2009 Arctic Chess Challenge Includes IM Ray Robson

Gary Robson, father of phenom Ray Robson, mentioned to me that Ray's next tournament following his victory in the U.S. Junior Closed will be the Arctic Chess Challenge, taking place August 1-9, 2009. All the photos here are from the 2008 event, by photographer Bjørn Berg Johansen.

Ray Robson Video

It's about a year old, but here's a nice video (a bit under 5 minutes) about a simul that Ray Robson gave in Florida. Both he and his father, and some people from the club, are interviewed:

Ray Robson Makes it Look Too Easy

IM-elect Ray Robson didn't have one of his best showings at the just-completed Chicago Open, but take a look at his 7th round game against 2420-rated Mehmed Pasalic. He just makes it look so easy, gradually taking space and moves away from his opponent.

Here's IM Norm #1 !

FM Ray Robson had to pull out at least three points in the final four rounds of the 6th North American FIDE Invitational tournament in order to earn his first IM norm, but it seems that there is little that is beyond this young man. Ray did better, finishing with three wins and a draw in those four games, earning IM norm #1. He's been climbing exponentially the past couple of years, so you might think he's already working on acquiring GM norms. Give the kid a couple of weeks.

You can find more information at Chess Life Online, at the North American Chess Association, at MonRoi, and soon in my November column at ChessCafe.

Sevan Muradian and the North American Chess Association have another twelve such norm-hunting tournaments tentatively scheduled for 2008, including two GM-norm events. We may have a nice crop of new IMs and GMs by this time next year.

Ray Robson Does It Again!

Photo credit: Chess Life Online
In an earlier post, regarding the 2006 National Chess Congress, I wrote: "A look at the top seven finishers shows 6 GMs and 1 IM. Five of these players sport 2600+ ratings, and another is just below, at 2592. Who is the next player in line, the one who finished in 8th place? It is none other than sixth-grader FM Ray Robson, with his 2258 rating."

Ray has done it again. The 2006 North American Open has just concluded and the MonRoi site provides the final standings from the open section. Look at the top 13 finishers. Go ahead, I'll wait.

See what I mean? There are nine GMs, three IMs, and FM Ray Robson. He finished tied for 5th-9th place, with a score of 5.0/7, just one point behind tournament winner GM Hikaru Nakamura. In that group of 9 GMs and 3 IMs, the lowest-rated player is still 175 points above Ray. Of his five victories, one came against a 2300-rated player, two against 2400-rated players, and one against GM Melikset Khachiyan, who weighs in at a hefty 2539.

Here at the end of 2006, his rating now stands at 2287, 105 points ahead of where he ended 2005. Look for great things from this young player, still only twelve years old.

Ray Robson Excels at National Chess Congress

The National Chess Congress tournament was held in Philadelphia from November 24-26. It included a field of 5 International Masters and 11 Grandmasters and indeed, a look at the top seven finishers shows 6 GMs and 1 IM. Five of these players sport 2600+ ratings, and another is just below, at 2592. Who is the next player in line, the one who finished in 8th place?

It is none other than sixth-grader FM Ray Robson, with his 2258 rating. He actually finished tied for 5th-9th place, but ended in 8th place due to tiebreak points. He finished ahead of five GMs and four IMs. The final standings of the event can be found here.

For a nice tournament report from IM Jennifer Shahade, including two of Ray's games, see the USCF online page here.