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Now that I've become one of the 10,000 fairly good players who've retired from tournament chess, I can clearly see what I should have seen when I was active --- that for most of us, chess is less of a serious competitive sport than a lifelong love affair. IM David Strauss |
1) Mechanics' Institute Chess Club News 2) East Bay Chess Club News 3) Jay Bonin triumphs 4) LA Masters starts 5) Ursula Foster 6) Three Polgars at the National Open 7) Royal Game of Chess 8) Here and There 9) Upcoming Events 1) Mechanics' Institute Chess Club NewsRicardo DeGuzman was the convincing winner of the 5th Annual Henry Gross Memorial G/45 last Saturday. The Filipino IM won his first four games before clinching the victory with a draw against teenager Sam Shankland. Sam had an excellent result tying for second at 4-1 with Dutch Master Marcel Beulen and Expert Victor Ossipov. Anthony Corrales directed the 28-player event for the Mechanics'. Five rounds into the Winter Tuesday Night Marathon there is five-way tie for first at 4.5 between IM Odondoo Ganbold, NMs Batchimeg Tuvshintugs, Nicolas Yap, and Igor Margulis, and Expert Igor Traub. Thanks to Providian Financial as part of their Providian Cares program WGM Kamile Baginskaite will begin teaching a free class for women of all ages on Sundays from 2-4 pm very soon. The next Newsletter will have complete details. The MI's advanced Chess Camp, with GM Alex Yermolinsky as lead instructor, will be back for the fifth consecutive year this summer. The all day camp will run from August 1-5. Mea Culpa - Nicolas Yap and not Matthew Ho was the 2004 Falconer Award winner. 2) East Bay Chess Club NewsSM David Pruess writes: EBCC February Swiss There's a new chess player in town, and his first tournament was a resounding success. New York NM Ben Dean-Kawamura, recently relocated to the Bay Area, won his first tournament in these parts with a resounding 4-0 score. To reach this mark he had to face the #1, 3 and 4 seeds in the tournament (he was the #2 seed), knocking them off in succession in rounds 2-4. He played an excellent attacking game against SM David Pruess in round 2. Second was taken by Mingson Chen with a score of 3.5/4. U2000 honors went to Robert Russo, u1700 to Jonathan Soo Hoo, and u1500/unr to Jamie Sawhill. The East Bay Chess Club holds a weekend swiss once a month, the next one being March 12-13. Bayareasliga to open soon A chess league will be starting its first season in the Bay Area shortly. The matches will be played once a month between 4 man teams (though the teams may have many alternates on their roster). The first two match dates are Feb 27th and March 26th. It is still not too late to get into the league, there is room for a few more players. If you would like to have a team or be placed on a team, please contact David Pruess at liga@eastbaychess.com ASAP. 3) Jay Bonin triumphsThe 132nd, and for the moment final, New York Masters took place on 1st February 2005. Alex Shabalov and Gata Kamsky finished in joint first on 3/4. The two previous events IM Jay Bonin went on a tear winning both tournaments scoring 5.5 from 6 against strong GMs!
Bonin,J (2342) - Stripunsky,A (2533) [A21]
Yudasin,L (2547) - Bonin,J (2342) [C00]
Stripunsky,A (2550) - Bonin,J (2343) [C42]
Bonin,J (2343) - Wojtkiewicz,A (2536) [E61]
Kamsky,G (2717) - Bonin,J (2343) [A46]
Miton,K (2583) - Bonin,J (2343) [E81] 4) LA Masters startsJust as the New York Masters has shut down the LA Masters has started up. The 1st Los Angeles Masters took place on 31st January 2005. The format is similar to that of the New York Masters with four games in an evening Timerate in LA is g/30. The event takes place every Monday at the LA Chess Club (http://www.LaChessClub.com). Sponsor: Kreiman Chess Academy http://www.kreimanchess.com/. IM Andranik Matikozian won the first event with 3.5/4 and GM Vauzhan Akobian the second with an identical score. Official site: http://lachessmasters.com/ 5) Ursula FosterSeveral Newsletter readers responded to the piece on Ursula Foster in the last issue. Duane & Lore Catania wrote: Thanks for reporting the news of Ursula Foster. We knew her for 27 years. We will miss the dignity and respect that she brought with her to every tournament. Mike Maloney writes: I suppose you might be looking for a game or two of Ursula's. This is the only game I have in my files. It isn't great, but it does show Ursula to have been a solid player and worthy opponent. She had a substantial advantage in the final position.
Maloney,M (1943) - Foster,U (1610) [B18] 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nf3 Nd7 7.h4 h5 8.Bc4 Qc7 9.Qe2 Ngf6 10.Ng5 Nd5 11.Bd2 0-0-0 12.0-0-0 e6 13.Rhe1 Re8 14.N3e4 Kb8 15.g3 Ka8 16.a3 N7f6 17.Bd3 Nxe4 18.Nxe4 Be7 19.c4 Nf6 20.Bf4 Qa5 21.Nxf6 Bxd3 22.Rxd3 Bxf6 23.Kb1 Qf5 24.Ka2 Rd8 25.Be3 e5 26.d5 e4 27.Rd2 cxd5 28.b3 dxc4 29.bxc4 Rd3 30.Bf4 1/2-1/2 6) Three Polgars at the National Open
Polgar Sisters Tandem Simul! Thursday, June 9th For the first time in over 10 years the Polgar sisters - Susan, Judit and Sofia - will give a tandem simul. Don't miss this rare opportunity to play all three sisters. At $50 per board, this event will surely sell out. Early entries are guaranteed a seat, late entries (including on site) will be assigned seats by lottery based on date received. Late Registration at 3:00 p.m., Starts at at 3:30 p.m.
Las Vegas International Chess Camp Thursday, June 9th
7) Royal Game of ChessNewsletter reader Rusty Miller passes along the following article that was rediscovered by Stephen Wright of British Columbia. Mr. Wright runs an excellent website devoted to BC chess history at http://www3.telus.net/public/swright2/homepage.html . Royal Game of Chess (from Seattle Daily Times, February 19, 1898, p. 13) It is likely the Hudson Bay Company's factors and other employees, who came to this Northwest Coast early in the present century, whiled away the long winter evenings at the chess table, and that the young army officers of the United States stationed at Forts Vancouver and Steilacoom in the 50's, including Harney, Grant, McClellan, Sheridan, Kautz, Pickett and others whose names are now on the page of the immortals, included chess-pIaying among their accomplishments, but no record of the fact has come down to us. The writer has no knowledge of chess-playing in Seattle prior to 1860. During the winter of 1860-1 Hon. L.B. Andrews spent most of the long evenings at chess in a little gunsmith shop that stood on Commercial Street a little to the north of the present Squire-Latimer Building. Mr. Andrews made new guns and mended old ones by day, and his shop was his parlor, dining room and bedroom as well. English and American muskets of the last century, yagers and Kentucky squirrel rifles, shotguns and pistols of now almost forgotten types kept company with each other while awaiting a new ramrod, tube, mainspring or stock. In the same old, dingy gunshop the writer saw Mr. Andrews make the first tests of the coal from his Squak coal mine, which has since been known as the Gilman mine, and which is a part of the same coal measures as those at Newcastle. The latter were discovered a year or two later, but were developed much earlier. During the two decades ending with the "70"'s there were few accessions to the ranks of the chessplayers. O.J. Carr, afterward postmaster, David Kellogg, B.F. Briggs, William H. Gilliam, Isaac Parker and a few of the old pioneers helped to keep the traditions of the old game alive for twenty years or more. About 1883 the town began a more vigorous growth, and among the newcomers were a few chess players. From about 1881 to 1889 - the year of the fire - Griffith Davies' bookstore became the headquarters of the lovers of the game. Kendricks, from Seabeck, Bagley, from Olympia, and visitors from abroad were there welcomed, and it was no unusual event for a game to start when the doors were closed in the evening and close only when it was necessary to open them again to patrons in the morning. During the latter part of this period a young Englishman arrived here, coming by way of Australia and California, who had been trained in the clubs of London, and who was at once recognized as the strongest player in this part of the country, with the exception of Kindrick. This was Thomas Piper, who participated in the recent match and was the leader of the Victoria team. He is a young gentleman in every sense of the word, whose merits are recognized by the military authorities at Esquimalt, where he occupies a responsible position. Of the Iocal players Bagley was for a long time at the head, but along about the time of the fire Griffith Davies took the lead and held it for a year or two and then dropped out of the leading rank. In 1890 a chess club was organized, with a membership of some half hundred, large rooms were fitted up in the Frye Block, and the Chamber of Commerce Building had a chessroom attached, but after a time interest waned, heavy expense fell upon Davies, Jenner and Bagley and the rooms were closed. About three years ago a new club was organized in a modest way and early in 1897 it was consolidated with the Iocal whist organization under the name of the "Seattle Whist and Chess Club," which keeps a god membership and includes among its members some strong players, both whist and chess. Rodney Kendrick, formerly of Seabeck, then of Port Hadlock, and now of San Francisco, and Mr. Piper, mentioned above, were of equal strength and both were a shade stronger than any others here. Mr. Chapman of the Victoria team, who played in the recent match, is nearly as strong as those two, and with one other gentleman of Victoria, whose name the writer has forgotten, these gentlemen rank with the strongest players of the Pacific Coast. Of the Iocal players, Messrs. Dickey, Peterson and Bagley are recognized as the strongest, and it is a point of dispute as to which is entitled to take precedence. Each one will tell a friend in confidence that he (the confider) is a shade the better player, but actual contests over the board have left the matter unsettled, with no promise of adjustment. Mr. Davies is probably nearly as strong, but as he does not play with men who call out his powers, it is uncertain as to his rank. Messrs. Lerch, Barto, Jenner, Steele, Williams, Cadien, Baldwin, Getman, Curtis and others are players of more than ordinary strength, and, many other gentlemen of the city take an active interest in the game, so that Seattle bids fair to attain and hold good rank in the chess-playing world. At the recent-match Seattle's best players were outplayed by Victoria's best players, but in turn the Victoria second-rank men were no match for the Seattle second rank, so that the total score was in favor of Seattle -12 to 9. It is probable that a return match will be played before midsummer, and there is also talk of a telegraphic match with San Francisco. The late Col. Granville O. Haller was an enthusiastic lover of the game in earlier years, and he and the writer lightened the tedium of a long sea voyage together from New York to San Francisco in 1864 with many a game between themselves and others on the steamer, and the writer has always remembered with enthusiastic delight the rage of the Major, as he then ranked, when the steward of the boat would come at 10 o'clock each evening with a deprecatory flourish and the order, "Lights out, sah." This regulation was strictly enforced at that time owing to the depredations of the Alabama and other Confederate cruisers. In the daytime only the best steam coal, with no smoke, was used, and after dusk all external Iights were forbidden and all interior ones put out after 10 o'clock. These precautions and frequent changes of course made were in order to lessen the danger from such cruisers. 8) Here and ThereCongratulations to Ed Labate who bought out the inventory of the late Ken Smith's Chess Digest.You can check out Ed's offerings at labatechess.com. The latest issue of New in Chess (2005/1) has plenty of California connections. There is a big story on the US Championship held last fall in La Jolla. There is a picture of Dmitry Zilberstein of Fremont who annotates his prize winning victory over Alexander Ivanov. The subject of Just Checking for this issue is GM Larry Christiansen who grew up in Riverside. Those with good memories will remember Dennis Monokroussos as one of the strongest players Nevada has ever produced. He has recently been very active on the ChessBase website and is now starting his own blog. Chess fans, Check out this "blog" by our local Chess Master, Dennis Monokroussos! http://chessstuff.blogspot.com/
Dennis M's Chess Site
About Me:Name:Dennis Monokroussos 9) Upcoming EventsUpcoming Tournaments at the MI
A.J. Fink Amateur - March 5-6 Local East Bay Chess Club Open Quads
On Saturday, February 12th, 2005
Entry fee: $15 if mailed before 2/5/05, $20 at site, $5 discount to EBCC members To register, or for more info: www.eastbaychess.com or (510) 845-1041 --------------- East Bay Chess Club Scholastic Quads
Sunday, February 13th, 2005 Entry fee: $10 if mailed before 2/5/05, $15 at site, $5 discount for EBCC Members Prizes: Trophies to the top finisher in each quad.
Registration/Check-in: 9-9:45 AM the day of the tournament. To register, or for more info: www.eastbaychess.com or (510) 845-1041
A Heritage Event! Mar. 12-13 EBCC March Swiss GPP: 10 N. California 4SS, 40/2, SD/1. East Bay Chess Club, 1940 Virginia St. Berkeley, CA 94709. EF: $30, $35 after 1/8. $5 EBCC discount. $$500G, $200-150-100-50; plus $600 of other prizes b/50. u2100, u1900, u1700, u1500, u1300: 1st wins free entry to any tournament plus free lesson with EBC instructor, 2nd wins free entry. Reg: 9-9:45. Rds: 10-4 daily. Info: tournaments@eastbaychess.com; 510-845-1041. Regional
February 19-21 www.westernchess.com Mar. 13 2nd Annual Century West Open GPP: 6 S. California 5SS, G/40. Los Angeles Chess Club, 11514 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025. $$1000 b/48, 75% of each prize guaranteed: $300-150-50, U2200 100, U2000 100, U1800 100, U1600 100, U1400/Unr 100. Complimentary refreshments. All: SCCF membership required ($14 reg, $9 jr.), OSA. EF: $34 if rec'd by 3-11, $43 at door. On-line entry: http://www.westernchess.com/. No checks or credit cards at site. Half point byes: Limit 1, must be requested with entry. Reg: 8:45-9:30am. Rds: 10, 11:45, 1:30, 3:30, 5:15. Info: admin@westernchess.com. Ent: SCCF, c/o John Hillery, 835 N. Wilton Place #1, Los Angeles, CA 90038. State Championship Qualifier. Mar. 18-20 5th Annual RENO-FAR WEST OPEN GPP: 120 Nevada 6SS, 40/2, 20/1, G/1/2. Sands Regency Hotel/Casino, 345 N.Arlington Ave. Reno, NV 89501. 1-866-386-7829 or (775) 348-2200. $$28,500 b/300. $$18,000 Gtd. (Prizes 1-10 in Open Section Gtd. plus ½ of all other prizes). Free Lecture/Analysis Clinic by GM Larry Evans! 6 Sections. Open (2200 & above) EF: $120 (2000-2199=$175; 1999 & below=$251) (GMs & IMs free but must enter by (3/1) or pay late fee at door). $$2,000-1,000-800-700-600-500-500-500-500-400, (2300-2399) $1,000-600-400, (2299-below) $1,000-600-400 (If a tie for 1st then a playoff for $100 from prize fund). Sec."X" (2000-2199) EF: $119; $$1,000-600-400-300-200-100-100-100-100 (2099-below) 700. Sec."A" (1800-1999) EF: $118; $$1,000-600-400-300-200-200-100-100-100-100. Sec."B" (1600-1799) EF: $117; $$1,000-500-400-300-200-100-100-100-100-100. Sec."C" (1400-1599) EF: $116; $$900-500-300-200-200-100-100-100-100-100. Sec."D/" (1399-below) EF: $115; $$800-400-300-200-200-100-100-100-100-100, (1199-below) $500-300-200-100. 1st Sr.= $200-100; 1st Club=$500-300-200. All classes have trophies 1st-3rd. Unrated players are free entry but not eligible for cash prizes. Must join USCF for 1 full year thru this tournament. 1st Unrated=trophy + 1 yr. USCF Membership. $15 discount to Seniors (65+ yrs.) & Juniors (19-under). Players may play up. Provisionally rated players may only win ½ of 1st place money. CCA ratings may be used. Note: pairings not changed for color alternation unless 3 in a row or a plus 3 and if the unlikely situation occurs 3 colors in a row may be assigned. Note: a no draw rule until 30 moves will be in effect. SIDE EVENTS: Wed. (3/16) 7pm IM Igor Ivanov Clock Simul ($40-includes analysis), 7pm- Quick Quads (G/29) ($20).Thurs. (3/17) 6-7:15pm Free Lecture-GM Larry Evans; 7:30pm- GM (TBA) Simul ($20); 7:30pm- Blitz (5 Min) tourney ($20) 80% entries = Prize Fund. Sat. (3/19) (3-4:30pm) Free Game/Position Analysis- GM Larry Evans. Sun (3/20) Quick Tourney (G/29) 5 rd. Swiss ($20) Reg. 11-11:30am play begins at 12 (noon) -80% of entries = Prize fund. ALL REG: 5-9pm (3/17), 9-10am (3/18). RDS: 12-7, 10-6, 9:30-4:30. Byes available any round if requested before rd 1. ENT: make checks payable and send to: SANDS REGENCY (address listed above), postmarked by 3/1. $11 after 3/1. Do not mail after 3/11 or email after 3/16. $22 late fee at site. HR: (Sun-Thurs. $25!!) (Fri. & Sat. $54!) + tax. 1-866-386-7829 mention (Code) CHE 318. Info: Jerry Weikel 6578 Valley Wood Dr, Reno, NV 89523, (775) 747-1405, wackyykl@aol.com. Or check out our website at: www.renochess.org/fwo. To verify entry, phone Sands Regency. Heritage Event! Mar. 25-27 3rd Annual Western Pacific Open GPP: 50 S. California 5SS, 3-day 40/2, SD/1, 2-day rds. 1-2 G/75 then merges. Burbank Airport Hilton, 2500 Hollywood Way, Burbank CA (adjacent to Burbank Airport). $$10,000 b/200, 50% of each prize guaranteed. In 3 sections: Open: 1600-1000-800-400-200 plus $200(G) bonus for clear first, U2400 300, U2300 200, U2200 700-500-300. EF: $81 if received by 3-23, $95 door. Premier (U2000): $$ 700-500-300-100, U1800 400-200-150, U1600 400-200-150. EF: $81 if received by 3-23, $95 door, no unrated. Amateur (U1400): $$400+trophy-200-100, U1200 100+trophy, Unr 100+trophy, unrated may win unrated prize only. EF: $66 if received by 3-23, $75 door. On-line entry: http://www.westernchess.com/. No checks or credit card entries at door. All: $25 Best Game prize, all sections eligible. One half-point bye if requested with entry, rds 4-5 cannot be revoked. SCCF membership req. of S. Cal. res., $14 reg, $9.00 junior. Reg: 5:30-6:30 p.m. 3/25, 8:30-10 a.m. 3/26. Rds: 3-day 7 p.m., 11-5:30, 10-4:30. 2-day: 10:30-1:30 (G/75), then merges. HR: $89, (818) 843-6000 or (800) 840-6450. Be sure to mention Western Chess. Parking $7/day. Info: admin@westernchess.com. Web site: http://www.westernchess.com/. Ent: SCCF, c/o John Hillery, 835 N. Wilton Pl. #1, Los Angeles CA 90038. NS. NC. F. State Championship Qualifier. National Feb. 19-20-21 OCF Winter NAO FIDE Open GPP: 30 Oklahoma 7SS, G/120+10, Holiday Inn, 2515 W. 6th Ave (Hwy-51), Stillwater, OK 1-405-372-0800. HR: $60 $$4,400 Gtd. 2 half pt byes available any rounds. Appearance fees available for all FIDE rated women only. 2005 Okla Gran Prix #1, Two sections: FIDE Open: $500-400-300-200-100, U2000 $300-200-100. U1800 $300-200-100 Reserve Section: U1600 $300-200-100. U1400 $300-200-100 U1200+Unr $200-150-100. $100 for top upset. EF: $25 postmarked by 16 Feb, $10 more at site. $10 OCF required. Reg: Sat 11-Noon, Rds: 12:30-5, 10-2:30-7, 9-1. Ent: Frank Berry, 402 S. Willis Street, Stillwater, OK 74074. FKimBerry@AOL.com. NS, W, USCF, FIDE, Free Parking. |