Mechanics' Institute Chess Room Newsletter # 58

1) Oropesa del Mar 
2) J.J. Dolan Memorial 
3) Prize winners from Tuesday Night Fall Marathon 
4) Herman Steiner at the MI 1930 
5) Western States Open 
6) Upcoming Events 

1) World Youth Chess Championship in Oropesa del Mar, Spain

John Donaldson reports from Oporesa del Mar:
"Three American players are on 3/3. They are Hikaru Nakamura (under 14), Aaron Pixton (under 16) and Fabriano Ciruna (under 10). Vinay Bhat is at 2/3 for under 18. There are over 1,000 youngsters competing in this eleven round competition. This event began on October 20th and will end on November 3rd." For more information, you can go to: http://www.worldyouthfestival2001.com/

2) J.J. Dolan Memorial Results

1st place was Mauro Casadei with 4.5/5, Eric Schiller, Drake Wang and Daniel Nakamura with 4 tied for 2nd and u2000, Monty Peckham won the u2200 with 3.5, Mariusz Krubnik, Charles Kleiman, Andrew Mueckenberger, and Daichi Siegrist tied for u1800 with 3.0, and Juan Carlos Ventosa with 2.5 for best u1600. There were 28 players for this event, with 3 masters and 4 experts. Thanks to Anthony Corrales for tournament information.

3) Prize winners from Tuesday Night Fall Marathon

Here is a complete list of the prize winners:
1st Michael Aigner
Shared 2nd-3rd and 1st Expert David Blohm, Larry Snyder, Igor Margulis and Victor Ossipov
1st A Steven Krasnov
Shared 1st B Mariusz Krubnik and Julian Standen
Shared 1st C Tom Allen and Jack Regan
1st D Clifton Rhodes

4) Steiner at the MI 1930

Herman Steiner (1905-1955) was not only one of the strongest American players of his era, but was also one of its greatest promoters. He spent much of his life in Los Angeles where he was well-connected with Hollywood celebrities. Several Chess Review covers from the late 1940s feature Steiner playing with stars like Humphrey Bogart. He was also the first prominent player to write a weekly chess column for the Los Angeles Times (roughly 1932 to his death), a tradition carried on by GM Isaac Kashdan from 1955 until August, 1982, when he handed the baton to IM Jack Peters. Peters recently passed the twenty year mark for his column!

According to the San Francisco Chronicle of May 5, Herman Steiner, New York champion, gave an exhibition of simultaneous play at the rooms of the Mechanics institute Chess Club on April 26 against seventeen opponents. He was defeated by Johnny Tippin and R. Mitchell. With the exception of a draw with E. J. Clarke, chess editor of the "Chronicle," Steiner won all the rest.

Before his departure from the Golden Gate, Steiner was matched to play three games against A. J. Fink, noted problem composer of the Pacific Coast, who has also won the highest honors in over-the-board play in California. The first game was stubbornly contested, but the loss of it tended to undermine the Californian's morale and he also lost the second.

5) Western States Open

Thanks to Michael Aigner for the following report from the Western States Open:
The 19th Western States tournament in Reno ended in a 3-way tie at 5.0/6 between GM Alexander Onischuk (#31 in the world), GM Alexander Ivanov, and IM Enrico Sevillano. Ivanov won the blitz tiebreak for the trophy. In a marked contrast to last year's four last round draws within 18 minutes on the stage, all four final round stage games lasted until the first time control and all were decisive: GM Onischuk defeated GM Stripunsky, GM Ivanov defeated GM Browne, and IM Sevillano defeated GM Wojtkiewicz. Other GMs included Yermolinsky, Serper, Shulman, Christiansen and Novikov. There were a total of 40 FIDE titled players in the open section!

385 total players showed up, allowing Jerry Weikel and the Sands Regency hotel to pay a based on prize fund of about $37,000. After the September 11th terrorist attacks, expectations for the turnout were much lower. Needless to say, everyone was quite pleasantly surprised. Next year is the 20th Western States, and Weikel promises "something special" will be offered.

6) Upcoming Tournaments

MI EVENTS (check the MI website at www.chessclub.org) for complete details

October 30 to December 18
Kurt Bendit Tuesday Night Marathon

November 9-11
Carroll Capps Memorial (5 rounds)

December 1
Pierre Saint-Amant Memorial (5 rounds G/45 at 1/2 k)

December 8-9
2nd Koltanowski Memorial Masters/Experts (4 rounds, open to 2000 and over)

January 25 - 27, 2002.
Bay Area Masters Spring Grand Prix I (*)
Prizes: 1st $1000 2nd $500 3rd $200
Based on 22 paid entries.
Site: Mechanics' Institute Chess Room, 57 Post St.
4th Floor, San Francisco, Ca. 94104
Dates: January 25, 26 and 27, 2002.
Schedule: 5 round Swiss
Open to players rated 2200 USCF and above (December 2001 rating list) USCF and FIDE rated.
Time control: 30/90 + 30/1 + SD/15.
Rounds: Friday 1/25 at 5pm. Saturday 1/26 and Sunday 1/27 at 11 am and 5pm. Entry fee: $100, if received by 1/22, $120 thereafter. GMs and IMs free.
On site registration 1/25 4-4:30pm.
Send entries to: Guillermo Rey, 435 Firecrest Ave, Pacifica, Ca. 94044.
Info: Guillermo at 650-355-0305 or reyg@ix.netcom.com
Organized by IM Guillermo Rey and directed by Mechanics' Institute Chess Room staff.
* Two other similar tournaments will be held during the first half of the year as part of the Grand Prix. The player who scores the most total points in all three tournaments will receive an additional $300. Tournaments dates will be announced soon.( Before the end of 2001).

REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS

An American Classic & A Heritage Event
Nov. 22-25 or 23-25 GPP: 100 S. California
The 37th Annual American Open.
(US Championship Qualifier). 8SS, 40/2, SD/1. Furama LAX, 8601 Lincoln Bl, LA. Free parking.
$40,000 b/400, 50% each prize gtd.
Open: $4000-2000-1000-700-600-500.
U2450/Unr $1000-500.
U2300/Unr $800-400.
U2200 $2600-1300-700.
U2000, U1800 U1600 each:
$3200-1600-800-400.
U1400: $2200-1100-550,
U1200 $1000-500. Unr: $350-200.
Trophy 1st each section.
EF: $119 by 11/20. +$20 at site,-$30 for Srs 65+ & Jrs U15. Unr: $39 adv, $49 at site. SCCF mem re ($12, $7.50 jrs U18), OSA.
No checks at door. Reg: 4-day ends noon, Rds 12:30-7:30,12:30-7:30,10:30-5,10-4:30.
3-day ends 11:30 Fri, 12:30-2:45-5-8 G/1, merges rd 5. Byes rds 1-6 w/adv. notice.
HR: $84, 310-670-8111.
Credit Card Ent/Info: 626-282-7412, 323 257-9839,
randallhough@yahoo.com.
Ent: American Open, Box 205, Monterey Park,
CA 91754. NS. FIDE.

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