The late Harold Dondis and I long wondered whether the Millionaire Open (www.MillionaireChess.com) would survive, given its unique structure — very large prize fund, along with high entry fees. After the first event in 2014, we did some quick back of the envelope calculations using the number of entrants and what we thought the average entry fee was and came to the conclusion that it had lost a lot of money. So, we didn’t expect a second event. We were pleasantly surprised that there was a second one, with the same prize and entry fee structure. And again, it drew the same low numbers along with what we thought were the same financial loses. When there was no notice of a third, we thought the event was done, but it wasn’t. The Millionaire Open has risen from the ashes but now it should be really be named the “Half Millionaire Open’’ as the prize fund has been reduced to around $500,000 (and with only 60 percent guaranteed). And in order to get closer to the large number of players on the East Coast, it has moved from Las Vegas, to Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City. It will still be on the Columbus Day weekend. Along with the decreased prized fund, the early bird entry fee is now a much more reasonable $499 (from $1,000). With the recent passing of the new chief tournament director, Sevan Muradian, some details have been delayed, but we hope that with the new format, we will have a permanent big money event to go along with the World Open.

Another news item, which seems to have passed very much under the chess world’s radar is that the Women’s World Championship match has started in Lviv, Ukraine (lviv2016.FIDE.com). It’s between the current champion, Ukrainian, Mariya Muzychuk (23) and the former champion, Hou Yifan (22). It’s a 10-game match with the winner getting $120,000 and the loser $80,000. Hou must be considered a large favorite, but I would have hoped this major event would have gotten more attention.

Winners: Concord-Carlisle Spiegel Cup Series, 14 & Under: 1st: Eli Richmond, Vittal Ranganath: 3-1; 11 & Under: 1st: Mark Chudnovsky; 4-0; Newburyport CC #155 February, 1st: John Elmore: 3.5-.5, 5 way tie for 2nd: Frank Sisto, Ronald Burris, David G. Ferreira, Alan Strelzoff: 3-1, MetroWest CC’s Groundhog Day Swiss: Open: 1st-3rd: Lawyer Times, Ilya Krasik and Alex Esterkin: 3-1

Coming Events: Legends of Chess: Ruslan Ponomariov, March 12, Boylston Chess Club, www.BoylstonChess.org; New England Masters, at the Boylston CC, March 17-21, 7-round, FIDE rated.

Answer to today’s problem: 1.Rd7+! KxR (1…Kb6 2.Qc5 mate) 2.Nc5+ Kc7 3.Nxe6+ wins Black’s queen.

Today’s problem