His homepage includes an interesting interview on how he started playing chess, why he chose Kentucky, and how he presently spends his time. He and his wife moved to the United States in 1991. 2599 Khmelnitsky is better known as a teacher than a player, but this International Master scored well in last year's US Championship as well. Only 18, Tal Shaked earned a place in this event as the 1995 US Jr. Champion. Shabalov emigrated to the US a few years ago, and has had excellent success in a number of US events.
Players score one point for a win, half- point for a draw, zero points for a loss.
Games are played every day at 4 p.m. local time, with July 20th and 21st set aside as rest days. Well, the championship is underway. 18 year old Tal Shaked's victory over IM Khmelnitsky. Shaked is in the tournament only because he won the US Junior last year, and is rated quite a bit lower than the other players, although he does have an International Master title. Gulko defeated Alburt and Yermolinsky defeated deFirmian in a highly complex Queen and Pawn ending.