Scott Caldwell and Daniel Mattson Tie for First Place in the Great Falls Chinook Open
Pushed out of its usual National Chess Day alignment, the 2019 Great Falls Chinook Open still came through as a successful Grand Prix tournament. Nine players turned in scores of 3.0 or better to get on the Leader Board or improve their standing. The Chinook was the second of the season’s Grand Prix events.
Scott Caldwell and Dan Mattson shared 1st/2nd with 4.0 points. Caldwell held an edge on tiebreaks having only been nicked for draws in rounds 2 and 4. Mattson gave up a full point in the 2nd round before reeling off three consecutive wins and locking up a share of the top prizes.
Wilton Strickland and Joshua Brown shared 3rd/4th finishing at 3.5. Brown won the 2018 Chinook scoring 4.5 and crafted good fortune in this one as well. Strickland, like Brown, finished the event without any losses. He also maintained a microscopic lead over Mattson in the early Grand Prix year.
Frank Miller’s Vienna Opening and some sharp tactics gained a 3rd round win and biggest upset prize at a 314 point differential. Sherwood Moore and Scott Caldwell also won 200+ upset victories.
The tournament was organized by Jim Skovron and directed by Dan McCourt and Scott Caldwell.