Mechanics' Institute Chess Club Newsletter #502Of course a great player like that has no weak spots. What a player like
that does have are absolutely strong spots, so you surely don't want him to
utilize his strengths, because then your chances decrease to zero. It's not
surprising - chess being as complicated as it is - that Fischer had the greatest
problems with positions, which were unclear in an un thematic way. When in
effect everything just depended on accurate calculation. In those kinds of
positions, he is still better than me of course, but the difference is not that
great anymore, because it's just extremely difficult for both of us. The chance
that he will make an error increases, whereas in a thematic or technical
position he will just play perfectly from beginning to end and your chances of
surviving are zero.
Edmar Mednis writing about playing Bobby Fischer 1) Mechanics' Institute Chess Club News
2) 2010 US Chess League
3) A Chess Poem by Dennis Fritzinger
4) Here and There
5) Bay Area Chess offering jobs
6) Upcoming Events
1) Mechanics' Institute Chess Club
News
IM Elliott Winslow, who was a guest instructor at the Mechanics' summer
chess camp this past July, suffered a heart attack Monday night but we are very
glad to report that it was a minor one and he is now doing quite
well.
The Peter Grey Tuesday Night Marathon, named after M.I. stalwart Peter Grey
who started playing in the TNMs when they first were held in the early 1970s and
has continued going strong for close to forty years, began last night with sixty
players. Top seeded are NMs Peter Zavadsky, Romy Fuentes and Russell Wong. It's
still possible to enter the nine round event with a half point bye for the first
game.
Sam Harnett has written an article about the Mechanics' and chess in San
Francisco. Read about it at http://thebolditalic.com/Actavier42/stories/350-members-of-the-board
.
Newsletter #501 reported that Irvine would be the eighth modern US
Open held in California but as FM Dennis Waterman points out it will actually be
the ninth. Ventura 1971 was missing from the list presented. We wrote about the high level play of 95-year-old Erik Karklins of Chicago
in Newsletter #501 . FM Eric Schiller writes that Edward Lasker was still
playing very strong blitz at the Marshall Chess Club at the age of 95, not long
before his passing.
A hardy round of congratulations go to Mechanics' members IM Sam Shankland
and NM Yian Liou who respectively won the US Junior Closed and tied for first in
the US Cadet Championship this past July. Sam had a dreadful start, losing his
first two games but ended up tied with GM Ray Robson and SM Parker Zhao with
scores of 6-3. Sam then beat Parker and Ray in the playoff to take the title.
Yian didn't have as wild a ride in the Cadet open to players under 16. He was
always near the leaders and finished tied for first with NM Michael Yang of
Minnesota with an undefeated 5-2.
Another MI member, SM Steven Zierk, who made an even score in his US Junior
Closed debut, just won the Arnold Denker Tournament of High School Champions
with a score of 5.5 from 6 in Irvine, California.
Michael Lin and Erika Malykin tied for first in the MI Scholastic
Championship held July 10th with scores of 4-0. Lin won the
playoff.
The July 7 MI Wednesday Blitz saw the following top scores: 1. Fuentes 8/9 2. Ismakov 7.5 3. Gray 5.5 4. Kleiman 5 5-6. Sandberg and Russell 4.5 . On July 28th the results were: 1. Ismakov 5/6; 2-4. Jelinek, Fuentes and Lopez 4. IM Ricardo DeGuzman won the 10th Annual Charles Bagby G/45 on July 17 with
a score of 4.5/5, drawing only with NM Evan Sandberg. DeGuzman defeated newcomer
NM Munci Inonu in the last round to take the top prize. Those tying for second
at 4-1 in the 38-player event were Munci, Sandberg, Dmitry Vayntrub and James
Kwok.
This Saturday the Mechanics' will host the 10th Annual Vladimir Pafnutieff
G/45.
2) 2010 US Chess League
The US Chess League will have three new teams this season with Los Angeles
replacing Tennessee, Saint Louis and a second team from New England.
The Mechanics' will lose two of their greatest performers in GM Vinay Bhat
and IM Sam Shankland who will be attending Brandeis this fall and playing for
the second New England team.
16-year-old SM Steven Zierk will be making his debut for the Mechanics' who
will feature more balanced lineups than in season's past.
Current Ratings
1. GM Patrick Wolff 2623
2. GM Josh Friedel 2575
3. GM Jesse Kraai 2551
4. FM Daniel Naroditsky 2453
5. FM Steven Zierk 2425
6. IM Dmitry Zilberstein 2421
7. IM David Pruess 2411
8. FM Andy Lee 2324
9. NM Yian Liou.2297
3) A Chess Poem by Dennis
Fritzinger
i watched bobby fischer on tv
i watched bobby fischer on tv in a beach house with both doors and all the windows wide open to the sounds of surf and to the night i watched as he played over paul morphy's game at the opera with the duke of brunswick and count isouard the kitchen light illuminated the makings of a taco coke waited in the fridge to release its bubbles as bobby made the moves i sat totally engrossed when i was in vietnam i'd sent money to buy "my 60 memorable games" back to the world cokes cost a dime apiece and were never cold the fan turned lazily in the ceiling geckos shouted from the walls bobby in blue fuzz sacked his queen and then triumphantly mated i asked myself what i'd done in the way of triumph had i done anything more than get back alive? the house good humoredly stood this realizing the beach the waves the endless night would outlast us all it was in isla vista where this all happened 4) Here and There
Congratulations to MI GMs Vinay Bhat and Jesse Kraai who both had
recent international successes. Vinay, who was seeded 13th, scored an
undefeated 6.5 from 9, to share third place in the 15th Balager Open held July
19-27, drawing tournament winner Vocaturo of Italy in round 7, Cuban GM Quesdada
(who finished 2nd) in round 8 and Russian GM Maletin in round 9.
Jesse was second in a Category 4 (2329 average) round robin in Edmonton
that ended August 2nd. He scored 6-3, losing only to tournament winner GM
Panchanathan who ran away with the event with 8.5 points. Other top finishers
were 3-4. IM Porper and GM Kekelidze 5.5.
IM Emory Tate won the Fremont Open held last weekend with a score of 3.5
from 4, drawing only with Phillip Pereplitsky. Phillip was joined by his brother
Edward and Paul Richter in a tie for second with 3 points. Richard Koepcke and
Kenneth Zowall organized and directed the event.
Ricardo DeGuzman continued his domination of Sacramento events by
taking the annual tournament held over the July 4th weekend with a score of 5/6,
defeating fellow IM Walter Shipman in the last round. NM Evan Sandberg was
second with 4.5 points followed by Shipman, NM James McFarland and Phillip
Seitzer at 4-2. John McCumiskey organized and directed for the Sacramento Chess
Club.
There's an interesting video on Chess in New York City which two Columbia
University grade students created, which features FM Asa Hoffman: http://web.jrn.columbia.edu/newmedia/2008/masters/chess/
On July 21, ballots were counted in Crossville for the USCF special
election to fill two one-year terms on the Executive Board. Results were: Mike
Nietman 1517, Gary Walters 1472, and the unspeakable Sam Sloan 693. Nietman and
Walters were elected,
5) Bay Area Chess offering jobs
Dear Chess Community, We have a full-time and a part-time position for Enrichment Director and Enrichment Manager. Please find the job description for the Enrichment Manager below.... ---Who We Are--- Bay Area Chess in a non-political non-religious non-profit (501c3) organization which provides everyone with enjoyable activities that develop intellectual, mathematical, analytical, visual, and personal skills. Our services include after-school enrichment activities and chess tournaments. We are currently highest ranked US Chess Federation affiliate west of Texas. ---Position Description--- Title: Director of Enrichment Reports to: Executive Director (Dr. Salman Azhar) The Director of Enrichment: * develops and supervises enrichment programs in Chess and related games. * establishes and maintains mutually beneficial relationships with school districts, parent-teacher organizations, and related groups. * provides quality learning services through professional development and effective classroom management skills of instructional staff. * hires, leads, meets, motivates, trains, evaluates, and mentors staff to achieve great results. * schedules classes and activities at partner schools and facilities to optimize resources. * develops and manages enrichment budgets. * manages compliance with all applicable local, State and Federal regulations and requirements. * performs a wide range of organization and administrative duties related to departmental operations. * demonstrates and promotes high ethical standards and integrity. * shows a commitment to excellence and is willing to be coached for continual professional growth. ---Work Environment--- The Director's role affords flexibility of the work environment and location. The Director has to be available to meet the instructional staff, visit schools, and keep some office hours but may also productively work from home. Some tasks involve moderate physical effort, such as receiving and distributing instructional material. The Director will be paid during training period. ---Minimum Education, Training and Experience--- Post High School Degree Two (2) or more years of professional experience, preferably working with children and/or administrative. ---Certifications, Licenses and Registrations--- Must satisfy criminal background check as defined by state requirements. Must possess and maintain valid driver’s license ---Application Information--- To apply, email your cover letter and resume to salman@BayAreaChess.com. Compensation: Depending on Experience ($33,280 or higher for full-time qualified candidates as 1099 or W-2) If you have any questions, please email to salman@BayAreaChess.com EOE 6) Upcoming Events
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