Samir Shukla
Over Thanksgiving weekend, the Charlotte Chess Center hosted the 2023 US Masters Chess Championship along with the 2023 North Carolina Open. Collectively these events fielded over 550 players from 35 states and 36 countries. More than 150 titled masters competed in these events including 35 grandmasters vying for a collective $37,000 prize fund and national championship title.
The US Masters is an annual national championship. Players compete in nine rounds over five days for a $22,000 prize fund, as well as for international and national rating points. The 2023 edition, held from November 22–26, 2023 hosted 202 players, featuring 35 Grandmasters and 40 International Masters; a US record for classical chess tournaments. Players from 32 states and 36 countries competed. The US Masters is part of the FIDE Circuit and Candidates/World Championship cycle, and many players earned credentials towards their Grandmaster and International Master titles.
Alongside the US Masters, the North Carolina Open is held as a large chess tournament open to players of all ratings and ages. 362 players from 23 states competed in many rating categories. Participants compete in six rounds over three days. In addition to the main event, participants enjoyed free side activities including lectures, commentary, and instruction with a VIP Grandmaster, and a blitz (speed chess) tournament together with players from the US Masters.
Winners
US Masters: Grandmaster Mikhail Antipov (MO), International Masters Justin Wang (TX), Bryce Tiglon (WA), Gleb Dudin (Hungary)
North Carolina Open: Thomas Fang (NC), International Master Ronald Burnett (TN), Emmanuel Carter (NC)
Class Section Winners (North Carolina Open)
Under 2000: Kai Tabor (FL)
Under 1800: Isabella Yan (NC), Sri Pradyumn Pallapothu (NC), Brayden Van De Graaff (GA)
Under 1600: Rohit Jagga (NC)
Under 1400: Raymond Chen (GA), Sihan Zheng (NC), Kaleigh King (MS), Lior Zendel (NC)
Under 1200: Matias Zapata Sanchez (GA)
Under 1000: Alex Sedlock (NC), Shripad Batta (NC)
Under 800: Austin Woodruff (NC)
K-8 Under 600: Lakhitesh Jagadabhi (NC)
Blitz Championship: Grandmaster Olexandr Bortnyk (Ukraine)
Blitz Under 2000: Arjun Malik (NC)
The Charlotte Chess Center is a chess institute based in Charlotte, NC. The CCC is the recipient of two national chess awards: Chess Club of the Year and Chess City of the Year.
For more details, visit charlottechesscenter.org.
