CHESS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Dutch grandmaster Loek Van Wely won the $10,000 first prize last weekend in the 14th New York Open. Van Wely scored 7 1/2-1 1/2 to lead a 520-player field that included 22 GMs.

Next, at 7-2, were GMs Michael Adams (England), Roman Dzindzichashvili (New York), Jaan Ehlvest (Estonia) and Alex Yermolinsky (Ohio) and IM Blas Lugo (Florida). Lugo, a 28-year-old immigrant from Cuba, had a sensational result, defeating GMs Nick de Firmian, Ehlvest and Gennadi Zaitshik. He shared the lead until he lost to Van Wely in the eighth round.

Lugo earned a norm for the grandmaster title. Former U.S. junior champion Boris Kreiman of New York, Nelson Gamboa of Colombia and current U.S. women’s co-champion Anjelina Belakovskaya of New Jersey achieved IM norms. Usually a player needs two or three norms to fulfill the requirements for an international title.

The best-scoring Southern Californian was IM Larry Remlinger of Pasadena, who finished with 6-3. IM John Watson of Carlsbad scored 5 1/2-3 1/2, and Richard Russell of San Diego upset GM Sergey Kudrin.

For the second year, the tournament was held in Newark, N.J. Organizer Jose Cuchi moved it to a less glamorous location to avoid the high cost of renting space at a New York hotel. Attendance dropped a bit, but Cuchi attributed the disappointing turnout to conflicts with two other major tournaments. He vowed to make the 15th tournament, in 1997, more attractive to entrants.

The World Chess Federation (FIDE) continues to insist that its world championship match between Anatoly Karpov of Russia and Gata Kamsky of New York will begin June 1 in Baghdad. Kamsky has made no public comment on the match. He received a firm denial from the U.S. State Department when he asked for permission to play in Iraq.

LOCAL NEWS

The Antelope Valley Chess Club will conduct its club championship on April 21 in the American Legion Post 771 at 39463 10th St. East in Palmdale. The tournament consists of five rounds of 30-minute games. Register at the site at noon, or call Dec Cuerdon at (805) 726-1323.