Akobian sweeps 12-0 at 2007 ACA US Open

Press release

For immediate release 3 September 2:30 pm.

Mesquite, Nevada contact info [email protected]

Varuzhan Akobian (ACA Elo rated 2710) of Armenia (12-0)

the 3-time World Open Chess Champion and Stan Vaughan

(ACA Elo rated 2846) (11-1) of Las Vegas, Nevada topped

a field of 480 entrants at the 2007 American Chess

Association's 150th anniversary US Open Chess

Championship sponsored by Round Table Pizzas and

International Monetary Systems, held September 1-3 at the

Oasis Resort Casino in Mesquite, Nevada. Akobian won

$6,000 for his 12-0 sweep, while Vaughan, the ACA 2007

defending US Chess Champion took not only the second

place prize of $3,000 but as the event was also a qualifier

offering the top finishing American the opportunity to

face him for the 2008 US Chess Championship, earned an

additional $5,000 bonus as he will thus retain the title

for 2008 as well. Vaughan lost his first tournament game in

seven years as he forfeited to Akobian by overstepping the

allotted time control limit in their game.

The ACA's US Open, with 480 entrants, for the first time

outdrew competitor USCF's US Open which had 414

entrants