International

 

Average: 2332

IM Norm: 6.0/9 for everyone.

WGM norm for Alisa Melekhina: 5.5/9

 

Participant bios:

The 6^th Edmonton International will consist of 10 players.  

GM Alexander Shabalov (USA, 2577)

(Source: St. Louis Chess Club)

GM Shabalov is a four time US champion and a well known figure in the world of chess.  He has participated in the 3^rd Edmonton International and finished second.  GM Shabalov will arrive on Saturday, July 23^rd and conduct a series of seminars with top Albertans, as well as, the general chess playing public in an event which is partially funded through the ASRPWF visiting coach program. 

Grandmaster Joel Benjamin (USA 2553)

(Source: US Chess Hall of Fame)

GM Benjamin is a three time US Champion.  This will be GM Benjamin's first appearance in the Edmonton Internationals; however he has participated in the 2000 Canadian Open which took place in Edmonton.  He shared first in that event together with GMs Rowson and Spraggett.   In 1997 GM Joel Benjamin was an IBM consultant during Deep Blue’s match against Garry Kasparov.

International Master Edward Porper (Canada 2444)

(Source: Monroi.com)

IM Porper is Edmonton’s highest rated player and current Edmonton champion.  He participated in the 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th Edmonton International events and his best finish came in 2010 as he tied for third. 

IM Porper’s best ever result came in the 2009 Canadian Open which was held in Edmonton.  In it Edward tied for first place ahead of a couple of former world champion contenders such as: GMs Shirov and Adams among others.

Women’s Grandmaster Tatev Abrahamyan (USA, 2343)

(Source: St. Louis Chess Club)

WGM Abrahamyan received the title of WGM only two months ago but she is already very close to achieving the higher title of an IM. 

WGM Abrahamyan either tied for or won second place in the US championship 3 times.  In 2005 she even tied for first but lost on tie-breaks.  This will be the first time that WGM Abrahamyan participates in the Edmonton Intenational.

Fide Master Vladimir Pechenkin (Canada, 2297)

(Source: FIDE.com)

FM Pechenkin is the second highest rated player in Edmonton after IM Porper.  In 2011 he finished second in the Edmonton championship.  This will be FM Pechenkin’s fourth participation in the Edmonton International as he participated in the 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th editions of the event.  In the past he never had a very successful International as he never finished with more than 4.5/9.  Perhaps this will be his break-through year.

FIDE Master Alisa Melekhina (USA, 2263)

(Source: Monroi.com)

WIM Melekhina has just turned 20 but she is already among the top female players in the US.  Arguably, her best result came in the 2009 US Women’s Chess Championship where she placed third.

Besides playing chess, Alisa has graduated with a Philosophy Bachelor’s degree at age 19 and this fall she will begin her studies in a Law School. 

This will be WIM Melekhina’s first appearance in the Edmonton International.

National Master Richard Wang (Canada, 2240)

(Source: David Cohen)

NM Wang is Alberta’s biggest junior talent.  At the age of 12 he is already among the highest ranked Alberta players.  In October of 2009 Richard became the first Canadian since 1985 to win a medal at the World Youth Chess Championship as he won bronze in the u-12 category. 

Richard came close to an IM norm in last year’s tournament as he needed to win his last two games for a norm but he came just short of that but still managed a 4.5/9 performance in a very strong field.

FIDE Master Dale Haessel (Canada, 2211)

 

(Source: Monroi.com)

FM Haessel has been one of Alberta’s best players for many years, winning the Alberta Championship three times.  He has participated in numerous norm events all over the world and just as it seemed that he will never achieve a norm he managed this incredible feat in the 2011 Calgary International where he scored 6/9 and shared third place in a very strong field.

FM Haessel participated in every Edmonton International to date.  His best performance came in the 3^rd Edmonton International in 2008 where he scored 5/9.

National Master Belsar Valencia (Philippines, 2204)

 

 

(Source: Facebook)

NM Valencia has recently moved to Edmonton from the Philippines and thus he still represents his native country.  In 2010 Belsar won the Edmonton International Reserves open tournament with a perfect 5/5 score.

National Master Robert Gardner (Canada, 2188)

 

(Source: Saskatoon Chess Club)

This year NM Gardner won the Edmonton International Qualifier event with an impressive 4.5/5 score to qualify for the main event.  Robert has been one of the leading players in Edmonton for over two decades.  He participated in the 1^st, 3^rd and 5^th editions of the International.  His best result came in the 1^st International where he scored 4/9.