16 IL Registrants Compete at St. Louis Thanksgiving Open

No better way to work off the stuffing and turkey calories than three glorious days at the chessboard. 16 Illinois registered players traveled to the St. Louis Chess Club to compete in two sections of the six-round event concluding November 29. US Chess crosstables have posted.

Playing in his first US Chess-rated event, Hulkar Tohirjonova compiled a 4.0/6 score, losing in the final round to the event winner, Alex Shimanov. Tohirjonova, from Denmark, tied for fourth place in the Open section. 

Expert Anu Bayar compiled a 3.5/6 result, in an eight-way tie for sixth place. Bayar was Tohirjonova's third round victim.

Three Illlinois players went 3.0/6 including juniors Spencer Lehmann and Rishi Narayanan and not-so-junior Lawrence Cohen. Rishi wound up playing three top-five finishers.

Hanson Hao and Aidan Carey both posted 2.0's. Hanson only had one loss, accompanied by four draws. Although qualified for the Reserve, Aidan opted to play up in the Open.

In the Under 2000 Reserve section, Todd Plagemann also tied for fourth place with 4.5/6. Plagemann compiled three wins and a draw in the four rounds he played.

Caleb Denby tied for sixth with 4.0, as did David Hinterlong.  Daniel Bartz scored 3.5.

Jon Winick and Dennis Taylor both went 3.0.

Brad Baldridge and Reginald Jackson, Jr. both tallied 2.0.

95 competed in the event, including 38 in the Open section.