Mechanics' Institute Chess Room Newsletter #100

"It's far more important not to do anything stupid than to create brilliant combinations."
   Larry Evans

Honor Roll of Imre Konig Memorial donors: fund raising is now at $14,540 - only $5,460 to go!

Tibor Weinberger, Mark Pinto, Jim Eade, Neil Falconer, John Keker, Toshio Imai, Vince McCambridge, Bryan Bilby, Bear Stearns, Tom Allen, Max Wilkerson, John Cannon, Mervyn Field, Dr. Joe Wagner, Haluk Akol, Mike Goodall, Dr. Ben Gross, Smartchess, Peter Stevens, Kevan Gross and anonymous.

Observant readers of the Newsletter will notice that the Konig has not received any new contributions in some time. The tournament is getting close. Any donations, big or small, will be greatly appreciated!

GM Alex Baburin writes: "I would like to help the Konig fund raising by making a special offer on new subscriptions to my daily Internet chess magazine Chess Today - rates ($19 for 4 months, $25 for 6 months and $44 for one year) and encourage them to subscribe. When they subscribe, in the reference field they should write 'Imre Konig' and I will give 50% of their subscription to the tournament."
Go to http://www.chesstoday.net for more information on one of the best chess magazines in the world and help support the Konig!

1) Continental Open
2) Imre Konig Tuesday Night Marathon
3) Imre Konig Blitz
4) Here and there
5) Upcoming events

1) Continental Open

The Junior invitees for the Konig Memorial have been setting a hot pace this summer. Varuzhan Akobian tied for first in the World Open in July, making his first GM norm in the process. Now, IM Hikaru Nakamura, age 14, just won the Continental Open, defeating Grandmasters Strupinsky, Shabalov and Blatny along the way to a 5 1/2 - 1/2 score. The event was held last weekend in Sturbridge, Massachusetts.

2) Imre Konig Tuesday Night Marathon

The Imre Konig Tuesday Night Marathon started last night. FM Frank Thornally heads the 67-player field, followed by NMs Russell Wong, Igor Margulis and David Blohm. It's not too late to enter the eight round tournament with a half point bye for round one.

3) Imre Konig Blitz: September 7

Imre Konig Memorial Blitz: Come play the Grandmasters
Saturday, September 7 from 5-7 PM
$500 guaranteed plus donated book prizes
1st Place $250; 2nd $100; 3rd $50; First 2200-1800 $50; First Under 1800 $50
Where : Mechanics' Institute Chess Room, 4th Floor ; 57 Post St., San Francisco, CA 94104 (415) 421-2258
Time: Registration 4-4:45 PM on September 7. The event will last from approximately 5-7 PM (five double-round Swiss, 10 games in all)
Entry Fee: $15, $18 to non-WBCA members, free to GMs and IMs
Time Control: G/5 minutes. WBCA rules are used
For more information contact IM John Donaldson at the above number or reach him at imwjd@aol.com
PLEASE BRING CLOCKS!

4) Here and there

Congratulations to Camilla Baginskaite of El Cerrito who has been selected to play on the US Women's Olympiad Team this October-November in Bled, Slovenia. The Men's Team will consist of Grandmasters Gregory Kaidanov, Boris Gulko, Yasser Seirawan, Larry Christiansen, Joel Benjamin and Alexander Ivanov. The Men's captain is GM Nick DeFirmian.

One of the best content new chess websites is long-time Bay Area resident Jeremy Silman's site. It's free and can be accessed at: www.jeremysilman.com.

Alex Setzepfandt will be representing the United States this fall in Greece in the World Youth Championships. Way to go, Alex!

5) Upcoming events

Note two new additions to the calendar under national listings: the always popular Governor's Cup and a rare opportunity for GM and IM norms this December in Lindsborg, Kansas.

Vladimir Pafhutieff Memorial: August 17

This event is a 5-rounder, G/45, run on the Swiss system starting at 10 AM.

Regional Events

Aug. 24-25 GPP: 6 N. California
Frank Harris Memorial Chess Tournament. 4SS, 40/2, SD/30. Vallejo Chess Club, 333 Amador St., Vallejo (From San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland- Berkeley-Sacramento-Fairfield: Take I-80 toward Vallejo, exit on Georgia St., go west toward Central Vallejo, 3 lights make rt on Amador, 1/2 blk. on left). $$b/60 pd. ents. Open: (2000+) $$400-250, Best X $200. Reserve: (1600-1999) $$350-200, Best B $200. Booster: (1599/Unr.) $$300-150, Best D/Unr. $200. EF: $50 by 8/20, $55 later. Reg: 8:30-9:30am Sat. Ent: Cks payable to Maximo Fajardo, 127 Missouri St., Vallejo, CA 94590. 707-980-0311. Bring sets/boards, none supplied!

Aug. 31-Sept. 2 GPP: 15 N. California
2002 CalChess Labor Day Festival. 6SS, 30/90, SD/1 (2-day option rds 1-3 G/60). Golden Geteway Holiday Inn, Van Ness at Pine, San Francisco. $$b/130 pd. adult, 20 paid jr. ents. 7 Sects: Master: $700-$350-$200; U2400, $300. Expert: $400-$200-$100. A: $350-$175-$100. B: $350-$175-$100. C: $350-175-100. D/E: $350-$175-$100; U1200 $225. Unr: Trophy 1st. Trophy to top finisher (State Champion) in ea. sect. All: EF: $60 postmarked by 8/27 (Jrs. $50), 3-day: $59 (Jrs $49), 2-day: $70 at site (Jrs. $55). Unr: $40 in the D/E sect. or may play up to the Master section for the regular fee. $5 disc. to CalChess membs. USCF memb. req'd. May play up 1 sect. for add'l $10 (Jrs $5). GM/IM free ent. Reg: Sat. 8-9:30am, Sun. 8:15-9:15am, Rds: All compete for the same prizes. 3-day: Sat 10-4, Sun 11-4:30, Mon 10-3:30. 2-day schedule Sun 9:30-11:45-2 then merges. 1/2 pt bye(s) any rd(s) if req'd in adv., byes rds 5-6 must be req'd before Rd 1. 2002 August Ratings List, CCA minimums & Directo rs discretion will be used to place players as accurately as possible. Please bring clocks && equipment. HR: Golden Gateway Holiday Inn, 415-441-4000. Info: Richard Koepcke 415-964-2640. Ent: Richard Koepcke, 2047 Montecito Ave #30, Mountain View, CA 94043. No Phone entries. FIDE.

National Events

Dear Chess Friends,

Hope the 7th Governor's Cup Chess Tournament is on your fall calendar--October 11-13--in Sioux Falls, Sourth Dakota. The tourney will be at a new site this year--downtown at the Holiday Inn City Centre at 100 West 8th Street. Once again we will distribute $10,000 in prize money. Call (605) 339-2000 as soon as possible and ask for the $79 chess rate. ( Let me know if you have any difficulty making a reservation. I know that the state soccer tourney is in town that same weekend which may be a problem for you if you wait too long to reserve a room.)

The tourney will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday night.

All state chess associations are invited to nominate their current state champion or one of their best to represent their state in this event. Please spread the word to chess association presidents. At this time I do not plan to have the Governor's Office send out invitations like I have done in the past.

The entry fee will be $50 in advance--entries must be postmarked by October 5 to receive this rate. After that entry fees will be $70.

Free entry to all GM's, IM's, and players rated above 2400.

Remember to indicate your section when you register: Open, Premier, or Rserve. (Premier is Under 2000, and Reserve is Under 1600).

2nd Annual Lindsborg Rotary Open Chess Tournament
Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas
December 17-23 or December 20-23
GM " IM norms are available; FIDE rating and evaluation guaranteed for 7-day option!
$3,000 guaranteed prize fund!
3 sections:
FIDE: 9SS, 40/2, SD/1 (4-day option, rounds 1-5 G/50). First two rounds accelerated pairing.
1st - $800, 2nd - $400, 3rd - $200, 4th - 150, 5th - 100
U2400: $100 - 75; U2200: $100 - 75
Open: 9SS, G/120
1st - $150
U2000: $100 - 75 - 50; U1800: $100 - 75 - 50
U1600: $100 - 75 - 50; U1400: $100 - 75 - 50
Scholastic (12/22): G/30. Trophies for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in each HS, MS, ES categories
Entering fees: GMs & IMs free. Membership at Kansas Chess Association is required (dues can be paid on site).
Before 11/1/02 Before 12/1/02 At site
FIDE Section
FIDE 2300 $70 $80 $90
FIDE, USCF 2200 $80 $90 $100
FIDE 2200 $90 $100 $110
non-FIDE rated, USCF 2200 * $120 $130 $140
Open Section $50 $55 $60
Scholastic Section $15 $20 $25
Credit cards OK. Online entry at www.lindsborg.org/events.htm
* Number of non-FIDE rated players will be limited in this category
Schedules:
FIDE Session:
7-day: 12/17-12/20 1:00 pm; 12/21 & 22 9:00 am & 5:00 pm; 12/23 9:00 am
4-day: 12/20 (G/50) 4:00 pm, 6:30 pm, 9:00 pm; 12/21 9:00 am, 1:00 pm, & 5:00 pm;
12/22 9:00 am & 5:00 pm; 12/23 9:00 am
Open Sessions (G/120):
4-day: 12/20 4:00 pm; 12/21 9:00 am, 1:30 pm, 7:00 pm; 12/22 9:00 am,
1:30 pm, 7:00 pm;
12/23 9:00 am, 1:30 pm
Scholastic Session (G/30):
12/22 10:00 am, 11:30 pm, 2:30 pm, 4:00 pm, 5:30 pm
1/2-pt byes OK at ALL. Limit 3. Last bye must commit before round 5.
Special Event - 12/20 at 8:00 pm GM Igor Novikov will play simul games with 20 people. $20.
Hotel rates: $49 - $80 at Swedish Country Inn (1-800-231-0266), $36 - $56 at Coronado Motel (1-800-747-2793), $65 - $150 at Rosberg House B & B (1-888-215-5234), $65 - $95 at Smoky Valley B & B (1-800-532-4407), and $60 - $120 at C&W Ranch Bed & Breakfast (785-668-2352). Reserve by 11/15 or rates may increase.
Ent: Lindsborg Chamber of Commerce (for the chess tournament), 104 E. Lincoln, Lindsborg, KS 67456. 1-888-227-2227; http://www.lindsborg.org/events.htm For more information please contact Mikhail Korenman at 785-227-3380, ext.8164 or korenman@bethanylb.edu USCF, FIDE. NS, NC.