GMs Kacheishvili and Izoria won the GM section of the University of Texas at Dallas Invitational. Meanwhile, in the IM section, Bayaara Zorigt earned her first WIM norm.

At the National Chess Congress, four tied for first: IMs Smith, Krush, GM-elect Lenderman and GM Stripunsky. Kraai and Shankland tied for 1st at the CalState Champs. Landaw, Matikozyan and Khachiyan tied for first at the American Open.

The front page of the Dallas Morning News today (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/yahoolatestnews/stories/112909dnentcuba.3f0cc59.html) featured a story on students from the University of Texas at Dallas contesting a chess match in...

GM Melikset Khachiyan, IM Andranik Matikozyan, and Master Julian Landaw lead the 45th Annual American Open in Los Angeles at the halfway point with 3½ of 4. Randy Hough reports from the scene.

Our US Champion Hikaru Nakamura topped Magnus Carlsen in the finals of the BNbank Blitz in Norway, which features a mix of invited and qualified players.