GM Larry Kaufman, who blogged on the US Senior Open for CLO, earned the World Senior spot for the top player over 60. He reports on his playoff victory against Bondar and GM Alexander Ivanov’s win.

Arun Sharma of the US Chess League recaps the first week action. Highlights include defending champs NY Knights’ sweep over Boston, Philly’s upset win over the Knockouts and the Saint Louis-Los Angeles battle.

GMs Alexander Ivanov and Sergey Kudrin are tied for first at the US Senior Open with perfect 4-0s. They’ll face off tomorrow. GM Larry Kaufman, who is leading the race for the top player Over 60, reports from Boca Raton.

At the Dean of Chess Academy FIDE Invitational, IM Dean Ippolito, founder of the club, swept the event 9-0. Find out more about the tournament and the club from tournament director Aaron Kiedes.

At NH Chess, Nakamura won a blitz tiebreak over fellow Rising Star GM Anish Giri to earn a golden ticket into Melody Amber. As Hikaru moves on to the Spanish League, GM Gata Kamsky is off to the Baku Open.

The US Olympiad and Women’s Olympiad teams have been finalized. The
event will be held in Khanty-Mansisyk from September 19 to October 3. Pictured to the left are overall boards 2+3, US Champ Gata Kamsky and World team gold medallist Alexander Onischuk.

At the North American Youth Championship in Montreal, four US players reached a perfect score: Aravind Kumar, Samritha Palakollu, Anna Matlin and Dai Yang. Several other players tied or won their section.

The Executive Board has passed a motion adding rules to Grand Prix tournaments, including a minimum guaranteed first prize of $150. The new rules will apply to TLAs submitted about November 10, 2010.

GM Robert Hess took clear 2nd in a strong tournament in Greece, while Nakamura recovered from two losses at NH Chess with a rook endgame win over Ljubo. In the North American Youth in Montreal, the US squad is scoring well after four rounds.

At the NH Chess tournament in Amsterdam, Hikaru Nakamura began brilliantly but lost two rounds in a row. GM Ian Rogers reports from the scene, where the Rising Stars are leading against Team Experience by two points.

GM Hikaru Nakamura is turning up the heat in Amsterdam. After winning his first round against Ljubojevic, he saved a tough rook endgame vs. Van Wely and scored against Peter Heine Nielsen.

As Hikaru Nakamura heads to the NH Masters in Amsterdam, GM Ray Robson is midway through a very tough tournament in Hungary and Alisa Melekhina is doing well in the World Girls Championship. Check out links and key games.

Melinda Matthews writes about the difference between taking her son Nicky Rosenthal to scholastic tournaments and adult events, like the recently concluded Southern Open in Orlando, Florida.