GM Varuzhan Akobian

IM Anna Zatonskih International Master and Women's Grandmaster Zatonskih is a chess professional, who coaches players and competes in tournaments. She has won three U.S. Women's Chess Championships and is one of the few women ever to qualify to play in the U.S. Championship by rating. She started her impressive career with several Ukrainian Girls' titles and twice won the Ukrainian Women's Chess Championship. She has represented Ukraine in two Chess Olympiads and the U.S. in three. The Americans won medals in 2004 and 2008.

Her parents are both strong chess players and she is married to Grandmaster Daniel Fridman, who will be playing in the National Open. Her 2-year-old daughter, Sofia, does not yet have a rating. Anna will also give free lectures on Friday and Saturday.

Grandmaster Akobian took 3rd place in his first rated tournament, the Armenian Junior Chess Championship in 1992 and went on to take 1st place the following year. He participated in his first World Chess Championship in Czechoslovakia at the age of 9 and placed 8th. He won the Samford Chess Fellowship in 2002, which allowed him to focus on chess and became a Grandmaster in 2004. He was a member of the bronze medal Olympiad teams in 2006 and 2008. He was also featured on MTV’s True Life series. His many tournament victories in addtion to the National Open include several World Opens and the most recent North American Open.

Entry fee is only $27 by 5/19, $30 by 6/9 or $35 on site. On site entry discount $5 for juniors under the age of 19. Register on site at 3 p.m. or on line.

Players who defeat or draw the Grandmasters will receive autographed prizes.