Karpov in Chicago: Jim Egerton interviews

Great interview by Jim on the ICA website!

Mitkov leads North American Open

Local Grandmaster Nikola Mitkov is tied for first with four other GMs (including Spanish super-GM Vallejo) at the North American Open at Bally's Casino Resort in Las Vegas. 

Standings are here.  FM Aleksandar Stamnov is tied for first in the Under 2300 section, and Jim Egerton has a perfect 4-0 in the Under 1900 section.

So what do chess and tennis have in common?

Jim Egerton explains here.  (Via tennis dad Brad Rosen.)  Do check out Jim's Chess Now website!

One downside of playing in out-of-state events

A reliable correspondent writes:

A moment of sympathy for Jim Egerton.  He comes all the way to Las Vegas to play chess.  He has to schedule a bye for Sunday evening to catch his plane back.  His opponent Sunday morning never showed up.  Not a very chess eventful day for Jim.

In multiple-section events, there will usually be someone else in another section with a similar problem.  So if one seeks out the TD, then one might be able to play a game (though probably not at the original time control; it takes one hour to claim the forfeit).