Mississippi Chess Festival attracts US Senior Champion and 4 other Masters

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Left to right: writer Chris Baker, NM Aaron Kahn, FM Alex King, NM Todd Bryant, NM Benson Schexnaydre, GM and US Senior Champion Alexander Fishbein

By CHRIS ALLEN BAKER

(this is part of a longer article that has been submitted to Chess Life)

 

CLINTON – The Mississippi Chess Festival attracted Grandmaster Alexander Fishbein, FIDE master Alex King, and National Masters Aaron Kahn, Todd Bryant, and Mississippi resident and National Master Benson Schexnaydre.  

 

Fishbein, also reigning U.S. Senior Champion, said Mississippi was a stop on his journey to play in each state and now has three states left to visit. A Nashville resident who was born in Russia and came to the United States at the age of 11, Fishbein said the lure of this tournament was appealing.

 

“I enjoy the competitive aspect of chess. This is a very interesting tournament. It is so good to see chess events like this being organized here,” Fishbein said. “This isn’t a large tournament, but it is interesting because there are five masters here, so the competitive element is interesting. I was invited, and then I saw the playing field and liked it.”

 

Schexnaydre, who is a product of the chess program in Franklin County, earned his national master title in 2024 as the first player in Mississippi to earn the rank since the 1980s. He was excited to see the caliber of chess come to his home state for the festival and felt at home among them.

 

“I’m used to playing at events with other masters, so it is not that unusual for me,” Schexnaydre said. “It is great to have them here. Chess is growing in Mississippi, and I am interested in seeing that continue.”

 

Held on the campus of Mississippi College, the first-time two-day event included 67 players on November 15-16 with four sections including Open/Pro, U1900, U1500, and U1000 competing during five Swiss rounds.  Using a delay of 30 seconds, the first three rounds had a G/70 time control and the other two rounds were G/100. The prize fund included several thousand dollars in cash.

 

Fishbein finished as the tournament champion in the Open/Pro section with a 4.0 score including WWDWD. King tied with 4.0 with WWDDW and the tiebreaker system putting him in second place. Schexnaydre finished third with a 3.5 score on WDWDD. Khan finished in fourth place with 3.0 score (WDDLW) and Bryant finished fifth place with 3.0 score (WLDDW).

 

Editorial note from 4-time state champ Douglas Stewart: While I wish my rating was higher and would have put me in the Open section, I was happy to play well and finish 5-0 in U1900. That made me the only player to go 5-0 in the event.

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