"This sort of nonsense is so frustrating. Why not de-emphasize winning and losing at team sports?? They are supposed to build character right? I think that this sort of sophistry just begins the move to eliminate chess masters from chess instruction. "

   Bill Schill

FM Schill, a longtime scholastic chess teacher in the Seattle area writes in response to last week's quote:

"Scholastic chess has a different goal and purpose from adult chess in that chess is developmental at the scholastic level and recreational at the adult level. CalChess therefore urges scholastic coaches and instructors to emphasize the developmental aspects of chess, such as good sportsmanship, team spirit, generous in winning and gracious in losing and to de-emphasize by word and by example the competitive aspect of the game."

For more on this debate you may wish to go to http://www.chessville.com/Editorials/ScholasticsAndTheSoulOfChess.htm where Oklahoma Master Tom Braunlich has written an interesting article entitled Scholastics and the Soul of Chess.

1) Mechanics' Institute Chess Club News 
2) DeGuzman wins  Sacramento Chess Club Weekend Swiss #13
3) Konstantin Aseev 1960-2004
4) Ian Mullen 1960?-2004
5) Kurt Bendit
6) US Olympiad Teams named
7) Americans Abroad
8) Here and There
9) Battle of Two World Champions 
10) USCF Dues Reduced
11)"First Move Chess Challenge"  
12) Upcoming Events

Mechanics' Institute Chess Club News

The Mechanics' Institute is very pleased to announce that funding for the Mechanics' Institute Inner-city Youth Chess Program is provided by Providian Cares, Providian Financial's community giving program. Thanks to Providian the M.I. is offering free Thursday afternoon classes to Bay Area youngsters both at the M.I. and at select San Francisco schools. Contact M.I. Scholastic Coordinator Anthony Corrales for more information ( apcorrales@hotmail.com).

NMs Russell Wong and Victor Ossipov and Expert Kenneth Hills are the only remaining perfect scores after three rounds of the Robert Jordan Tuesday Night Marathon. Among those tied for fourth at 2 1/2 are IM Ricardo DeGuzman and FM Frank Thornally. Five rounds remain for the 77-player field.

Ted Castro won the Wednesday Night Blitz on August 25, scoring 9.5 from 12. Yefim Bukh was second at 8 with Anthony Rozenvasser third at 8 in the 12-player round robin. Action resumes tonight at 7pm, immediately after GM Alex Yermolinsky's lecture.

Lubomir Ftacnik (2600 FIDE) of Bratislava, Slovakia, will be giving a free lecture on the classic battle Bishop versus Knight on Saturday, September 11, from 1-2:30pm at the Mechanics' Institute. GM Ftacnik, who played in the 1991 Pan Pacific International in Chinatown and won the 1999 David Bronstein Jubilee (ahead of I. Gurevich, Dzindzihashvili, Browne and Seirawan) is noted as an excellent speaker and outstanding teacher. Don't miss this lecture and the blitz tournament which follows from 3-5pm (5 double round Swiss or round robin depending on entries) with a $10 entry fee ($50 guaranteed first prize).

M.I.Grandmaster-in-Residence Ale Yermolinsky will be lecturing and playing in an event in Medicine Hat, Alberta, the weekend of September 11-12.

The Mechanics' Thursday Afternoon Lecture and USCF rated play return this fall. Chess Club Director John Donaldson will give lectures from 12:15 to 1pm each Thursday. Immediately afterward USCF rated play is available.

Chess Dad recently paid a visit to the Mechanics' and wrote about it in his online blog http://chessdad64.journalspace.com/

Left My Queen in San Francisco : A Visit to the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club -- Entry # 12 posted 08/22/04 (edited Sunday, Aug 22, 2004 10:37)

During our family's recent vacation to Northern California, we had the distinct pleasure of visiting the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club located in downtown San Francisco on 57 Post Street. The Mechanics' Institute is one of the oldest chess clubs in the US having been established in the 1850's. The Club itself is physically located on the 4th floor of the vintage Mechanics' Institute Building. The space is dedicated to chess exudes class and tradition. When entering you see the built-in wooden chess tables accommodating about 50 games and a few computer terminals to the side for online play. Old time photographs of players and matches line the walls reminding of the Club's rich history and tradition.

When we arrived on August 11th, a Wednesday evening, Grand Master Alex Yermolinsky was midway through his analysis of a recent game where Irina Krush, one of the strongest woman players in the world, came from behind to beat GM Alex Strupinsky.

After the lecture and a short break, the ever cheerful and friendly Yermolinsky oversaw 13 rounds of a round robin Blitz Tournament where each player had 5 minutes to complete all of his moves, and each competitor played each other. The players were serious and competitive but also friendly and welcoming to Chessdude64 who at age 10 was the youngest competitor on the scene. Chessdude held his own winning 5 matches, losing 7 (most of which were tough battles) and drawing one.

The top finishers were all top notch players. They included Ted Castro (3rd place), a young man who moves the pieces with skill, grace, and an uncanny quickness, and who is also a very nice guy. 2nd place went to Daichi Siegrist, a well spoken young man who is entering his freshman year of high school. I later learned Daichi was California's recent Junior High Champion. And lastly there was International Master Vladimir Mezenstev who won all 13 of his games, and finished as the clear winner of the tournament.

We would like to thank all of those at the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club for their hospitality and making Chessdude64 and Chessdad64 feel welcome. It was a memorable and magical night.

Chessdad 64

2) DeGuzman wins Sacramento Chess Club Weekend Swiss #13

IM Ricardo DeGuzman won the 7-player Master/Expert section in the Sacramento Chess Club Weekend Swiss #13 with a 4-0 score held August 28-29. Tying for second at 2.5 were NM Michael Aigner and Class A player Brendan Birt. MI regular Ted Castro won the Reserve section with a 4-0 score with Daichi Siegrist sharing third at 3-1. A total of 54 players competed. Go to http://sacramentochessclub.org/weekend_events/sccws13.htm for crosstables of the three sections.

3) Konstantin Aseev 1960-2004

The Week in Chess wrote the following:

Konstantin Aseev born 20th October 1960 died on 22nd August 2004 at the age of 43 after a long illness. Aseev hadn't played since October last year and was a coach to Andrei Kharlov and Maia Chiburdanidze. He became an IM and then a GM in the early 1990s. He had a rating high of 2591 in 2001-2. He made significant contributions to theory in the Rauzer Attack and Queen Indian Defence.

Alex Yermolinsky shares his memories of his fellow Grandmaster, who he first met in 1983, after Aseev moved to Leningrad after growing up in a small town on the Volga.

"Konstantin was friendly but reserved. One of those rare people who think of others more than themselves. I still remember our game from the 1983 Leningrad Absolute Championship where we played in the last round and a win gave either of us the title. After a tough battle it finally ended in a victory for me. The first to congratulate me was Konstantin who gave me a big bear hug and said how well I had played.

Aseev was a creative player who used the whole board. He liked big strategic concepts and stayed true to his style even though it could be impractical. Time pressure was his mortal enemy and he lost many games to silly blunders after hours of building up winning positions. He loved to research openings and was generous in sharing his novelties with teammates in team competitions.

Konstantin was not a drinker or smoker and in the 1980s was in excellent physical condition. When I saw him in 1994 at the Lloyds Bank tournament in London he looked worn down. I'm not sure what had caused the change, it might simply have been the difficulties of living in Russia in the early 1990s, where everything was difficult, including getting proper food. Characteristically, when I asked him how things were, he didn't answer directly but instead asked how I was.

My memory of Konstantin is of a family man who liked the quiet life. Perhaps more than even playing chess, his greatest pleasure was returning to the small town where he grew up and going fishing with his father on the banks of the Volga."

4) Ian Mullen 1960?-2004

John,

Just heard some sad news regarding Ian Mullen.

Older players will remember Ian known as Spike to his friends. Ian was a strong player about 2200 and played for Edinburgh Chess Club, Castle and Wandering Dragons. As well as being a strong player Ian also co-wrote two chess books, Blunders & Brilliancies and Master Chess A Course in 21 Lessons.Due to illness Ian had to give up playing chess but still followed the game through friends and newspapers. Sadly Ian died on 28th July and his funeral was on 20th August.

John B Henderson

5) Kurt Bendit

Former MI Chess Club Director Kurt Bendit is living at the San Francisco Community Convalescent Hospital, Room 3A, at 2655 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA 94115 (Bush and Divisadero) - phone (415) 922-4141 . He welcomes visitors.

I. A. Horowitz toured the US extensively from the 1930s until the late 1950s promoting his Chess Review magazine and made many visits to the Mechanics' Institute. Here, in what might have been his last appearance at the club, he succumbs to Bendit's use of the tricky Dilworth variation in the Open Ruy.

Horowitz,A - Bendit,K [C82]
Simul at Mechanics' Institute San Francisco, 1958

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9.c3 Bc5 10.Nbd2 Nxf2 11.Rxf2 0-0 12.Bc2 f6 13.Nb3? Bxf2+ 14.Kxf2 fxe5 15.Kg1 Bg4 16.Qe1 Bxf3 17.gxf3 Rxf3 18.Be3 e4 19.Nd2 Ne5 20.Kh1 Rh3 21.Bf4 Qf6 22.Bg3 Rf8 23.Bb3 Nc4 24.Bxc4 bxc4 25.Qe3 Qb6 26.Qg5 Qe6 27.Rg1 Rh6 28.Qe3 c6 29.Re1 Qg4 30.Rg1 Rg6 31.b3 cxb3 32.axb3 Qd7 33.Qd4 Qe7 34.Qe3 h5 35.c4 h4 36.Bf2 Rxg1+ 37.Bxg1 Qe5 38.cxd5 cxd5 39.b4 Rc8 40.Qb6 h3 41.Qxa6 Rc1 42.Qe2 e3 43.Nf3 Qe4 44.b5 Re1 0-1

The California Chess Reporter, pages 58-59, 1958

6) US Olympiad Teams named

GMs Alex Onischuk, Alexander Goldin, Gregory Kaidanov, Alex Shabalov, Igor Novikov and Boris Gulko will make up the team which will represent the United States in Spain this October. It looks like former Russian captain Boris Postovsky will be the leader for his new country. Zsuzsa Polgar , Irina Krush, Anna Zatonskih and Jennifer Shahade will represent America in the women's competition with Paul Truong serving as Captain.

This Olympiad will mark the first time that the US Team has no native born players. Yasser Seirawan's (born in Syria but moved to the US before age 5) rating still puts him easily in the top six, but he announced his retirement from serious competitions last year - a pity as he won the silver medal on board two at the 2002 Olympiad, the only brifght spot for the US Team. 16-year-old Hikaru Nakamura, who made it four rounds into the FIDE World Championship in Libya earlier this year, has been playing extremely well of late, but the USCF formula includes results over the past two years which caused him to narrowly miss a spot. It would be a safe bet to count Hikaru on the team for 2006 and we would not be surprised to find GM Varuzhan Akobian also earning a spot.

The 2004 squad will feature three newcomers to the team, but they are hardly inexperienced. Alex Onischuk and Igor Novikov were both members of several Ukrainian Olympic teams and Alexander Goldin played very successfully for the United States in a match against China a few years ago. They will be part of the first US team in history in which all six players have FIDE ratings over 2600. This will have them seeded in the top ten, but whether they can fight for medals as US teams did so successfully in the period 1974-1998 (1 gold, 2 silver and 6 bronze from 13 Olympiads) or suffer as the last two squads (40th place results in Istanbul and Slovenia) did is unclear. Boris Gulko has played very infrequently the past two years, his only event in 2004 the Aeroflot Open. He would have played in the FIDE World Championship except that it ended up in Tripoli. Understandably at age 57, Gulko is not particularly interested in playing in the tiring world of two-games-a-day US weekend Swisses. Unfortunately with no foreign invitations this means he rarely gets to play outside the US Championship. This time around he barely played enough games and if the USCF beefs up its activity requirements this might be his last Olympiad (I believe he has represented the US continuously since 1988) even if his rating keeps him in the top six.

Gregory Kaidanov has also played very infrequently this year. Like most of the US team he was qualified for the FIDE World Championships but didn't play. Gregory debuted for the United States in 1993 at the World Team Championship in Lucerne where the Americans took home the gold, and has represented the United States ever since. He appeared to have reached his peak around 1993-94 but showed there was still room for improvement when he had a spectacular result in the Aeroflot Open in 2002. Unfortunately for a player of his level he gets few invitations to play in serious event and spends most of his time running a very successful chess coaching program. The only two members of the 2004 team, one of the oldest the US has ever fielded with an average age well over 40, that are extra ambitious are top-board Alex Onischuk and US Champion Alex Shabalov. The US team will need big results from these two players and solid performances from the other four members to crack the top five. The experience and knowledge are there the question is whether they will have the energy. We wish them the very best success. The US Womens team is another story. The USCF has never fielded a team with a former Womens World Champion (Polgar), two players who play like good male IMs (Krush and Zatonskih) and a reserve player (Jennifer Shahade) who has two IM norms and a FIDE 2350+ rating. Go back 20 years ago and with the exception of Diane Savereide there were no US players above 2200! Time have changed and so have expectations. The tourists of the past have been replaced by a team that definitely is aiming for a medal, preferably gold. Manager Paul Truong has arranged for training and other support the past two years and the players know each other well. Prospects look bright but there are a lot of strong women players out there. The world of women versus women chess is rapidly disappearing, but experience from the past has taught us that the top-rated teams don't necessarily win. Just as the US Mens Basketball team in Athens had a hard time adjusting to the international rules the US players, who play almost entirely against men, may need to make some adjustments. Still, if they stay healthy, have good morale and are able to use all four players frequently, there are excellent chances for an outstanding result.

Good luck!

7) Americans Abroad

IM Bill Paschall of Boston scored 4 from 10 in the Category 7 (2420) GM norm August First Saturday series in Budapest held August 7-19. Seattle FM Bill Schill scored 7-6 in the IM norm section (Category 1 - 2269 average) was won by New York teenager Alex Lenderman with a score of 8.5-4.5 (one forfeit win).

GM Chanda Sandipan of India won the annual Curacao tournament held August 5-14 with 7.5 from 9. US Champion Alex Shabalov of Pittsburgh was second at 7, while a point back Jennifer Shahade, Anna Zatonskih and Rusa Goletiani shared fourth at 6. New Orleans FM John Bick was tied for ninth at 5. 34 players competed.

8) Here and There

Stillwater, Oklahoma, is likely to be hosting the strongest tournament this Labor Day weekend. Confirmed GMs competing include the Bay Area's own Walter Browne, Alex Wojtkiewicz, Alex Stripunsky, Sergey Kudrin and Pavel Blatny. IMs scheduled to play include Michael Brooks, Anna Zatonskih and Jesse Kraai. Good luck Walter!

GMs John Fedorowicz and Nick DeFirmian have a new book out on the English Attack in the Sicilian. Batsford is the publisher.

IM Pascal Charbonneau is the 2004 Canadian Champion after defeating FM Master Eric Lawson in a playoff after they tied for first in a nine round Swiss. The 20-year-old Lawson had a breakout event defeating IM Igor Ivanov (representing Canada once again as he did in the 1980s) and top-seed Kevin Spraggett in the last two rounds. Go to http://www.chessontario.com/2004closed/ for more information.

45th US Armed Forces Open

The 2004 (45th annual) US Armed Forces Open (USAFO) Chess Tournament will be held from Saturday October 9 to Monday (Columbus Day) October 11, 2004 at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. This year the event has been opened up to any chess players from around the world who are in a military status (active, reserve, retired, national guard, militia, cadet, midshipman, or their national equivalent). The event is also on the World Chess Federation calendar. The organisers would love to see one or more players from the UK show up this year. Military chess players from all nations of the world are cordially invited. The US Department of State told the organisers that there are no restrictions on whom they may invite. To speed up the visa application process [for those nations who do not have a "reciprocal no visa agreement" with the US], the event is on a special list of approved events at all U. S. consulates and embassies around the world. The superb venue this year is at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. So far, players from India, Macedonia, Israel, Malaysia and Greece have indicated their intent to participate. There is the hope many other nations will also attend. So far the strongest military player that may compete is GM Efstratios Grivas (ELO 2520) from Greece, who is an instructor at the Hellenic Army Academy in Attica, Greece near Athens. The entrance fee is free. Registration is via e-mail using the form provided on the website. Further info: http://www.freewebs.com/usafco

The upcoming issue of Squares magazine will have articles by Californians Jerry Hanken (Lone Pine reminiscences) and Andy Ansel (book collecting). Go to http://www.chessco.com/ for more information.

The English Olympiad team for Spain is 1 Michael Adams, 2 Nigel Short, 3 Luke McShane, 4 Jon Speelman, 5 Mark Hebden, 6 Peter Wells.

The Ukrainian Championships, which is being run as a knockout, is producing lots of exciting chess. Here are two games that attracted my eye. The final sees 19 year old Anton Korobov (2565) play 18 year old Andrei Volokitin (2638).

Romanishin,O - Neverov,V [D58]
Ukrainian Championship Kharkov UKR (1.4), 25.08.2004

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 0-0 7.e3 b6 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.0-0 Nbd7 10.Bg3 c5 11.Qe2 cxd4 12.exd4 dxc4 13.Bxc4 Nh5 14.d5 Nxg3 15.hxg3 exd5 16.Bxd5 Rb8 17.Rad1 Bf6 18.Qe4 Bxc3 19.Bxb7 Qc7 20.Rxd7! Qxd7 21.Bc6 Qd6 22.bxc3 Qa3 23.Ne5 Rbc8 24.c4 Qxa2 25.Bd5 Rc7 26.Ng6 Rd8 27.Ne7+ Kf8 28.Nc6 Rdc8 29.Qh7 Rxc6 30.Re1 Re6 31.Bxe6 Qd2 32.Rf1 1-0

Korobov,A (2565) - Goloshchapov,A (2577) [D10]
UKR Championship (final) Kharkiv (4.1), 30.08.2004

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 dxc4 4.e3 b5 5.a4 b4 6.Ne4 Qd5 7.Ng3 Nf6 8.Nf3 Ba6 9.Be2 e6 10.0-0 Bd6 11.Bd2 Nbd7 12.b3 c5 13.bxc4 Qb7 14.dxc5 Bxc5 15.Nd4 Ne5 16.Qb3 Rc8 17.Nb5 Qe7 18.Rfb1 Nc6 19.Bf3 Na5 20.Qxb4 Bxb4 21.Bxb4 Rc5 22.Bxa5 Rxc4 23.Na3 Rc5 24.Bb4 0-0 25.Nb5 Rb8 26.Rd1 Bxb5 27.axb5 Qc7 28.Bxc5 Qxc5 29.Bc6 h5 30.Ne2 Ng4 31.h3 Ne5 32.Nd4 Rc8 33.Rdc1 Qb6 34.Ra6 Qb8 35.Rca1 Kh7? 36.Be4+ Kh6 37.Nf5+ Kg5 38.f4+ Kf6 39.fxe5+ Qxe5 40.Nd6 Rc7 41.Ne8+ Kg5 42.Nxc7 Qxe4 43.Rxa7 Qxe3+ 44.Kh1 Kh6 45.Ne8 Qb6 46.Rxf7 Qxb5 47.Nxg7 h4 48.Raf1 Qe2 49.Nxe6 1-0

9) Battle of Two World Champions

BRAIN VERSUS BEAUTY - CLASH OF THE TITANS - BATTLE OF TWO WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONS (NEW YORK, NY; LINDSBORG, KS) The United States Chess Federation (USCF) is pleased to announce the upcoming six-game Brain versus Beauty - Clash of The Titans between the two great World Champions Anatoly Karpov and Susan Polgar. Legendary World Chess Champions Anatoly Karpov and Susan Polgar will compete in the most exciting triple chess challenge of Rapid, Blitz and Advanced Chess. This historic and unique match will mark the battle between two of the Greatest World Champions of all time. 7-time World Champion Anatoly Karpov and 4-time Women's World Champion Susan Polgar have been true ambassadors of chess. This time, their historic battle is designed to promote US Chess, the Karpov School of Chess and the Susan Polgar Foundation. On Saturday, September 18, 2004, the Brain versus Beauty - Clash of the Titans Opening

Ceremony Chess Parade will be held downtown Lindsborg, KS from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM. The Parade King and Queen -- World Champions Anatoly Karpov and Susan Polgar - will lead a group of top grandmasters and scholastic teams participated at the Champion's Cup Scholastic Tournament. The media press conference will be held immediately after the Parade. The Battle of Two World Champions will be held at the Bethany College Theater on September 18-19, in 6 exciting matches with 2 Rapid games at the time control of 20 minutes with 5 seconds delay, 2 Blitz games at the time control of 5 minutes with 3 seconds delay and 2 Advanced Chess at the time control of 25 minutes with 5 seconds increments. The United States Chess Federation (USCF) has sanctioned the match as the First Official Brain versus Beauty - Clash of the Titans. The Karpov - Polgar match became available with support from the State of Kansas, City of Lindsborg, Anatoly Karpov Chess School, and Susan Polgar Foundation. CONTACT: Mikhail Korenman or Paul Truong 785-906-0402 or 212-748-9587 mkorenman@yahoo.com or USChessOlympiad@aol.com

10) USCF DUES REDUCED!

The US Chess Federation is pleased to announce that effective immediately,the price of most memberships including Chess Life has been reduced by $2if purchased online through our website at uschess.org. Early Renewal, AutoRenewal, 6 Month, Blind, Prison, and Economy memberships are not affected. The most popular categories reduced are:

Regular: lowered from $49 to $47
Promotional (new or last expired 2002 or before): lowered from $38 to $36
Senior (over 65): lowered from $36 to $34
Youth (under 20): lowered from $25 to $23
Scholastic (under 15): lowered from $19 to $17
Multi-year memberships in these categories have also been reduced in price by $2.
Affiliate commissions for all these categories are now $2 in our TD/affiliate area, and affiliates may obtain the $2 online discount as well, so the cost for affiliates who submit memberships online is Regular $45, Promotional $34, Senior $32, Youth $21, Scholastic $15. We are confident that these lower fees will result in more USCF-rated scholastics being held, and more clubs recruiting new members (and those expired 2002/before) through the Promotional memberships!

The $13 Economy Scholastic membership (without Chess Life) is still available upon request, but that membership rate does not qualify for an online discount and affiliates do not receive a commission.

The net due from affiliates for the $19 Scholastic Memberships is only $15 through our TD/Affiliate area (after the $2 online discount and $2 affiliate commission), for a membership that includes 6 issues of Chess Life including our new "Chess Life Kids" supplement! We urge all affiliates to promote this bargain membership!

11) "First Move Chess Challenge"

On September 19th, the American Foundation for Chess (AF4C) in partnership with the Detlef Schrempf Foundation is hosting the "First Move Chess Challenge". This event will pit celebrities against five top scholastic players. 2003 Women's Champion Anna Hahn will also be in town to give a simultaneous exhibition that will will kick off at Bellevue Square and last from 2:00-5:00pm. Salome Thomas-EL, author of best-selling book, "I Choose to Stay" (which is now being turned into a Disney film), will deliver the keynote address later in the evening.

For those who may not know, Detlef Schrempf had a successful career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) where he had his most successful seasons with the Indiana Pacers and the Seattle Supersonics. The 6'9'' sharp-shooting forward is a native of Germany scored more than 15,000 points in his career and was an NBA All-Star in 1997. He retired after the 2000-2001 season.

12) Upcoming Events

Upcoming Tournaments at the MI

Howard Donnelly Memorial - Sept. 18
J.J Dolan Memorial - October 2
Carroll Capps Memorial - November 6-7
Pierre Saint-Amant - November 20
Guthrie McClain Memorial - December 5 (Sunday)
Jim Hurt Under 1800 - December 11-12

Mechanics Institute Scholastic Quads 2004 Tournaments:

September 25, October 16, November 13, December 18
Open to players age 18 and under
(Limited to first 80 players) Game/45

Rounds : 10:30am, 12:15pm, 2:00pm Late Registration: 9:30am - 10:15am Open: to the first eighty players Note: Quads based on rating. USCF Rated. Unrated players face each other. You must be a USCF member to play in the quads. Time Control: Game in 45 minutes Entry Fee: $20 / $30 day of tournament/ $15 for MI members Checks payable to Mechanics' Chess Club Prizes: Trophies for the winners of each quad

California Events

Sept. 4-6 2004 CalChess Labor Day Championships GPP: 15 N. California
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 paid adult, 30 paid junior entries. Six Sections: 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 First. Trophy to top finisher (State Champion) in each section. All, EF: postmarked by 8/30 $65 (Jrs. $55) 3-day schedule, $64 (Jrs $54) 2-day schedule. $75 at site (Jrs. $65). Unrateds $40 in the D/E section or may play up to the Master section for the regular fee. $5 discount to CalChess members. USCF memb. req?d. May play up one section for add?l $10 (Jrs $5). GM/IM free entry. Reg: Sat 9/4 8-9:30am, Sun 9/5 8:15-9:15am. Rds: Choice of schedules- 3-day, 2-day merge at round 4, all compete for the same prizes. 3-day schedule Sat 10-4; Sun 11-4:30; Mon 10-3:30. 2-day schedule Sun 9:30-11:45-2-4:30 Mon 10-3:30. 1/2 pt bye(s) any round(s) if req?d in advance (byes rds 5-6 must be requested before rd 1). 2004 August Ratings List, CCA minimums and Directors discretion will be used to place players as accurately as possible. Please bring clocks and equipment. HR: Golden Gateway Holiday Inn (415)-441-4000. Info: Richard Koepcke (415)-964-2640. Ent: Richard Koepcke, PO Box 1432, Mountain View, CA 94042. No Phone ent. FIDE Rated

A Heritage Event!
Sept. 4-6 26th Annual Southern California Open GPP: 100 S. California
40/2, SD/1, 2?-day schedule rds 1-2 G/60. Burbank Airport Hilton, 2500 Hollywood Way, Burbank CA 91505 (adjacent to Burbank Airport). $$20,000 b/300, 50% of each prize guaranteed, U1400/unrated count as 2/3 entry. In two sections: Open: $$T+3000-2000-1600-900-600-400-200, U2400 800-500, U2300 500, U2200 1000-500, U2000 $$1000-500. $200 (G) bonus to clear first. Amateur (Under 1800): $$T+1500-750-500-300, U1600 $$1000-600-300-200, U1400 $$500-300, U1200 300, Unr 250. Unr. may win Unr. prize only in Amateur. Best game prize $50, all sections eligible. All: half-point byes available in rounds 1-4 if requested with entry, limit 2. SCCF membership req. ($12, jr. $7.50), OSA. No checks or credit cards at door. SCCF Annual Membership Meeting: 2:30pm Sept. 5. Reg: 3-day 8-9:30am 9-4, 2?-day closes 6pm 9-4. Rds: 3-day 10:30-5 Sat, 10-4:30 Sun-Mon, 2?-day: 6:30-8:45pm 9-4, then merges. EF: $99 if rec?d by 9/2, $101 on line at http://www.westernchess.com/, $120 door; U1400/unrated $64 by 9/2, $66 on line, $80 door. Ent: SCCF, c/o John Hillery, 835 N. Wilton Pl. #1, Los Angeles CA 90038. HR: $89, (818) 843-6000 or (800) 840-6450. Be sure to mention Western Chess. Parking $7/day. Info: admin@westernchess.com. W, FIDE. State Championship Qualifier.

Sept. 18 Joshua Tree September Open GPP: 6 S. California
5SS, G/45. Faith Lutheran Church, 6336 Hallee Rd., Joshua Tree, CA 92252. $$Top 2 Gtd., class prizes b/30. Open: $200-100. Class A: $75, $50, Class B: $75, $50, Class C: $60, $40, Class D: $60, $40, Class E: $50, $30, UNR: $30. EF: $30. Reg: 8-9:15. Rds: 9:30-11:30-2:00-3:45-5:30. Ent: Mark Muller, PO Box 502, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277. (760) 367-2311. muller29@adelphia.net. W. No time delay allowed.

Sept. 24-26 Los Angeles Open GPP: 50 S. California
5SS, 3-day 40/2, SD/1, 2-day rds. 1-2 G/75 then merges. LAX Hilton, 5711 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045. $$10,000 b/200, 60% of each prize guaranteed. In 3 sections: Open: 1500-1000-800-400-200 plus $200(G) bonus for clear first, U2400 200, U2300 200, U2200 750-500-300, U2100 200, U2000 200. EF: $79 if rec'd by 9-22, $81 by credit card at http://www.westernchess.com/, $95 door. Premier (U1900): $$ 750-500-300-100, U1700 500-300-200. EF: $79 if rec'd by 9-22, $81 by credit card at http://www.westernchess.com/, $95 door, no unrated. Amateur (U1500): $$400+trophy-250-100, U1300 100+trophy-50, U1100 100+trophy, Unr 100+trophy, unrated may win unrated prize only. EF: $64 if rec'd by 9-22, $66 by credit card at http://www.westernchess.com/, $75 door. Reg: 5:30-6:30pm. 9-24, 8:30-10am. 9-25. Rds: 3-day 7pm., 11-5:30, 10-4:30. 2-day: 10:30-1:30 (G/75), then merges. All: $25 Best Game prize, all sections eligible. One half-point bye rds. 1-3 if requested with entry. SCCF membership req. of S. Cal. res., $12 reg, $7.50 junior. No checks or credit card entries at door. HR: $89 (310) 410-4000, mention chess. Parking $6/day. Info: John Hillery, admin@westernchess.com. Web site: http://www.westernchess.com/. Ent: SCCF, c/o John Hillery, 835 N. Wilton Pl. #1, Los Angeles CA 90038. State Championship Qualifier. NS, NC, FIDE.

National Events

Oct. 29-31. GPP: 80 South Dakota
8th Annual Governor's Cup. 5SS, FULL-K, 40/2, All/1. EF: $55 if by 10/20, $75 at site, GMs, IMs, and over 2400 free. [18 & Under preregistering in RESERVE section pay $35.] Reg: 10/29 4-5PM. Rds: 6; 10-4:30; 9-3:30. BYES: One half-point BYE allowed in RDS 1-3 if requested in advance. Holiday Inn City Centre, 100 West 8th St., Sioux Falls, South Dakota, (605) 339-2000. Ask for chess rate $79. $$10,000 Unconditionally guaranteed. OPEN Section: FIDE Rated. Prizes: $1200-$1000-$800-$600; Master: $500-$300-100; Expert: $400-$250-$100; Under 2000: $200-$100. PREMIER Section [Under 2000]: Prizes: $700-$500-$300; Top B: $300-$200-$100; Under 1600: $175-$100. RESERVE Section [Under 1600]: Prizes: $600-$450-$300; Top D: $250-$150-$75; Under 1200: $150-$100. INFO/ADV ENT: Sioux Empire Chess Foundation, 2100 Slaten Court, Sioux Falls, SD 57103, (605) 338-9431. knudson1@sio.midco.net www.sdchess.org/govcup. Advance Entries will be posted on: www.suburban-chess.org/Tournaments/2004/Governor's%20Cup.htm.

Masrk these two events down on your calendar. The PAN AM Intercollegiate will be held in Kansas right after Christmas.Email Mikhail Korenman for more information at mkorenman@yahoo.com

4th Annual Lindsborg Open December 17-22

GM & IM norms are available; $4,000 guaranteed prize fund!

Rapid Knock-out Tournament Lindsborg, Kansas December 23-25, 2004 $11,500 guaranteed prize fund! 9SS;