(BY SAMSON DUBINA)
Presper Financial Architects Open – Results, Photos, Videos!
Jishan Liang rated 2712 was heavily favored to win the event (according to an online pole). However, the competition was fierce… comprised of Dan Liu from ICC rated 2628, former African Junior Champion Mahmoud Ahmad 2600-level, Bowen Chen, Yahao Zhang, Bruno Ventura, and Robert Eriksson. Friday event kicked off with the u2600, u2000, u1700, u1400 Giant Round Robin Events – groups of 7 with the top 4 advancing from every group! Bruno Ventura ran away with the u2600 title without dropping a single game! In the final of the u2600, Bruno left Swedish Men’s Singles Bronze medalist shaking his head saying, “How is this guy only 2500? He is playing amazing!”

The Open Giant Round Robin started Saturday morning with the top 3 seeds all getting upset – Yahao Zhang upset Jishan Liang 3-2; Samson Dubina upset Dan Liu 3-2; and Bowen Chen upset Mahmoud Ahmad 3-2. With the top 4 players from each group advancing, the top seeds advanced, but faced a tough road in the following rounds. Dispite a very tough battle, Jishan was able to advance to the semifinals past Dan Liu 3-2. Robert Eriksson had (what he called) the roughest draw ever and lost to Bruno 3-1. Samson lost a close one to Mahmoud 3-1, and Yahao pulled off another upset beating Bowen Chen 3-0. After winning against Bruno last week and after a great start this week, Yahao was confident to beat Bruno. However, Bruno had other plans and ran away with the win 3-0 to make the finals. Jishan was looking like an average player until the semis, then he began playing his 2712 level with a 3-0 breeze against former African Junior Champion. During the 2-days of competition, Bruno had been undefeated in both events winning nearly every match 3-0. Exhaustion finally got the best of him and Jishan took home the $1000 check for Open Singles. Not a shabby performance from Bruno – he took home a $900 check for getting 2nd in Open and 1st in U2600! Congrats to both finalists on a valiant effort!

Saturday evening events concluded with the u2300, u1900, and u1000 Giant Round Robin Events! Congrats to the Naresh family for dominating many of the rating events taking home $400 cash and a nice trophy. Sid Naresh won the u2300 Giant RR without dropping a single game, Arcot won the u2000 Giant RR, and Sangita was a finalist in the u1000 Giant RR! Nandan, your best days are yet to come!

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