Mechanics' Institute Chess Room Newsletter # 73

"After losing a game I play the next one better, after losing the second game I play like a lion, but after three defeats in a row anyone can beat me!"
   Eduard Gufeld

1) IM De Guzman wins 2nd Henry Gross Memorial
2) Ossipov and Snyder lead Winter Tuesday Night Marathon
3) Vinay Bhat 2002 Falconer Award
4) Arthur Dake visit the Mechanics' Institute in 1937
5) Upcoming Tournaments

1) IM De Guzman wins 2nd Henry Gross Memorial

Filipino IM Ricardo De Guzman continued his winning ways by taking first with a 5-0 score in the 2nd Annual Henry Gross Memorial held February 2 at the MI. This was De Guzman's fifth tournament win in 2002! Up and coming junior Monty Peckham moved another step closer to 2200 by taking second with 4 1/2 points, while NM Keith Vickers, junior Ben Haun and improving veteran Mariusz Krubnik shared third with 4. The 42-player event was directed by Anthony Corrales.

2) Ossipov and Snyder lead Winter Tuesday Night Marathon

Experts Victor Ossipov and Larry Snyder lead the Winter Tuesday Night Marathon after four rounds with perfect scores by virtue of defeating Peter Grey and James Jones respectively. Rudy Hernandez is alone in third at 3 1/2 after his defeat of fellow National Master David Blohm. Four rounds remain for the 66 contestants.

3) Vinay Bhat 2002 Falconer Award

International Master Vinay Bhat of San Jose has won the Neil Falconer Award, given annually to the top-rated player in Northern California under age 18, for the third year running. Bhat, who is a 17-year-old high school senior, will receive $2505 (his rating on the December 2001 USCF list). This is Vinay's last year of eligibility and the winner of the 2003 award will be wide open with many Northern California juniors over 2000 USCF trying to raise their ratings quickly!

The Falconer Award is given by longtime Mechanics' Trustee and 1992 US Senior Open winner Neil Falconer. All USCF rated juniors under 18 living in Northern California are eligible to compete for this award. For more details contact MI Chess Director John Donaldson at chessroom@milibrary.org or call (415) 421-2258.

4) Arthur Dake visits the Mechanics' Institute in 1937

The late Portland Grandmaster Arthur Dake had a long association with the Mechanics' Institute stretching from his participation in a simul against Alekhine in 1929 to his attendance at an IM norm event named in his honor in 1999. During this 70(!) year relationship he gave several exhibitions at the MI. The American Chess Bulletin of 1937 reports that in June of that year he gave a 24 board simul at the MI scoring 18 wins, 2 losses and 4 draws. The winners were Carroll Capps and H.R. Durham with Wallace Smith, C.Woskoff, N. Preo and S. Ruys drawing. The ACB notes that this was considered to have been one of the most successful occasions at the club in several years. The following day Dake beat the team of Carl Bergman and Ernest Clarke in an exhibition game.

5) Upcoming Tournaments

AT THE MECHANICS' INSTITUTE:

The A.J. Fink Amateur Championship March 1-3, 2002 5 Round Swiss Open to all rated under 2000 USCF
Round One (Game in 2 - Time Control for 1st Rd only!) : 6:30pm - March 1st
Round Two: 10:00am , Round Three: 4:00 pm - March 2nd
Round Four: 10:00am, Round Five: 4:00pm - March 3rd
Late Registration is from 5-6 pm on March 1st Time Control: 30/90; G/1 (with the exception of Round one which is Game in 2)
Entry Fee: $35 by March 26th. $40. after. $5. discount to MI members Prizes: ($1200 b/40) :$300-$200-$100. B $125/70 C $115/65 D $105/50 Unrated $70

Print/Clip/Send NAME:_______________________________________________
ADDRESS:____________________________________________
CITY:_______________________________________________ USCF #ID:______________________ RATING:____________ DISCOUNTS:______________
TOTAL:_________

The Max Wilkerson Open Saturday, March 30, 2002
5 Round Swiss A One Day G/45 Event Rated 1/2 K
PRIZES:
$600 - total, based on 25 paid entries.
1st 200, 2nd $100, top U2200 $90, U2000 $75, U1800 $70, U1600 $65.
ENTRY FEE:
$25 for MI members, $30 for non-members, $5 discount to juniors Late fee of $5 for entries received after March 26th.
Make checks payable to the Mechanics' Institute.
REGISTRATION:
9AM-9:30AM ROUNDS:
10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm
For more information: (415) 421-2258 or Email us, chessroom@milibrary.org

Print/Clip/Send NAME:_______________________________________________
ADDRESS:____________________________________________
CITY:_______________________________________________
STATE AND ZIP:____________ USCF #ID:______________________
RATING:____________ DISCOUNTS:______________
TOTAL:_________

REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS

A Heritage Event
Feb. 16-18 GPP: 20 N California
29th Annual People's Chess Tournament.
6SS, 45/2, SD/1. Martin Luther King, Jr. Student Union, Corner of Bancroft & Telegraph Ave, U.C. Berkeley Campus.
$$G 3200. Open: EF: $40 rec'd by 2/9, $45 at site, $500-350-200, U2300 $110. Expert: (2000-2199) EF: $39 rec'd by 2/9, $44 at site, $$300-150-75. Class A: (1800-1999) EF: $38 rec'd by 2/9, $43 at site, $$290-150-75. Class B: (1600-1799) EF: $37 rec'd by 2/9, $42 at site, $$280-140-70. Reserve: (U1600) 4SS, 45/90, SD/1. EF: $27 rec'd by 2/9, $32 at site, $$200-125-50, U1400 $100-50. Reg: 9-10 am sat 2/16. Rds: Open, X,A,B: 11-5:30 Sat., 10-4:30 Sun., 10-4:30 Mon. Reserve: 11-4:30 Sat, 10-3:30 Sun. Bring Equipment-None Supplied. One 1/2 pt Bye available-must be taken at registration, player may play up for $5 add'l. Cks payable to ASUC/Superb. Ent: ASUC/Superb Productions-Academic Games, 5 Eshleman Hall #4500, Berkeley, CA 94720. Info: 415-491-1269 (No phone entries). NS,NC,W,FIDE.

Mar. 23-24. 4th Annual Bay Area Ohlone Tourney.4SS, 30/90, SD/60
College Cafeteria, 43600 Mission Blvd., Fremont, CA.
$$(1620 b/100 full entries). 3 sects: Open, open to all.
EF $35 if received by 3/21,$40 at site. $$ 300-170-100, U2100 $$ 155, 100. Reserve, open to U1900. EF : $ 35 if received by 3/21, $40 at site. $$ 200-80-70, U1700 $165, 80.Booster, open to U1500. EF: $35 if received by 3/21, $40 at site, $$ 100-60-40. Prizes: Trophy in each sect. +Trophy for best 3 mem. Team. Special EF:Scholastic rated U1100 or new USCF mem., Collegiate/ USCF mem. attending College, $30 in adv., $35 at site. All: $3 CalChess discount. Reg.9-9:30 amRds. Sat. 10-3:30, Sun. 9:30-3. Ent/Info: Hans Poschmann, 4621 Seneca Park Ave., Fremont, CA 94538, hspwood2@attbi.com

National Events

*A U.S. Championship Qualifier*
Feb. 28-Mar. 3 GPP: 200 Illinois
2002 U.S. Masters: Eugene Martinovsky Memorial.
"The Homecoming of the American Master" 7SS, 40/2, SD/1. Hyatt Regency Oak Brook, 1909 Spring Rd., Oak Brook, IL. 630-573-1234. Free parking. Adjacent to Oak Brook Shopping Ctr. Open to players 2200+ or all who have ever been so rated, plus invited jrs. rated 2000+. EF: $85 rec'd by 2/20; $100 later until 2/25. No site ent's. GMs/IMs play free., confirm IN WRITING by 2/20. $$22,000 Gtd: $6000-4000-2500-1500-1000-700. 2400-2499: $600-350-150; 2300-2399: $600-350-150; 2200-2299: $500-250-100; U2200: $500-250-100. Top non-master jr: $400. Plus $1500 in pt. pool prizes to non-winners of above prizes. $200 Best Game Prize, $150 Best Endgame, $150 Best Combo. HR: $94 sgl./dbl. Mention US Masters & res. by phone/mail by 2/14 for chess rate. 1/2 pt. bye avail. in rds 1 or 2, must commit w/ent. Rds: 2/28 8pm; 3/1 10:30-5; 3/2 10:30-5; 3/3 9:30-4. Sets/boards provided, bring clocks. Ent: Cks payable to Midwest Chess Assoc., Helen Warren, PO Box 305, Western Springs, IL 60558. 630-663-0688, FAX 630-663-0689, apct@aol.com. VISA/MC. NS,NC,W.FIDE.

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