The 13th Annual Reno – Larry Evans Memorial Open concluded its 6-round Swiss sprint at the J Resort Casino Hotel with a major upset in the Open Section. In a field featuring seasoned Grandmasters, it was a Candidate Master who stole the spotlight and the title.
CM Jashith Karthi (2272) emerged as the clear winner of the 2026 edition, finishing with an impressive 5 points out of 6. Karthi’s road to the title was marked by clinical victories over higher-rated opponents, securing him the top prize and a major boost to his rating.
A large group of five players finished just half a point behind the leader, sharing second to sixth place with 4.5 points. This group included veteran GM Melikset Khachiyan, Kagan Uz, GM James Edward Tarjan, FM Patrick Peiju Liu, and Bengt Largo. Despite their best efforts, the chasing pack could not close the gap on Karthi in the final rounds.
The competition across the rating-based sections was equally intense, with clear winners emerging in several categories:
Expert Section: Javier Silva took clear first place with 5 points, holding off Jeffery Gallegos and Andrew Yu.
A Section: Finn Belew delivered the most dominant performance of the class sections, finishing with 5.5 points.
B Section: Lynn A. Hill secured first place with 5.5 points, finishing a full point ahead of the runners-up.
C Section: David T. Day achieved a perfect 6/6 score, the only flawless performance of the entire festival.
D Section: A tie for first between Dustin Herker and Mohit Kumar Rout, both finishing on 5 points.
The 2026 Larry Evans Memorial, directed by Jerry Weikel, once again proved to be a premier destination for West Coast chess. With its $17,000 guaranteed prize fund and the prestigious setting of the J Resort, the tournament provided a professional platform for over 250 players.
The victory of CM Jashith Karthi serves as a reminder of the rising talent currently challenging established titles on the American circuit.
