have turned out for the 7-day and 5-day schedules, including top competitors from the U.S. Championship, held May 7-17 at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. Kamsky, Shulman, Ehlvest, Akobian, Hess, Friedel, Benjamin, Shabalov, Becerra and Shankland are all fighting it out for the $20,000 first place prize. Check out the MonRoi site for live game relay, or the official World Open website. In addition, Chess Life Online editor and Women's Grandmaster Jennifer Shahade is in Philly covering the action and sharing her recap with those of us not lucky enough to make it out.