Shankland

Is it true ?  Shankland won US Junior ?

Thought he was retiring

yes, he tied for first and won the tiebreak today.

He beat Robson's fantasy variation of the Caro.. returning the thread to openings...

Do you have a link handy for that game?

I'm pretty sure you can find it at chess.com news section.

Yep, found it.

http://www.chess.com/news/sam-shankland-is-us-junior-champion-4827

Thank you.

I think he said he would play out some tournaments he was already committed to and then not enter any more.

Doesnt being the US junior champion get you a spot in the US Closed ?  I doubt he's gonna quit myself.  Time will tell ...

yes, it gets him a spot in the us closed. to clarify once again: he's not done playing chess; just done as a professional. so yes, he'll still be playing in chess tournaments... but as an amateur, like 99.99% of us.

I think he should concentrate on playing only those events that will give him the highest chances of having his final GM norm and certainly the US closed would be top on the " to play " list. He will play more than 3 GMs probably , he would for sure if they hadnt abandoned the format that was used in Fischer's and Reshevsky's day. Its a shame they have made a tourney out of it in which very weak ( compared to 2600+ GMs ) are allowed to play...... what about the World junior championship ?

I think a norm is not possible in a closed national championship.

http://www.fide.com/component/handbook/?view=article&id=58

1.44a A maximum of 3/5 of the opponents may come from the applicant’s federation ...

Maybe there would have been a chance in the 111th United States Open Chess Championship.

 I think a nation's national championship is excluded, I think its the one exception fide allows concerning norms and having different countries represented.

Found it.

"1.43Federations of opponents 

At least two federations other than that of the title applicant must be included, except for 1.43a-1.43e. Even then see 1.43f.

1.43a

The finals (but not preliminaries) of national men’s championships and also national women’s championships."

Sam already has other commitments that will keep him from participating in the world junior.

and yes, firebrand, his play against the fantasy variation was very convincing and instructive. you could do well to try to replicate such a style. attack that center before white gets his development complete! be aggressive, and find ways to make use of your active pieces!

:-)