Sam Shankland clear first in the Northern California International

The 2012 Northern California International was held from 2nd to 8th January, 2012, at the NorCal House of Chess at Northwestern Polytechnic University in Fremont, California.

Following the tradition of Berkeley International, the tournament offered the possibilities for obtaining GM and IM norms.

Presented by NorCal House of Chess
Time Control: 40/90, SD/30 with 30 second increment
Organizers: Arun Sharma and Ted Castro
Prizes: $3000, $1500, $1000; U2500 ? $1000; U2300 ? $1000

GM Sam Shankland took a clear first place with 7 points from nine games and earned the $3000 prize. GM Alejandro Ramirez won in the last round to leap ahead and share the 2nd place.

GM Sam Shankland (Photos courtesy of Inga Gurevich)

Final standings:
1. GM Sam Shankland 2565 ? 7.0 (1st: $3000)
2-4. GM Alejandro Ramirez 2594, GM Josh Friedel 2523 and IM Marc Arnold 2482 ? 6.5 (T-2nd/3rd/U2500: $1166)
5-11. GM Georg Meier 2671, GM Bartlomiej Macieja 2617, GM Yury Shulman 2598, GM Axel Bachmann 2560, GM Giorgi Margvelashvili 2531, IM Mackenzie Molner 2449 and IM Daniel Rensch 2401 ? 6.0 etc

Full crosstable

The Northern California International conveniently started only a couple of days after the North American Open in Las Vegas ended, and it concluded only a few days before the Golden State Open in the same area begins.

IM Marc Arnold

GM Josh Friedel

Source: http://www.chessdom.com/sam-shankland-clear-first-in-the-northern-california-international

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