Mayor Kim Norton makes the ceremonial first move of the game between Daniel Garrett and Ashton Jin (r) on board one in the Premier Section of the 2024 Rochester Open as MC Paul Kinion (l) and Randy Stone look on. It looks like Mayor Norton played 1.g3! Photo by Gabriel Saenz.

The 2024 Rochester Open took place in the Mayo Civic Center on July 6 and 7. A total of 140 players competed in one of 5 sections. $5000 in prizes were awarded to the winners. Okechukwu Iwu, James Neal II, and Josiah Jorenby split $1600 for tying for first – third places with scores of 4-1 in the Premier Section. More information on the winners and biggest rating gainers are available on the MSCA website: https://www.minnesotachess.com/post/iwu-ties-for-1st-in-rochester-to-extend-grand-prix-lead The complete results of the tournament have been posted by USCF: https://www.uschess.org/msa/XtblMain.php?202407071182.0-12562041.

More photos of the tournament by Gabriel Saenz can be found in this album: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1kSVEoTXW6F66ubjW8yd7afrhbsPLiLDa?usp=sharing

https://www.kttc.com/2024/07/07/rochester-chess-open-returns-mayo-civic-center

https://www.kimt.com/news/mayo-civic-center-hosts-rochester-chess-open/article_61cc4e8e-3bfa-11ef-9f24-d398735d01d0.html

https://krocnews.com/will-it-be-rochesters-largest-ever-chess-tournament

https://www.downtownrochestermn.com/do/the-rochester-chess-open-2024#:~:text=On%20July%206%2D7%2C%20Rochester,Unrated%20section%20 is%20for%20you.

Sponsored by Rochester Chess, Mayo Civic Center, Experience Minnesota’s Rochester, and the Minnesota State Chess Association.