Cyrus Lakdawala and Vladimir Mezentsev tied for first in the 6th Charles Linklater Memorial held April 4-21. The two winners, who each scored 7-3 in the Category 4 (2337 FIDE average) roundrobin, also made IM norms. For the San Diego based Lakdawala it was his third and final norm and he will receive his long overdue title at the FIDE Congress in Slovenia later this year. This was the second norm for Mezentsev who needs one more result for the title.
This was the 8th IM or GM norm event held at the club since the end of 1998. A total of 17 IM norms and 1 GM norm have been earned in MI events during this time. One might get the impression that the MI is a title mill, but the reality is quite different. Lakdawala and Mezentsev have both been rated over 2500 USCF and 2400 FIDE for many years. If they lived in Europe they would have been IMs a long time ago, but lacked the opportunities. The list of players who have made norms in MI events reads like a list of some of the best young talent in North America (G. Shahade, Bhat, Krush, Mulyar, Zugic, Kraai and so on). The only player rated below 2450 USCF to make a norm at the MI is Richard Lobo (usually around 2360) who achieved it the hard way in one event. He lost his first three and then scored 5 1/2 from 6! The point is that the MI is just about the only place in the US to try for roundrobin norms.
The credit for this event goes to Anthony Corrales.  He not only organized and directed, but also found the sponsorship.
Special mention should be made of FM Frank Thornally. Playing in his first serious tournament in several decades, Thornally lost his first seven games, but then showed great strength of character to rebound with two wins at the end of the event.