The U.S. Chess Championship dates back to 1845 and includes among its victors such famous champions of the past as Morphy, Pillsbury, Marshall, Reshevsky, and the late Bobby Fischer. Who will be the champion for 2008?

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The 2008 Frank K. Berry U.S. Chess Championship is slated for May 13-21 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It is sanctioned by the USCF and will be a 9-round Swiss System event with 24 contenders. The 2008 Frank K. Berry U.S. Women's Chess Championship will be held at the same time and location, as a 10-player round robin. International Arbiter Frank K. Berry is again sponsoring this year's events as he did last year in nearby Stillwater. The championship organizing committee consists of Frank K. Berry, Jim Berry, and Tom Braunlich.

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The 2008 Frank K. Berry U.S. Chess Championship

The 24 invitees include 12 of the top 18 rated players in the U.S., including defending Champion GM Alex Shabalov and 13 other grandmasters. Seven players were added to the field from the recent Qualifier Open tournament and three wild cards were named on April 8 by sponsor Frank K. Berry.

The Frank K. Berry U.S. Women's Chess Championship
The 10 contenders for the title include defending Women's Champion, Irina Krush, plus six other players from the top 10 and two “wild cards” chosen by Frank K. Berry. NM Iryna Zenyuk earned a spot as top female at the Qualifier Open.

In the event of a tie for first place at the championship, in both the events, there will be a playoff for the title similar to previous years.

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