I played in the world open last year as my first ever otb tournament. I've played in four other CCA tournament's since then as well as numerous other smaller ones. Perhaps because the world open was my first I have a more biased viewpoint of it, but I still think it was the best (or maybe second best, ATE is so cheap) value of any of the big tournaments I've played in, even at three times the prices of events like the Liberty Bell Open and such.

There were two things that really stood out for me about the world open. First was the international turnout- at times it seemed like there were more people speaking Russian in the hotel lobby then English. While foreign participation is a somewhat superficial thing, it still really impressed me. Chess culture in America is not so great, and I felt inspired being around so many people who take chess much more seriously.

Secondly the length of the world open was remarkable. Nine rounds is a hell of a lot of chess, especially when many of your games go past 5 hours. Typical big tournaments are seven rounds, which is also a lot, and the complete mental exhaustion at the world open requires a strategy of it's own to deal with. 

I'll be back again this year. Don't know what I think about going to Virginia after that though. It seems like the world open really belongs in Philadelphia.

With all due respect, I don't think someone should ridicule someone's else political beliefs, as surely you wouldn't like someone to ridicule your childish one (because honestly to say that you need to be a socialist to travel to Russia and get crushed by chess masters, is maybe what a 5 yo could think).

Keeping in mind that, if the goal is to play against the stronger masters in the world, I do believe it is enough few clicks on your computer.

1. Download arena free (not even 1 dollar)

2. Download Houdini 1.5 free and also without Nalimov tablebases it can beat Anand

3. Download Firebird, Critter, Stockfish and so on there are endless free engines which will beat the 99.9% of chess players and masters.

4. If you are rich and a true capitalist at heart: buy chessmaster GM edition, likely 10 dollars, and play against a 2800 players all the time you want!

So no need to challenge someone else political beliefs, no need to travel to Russia, and surely you can play against the real best players in the world, which you wouldn't play also if you spend 350 dollars.

If you don't like high entry fees support your local chess club or start your own.

The fact that people will pay upwards of $400 to play in one event with the delusion that they have chances to break even when they pinch their pennies rather than spending $10 or $15 to play in a local tournament (with 1 in 4 chance of tripling their money) shows that man is not an economicly rational beast.