Mechanics' Institute Chess Room Newsletter #345
 
Chess has become much younger. Unfortunately, the career span of a chessplayer has decreased substantially. Botvinnik played championship matches after forty, but now a player of that age is over-the-hill. In other professions a man only begins to flourish at forty, because of all the knowledge and experience he has accumulated, while a chess player has to look for a new job. Nowadays, players spend ten to twelve hours a day in front of the computer, and this is a luxury that only youngsters can afford. In return they get a huge amount of the most up-to-date knowledge, which gives them an edge over more experienced players. In Soviet times a student would meet with his trainer two or three times a week, while now they can do everything on their own. One can explore the database, play on the Internet, analyze with an engine, find annotated games, follow all the news, etc. Chess has become more intense.
 
IM Anatoly Bykhovsky
 
1) Mechanics' Institute Chess Club News
2) Josh Waitzkin visiting the Bay Area
3) US Championship starts tomorrow
4) FM David Weinstock
5) IM David Vigorito on John Watson Chess And Books
6) ICC acquires World Chess Network and Chess Live
7) Upcoming Events
 
 
 
 
1) Mechanics' Institute Chess Club News
 
 
IMs Cyrus Lakdawala and Ricardo DeGuzman tied for first with 4.5 from 5 in the 7th Annual Charles Powell Memorial held last Saturday. NM Michael Pearson, Expert Pablo Pena and Class A players Nicholas Nip and Brendan Purcell tied for second with 4 points in the 43-player field.  This was a particularly meaningful tournament for Nicholas who went over 2000 for the first time. This is a great accomplishment for anyone but especially when you are only eight years old!
 
This Saturday the Mechanics' will be honored to host a visit by IM Josh Waitzkin who will be  discussing his new book The Art of Learning  followed by a book signing. Many MI members will remember Josh's participation in the 1995 Pan Pacific GM tournament held in Chinatown. Since then Josh has gone in a different direction becoming a World Champion of Tai Chi Chuan Push Hands. Don't miss this exciting event! For more on Josh's activities see below.
 
This Sunday, May 20th,  the Mechanics' will host the Cliff Lundberg Memorial Chess Tournament for the late cab driving chess enthusiast. The event, which has free entry, will have registration from 11:30 to 11:55. Play runs from noon to 4pm with a time control of G/5. There are $600 in prizes with $150 for first. Cliff's sister Julie Alden, Big Dog.Citywide Cab, DeSoto Cab, Alan Freiburg (Green Book), Luxor Cab, Metro Cab and Yellow Cab Co-op are co-sponsoring the event.
 
May 26 the Mechanics' will play host a six player G/45 roundrobin playoff for the Northern California spot in the Arnold Denker Tournament of High School Champions. Competing for the title are those who placed 2-6 in the N. California High School Championship earlier this year - NMs Nicholas Yap and Sam Shankland, Experts David Chock, Adarsh Konda and Michael Zhong and Class A player Micah Cohen. The winner of the event, Daniel Naroditsky, is ineligible for the Denker, as he is in fifth grade, and participants must be in high school.
 
 
2) Josh Waitzkin visiting the Bay Area
 

THURSDAY, MAY 17TH                                                                  Palo Alto,  CA

 

6:30pm                                    Discussion & Signing/Stanford Bookstore

                                                519 Lasuen Mall

Stanford, CA  94305

 

FRIDAY, MAY 18TH                                                                         San Mateo, CA

 

2:00pm                                    Discussion & Signing/College of San Mateo

                                                Student Center (Building 5) – South Cafeteria

                                                1700 West Hillsdale Boulevard

                                                San Mateo, CA 94402

                                               

SATURDAY, MAY 19TH                                                                   San Francisco, CA

 

10:00 am                             Mechanics' Institute      57 Post St. 4th floor   (415) 421-2258 or imwjd@aol.com for more info

 

 

 

1:00-4:00pm               Hip Hop, Chess & Life Strategies Exhibition and Tournament

Omega Boys Club

1060 Tennessee Street

San Francisco, CA

Hosted by the Hip Hop Chess Federation (HHCF) in connection with ShinKen Public Relations

 International Chessmaster Josh Waitzkin scheduled to appear at the Hip Hop, Chess & Life Strategies Exhibition

April 12th 2007, San Francisco, CA- International chess icon Josh Waitzkin has joined the rank of stars scheduled to appear at the Hip Hop, Chess & Life Strategies Exhibition on May 19, 2007 at the Omega Boys Club located at 1060 Tennessee St. in San Francisco, California.

The Hip Hop, Chess & Life Strategies Exhibition, organized by the Hip Hop Chess Federation founders Adisa Banjoko and Leo Librian, teams up rappers, martial artists, athletes and other stars in a head-to-head intellectual battle in a fun and safe environment.  “Our purpose is to encourage young people across the country to infuse their artistic and physical gifts with chess tactics and strategies to enrich their lives for years to come” stated co-founder Adisa Banjoko, “after spending nearly 3 years defining our goals and vision we are so honored to announce Josh’s participation with our organization”.

Josh Waitzkin recently authored, The Art of Learning, a breakthrough book on how to cultivate mind and body. Waitzkin burst into the chess world as a child in the mid 1980’s. His journey to winning his first National Chess Championship was captured in the film Searching for Bobby Fischer. Since then he has gone on to become eight-time National Chess Champion, a World Champion of Tai Chi Chuan Push Hands and a student of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Mr. Waitzkin is the author of Attacking Chess and is developer and spokesperson for Chessmaster, the biggest computer chess program in the world.

“I look forward to coming to San Francisco and participating in the Hip Hop, Chess & Life Strategies Exhibition,” stated Josh Waitzkin. “I believe that positive aspects of Hip Hop, chess and martial arts can effectively empower young American minds.”

Co-founder of the Hip-Hip Chess Federation Leo Libiran stated, “To have Josh Waitzkin at our tournament is like having Michal Jordan participate in your three on three. It is like having Al Capone get down at your gangster convention! We are grateful to Mr. Watizkin, The Omega Boys Club of San Francisco and all of the artists involved for supporting our goal of promoting chess to American youth. We expect a very strong turnout, but we are still in need of sponsorships. We invite any philanthropic donations available. ”

Other participants in Hip-Hop, Chess & Life Strategies Exhibition include award winning film director Kevin Epps, DJ QBert and countless others.  The Hip Hop Chess Federation is currently in negotiations to secure RZA of Wu-Tang and UFC Champion Referee Herb Dean for the May 19 event.

For more information, contact Veronica Cohen at vcohen@shinkenpublicrelations.com or visit: www.myspace.com/hiphopchess

 
 
3) US Championship starts tomorrow
 
The 2007 US Championship starts tomorrow with GMs Alex Yermolinsky and Walter Browne, IMs Josh Friedel and David Pruess and NM Michael Aigner representing Northern California.
 
Chess Life online is running a fantasy chess contest to go with the event. Note the deadline for entries is tomorrow.
 
 
Hello--

As many of you know, the Frank Berry 2007 U.S. Chess Championship kicks off Tuesday, May 15  in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

This year, Chess Life Online is organizing a fantasy chess contest. Any current USCF member** is eligible to select a seven-player team and enter to win exciting prizes including an 80 GB video Ipod. The deadline for entry, Tuesday, May 15th 3 PM, is coming up fast. For more details on prizes and contest rules,go here: http://beta.uschess.org/frontend/news_7_355.php

To register for the contest, go here: http://alpha.eudemonia.net/timw/fc_register.php

Please note that this is a separate registration process from your USCF login so you will create a new password. However, your USCF ID must be current for you to be eligible for prizes. 

I encourage you to enter to make the games from the Championship (May 15-23) even more exciting as you root on your fantasy team members! Also be sure to forward this on to other USCF members who may not know about the contest. If you are not a member or your membership has recently expired, then renew or join today and take your chance to  win at fantasy chess!

All the best,
Jennifer Shahade
editor
www.uschess.org
215-545-1759
347-351-5152

**- USCF employees or immediate family members of employees are ineligible for prizes. 

 
4) FM David Weinstock
 
Washington state FM David Weinstock, perhaps best known to the chess world for the beautiful magnetic chess sets he produces
( http://www.chessmate.com/chessmate1.html ), was in a really bad car accident last week. He is currently at
Harborview Hospital in Seattle , in the Trauma Intensive Care Unit. He is in stable condition, but  is on a respirator

If you would like to visit David, he is on the 2nd floor of the West Wing, in room 258.

5) IM David Vigorito on John Watson Chess And Books
 
Tune-in for The John Watson Chess & Book Show on Tuesday, 15 May at 21:00 Server Time on the Internet Chess Club..

Each week John's 90-minute show will be reviewing all the latest titles and discussing books with his guests.

IM David Vigorito, author of new book Challenging the Nimzo-Indian will be John Watson's guest on the show.

6) ICC acquires World Chess Network and Chess Live

The Internet Chess Club (“ICC”), the world’s premier online  subscription chess service, has today announced the acquisition of  two competitive online chess services, World Chess Network, from  Master Games International, and Chess Live, from GamesParlor.  The  two services will be merged together to form a new service, separate  from ICC, to be called World Chess Live.

7) Upcoming Events

 
MI Events - go to http://www.chessclub.org/ for more information
 
May 19-20
Chess4Children May Open
5-SS. USCF Rated. Hebrew Academy, 14401 Willow Lane, Huntington Beach,
CA. Time Controls: Saturday G/90; Sunday 40/2, SD/1
Prize Fund: $500 Guaranteed. (Prizes will go up with more than 20 players).
Distribution: 1st-35%, 2nd-15%, Top X/A/B, and C-10% Each, Top D and
E/UNR-5% each.
April Supplement used.
EF: $40 before 5/18/07. After: $50. IM's play free with entry fee deducted from prize.
Rds: Saturday 10-1:30-5 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Reg: Online at http://www.chess4children.com/, click on Tournament and Class Registrations 2007, and click on Chess4Children May Open. You can also register by printing out the flyer and mailing it in.
Info: SCCF membership required of So. Californians: $14, $9 jrs. Advanced Entries will be listed at the same page as registration.
Questions: Joe Hanley 714-925-3195
NC, NS. State Championship Qualifier.
 
May 26-28
2007 Lina Grumette Memorial Day Classic
6-SS, 40/2, SD/1 (2-day schedule rds 1-3 G/60, then merges). LAX Hilton, 5711 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045.
$$10,000 b/200, 60% of each prize guaranteed. In five sections:
Open $$T+1800-750-400-300-200, U2400 400, U2200 700-300-200.
Premier (under 2000): $$750-300-200-100.
Amateur (Under 1800): $$750-300-200-100.
Reserve (Under 1600): $$750-300-200-100.
Booster (Under 1400/unrated): $$T+400-200-100, U1200 T+100, Unr T+100. (Unrated may win Unrated prizes only.)
Best game prize $25, all sections eligible.
All: half-point byes available, limit 2, rds 5-6 must be requested with entry & cannot be revoked. SCCF membership req. ($14, jr. $9), OSA. No checks or credit cards at door.
HR: $95 (310) 410-4000, mention chess. Parking $8/day.
Reg: 3-day 9-10 a.m. 5-26, 2-day 8:30-9:30 a.m. 5-27.
Rds: 3-day: 10:30-5 Sat-Sun, 10-4:30 Mon.  2-day: 10-12:15-2:30 Sun., then merges.
EF: Open, Premier, Amateur, Reserve $83 if received by 5-24, $95 door, Booster $67 by 5-24, $80 door. On-line entry: http://www.westernchess.com/.
Ent: SCCF, c/o John Hillery, 835 N. Wilton Pl. #1, Los Angeles CA 90038. 
Inf: admin@westernchess.com. NS, W, F.  GP: 40. State Championship Qualifier
 

A Classic Event!
Jun.16   14th California Classic Championship  California, Northern

5SS G/45. 3003 Scott Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95054. EF: $29. $15 more after 6/12, $2 Cal Chess Discount.. $750 b/50: Open 200-100-50 U2000 30, Reserve: 200-100 U1600 30, U1400 30, U1200 30. Reg: Sat 8:30-9:30 AM, Rds: 10:00-11:30, 11:45AM-1:15 PM, 1:45-3:15PM, 3:25-4:55PM, 5:00-7:00 PM. Ent: Salman Azhar, P.O. Box 730934, San Jose, CA 95173-0934, Payable to Salman Azhar or paypal to sazhar@yahoo.com.  Info: sazhar@yahoo.com.   

May 15-23, Oklahoma - Frank K. Berry 2007 U.S. Championship


9SS, Quality Inn (formerly Holiday Inn) , 2515 W 6th Ave (Hwy 51), Stillwater OK 74074.  Prize fund $65,000 or higher; see website.  Open only to qualified US players (most are GMs) or Patrons who are US players. Entry fee for Patrons: 2500/over $5000, 2400-2499 $10000, 2300-2399 $15000, 2200-2299 $20000, 2100-2199 $30000, 2000-2099 $40000, Under 2000 $50000. No fee for qualified players. Deadline for Patron EF is 4/25; after that, Patron entries accepted only at discretion of USCF Executive Director. HR: $60 or lower, 405-372-0800.  For updated details see www.uschess.org/  FIDE rated, GM & IM norms possible. Ent: US Chess Federation, PO Box 3967, Crossville TN 38557, phone 931-787-1234.

Aug. 14-19   2007 U.S. Senior Open  

 6SS, 40/2 SD/1, open to USCF members born before August 14, 1957. La Quinta Resort & Club, 49 - 499 Eisenhower Drive, La Quinta (Palm Springs) CA. 92253 HR: $105 800 -589-3828. EF: $90 if received by July 16, $100 by July 30, $110 after July 30 or onsite. Make out checks to USCF. Prize Fund: 85 or more paid entries: guaranteed $5,000 (or 70% return) 1st: $1200, 2nd: $700, 3rd: $450, 4th: $350; 5th $250; 6th 150; U2200 $300-150, U2000 $300-150; U1800: $250-150, U1600: $200-100, U1400 $200-100, Unrated $200-100. Trophies: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Prizes for each Age champions 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74 and over 75. Reg: ends 12 noon August 14 for Senior Open. Traditional Schedule: Tuesday - Saturday one round daily 2 pm. Sunday, 11 am. Alt Schedule: G/60 Thur Rd 1 3pm, Rd 2 6pm, Fri Rd 3 10am, merge with Traditional Schedule 2pm. 1/2 pt. byes available except final Rd. Awards reception 6 pm. TD: NTD Carol Jarecki. (website coming soon for this event)www.uschess.org/tournaments/2007/senior/ or mail USCF P.O. Box 3967, Crossville, TN 38557





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