The Southern California (Invitational) Qualifying Tournament will be held over the weekend of June 27-28 at the Lakeview Senior Center (20 Lake Road, Irvine, CA 92604).
This tournament will qualify four players for the State Championship Finals. These four players will compete with four seeded players for the title of Southern California State Champion.
The seeded players are the current state champion, the winner of the Southern California Open, and the two highest rated Southern Californian residents per the June 1998 rating supplement.
If any of the seeded players decline their invitation, the qualifying tournament will qualify additional players into the finals until eight players are obtained.
The finals for the State Championship will be held at the same site over the weekends of July 11-12 and 18-19. The finals are a seven-round robin, FIDE rated, with a 40/2 SD/1 time control.
The Qualifying Tournament will be a four-round Swiss, FIDE-rated, with a 40/2, SD/1 time control. Rounds will be at 10:30 AM and 5:00 PM each day. Spectators are welcomed at both events free of charge.
Following are the players who have earned the right to compete in the Qualifying Tournament based on their results in the given tournaments. These players must contact Michael Carr at (714) 768-3538 or Email: mrcarr@pacbell.net, prior to the qualifying tournament to confirm their intention to play. Qualifiers from the Lina Grumette Memorial Day Classic will be notified.
PLAYER EVENT
IM Jack Peters Finalist in 1996 State Championship
Valdis Saulespurens Finalist in 1996 State Championship
Charles Van Buskirk Finalist in 1996 State Championship
Levon Altounian Finalist in 1996 State Championship
Stephen Jones Finalist in 1996 State Championship
Andrew Krasnov Finalist in 1996 State Championship
Ilya Sterin Finalist in 1996 State Championship
Rogelio Pineda Pacific Southwest Open
Mark Duckworth Pacific Southwest Open
Anthony Saidy Continental Open
Steve Ramos Southern California Open
Thomas Wolski Southern California Open
William Longren Pacific Coast Open, September 1997
Gregg Small Pacific Coast Open, September 1997
Eric Shoemaker North County G/60 Championship
Paul Kolinko North County G/60 Championship
Michael Nagaran North County G/60 Championship
Arthur Macaspac SCCF Amateur Championship
David Bassett SCCF Amateur Championship
GM Eduard Gufeld American Open
Ron Hermansen American Open
Robert Richard SCCF Senior Championship
Carl Wagner SCCF Senior Championship
Viktor Kuperman Irvine G/60 Championship
Alan Montalbo Irvine G/60 Championship
Michael Shvartsman Irvine G/60 Championship
Tony Miller Irvine G/60 Championship
IM Osman Palos Pacific Coast Open, February 1998
Oscar Maldonado Western Class Championship
Harutyun Akopyan So. California High School Championship
RESULTS
Valdis Saulespurens 3-1 William Longren 3-1 Charles Van Buskirk 3-1 Stephen Jones 2 1/2 - 1 1/2 Ron Hermansen 2 1/2 - 1 1/2 Michael Shvartsman 2 1/2 - 1 1/2
Five spots were available, and Jones and Hermansen won on tie-breaks over Shvartsman. The first five listed above will join Cyrus Lakdawala, Jack Peters, and Levon Altounian to fill out the field for the State Championship.