The main function of chess trainers should be to guide the training of their students, rather than teach them directly. The best thing you can do for a student is to select interesting positions for them, and analyse them carefully so you can see the kings of things that the student is missing.

Jonathan Rowson in Chess for Zebras (page 32)

1) Mechanics' Institute Chess Club News
2) Wolfgang Unzicker 1925-2006 
3) Dr. Ben Gross 1922-2006
4) Garry Kasparov Simul in New York
5) National High School Championship in Milwaukee by Michael Aigner
6)  Lindsborg chess school seeks new director by Roxana Hegeman 
7) Oleg Zaikov Takes 1st in Scholar-Chessplayer Outstanding Achievement Awards
8) The 2006 Spring North American FIDE Invitationals in Chicago
9) 2006 Mayor's Cup Invitational Super Chess Tournament
10) Here and There
11) Upcoming Events

1) Mechanics' Institute Club News

Brendan Purcell, rated 1891, continued his giant killing ways as he defeated Batsaikhan Tserendorj, rated 300 point above him, in round five of the Spring Tuesday Night Marathon. The victory enabled Purcell to grab a share of first at 4.5 with NM Igor Margulis, who defeated tournament leader Oleg Shaknazarov . Tied for second at 4 with three rounds to go are Shaknazarov, NMs Russell Wong and Albert Rich and Experts Sam Shankland and Larry Snyder.

This Saturday the MI will host the 6th Annual Charles Powell Memorial honoring the memory of the late San Francisco Senior Master who was for many years the top player in Virginia. The five round event, played at a time limit of game in 45 minutes, starts at 10am.

2) Wolfgang Unzicker 1925-2006

Seven time German Champion GM Wolfgang Unzicker passed away on the 20th of April in Portugal at the age of 80 years old.

Unzicker's chess career spanned an incredible 70 years and brought us many memorable events. Born in Pirmasens, Germany, on June 26, 1925, Unzicker picked up the game of chess at the early age of ten. At the age of 29, in 1954, Unzicker earned his grandmaster title.

Throughout his career, Unzicker won the German Championship seven times between 1948 and 1965, played in 12 Olympiads (of which he played the top board 10 times!) between 1950 and 1978, and played in hundreds of tournaments around the world representing his home of West Germany.

What made his career so impressive is that chess was not Unzicker's profession. His full-time profession was in law as a judge for an administrative court. Chess was a passion for Unzicker. Unzicker once said "I never had the desire to become a professional chess player - this seemed to be a risky proposition in the Western World. Also, I did not want to dedicate my entire life to chess". Despite his desire to not make chess his full time profession he still brought us some matches and earned himself the nickname "world champion of amateurs". And...despite his age, he continued to play tournament chess regularly with his team from the chess club "Tarrasch Munich", competing in the "Oberliga" on board number one. In August of 2005, Unzicker competed in an 80th birthday rapid event where his opponents were Karpov, Korchnoi and Spassky.

Some of the most memorable chess moments that Unzicker brought to us were his first place tie with Boris Spassky at the Chigorin Memorial in Sochi 1965, finishing tied in 4th place in the famous 1966 2nd Piatigorsky Cup behind Spassky, Fischer and Larsen and finishing first at Maribor 1967.

Unzicker is survived by his wife, his three sons and his three grandchildren

The passing of Unzicker, leaves only five ( Portisch, Ivkov, Spassky, Fischer and Larsen ) of the ten participants of the 2nd Piatigorsky Cup with us as the 40th anniversary of this event is only a few months away.

3) Dr. Ben Gross 1922-2006

Dr. Ben Gross was a member of the MI for around fifty years and was still playing in the Tuesday Night Marathon until the past year, often making the trip south with Weston Leavens and Lazar Shnaiderman. He will be sorely missed.

The following is from the SF Chronicle of April 24

Benjamin L. Gross A native San Franciscan, psychiatrist and popular professor of literature at USF's Fromm Institute, died at home in Sebastopol April 17, at age 84. He was born March 1, 1922 to Polish Jewish immigrant parents and lived in the Fillmore before moving to the Richmond District where he attended Argonne and Presidio schools. He graduated from Lowell in 1938, UC Berkeley in 1942 and UC Medical School in 1946. He spent two years in Europe with the Public Health Service before opening his practice. Ben was a lover of James Joyce and chess, in which he won the US Amateur Senior Championship in 1989. His survivors include his wife of 61 years, Anita; sister, Ruth Hipshman; son, Ted and his wife Deborah; and two grandchildren. In lieu of a service, Ben wanted his friends to listen to one of his favorite pieces of music, "Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten" by Arvo Pärt.

4) Garry Kasparov Simul in New York

Go to E-Bay and you can bid to play Garry Kasparov. Bidding starts at $2,000.

You and your guests can join Garry for a Charity 25-Board Simultaneous Exhibition followed by a sit-down dinner at the famed NY Athletic Club on June 12th!

Be a part of a historic simultaneous exhibition in which you will sit down with 24 other chess players on June 12th, 2006, at the New York Athletic Club in New York City, one of the most elegant and famous landmarks in the Big Apple. Your opponent that evening will be the highest ranked chess player of all time, Garry Kasparov. Read his complete bio here...

This auction is for one slot to play Garry Kasparov on June 12th in the simultaneous exhibition. The seat number mentioned in the item title is for auction identification purposes only, and does not prioritize the winning bidder or denote a particular seating assignment at the event. We recommend that you check out the other auctions to bid on as well, as it is expected each opportunity to go for different closing bid prices. Once a bid is placed, it is final. If you are the high bidder on two auctions, you can play multiple positions at the table, or give one of the slots to a friend. Please read through our auction terms below for complete details on transferability, etc.

To help make the event a special experience, the winning bidder may bring up to three guests with them. With a hosted cocktail hour, a delicious sit down dinner, and time to talk with Garry personally, this is a chess player's dream come true. Each chess player will also receive a photo taken with Garry, the opportunity to have him autograph up to two items (player only), and a signed certificate commemorating the chess game.

About the Kasparov Chess Foundation: Founded by World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov, KCF's mission is to bring the many educational benefits of chess to children by providing a complete chess curriculum and enrichment programs. The Foundation promotes the study of chess as a cognitive learning tool in curricular classes and after-school programs, both in the public and private school sectors. To learn more, visit kasparovchessfoundation.org.

5) National High School Championship in Milwaukee by Michael Aigner

The Saratoga High School chess team traveled to the National High School chess championships in Milwaukee with a healthy dose of optimism and a goal to bring home a couple of trophies. They returned home having shaken the course of the entire tournament. Short of winning a national championship, the team accomplished just about everything else. Simply said, the SHS Falcons terrorized the top boards in Wisconsin!

The wild ride began in round 2 when the team's #2 player faced the tournament's #2 seed. Jeff Young, rated 1881, did not appear at all intimidated by FM Salvijus Bercys of Murrow High School in New York. Despite having the apparent disadvantage of playing with the black pieces, it took Jeff only 34 moves to dispatch his 2451 rated opponent.

Perhaps overshadowed by the success of his teammate, Saratoga top board David Chock cruised through the first four rounds, defeating two B players and a 1927 opponent. The opposition became much stiffer in round 5 as David, rated 2009, was paired the #3 seed, NM Atakan Sirin of Kansas, rated 2298. Playing the same opening with the same black pieces as Jeff just 24 hours earlier, David achieved the identical result. He was now 5-0 and had a date on top board.

David's round 6 opponent was Godzilla himself. Alex Lenderman does not require an introduction, having conquered the World U16 Championship last summer in France and earning the title of International Master. In Milwaukee, he was the #1 seed, representing Murrow H.S. of New York (same school as Bercys). David spent two hours preparing the Scotch Game opening prior to the game and then played his heart out. David reached an objectively drawn position when, in a time scramble, his much higher rated opponent chose to try to win--and subsequently lost. This was David's first win against any FIDE titled player.

Unfortunately, Cinderella's slipper fell off in the final round. Returning to the stage for round 7 and needing merely a draw for first place, David obtained a pleasant position as black against NM Landon Brownell (rated 2237) from Catalina Foothills H.S. in Tucson, AZ. After one tactic, it was all over. Landon was the national champion with 6.5/7 while David had to settle for a share of third place at 6.0/7.

The rest of the Saratoga H.S. team also finished well, scoring a total of six upset wins (all over 200 rating points) while suffering only two upset defeats. When all the points were added up, the Falcons took the third place team trophy at 20.0 out of a possible 28 points. That is even more impressive when you realize that Saratoga's top four players averaged 1867 while schools like Murrow and Catalina Foothills averaged well over 2000.

Credit for the team's success goes foremost to the players: David Chock (6.0/7), Jeff Young (5.0/7), Jojo Zhao (4.5/7), Aaron Garg (4.5/7), Marvin Shu (4.0/7) and Avinash Kumar (3.0/7). The team manager who handled most of the organizational aspects of this trip was Stayton Chock. Finally, the players have had the privilege of studying chess with three Northern California masters over the past year: FM-elect Shiv Shivaji, NM Albert Rich and NM Michael Aigner.

TROPHIES: David Chock = 4th place K-12, 17th blitz, 2nd bughouse
Jeff Young = 29th place K-12
Jojo Zhao = 2nd place for U1800, 25th blitz, 2nd bughouse
Saratoga High School = 3rd place team for K-12

Sirin,A (2298) - Chock,D (2009) [A83]
National K-12 Championship (5), 22.04.2006

1.d4 f5 2.e4 fxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nc6 5.d5 Ne5 6.Qd4 Nf7 7.Bxf6 exf6 8.0-0-0 Be7 9.Qxe4 0-0 10.h4 Nd6 11.Qf3 f5 12.Bd3 c5 13.g4?

White goes insane with g2-g4. A simple move such as Qf4 or dxc6 would have sufficed for a normal opening advantage.

13...c4 14.Bf1 b5 15.gxf5 Qa5 16.Kb1 Rb8 17.Nge2 b4 18.Ne4 b3 19.cxb3 cxb3 20.axb3 Nxf5 21.Rg1 Qb4 22.Qg4 Qxb3 23.Rd2 Rf7 24.Nc1 Qb4 25.d6 Nxd6 26.Nxd6 Qxd2 27.Nc4 Qxf2 28.Bd3 d5 29.Qh5 Bf5 30.Bxf5 Qxf5+ 31.Qxf5 Rxf5 32.Ne3 Rf2 33.Nd3 Rd2 34.Nxd5 Bd6 35.Nf6+ Kf7 36.Nd7 Rxd3 37.Nxb8 Bxb8 0-1

Chock,D (2009) - Lenderman,A (2452) [C45]
National K-12 Championship (6), 23.04.2006

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.c4 Ba6 9.b3 g6 10.f4 Bg7 11.Qf2 Nb6 12.Ba3 Qe6 13.Nc3 d6 14.0-0-0 c5 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.cxd5 Qc8 17.exd6 cxd6 18.Re1+ Kd7 19.Qh4 Re8 20.Rxe8 Kxe8 21.Qxh7 Qf5 22.Qxg7 Qxf4+ 23.Kc2 Qf2+ 24.Kc3 Qe1+ 25.Kc2 Bxf1 26.Rxf1 Qxf1 27.Qg8+ Ke7 28.Qxa8 Qxg2+ 29.Kc1 Qf1+ 30.Kb2 Qe2+ 31.Kb1 Qe4+ 32.Kb2 Qe5+ 33.Kb1 Qf5+ 34.Ka1 Qe5+ 35.Kb1 Qe4+ 36.Kb2 Qf4 37.Kb1 Qe4+ 38.Kb2 Qe5+ 39.Kb1 Qe1+ 40.Bc1 a5

Black refuses a draw at this point, perhaps due to time pressure. Clocks: white less than 5 minutes, black 65 minutes.

41.Qc6 Qe4+ 42.Kb2 Qe5+ 43.Ka3 Qe1 44.Qc7+ Ke8 45.Qc8+ Ke7 46.Qc7+ Ke8 47.Qc6+ Ke7 48.Bg5+ f6 49.Bxf6+ Kf7 50.Qd7+ Kxf6 51.Qxd6+ Kg7 52.Qxc5 Qe5 53.Qxa5 Qd6+ 54.b4 Qxh2 55.Qa7+ Kf6 56.Qd4+ Kf7 57.d6 Qh3+ 58.Kb2 Qg2+ 59.Kc3 Qf3+ 60.Kc4 Qe2+ 61.Kc5 Qxa2 62.Qd5+ Qxd5+ 63.Kxd5 g5 64.Kc6 g4 65.d7 Ke7 66.Kc7 1-0

The following comes from the USCF press release

1423 Chess Enthusiasts Battled In Milwaukee
(CROSSVILLE, TN)1423 young chess enthusiasts competed in the U. S. Chess Federation's (USCF) 38th annual National High School Chess Championship in Wisconsin last weekend! Hosted in Wisconsin for the first time in its history, the National High School Championship is one of three spring national scholastic events. The tournament was held at Milwaukee's Midwest Airlines Center, corner of 4th and Wisconsin. 37 states were represented and included 300+ students from Wisconsin.

Players battle for seven rounds over three days and receive one point for a win and a half point for each draw. If players are tied for total points after the last round, a series of tie breaks are used to determine the place winners.

Individual Section champions were:
K-12 Championship: Landon Brownell of Arizona and Bradley J. Sawyer of Texas tied with 6.5 points.
K-12 Under 1500: Nick W. Karlow of Missouri won with a perfect 7.0 score!
K-12 Under 1200: Chetan Kumar of Illinois and Robert M. Myers of Minnesota tied with 6.5 points.
K-12 Under 900: Joshua D. Trinidad of Pennsylvania and William L. Buxton of Florida tied with perfect scores, 7.0!
K-12 Unrated: Vong Yang of Wisconsin won with a perfect 7.0 score.

Team champions were:
K-12 Championship: Edward R. Murrow H.S. (NY) 22.5 points.
K-12 Under 1500: Minneapolis Southwest, Minnesota 19.0 points.
K-12 Under 1200: Kearsley H.S. Flint, Michigan 20.0 points.
K-12 Under 900: Archbishop Curley Notre Dome H.S., Florida 23.0 points.
K-12 Unrated: Waupaca H.S., Waupaca, Wisconsin 22.5 points.
Blitz K-12: Catalina Foothills H.S., Tuscon, Arizona 39.0 points.

Landon Brownell of Arizona and James Canty III of Michigan were co-champions of the National High School Blitz Championship with final scores of 11.0. The team of B. Wyde and A. Lanka took the title of National High School Bughouse Championship with a final score of 11.0.

The Parents & Friends Tournament was a success with 42 participants. Alexander Betaneli of Wisconsin won this event with a 4.0 score.

Not only did the National High School Championship draw chess competitors but it attracted celebrities as well. Many enjoyed the opportunity Saturday to, "Meet Joe Block, the Chess Guy" from the television show, "Beauty and the Geek." After Joe shared some of this television experiences he took on some chess challengers by playing a few Blitz games.

http://www.MyChessPhotos.com, official photographer for this event, was pleased to award their $250 scholarship to Marcello Martinez from Wisconsin, as the player with the greatest upset! Marcello earned 918 upset points!

Additional details and final standings can be viewed at: http://www.uschess.org/tournaments/2006/hs/. Crosstables for all events can be found at http://www.uschess.org/msa/XtblMain.php?200604233191. Additional local information may be obtained from Arlen Walker, Milwaukee Chess Foundation President at 414-358-3052.

6) Lindsborg chess school seeks new director by Roxana Hegeman

The Russian immigrant who turned Lindsborg into a center for international chess has left the helm of the well-known chess school he brought to the small Kansas town.Now the nonprofit group that took over ownership of the financially struggling school earlier this year is seeking another visionary to keep the dream alive.

The Anatoly Karpov School of Chess has formed a search committee to find a director to replace Mikhail Korenman, who has moved to Chicago to be with his family, said Wes Fisk, a board member for the International Chess Institute of the Midwest, the nonprofit group that now operates the Lindsborg school.

"The school was definitely his idea and his baby. He does have a lot of passion. Basically you have to have someone with his talent and his connections working almost 14-hour days to make this thing work," Fisk said. "That kind of passion and dedication is hard to come by." Korenman left a distinctively Russian mark on the central Kansas community of Lindsborg, which bills itself as the "Little Sweden" of the United States. For decades it has touted its Scandinavian heritage with traditional festivals, foods and folk art. But since the chess school opened, local shops have added Russian food and drinks favored by Korenman and the many Russian chess giants who traveled here. Korenman has drawn some of the world's most talented chess players to the town of 3,200 people, about 70 miles north of Wichita. Along the way, the city's reputation spread globally as a training ground for young students of the game.

But school's finances could not keep up with Korenman's dreams.The school was dogged by debts from a visit in October by former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev, who presided over a match in Lindsborg between seven-time world chess champion Karpov, and Susan Polgar, the four-time women's world champion. Gorbachev also talked politics and played chess during an event that drew hundreds."He was faced with a situation that the school was in debt. The school was not generating that much income," Fisk said of Korenman. "As he put it: 'I have to go get a job. A real job.'" In a phone interview from Chicago, Korenman said his wife found a teaching job in Chicago and he moved to be with her. Korenman said he had completed his project in Lindsborg."I hope I accomplished my goal ... to put it on the map," Korenman said. "Now it is in a good condition. I hope the local people in Lindsborg could take it over and continue the program." Since the sale of the chess school in January, Korenman has continued to help out on a contract basis from Chicago, Fisk said."Financially, we are probably going to be OK for, I would think, at least a year," Fisk said.

A group of investors from Lindsborg, Galva and McPherson purchased the building, furnishings, equipment and other assets from Korenman's International Education and Cultural Services for $90,000 in January, in a move to save the school. The investors formed the nonprofit International Chess Institute of the Midwest to run it. "We don't want to lose it," Fisk said.Over Memorial Day weekend, about 100 top players from throughout the Midwest will be in Lindsborg for the Midwest Amateur Chess Championships, the official U.S. Chess Federation event to determine the region's class champions. Also, students from across the nation will come to Lindsborg in July for the fifth annual Karpov chess camp. Grandmaster Yury Shulman will be the lead instructor. Summer classes also are planned at the school.The school hopes to have a new director hired by fall.

For more information go to: Chess School: http://www.anatolykarpovchessschool.org/pages/1/index.htm

7) Oleg Zaikov Takes 1st in Scholar-Chessplayer Outstanding Achievement Awards

Oleg Zaikov Takes 1st
Scholar-Chessplayer Outstanding Achievement Awards

The Scholar-Chessplayer Outstanding Achievement Awards for 2006 were announced April 21st at the National High School Championship in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. These scholarships are given to high school juniors and seniors who excel in academics, chess, and leadership. First place will receive $2,000, second place will receive $1,000, third place will receive $700, fourth place will receive $500, fifth place will receive $400, and sixth and seventh places will each receive $200. Scholarships are awarded upon matriculation at a high institution. These annual awards are given by the U.S. Chess Federation and the U.S. Chess Trust and are intended to encourage high school students who promote a positive image of chess. Congratulations to the winners and a special thank you to the twenty-nine students who applied.

In order of finish the 2006 Scholar-Chessplayers are:
Oleg Zaikov-(OR)$2,000
Alexander King-(TN)$1,000
Ankur Bakshi-(NJ)$700
Kevin Binz-(WA)$500
Peter Tu-(TX)$400
Thomas Gossell-(MO)$200
Adam Holmes-(NC)$200

USCF Press Release

8) The 2006 Spring North American FIDE Invitationals in Chicago

The 2006 Spring North American FIDE Invitational

Final standings, GM-A:
1. GM Mikhalevski - 7½/9
2-3. IM Margvelashvili and GM Shulman - 6,
4. IM Finegold and GM Mitkov - 5,
6. IM Smetankin - 4½,
7. IM Zatonskih - 3½,
8-10. IM Friedel, IM Kriventsov and IM Krush - 2½.

Final standings, GM-B:
1. GM Golod - 7/9,
2-4. GM D. Gurevich, IM Lawson and GM V. Georgiev - 5½,
5. IM Burnett - 5,
6-7. IM Almeida and IM Scekic - 4,
8. WGM Goletiani - 3½,
9. IM Kopec - 3,
10. FM Bereolos - 2.

Official website: www.nachess.org.

9) 2006 Mayor's Cup Invitational Super Chess Tournament

The Susan Polgar Foundation, the New York City Sports Commission, the Office of NY City Mayor Bloomberg and the New York Athletic Club proudly present the 2006 Mayor's Cup Invitational Super Chess Tournament.

The event will take place on Sunday, June 25 and Monday, June 26, 2006 at the fame New York Athletic Club located at 180 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019.

The event will be a double round robin format. The confirmed participants are:

Title - Name - USCF rating - FIDE rating

1. GM Gata Kamsky 2736 - 2671 (#1 rated in NY and US)
2. GM Alex Onischuk 2704 - 2650 (US Champion - #1 rated in MD)
3. GM Ildar Ibragimov 2704 - 2637 (#1 rated in CT)
4. GM Boris Gulko 2659 - 2585 (#1 rated in NJ)
5. GM Alex Stripunsky 2659 - 2569 (#1 rated in NY City - Local NYC representative)
6. GM Susan Polgar 2557 - 2577 (#1 rated woman in US)

USCF Average: 2670
FIDE Average: 2615

This is arguably the strongest round robin tournament in U.S. history! ( Editor - Unquestionably one of the strongest but the 2nd Piatigorsky Cup - Santa Monica 1966 { Spassky, Fischer, Larsen, Portisch, Unzicker, Petrosian, Reshevsky, Najdorf, Ivkov and Donner } would be the measuring stick by which challengers should be judged) NYC Sports Commissioner Ken Podziba will be present at the event. Mayor Bloomberg is also expected. More details will be available shortly.

The purpose of this event is to raise chess awareness in New York and to promote Chess and Education across the country.

For information on sponsorship opportunity, please contact Paul Truong (VP - Susan Polgar Foundation) at PaulTruong@aol.com

10) Here and There

Dr. Joe Wagner writes:

In the current issue of New Yorker magazine (April 24, 2006) a detailed and informative article ("Planet Kirsan" pp. 112-121) covers the autocratic leader of Kalmykia as well as FIDE.

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov is both a former youth chess champion as well as a boxing champion of Kalmykia. He is an admirer of Ghengis Khan, and has had warm relationships with Saddam Hussein of Iraq and Omar Khadaffi of Libya. He admires George W. Bush and likens him to Ghengis Khan as an able administrator. Kirsan owns 6 Rolls Royces (not 10 as rumoured), all paid for with his own money and not by the peoples' treasury. He keeps one in Moscow for his frequent visits. He speaks fluent English as well as Japanese.

The article by Michael Specter is well written and worth reading.

The chess website Chessville recently published an interview with English GM Raymond Keene. When asked what a future FIDE needs to achieve in world chess, he said: "Sponsorship, sponsorship and sponsorship - We look like idiots having a WCC match in Elista rather then Paris, Berlin, London, Madrid or New York."

11) Upcoming Events

Mechanics' Institute

Charles Powell - May 6
Arthur Stamer - June 3 and 4
William Addison - June 17
Charles Bagby - July 1
Vladimir Pafnutieff - August 5
Bernardo Smith Amateur - August 19 and 20

May 6-7
8th Annual Los Angeles County Open 5-SS, rds 1-3 30/85, SD/30, rds 4-5 40/2, SD/1. Sierra Vista Park, 311 N Rural Dr. at E Emerson, Monterey Park, CA 91755. EF: $30 received by 5-4, $40 at door. Special EF: $10 for juniors not competing for cash prizes (trophies to top 5). $$1100: $$300-200-100, U2200 100, U2000 100, U1800 100, U1600 75, U1400 $75, Unr 50. SCCF membership required ($14 reg, $9 jr.), other states accepted. Reg: 8:30-9:30. Rds: 10-2-6, 10-4. Up to 2 half-pt byes if requested w/entry. Inf: Randy Hough, (626) 282-7412, randallhough@yahoo.com. Ent: SCCF, PO Box 205, Monterey Park, CA 91754. NS. NC. W. State Championship Qualifier. GP: 10

South Bay - Cupertino, CA May 27: Scholastics, Blitz, Bug; May 27-28: 2-Day Adult; May 28: 1-Day Adult

20085 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino, CA TDs: Salman Azhar, Jacob Green, Jason Gurtovoy Sponsored by USF Chess Club, Alan Kirshner, Granite Rock

PLACE: University of San Francisco, 2nd floor, 20085 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, CA (on Stevens Creek between De Anza Blvd & Wolfe Rd) DIRECTIONS: From I-280 N/S take De Anza exit & go South; Take left on Stevens Creek; U-turn @ Blaney & arrive 20085 Stevens Creek. Enter from the parking lot side (North) of the building. AMPLE PARKING AVAILABLE

SCHOLASTIC (K-12)

SECTIONS: K - 3rd Grade, K - 6th Grade, & K - 12th Grade sections. A team event will be held in each section (a team is a minimum of 3 students from a school in a section). All players must be current members of the USCF. Non-members may join when they enter. The event will be run according to the USCF rule book and any modifications made for scholastic competition.

SCHEDULE: Check in & on-site registration: 5/27 8:30 - 9:30 AM. Rounds: @ 10:00 AM, 11:10 AM, 12:30 PM, 2:15 PM, 4:00 PM. Awards: Following the completion of Round 5.

Time controls: Rounds 1 and 2 G/30, Rounds 3, 4, 5: Game/45.

ENTRY FEE: $25 must be postmarked by 5/23/06. Entries postmarked after 5/23/06 & on-site add $10.

GROUP DISCOUNTS: 4 entries for $89 ($11 discount!), 6 entries for $129 ($21 discount!), 8 entries for $169 ($31 discount!), 10 entries for $199 ($51 discount!). All entries must be in 1 package.

STATES SPECIAL: $20 if paid pre-registration given Jason Gurtovoy at the Scholastic State Championship (table will be set up)

PRIZES: Individual BIG trophies awarded to at least the top half in each section, based on advance entries. Medals to all participants in K-3 and K-6. Advance entries will be used to determine total number of trophies to be awarded. Standard USCF tie-breaks will be used.

Team: Top 3 teams or clubs will be awarded trophies in each section. Minimum of 3 members per team. The best 3 scores from each team/club will be used. The number on a team may be adjusted based on entries. Players may win only one individual trophy.

ADULT

SECTIONS: Three sections: Expert (above 2000), Reserve (1600-2000) and Amateur (U1600) in a one or two-day schedule. USCF rated 4-round Swiss. Ratings will be based on the April 06 USCF list

SCHEDULE: Check-in & onsite registration- 5/27 8:30-9:30 AM. 5/28 7:30 - 8:30 AM.

Rounds: 1-day: 5/28- 9, 10:45 AM, 12:15, 4:45 PM; 2-day: 5/27- 10 AM, 2:30 PM + 5/28- 12:15 & 4:45 (events merge in the 3rd round)

Time controls: 2-day, 30/90 G/45 all rounds. 1-day, Rounds 1-2: G/45; Rounds 3-4: 30/90, G/45

ENTRY FEE: $49 postmarked by 5/23/06. Entries postmarked after 5/23/06 & on-site add $15. IMs/GMs free. $10 off entry fee for juniors (under 18). Entrants may play up one section for $10. Reentry after round 2 of the 2-day into the 1-day schedule: $20.

GROUP DISCOUNT: $20 for 4 entries ($5/entry) in 1 package!!!

PRIZES: $2050* total based on 65 fully paid adult entries.

Expert (2000+):1st - $400 + trophy, 2nd - $150, 3rd -$100

Reserve (U2000): 1st - $400 & trophy, 2nd - $150; 1st U1900** $50, 1st U1800** $50; 1st U1700** $50 Amateur (U1600): 1st - $400 & trophy, 2nd - $150; 1st U1500** $50, 1st U1400** $50; 1st U1300** $50 Club or Team: 1st- 3rd receive Club Trophy

* Prize fund and/or number of prizes will be increased or decreased based on total entries in each section.

** Unrated players are ineligible for these prizes.

Team: Any 4+ players may register for a team, club or school. Teams are not required and may form at event, but won't receive group discount. We encourage club, city, college, company, and county teams.

Section: (check one) o K - 3 o K - 6 o K - 12

Entry Fee ($25.00 postmarked by 5/23/06)

Group Discount in 1 package o 2 entries $49 ($1 off);

o 4 entries $89 ($11 off); o 6 entries $129 ($21 off),

o 8 entries $169 ($31 off), o10 entries $199 ($51 off)

SPECIAL Scholastic + 1-Day Adult combo ($59 postmarked by 5/23/06)

SPECIAL Scholastic State Championship day entry ($20)

Add $10/entry for postmark after 5/23/06 and on-site

Check one: o Expert o Reserve o Amateur

o 1-day o 2-day: $49 postmarked by 5/23/06

o 1-day o 2-day: SPECIAL Discount for JUNIORS (U18) only $39 postmarked by 5/23/06 Add $15/entry for postmark after 5/23/06 and on-site

Play up one section for $10.

Re-Entry 1-day schedule for $20.

Group Discount $20 for 4 ( 1 PACKAGE $5 per entry)

BLITZ CHAMPIONSHIP

BUG HOUSE CHAMPIONSHIP

_______ $10 ($19 on-site or after 5/23)

5 2xrounds G/5 starting 5/27 6:15 PM. Trophies to the top 3 or more!

_______ $6/person ($9/person on-site or after 5/23)

5 2xrounds starting at 5/27 7:30 PM. Pair of trophies to top 3!

USCF Membership: $49, Adult; $36, Senior; $25, Youth (19 & under); $13, Economy Scholastic (U14)

TOTAL (Make checks and mail to Jason Gurtovoy 34249 Fremont Blvd. #158 Fremont, CA 94555; E-mail: sfchessclassic@yahoo.com

Name: Grade: Date of Birth: . E-mail: _________________________ USCF ID: Expiration Date: Rating: __ Byes (Round): School/Club (if applicable): .

Address: City, State, Zip: . Phone: ( ) ___________

BYES: ½ point byes available in any round and must be requested before the start of round 1. Maximum one ½ point bye per entry.

OTHER: Bring chess clocks; very few provided! Tournament Director (TD) reserves the right to not pair players from the same school in any or all rounds. Late entries will be given a 0 or ½ point bye or be paired against another late entry at the TD's discretion. Players in adult sections and grades K-12 section will be required to record their games. TD reserves the right to merge section(s). Ratings used will be from the April 06 USCF rating supplement for all rated players. Current rating may be used for players not rated in the supplement.

USCF membership required and may be purchase with registration or on-site.

1st place Trophy tie-break (Playoff, White 6 minutes, Black with 5 minutes and draw odds).