43rd US Chess championship :: Chandler, AZ 1997

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Knock-out

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pos. name Elo flag SF F
W GM Benjamin, Joel 2580 USA 3
2½—½		 2
3½—2½
RU GM Christiansen, Larry 2550 USA 4
8—6		 1
2½—3½
SF GM Kaidanov, Gregory 2600 USA 1
½—2½
SF GM Seirawan, Yasser 2630 USA 2
6—8

Second semifinal ended 2-2; Christiansen advanced after playoff (detailed playoff game score not available in the source crosstable).

Semifinals

3rd - 6th September 1997


name Elo flag pts 1 2 3
GM Benjamin, Joel 2580 USA 2½ 1 ½ 1
GM Kaidanov, Gregory 2600 USA ½ 0 ½ 0

name Elo flag pts 1 2 3 4 R1.1 R1.2 R2.1 R2.2 B1.1 B1.2 B2.1 B2.2 B3.1 B3.2
GM Seirawan, Yasser 2630 USA 6 1 ½ 0 ½ 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0
GM Christiansen, Larry 2550 USA 8 0 ½ 1 ½ 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1


Final

7th - 12th September 1997


name Elo flag pts 1 2 3 4 R1.1 R1.2
GM Benjamin, Joel 2580 USA 3½ 1 0 ½ 1 ½ ½
GM Christiansen, Larry 2550 USA 2½ 0 1 ½ 0 ½ ½






Division A

pos. name Elo flag 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 pts + = -
⇑ 1. GM Benjamin, Joel 2580 USA ● ½ ½ 1 ½ 1   1 4½ 3 3 0
⇑ 2. GM Christiansen, Larry 2550 USA ½ ● ½ ½ 1 1   ½ 4 2 4 0
3. GM Fedorowicz, John 2510 USA ½ ½ ● ½ ½ ½   1 3½ 1 5 0
4. GM Gulko, Boris 2580 USA 0 ½ ½ ● ½ ½   ½ 2½ 0 5 1
5. GM Yermolinsky, Alexander 2650 USA ½ 0 ½ ½ ● ½   1 3 1 4 1
6. GM Browne, Walter Shawn 2530 USA 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ●   1 2½ 1 3 2
7. Zamora, Jorge Jr.   USA             ●   0 0 0 0
8. GM Ivanov, Alexander 2565 USA 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 0   ● 1 0 2 4

Round by round results

1st round — 23rd August 1997
GM Fedorowicz, John USA 2510 ½ - ½ 2580 USA GM Benjamin, Joel
GM Ivanov, Alexander USA 2565 ½ - ½ 2550 USA GM Christiansen, Larry
GM Yermolinsky, Alexander USA 2650 ½ - ½ 2580 USA GM Gulko, Boris
GM Browne, Walter Shawn USA 2530 BYE  
Zamora, Jorge Jr. USA BYE  
1.-6. Benjamin, Christiansen, Fedorowicz, Gulko, Yermolinsky, Ivanov — ½; 7.-8. Browne, Zamora — 0;

2nd round — 24th August 1997
GM Benjamin, Joel USA 2580 1 - 0 2270 USA GM Ivanov, Alexander
GM Browne, Walter Shawn USA 2530 ½ - ½ 2510 USA GM Fedorowicz, John
GM Christiansen, Larry USA 2550 1 - 0 2650 USA GM Yermolinsky, Alexander
GM Gulko, Boris USA 2580 BYE  
Zamora, Jorge Jr. USA BYE  
1.-2. Benjamin, Christiansen — 1½; 3. Fedorowicz — 1; 4.-7. Gulko, Yermolinsky, Browne, Ivanov — ½; 8. Zamora — 0;

3rd round — 25th August 1997
GM Gulko, Boris USA 2580 ½ - ½ 2530 USA GM Browne, Walter Shawn
GM Ivanov, Alexander USA 2270 0 - 1 2510 USA GM Fedorowicz, John
GM Yermolinsky, Alexander USA 2650 ½ - ½ 2580 USA GM Benjamin, Joel
GM Christiansen, Larry USA 2550 BYE  
Zamora, Jorge Jr. USA BYE  
1.-2. Benjamin, Fedorowicz — 2; 3. Christiansen — 1½; 4.-6. Gulko, Yermolinsky, Browne — 1; 7. Ivanov — ½; 8. Zamora — 0;

4th round — 27th August 1997
GM Browne, Walter Shawn USA 2530 1 - 0 2270 USA GM Ivanov, Alexander
GM Christiansen, Larry USA 2550 ½ - ½ 2580 USA GM Gulko, Boris
GM Fedorowicz, John USA 2510 ½ - ½ 2650 USA GM Yermolinsky, Alexander
GM Benjamin, Joel USA 2580 BYE  
Zamora, Jorge Jr. USA BYE  
1. Fedorowicz — 2½; 2.-4. Benjamin, Christiansen, Browne — 2; 5.-6. Gulko, Yermolinsky — 1½; 7. Ivanov — ½; 8. Zamora — 0;

5th round — 28th August 1997
GM Christiansen, Larry USA 2550 1 - 0 2530 USA GM Browne, Walter Shawn
GM Gulko, Boris USA 2580 0 - 1 2580 USA GM Benjamin, Joel
GM Yermolinsky, Alexander USA 2650 1 - 0 2270 USA GM Ivanov, Alexander
GM Fedorowicz, John USA 2510 BYE  
Zamora, Jorge Jr. USA BYE  
1.-2. Benjamin, Christiansen — 3; 3.-4. Fedorowicz, Yermolinsky — 2½; 5. Browne — 2; 6. Gulko — 1½; 7. Ivanov — ½; 8. Zamora — 0;

6th round — 30th August 1997
GM Benjamin, Joel USA 2580 ½ - ½ 2550 USA GM Christiansen, Larry
GM Browne, Walter Shawn USA 2530 ½ - ½ 2650 USA GM Yermolinsky, Alexander
GM Fedorowicz, John USA 2510 ½ - ½ 2580 USA GM Gulko, Boris
Zamora, Jorge Jr. USA BYE  
GM Ivanov, Alexander USA 2565 BYE  
1.-2. Benjamin, Christiansen — 3½; 3.-4. Fedorowicz, Yermolinsky — 3; 5. Browne — 2½; 6. Gulko — 2; 7. Ivanov — ½; 8. Zamora — 0;

7th round — 31st August 1997
GM Benjamin, Joel USA 2580 1 - 0 2530 USA GM Browne, Walter Shawn
GM Christiansen, Larry USA 2550 ½ - ½ 2510 USA GM Fedorowicz, John
GM Gulko, Boris USA 2580 ½ - ½ 2565 USA GM Ivanov, Alexander
GM Yermolinsky, Alexander USA 2650 BYE  
Zamora, Jorge Jr. USA BYE  
1. Benjamin — 4½; 2. Christiansen — 4; 3. Fedorowicz — 3½; 4. Yermolinsky — 3; 5.-6. Gulko, Browne — 2½; 7. Ivanov — 1; 8. Zamora — 0;





Division B

pos. name Elo flag 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 pts + = -
⇑ 1. GM Kaidanov, Gregory 2600 USA ● ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 4½ 2 5 0
⇑ 2. GM Seirawan, Yasser 2630 USA ½ ● ½ 0 ½ 1 1 1 4½ 3 3 1
3. GM De Firmian, Nick 2570 USA ½ ½ ● 0 ½ 1 ½ 1 4 2 4 1
4. GM Schwartzman, Gabriel 2515 USA 0 1 1 ● ½ 0 ½ ½ 3½ 2 3 2
5. GM Dzindzichashvili, Roman 2540 USA ½ ½ ½ ½ ● ½ ½ ½ 3½ 0 7 0
6. GM Shabalov, Alexander 2585 USA ½ 0 0 1 ½ ● 1 ½ 3½ 2 3 2
7. GM Kudrin, Sergey 2535 USA ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 ● ½ 2½ 0 5 2
8. GM Gurevich, Dmitry 2575 USA 0 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ● 2 0 4 3

Round by round results

1st round — 23rd August 1997
GM Dzindzichashvili, Roman USA 2540 ½ - ½ 2585 USA GM Shabalov, Alexander
GM Gurevich, Dmitry USA 2575 0 - 1 2570 USA GM De Firmian, Nick
GM Schwartzman, Gabriel USA 2515 ½ - ½ 2535 USA GM Kudrin, Sergey
GM Seirawan, Yasser USA 2630 ½ - ½ 2600 USA GM Kaidanov, Gregory
1. De Firmian — 1; 2.-7. Kaidanov, Seirawan, Schwartzman, Dzindzichashvili, Shabalov, Kudrin — ½; 8. Gurevich — 0;

2nd round — 24th August 1997
GM De Firmian, Nick USA 2570 ½ - ½ 2630 USA GM Seirawan, Yasser
GM Kaidanov, Gregory USA 2600 ½ - ½ 2540 USA GM Dzindzichashvili, Roman
GM Kudrin, Sergey USA 2535 ½ - ½ 2575 USA GM Gurevich, Dmitry
GM Shabalov, Alexander USA 2585 1 - 0 2515 USA GM Schwartzman, Gabriel
1.-2. De Firmian, Shabalov — 1½; 3.-6. Kaidanov, Seirawan, Dzindzichashvili, Kudrin — 1; 7.-8. Schwartzman, Gurevich — ½;

3rd round — 25th August 1997
GM Dzindzichashvili, Roman USA 2540 ½ - ½ 2630 USA GM Seirawan, Yasser
GM Gurevich, Dmitry USA 2575 ½ - ½ 2585 USA GM Shabalov, Alexander
GM Kudrin, Sergey USA 2535 ½ - ½ 2570 USA GM De Firmian, Nick
GM Schwartzman, Gabriel USA 2515 0 - 1 2600 USA GM Kaidanov, Gregory
1.-3. Kaidanov, De Firmian, Shabalov — 2; 4.-6. Seirawan, Dzindzichashvili, Kudrin — 1½; 7. Gurevich — 1; 8. Schwartzman — ½;

4th round — 27th August 1997
GM De Firmian, Nick USA 2570 ½ - ½ 2540 USA GM Dzindzichashvili, Roman
GM Kaidanov, Gregory USA 2600 1 - 0 2575 USA GM Gurevich, Dmitry
GM Seirawan, Yasser USA 2630 0 - 1 2515 USA GM Schwartzman, Gabriel
GM Shabalov, Alexander USA 2585 1 - 0 2535 USA GM Kudrin, Sergey
1.-2. Kaidanov, Shabalov — 3; 3. De Firmian — 2½; 4. Dzindzichashvili — 2; 5.-7. Seirawan, Schwartzman, Kudrin — 1½; 8. Gurevich — 1;

5th round — 28th August 1997
GM Gurevich, Dmitry USA 2575 0 - 1 2630 USA GM Seirawan, Yasser
GM Kudrin, Sergey USA 2535 ½ - ½ 2600 USA GM Kaidanov, Gregory
GM Schwartzman, Gabriel USA 2515 ½ - ½ 2540 USA GM Dzindzichashvili, Roman
GM Shabalov, Alexander USA 2585 0 - 1 2570 USA GM De Firmian, Nick
1.-2. Kaidanov, De Firmian — 3½; 3. Shabalov — 3; 4.-5. Seirawan, Dzindzichashvili — 2½; 6.-7. Schwartzman, Kudrin — 2; 8. Gurevich — 1;

6th round — 30th August 1997
GM De Firmian, Nick USA 2570 0 - 1 2515 USA GM Schwartzman, Gabriel
GM Dzindzichashvili, Roman USA 2540 ½ - ½ 2575 USA GM Gurevich, Dmitry
GM Kaidanov, Gregory USA 2600 ½ - ½ 2585 USA GM Shabalov, Alexander
GM Seirawan, Yasser USA 2630 1 - 0 2535 USA GM Kudrin, Sergey
1. Kaidanov — 4; 2.-4. Seirawan, De Firmian, Shabalov — 3½; 5.-6. Schwartzman, Dzindzichashvili — 3; 7. Kudrin — 2; 8. Gurevich — 1½;

7th round — 31st August 1997
GM Gurevich, Dmitry USA 2575 ½ - ½ 2515 USA GM Schwartzman, Gabriel
GM Kaidanov, Gregory USA 2600 ½ - ½ 2570 USA GM De Firmian, Nick
GM Kudrin, Sergey USA 2535 ½ - ½ 2540 USA GM Dzindzichashvili, Roman
GM Shabalov, Alexander USA 2585 0 - 1 2630 USA GM Seirawan, Yasser
1.-2. Kaidanov, Seirawan — 4½; 3. De Firmian — 4; 4.-6. Schwartzman, Dzindzichashvili, Shabalov — 3½; 7. Kudrin — 2½; 8. Gurevich — 2;





Information

43rd US Chess championship
Dates: 2nd - 12th September 1997
City: Chandler, AZ (United States)
Venue:
Organizers: US Chess Federation
Chief Arbiter:
Players participating: 16 (incl. 15 GMs)
Games played: 79
Competition format: Two 8-player round-robin divisions. Top two from each division advanced to a knockout stage (semifinals and final).
Tie-breaks: All: none
Knock-out: noneDivision A, Division B: none
Time control:
Website: http://graeme.50webs.com/chesschamps/us/1997.htm
Other websites: https://www.uschess.org/msa/XtblMain.php?199709128590-10102511
https://uscf1-nyc1.aodhosting.com/CL-AND-CR-ALL/CL-ALL/1997/
PGN game file: usa-1997.pgn





Tournament Review



The 43rd US Chess Championship (Chandler, Arizona, 1997) used a two-stage format. First, two 8-player round-robin divisions were played. The top two players from each division qualified for the knockout stage.

Division 1 qualifiers: Joel Benjamin and Larry Christiansen (both 5/7).
Division 2 qualifiers: Gregory Kaidanov and Yasser Seirawan (both 4.5/7).

In the semifinals, Benjamin beat Kaidanov 2.5-0.5. Christiansen and Seirawan tied 2-2, and Christiansen advanced after playoff. In the final, Benjamin defeated Christiansen 3.5-2.5 and won the title.

Quick notes:

  • Hybrid structure: round-robin qualifying groups followed by knockout.
  • The Christiansen-Seirawan semifinal required extra playoff games.
  • Benjamin won the title match after coming through the tougher final path.

Source links: Graeme Cree page; USCF MSA crosstable; US Chess digital archive (1997); US Chess digital archives entry page.