Youngsters.Karl Keener and Stanley Deng shared 1st and 2nd prizes (3.5 from 4) in the Queen’s gambit even on Saturday 10/11, a fitting end to a tournament held alongside the scholastic event held by Inland Chess Academy. The two players were the only perfect scores heading in to a decisive round 4 game. Down three pawns to one in a king-rook endgame, Keener held even against Deng’s a-file pawn push to split the top prizes.
In the U1400 section, Sam Bethman took the top prize and the biggest upset prize. In all, only four of the ten entries in the open section were Spokane Chess Club regulars. The rest included middle and high school players testing their mettle in open play.