Alex Shabalov wins US Championship – with Q-Link?

The Frank K Berry 2007 US Championships took place from May 15 – 23, 2007, in Stillwater, Oklahoma. It was a nine-round Swiss with a US $75,000 prize fund (1st $12,000, 2nd $8000, 3rd $5000, etc. up to 30th to 36th $700). The official web site provided round by round reports and round by round results.

The winner of the 2007 US championship: Alexander Shabalov

The event was won by GM Alexander Shabalov, who won his final game against Sergey Kudrin to take clear first with 7/9 points. Second place went to Alexander Onischuk, who scored 6.5/9, followed by three GMs with 6/9 each: Greg Kaidanov, Yury Shulman and Julio Becerra. Below are the final standings. You have to go sixteen places down the list to hit on the first American sounding name.

Final standings

Success with Q-Link

In a time when people are worried about external electronic assistance during chess games Alex Shabalov pinned his hopes on a more mystical device. The former Latvian GM used a Q-Link pendant that tunes your being for optimal living: more energy, less stress, greater focus, and enhanced well being." The USCF web site tells us that Shabalov implied that Q-Link was a crucial ingredient to his success. "I never wore it before. I wore it here every game – and I won the tournament," he said. The USCF site cautions that Shabalov is known for making jokes, so it is unclear how serious he is about Q-Link.

GM Walter Browne re-cafeinated (he really is a bundle of nervous energy)

GM Varuzhan Akobian, rated 2651

Shot of the lower boards, with Michael Aigner, left, and Tom Braunlich, local wildcard

GM Julio Becerra is left is engaging GM Gregory Kaidanov

GM Boris Gulko, right, playing GM Alex Yermolinsky

IM Irina Krush versus IM Joshua Friedel

GM Hikaru Nakamura, who finished with 5/9 on place eleven

Click to download all available games in zipped PGN