Asheboro's Secret Weapon: Jonathon McNeill helped with setup on Friday. Let us spray!

44 Magnum: Forty-four of NC's Finest helped make this a BIG tournament experience!

He only has about 500 rating points on me...can I play black? NC Scholastic Champion Jonathon McNeill faces FM Andrey Chumachenko in round one.

Facing the music!? Kevin Huang (L) has an IPOD moment vs. FM Ron Simpson in round one.

Propensity for Intensity: NM Chris Mabe (L) and Greensboro's Josh Lawson go toe to toe.

Hocus Focus: NM Craig Jones and his magic chessmen square off against Jacob Parrish in round one.

Stearn Warning: Greensboro's secret weapon David Stearns (L) managed to topple Charlotte Expert Gary Newsom in round one.

What an Effort!! Derek Chen (L) held first round opponent Kenny Felder to a draw. WOW!

No Kidding Around: Ian Haigler (L) had his hands full against first round opponent Anish Kottu.

On Your Marc, Get Set....Marc Roach (R) had a good run against first round opponent Nishanth Shah in round one competition.

Determined Chen: Kevin Chen (L) outlasted first round opponent Anish Shah.

What happened? Elliot Fus (L) faces the scholastic chess stylings of Indira Puri in round one.

A Hard Fought Game: Richard Stancil (L) went to the wire against Mike Eberhardinger in round one, but eventually lost.

No wonder he is so smart! Derek Chen gets some work in with his mother between rounds.