Mechanics' Institute Chess Room Newsletter # 80

"As Bobby Fischer said, you have to go for the truth in chess, and if that requires taking on a risky activity, you have to go ahead and do it."

   Edmar Mednis

1) 4th Annual Bay Area Ohlone Tourney
2) Spring Tuesday Night Marathon
3) Vallejo Open
4) Dos Hermanas ICC
5) MI - Log Cabin Match 1955
6) Cal Chess Membership
7) Upcoming Tournaments

1) 4th Annual Bay Area Ohlone Tourney

The Ohlone tournament this past weekend in Fremont drew about 90 players, allowing organizer Hans Poschmann to pay the full advertised prize fund. The open section went quite according to the ratings, as the top three seeds took the top three prizes. IM Ricardo DeGuzman shook off a major scare in round 1 against expert Jim Uren to sweep the tournament 4-0. He defeated NMs Paul Gallegos and Michael Aigner on the second day. NM David Blohm gave up half a point in round 1 and then cruised to 3.5 and clear second place. At 3.0 were Aigner and top under 2100 prize winner Steve Gaffagan.

Curtis Munson won the reserve section with 4-0 and Maximo Fajardo took clear second with 3.5-0.5. Tyler Arnold and Eric Tsai shared top honors in the booster section with 3.5-0.5 each. The team trophy was won by the Mechanics', with the team of Blohm, Monty Peckham, Gary Huang, and Drake Wang.

Thanks to Michael Aigner for this report.

2) Spring Tuesday Night Marathon

The Spring Tuesday Night Marathon started last night. The 57-player field includes 5 Masters led by top seed Egle Morkunaite. It's still possible to enter the event with a half point bye for the first round.

3) Vallejo Open

IM Ricardo DeGuzman and SM Ronald Cusi tied for first place with 3 1/2 - 1/2 in the Vallejo Open held March 16-17. Approximately 20 players participated in the event directed by Rico Adkins.

4) Dos Hermanas

Mechanics' member Eric Schiller did very well in the recent Dos Hermanas/ICC events averaging 75 percent and getting his rating Internet Chess Club rating up to 2550 These events were played with eight minutes aside and a two-second increment and featured many GMs and IMs. Well done Eric!

5) MI - Log Cabin Match

E. Forry Laucks unquestionably qualified as one of the great characters of American chess in the 1930s through 1960s. The founder of the Log Cabin Chess Club based in West Orange, New Jersey, Laucks loved to barnstorm around the world. The Log Cabin traveled to such far flung places as Cuba (With a young Bobby Fischer) and Alaska. During these trips members remembered the golden rule: Don't let Forry drive! An animated conversationalist, Laucks was known to look his listener in the back seat in the eye while driving down the road. This resulted in a few nicks and scrapes, but Forry was ready to handle the situation. If his car was undrivable, he would simply leave it by the roadside, flag a ride and go into town and buy a new one. It didn't hurt that Lauck's father had left him a sizable inheritance. The initial "E" undoubtedly stood for eccentric.

The summer of 1955, after the US Open in Long Beach, the Log Cabin hit the road and traveled all the way up to Alaska. Along the way, they played a match with the Mechanics' Institute.

Log Cabin

Score: 1

Mechanics'

Score: 6

6) Cal Chess Membership

Cal Chess, the official body representing the United States Chess Federation in Northern California, is becoming increasingly active under President Tom Dorsch and California Chess Journal Editor Frisco del Rosario and deserves support. Members receive discounts on the entry fee to many chess tournaments in Northern California as well as a subscription to the bimonthly Journal which includes annotations by the likes of GM Alex Yermolinsky. The cost of a years membership is $15 ($13 for scholastic). Contact Tom Dorsch at POB 7453, Menlo Park CA 94026. (650) 322-0955 tomdorsch@aol.com.

7) Upcoming Events

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 nonmembers, $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

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

REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS

Hercules Open April 27th and 28th

$1,350 based on 50 paid entries at The Mechanics Bank (Operations Center),
725 Alfred Noble Dr., in Hercules, CA!!
Directions: From SF/Berkeley: take Interstate I-80 East to State Route 4/ Hercules Exit -(willow Rd.). Make right turn off ramp onto Willow Rd. then make another right turn at light onto Sycamore Dr. Then a right turn at light on San Pablo Ave. Then make a left turn on John Muir Parkway, entrance to North Shore Business Park at the intersection of John Muir Parkway and San Pablo Ave. Then make the only right turn onto Alfred Noble Dr. Go up the hill to 725 Alfred Noble Dr. The Mechanics Bank. From State Hwy 4: Travel East on State HWY 4 to John Muir Parkway Exit. Keep straight into the North Shore Business Park at the intersection of San Pablo Ave. and John Muir Parkway. Then make the only right turn onto Alfred Noble Dr. Go up hill to 725 The Mechanics Bank (Operations Center). From Vallejo/ Napa: take Interstate I-80 West to Willow Rd. Exit. Make Right off interstate and go up to San Pablo Ave.-Make the only left turn. Make a Right turn onto John Muir Parkway at the intersection of State Route 4 and John Muir Pkwy, into the North Shore Business Park. Then make the only right turn on Alfred Noble Dr. Go up hill to 725 The Mechanics Bank.
Free Parking / skittles room!
See the most beautiful site in the East Bay!!
One Section: 4 Round Swiss, G/2, (Limited to 50 Players)
$350-250-150, Best X $140, Best A $130, Best B $120, Best C $110, Best D/E/Unr. $100.
Pre-entries: $35.00 if postmarked by 4/20/01; $40.00 at site/no checks at site.
Make checks payable and send to: Rico Adkins,
15696 Crestwood Dr. #172, San Pablo, CA 94806.
Please include your name, address, & USCF number and Exp. Date, and rating with entry. Byes must commit before first round. USCF membership required, membership renewal available at site. Apr. Supplement used. Questions/ Info. (510) 262-9061/e-mail: Fgh348@cs.com. Reg. ends at Sat 9:30 am. Rounds: Sat 10:30am, 3:30pm; Sun 10am 3:00pm. Bring sets, clocks.