Nebraska native Rodney Malpert is the principal financial backer of the Nebraska Hall of Fame Chess Celebration on June 1st and 2nd. The prize fund for the tournament is $13,650. On May 31, the Nebraska Chess Hall of Fame inducts US Chess Senior Master Malpert, Woman International Master Alexey (Rudolph) Root, Kent Nelson, and International Master Keaton Kiewra. Five decades ago, Nebraska’s capital city of Lincoln hosted two U.S. Opens, the flagship tournament of US Chess.
Image credit: Rodney Malpert
U.S. Opens
The 1969 U.S. Open was held August 10–22. It had a guaranteed prize fund of $5,000 and a $25 entry fee. With 9½ out of 12 rounds, Grandmaster Pal Benko, Grandmaster Arthur Bisguier, and FIDE Master Milan Vukcevich shared first place. 197 players participated. The site was the Lincoln Hotel, which was torn down and rebuilt in 1974 as the Lincoln Hilton, the site of the 1975 U.S. Open.
The 1975 U.S. Open was held August 10–22. It had a guaranteed prize fund of $10,000 and an advance entry fee of $35. With 10 points out of 12 rounds, Benko and Grandmaster William Lombardy shared first place. 370 players participated.
In 1975, Loren Schmidt was President of the Lincoln Chess Club and was cited by International Master George Koltanowski, Vice President of the United States Chess Federation, as helping to make the 1975 U.S. Open a success. Schmidt played in the 1975 U.S. Open and, in round 3, drew against Benko. Schmidt finished with 8 points out of 12 rounds. In 1990, he earned the FIDE Master title.
Nebraska Hall of Fame Chess Celebration
The 1975 U.S. Open was at the Lincoln Hilton hotel at 9th and P streets. After transitioning from a Hilton to a Holiday Inn, the hotel was renovated in 2017 and renamed the Graduate Lincoln.
The Graduate Lincoln will be the site of the Nebraska Hall of Fame Chess Celebration, with a prize fund of $13,650. After four rounds of Game in 90 plus a 30-second increment, $12,150 in guaranteed prizes will be awarded. The advance entry fee is $90. There is also a $1,500 prize fund for a free blitz event.
One of the featured players in the Nebraska Hall of Fame Chess Celebration will be Loren Schmidt, who is a member of the Nebraska Chess Hall of Fame. The four newest members of the Nebraska Chess Hall of Fame—US Chess Senior Master Rodney Malpert, Woman International Master Alexey (Rudolph) Root, Kent Nelson, and International Master Keaton Kiewra—will also play.
For more information on the June 1–2 tournament or about the Hall of Fame induction ceremony and banquet on May 31st, visit the official site.
