Mechanics' Institute Chess Club Newsletter #303
 
In a memorial speech in Curacao, Jaan Ehlvest called Wojt the James Bond of chess. I don't know if I would go that far; maybe Don Quixote is a better comparison. Either way, he was of a generation that is slowly dying out: the devil-may-care, living-for-the-moment professional chess bum. He traveled from tournament to tournament, thinking little about money or a conventional lifestyle, only about playing chess and enjoying himself. He really lived his life as if there was no tomorrow.
 
Alex Shabalov writing about his friend the late Alex Wojtkiewicz
 
 
1) Mechanics Institute Chess Club News
2) Tim  Taylor wins in Agoura Hills
3) More on Alex Wojtkiewicz
4) Hough and Sloan elected to USCF Executive Board
5) Dolmatov on Topalov
6) Robert Hess wins US Junior Closed and Marc Arnold wins US Junior Cadet
7) USCF Award Winners
8) Adams-Akobian match and North American Chess Review
9) Here and There
10) Joel Benjamin on Chess.FM
11) Upcoming Events
 
 
1) Mechanics Institute Chess Club News
 
SM Craig Mar has clinched at least a tie for first in the Summer Tuesday Night Marathon after his round seven win over George Sanguinetti. Mar has 6 1/2  points , a point ahead of NM Batchimeg Tuvshintugs and veteran Victor Todortsev. The latter upset Expert William Gray of Scotland and will likely play Mar in the final round next Tuesday. The next Tuesday Marathon, named after the late Paul Vayssie, starts August 22.
 
George Sanguinetti Craig Mar
Kings Indian E60
Summer Tuesday Night Marathon (7)
(Donaldson)
 
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Ne2 0-0 6.Na3?!
 
Typical Sanguinetti homebrew and not to be found in the Mega2006  database. The text follows the current trend ( 1.e4 c5 2.Na3) of moving the Knight to the rim but looks to be less motivated here.
 
6...c5
 
Also quite reasonable and more ambitious was 6...e5 .
 
7.Nc2 cxd4
 
7...Nc6 8.d5 Ne5 9.Nc3 allows White to make sense of his Knights.
 
 8.Nexd4 Nc6 9.Be3 Nxd4 10.Bxd4
 
10.Nxd4 looks more natural. If Black continues as in the game White gets a pleasant ending: 10...Qa5+ 11.Qd2 Qxd2+ 12.Kxd2.
 
10...Be6 11.Be2 Qa5+ 12.Qd2
 
This is probably the right choice. White walks a tightrope after  12.Bc3 Qg5 13.0-0 Rfc8 14.Bd2 (14.b3? Bh3 15.Rf2 Nxe4!) 14...Qh4 15.b3 Nh5 16.Qe1 (16.Rc1? Be5!) 16...Qxe1 17.Raxe1 b5 18.Na3 but if he finds his way he should be okay.
 
12...Qxd2+ 13.Kxd2 Rfc8 14.b3 a5
 
14...a6 aiming for ...b5 is also natural but the text is to the point as ...a4 is in the cards.
 
15.g4
 
Advancing this pawn Whites plans g4-g5  grabbing more space on the kingside. 15.Rac1, trying to preserve the Bishop with Be3, is countered by  15...Nd7 16.Be3 a4 or 15...a4. 
 
15...Nd7 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Nd4 Nc5 18.Nxe6+?
 
White trades away his good minor piece. A better idea was 18.h4 trying to generate some play on the kingside.
 
 18...fxe6 19.Ke3 e5
 
Black is better with the good Knight versus bad Bishop but still must find a way to win the position. Breaks with ...a4 and ...d5 and pressure on the f-file are all options at his disposal.
 
 20.Rhc1 Ne6 21.a3 Rc6 22.h4 Nd4 23.Bd1 Rac8 24.a4?
 
This move, trying to achieve a draw by blocking the position, is not an easy one to make as it condemns White to a passive defense. Better was the more active 24.f4 with the point that  24...a4 can be met by the ugly but concrete  25.bxa4 Rxc4 26.Rxc4 Rxc4 27.Rb1 and the counter play against b7 gives White the necessary breathing room. For example: 27...Rc3+ (27...Rc7 28.g5) 28.Kd2 Rxa3 29.fxe5 dxe5 30.Rxb7.
 
24...Ne6
 
Now a long period of cat and mouse ensues as Mar looks for the breakthrough.
 
 
25.Be2 Rb6 26.Rc3 h6 27.Rac1 g5 28.h5 Kf6 29.Bd1 Rb4 30.R1c2 Nd4 31.Rd2 Rb6 32.Rdd3 Rbc6 33.Kd2 e6 34.Re3 Ke7 35.Kc1 Kf6 36.Kb2 Rc5 37.Red3 Ke7 38.Re3 Nc6 39.Bc2 Nb4 40.Bb1 Kf6 41.Rc1 R5c7 42.Rce1 Ke7 43.Bc2 Kd7 44.Rd1 Kc6 45.Bd3 Kc5 46.Rd2?
 
This blunder, allowing Black's King into the position, loses straight out. It was likely caused by time pressure, Sanguinetti's bête noire. 46.Kc3 had to be played when Black is considerably better but the win must still be shown. Note the direct attack on f3 doesn't seem to pay dividends: 46...Rf8 47.Be2 Rcf7 48.Rh1 Nc6 49.Bd1 Nd4 50.Rh3 and it is hard to see how Black goes forward. Note also how the Rook on e3 is deterring the ...d5 break. which needs to be managed with some subtlety to be effective. For example: 50...Re8 51.Rh1 d5 52.exd5 exd5 53.Rhe1 Rfe7 54.cxd5 Kxd5 55.Be2 and Black has gained nothing from the pawn trades.
 
 46...Kd4 47.Re1 Nxd3+ 48.Kc2 Rxc4+
 
This decides things.
 
49.bxc4 Rxc4+ 50.Kb3 Rb4+ 51.Ka3 Kc3 52.Rxd3+ Kxd3 53.Rd1+ Ke3 54.Rxd6 Kxf3 55.Rxe6 Rxe4 56.Rxh6 Rxg4 57.Rf6+ Ke2 58.h6 e4 59.Kb3 e3 60.Rf5 Rh4 61.Rxg5 Rxh6 62.Rxa5 Rc6 63.Re5 Kd2 64.Re7 b6 65.Rd7+ Ke1 66.Rh7 e2 67.Rf7 Rc5 68.Rf6 Kd2 69.Rd6+ Ke3 70.Rxb6 Re5 71.a5 e1Q 72.Kc4 Qc1+ 73.Kb3 Qb1+ 74.Kc4 Qa2+ 75.Rb3+ Ke4 76.Kc3 Rc5+ 0-1
 
Former World Champion Boris Spassky and his wife Marina will be guests of the Mechanics' Institute from September 28 to October 3.  During this time Spassky will give a clock simul, lectures, answer questions, work with junior players and sign books. He will give a clock simul on Saturday, September 30 on 25 boards. Cost for the simul will be $100 (The same as the past two years in Reno). The simul starts at 2:00 PM. There are only 25 spots which will be allocated on a first-come first-serve basis, but to sign up before September 1, you must be a Mechanics' member.

Five of the twenty five boards are gone after the first week so if you want to play don't delay.

Book and equipment donations to the Mechanics' are always welcome. All donations to the Mechanics' are tax deductible due to the M.I.'s 501(c) (3) nonprofit status. If you have any chess books or equipment that have been lying around unused for some time consider donating to the Mechanics'. You will not only get a tax write off but also the satisfaction of seeing things put to good use.
 
2) Tim  Taylor wins in Agoura Hills
 
IM Tim Taylor, whose gladiatorial do or die style of play brings to mind the late Jerry Quarry, won the upset-riddled 11th Pacific Coast Open in Agoura Hills this past weekend, topping a field which included two GMs and two other IMs. Taylor scored an undefeated 5-1 to take home $2000 followed by IM Enrico Sevillano and NM Eliot Liu at 4 1/2, good for $900 apiece. MI member Batsaikhan Tserendorj should be a Master shortly as he tied for first in the Expert section, scoring 5 from 6 for $1000. A total of 207 players competed in the multi-section event directed by Steve Immitt and Randy Hough for the Continental Chess Association.
 
3) More on Alex Wojtkiewicz
 
The ChessBase website has an excellent piece on Alex by Alex Shabalov (this issue's quote is taken from it). Go to http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3256. There are also pieces by IM s Leonid Sandler and Mark Ginsburg and Elizabeth Karnazes.
 
The following game, kindly provided by Cleveland Expert Mike Joelson, comes from Alex's last event, the Columbus Open. He tied for first in this event, held a week after the World Open, with IM Ben Finegold. Alex entered 2006 rated around 2550 USCF and at his passing he was 2653. He gained points in nearly every event he played in the last six months of his life.
 
An obituary on Alex, written by Dylan Loeb McClain, appeared in the  NY Times on July 19.
 
Mike Joelson - Alex Wojtkiewicz
English Botvinnik A36
Columbus Open (3), 2006
(Donaldson)
 
1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 Nc6 5.d3 d6 6.e4 Nf6 7.Nge2 0-0 8.0-0 Bd7 9.a3 Ne8 10.Rb1 a5 11.Be3 Nc7 12.f4 Bg4 13.h3 Bxe2 14.Nxe2 Qd7?!
 
14...Ne6 was more prudent and thematic but Wojt decides to give his opponent some rope.
 
 15.d4 cxd4 16.Nxd4 Nxd4?!
 
Black heads for a good Knight versus bad Bishop situation that proves not to be the case. Maintaining the tension with  16...a4 looks like a better idea.
 
 17.Bxd4 Bxd4+ 18.Qxd4 Ne6 19.Qd5 Qc7 20.f5! Nc5 21.f6?!
 
21.e5! (liberating the Bishop) 21...dxe5 22.b4 axb4 23.axb4 Nd7 24.fxg6 hxg6 25.Qxb7 with an advantage to White in the ending.
 
 21...a4 22.Rbd1 Rad8 23.h4?!
 
23.fxe7 Qxe7 24.Rd2 Rd7 (24...Qe5? 25.Rxf7!) 25.h4 would have given White a small advantage.
 
 23...Rfe8 24.h5 Qb6 25.hxg6 hxg6 26.Kh2?
 
26.fxe7 Rxe7 27.Rf2 was necessary to maintain the balance.
 
 26...Qxb2 27.e5 Qxe5 28.Qxe5 dxe5 0-1
 
 
4) Hough and Sloan elected to USCF Executive Board
 
USCF Executive Board Election Results. The following results are by region. 100% of the ballots have been counted.

Region States Sloan Perks Goodall Hough Schlich
I ME,NH,VT,MA,RI,CT 68 55 66 75 89
II NY,NJ 172 97 125 138 87
III PA,WV,VA,MD,DC,DE 154 121 124 155 178
IV NC,SC,GA,FL 140 88 105 114 65
V MI,IN,OH,KY 135 172 92 104 71
VI MN,WI,ND,SD 42 37 36 47 29
VII IA,MO,IL,NE 90 70 73 91 50
VIII TN,AL,MS,AR,LA 42 48 46 57 36
IX WY,UT,CO,KS 50 30 41 36 27
X OK,TX,NM 89 83 98 107 70
XI AZ,NV,CA(N),CA(S),HI 164 98 226 406 82
XII MT,ID,WA,OR,AK 44 41 34 67 23
Other APO,FPO,US Territories 3 2 7 4 4
Preliminary Totals 1193 942 1113 1401 811

Based on these results, Randall Hough has been elected to a three year term and Sam Sloan has been elected to a one year term, both terms to begin once the election has been certified by the Board of Delegates in August.

Northern California Delegates election

N. California      
18    1 Richard Koepcke   126
19   2 Robert D. Blatt   70
20   3 Eric Hicks   68
21   4 Roger Poehlmann   93
22   5 Eric Schiller   109
23   6 Elizabeth Shaughnessy   116
24   7 Salman Azhar   64
25   8 Jacob Green   67
26   9 Mike Goodall   135
27   10 Andy C. Lee   98
28   11 John Donaldson   144
29   12 James Eade   109
30   13 Hans Poschmann*   108
 
 
5) Dolmatov on Topalov
 
The following piece appeared in Alex Baburin's outstanding daily Chess Today ( www.chesstoday.net).
 
Dolmatov's Interview and Danailov's Response by GM Mikhail Golubev

On 24th July the Russian newspaper Moskovskiy Komsomolets published an interview conducted by the
newspaper's chess observer Eugeny Gik with the former coach of the Russian national team, GM Sergey
Dolmatov, where the latter doubted achievements by the FIDE world champion, Veselin Topalov.
Dolmatov, in particular, stated: "What Topalov is doing on the board these days, is beyond human abilities. And I
am sure that an interference from outside is taking place." In the same interview Dolmatov also said: "I have
no reliable facts of the non-standard actions of Topalov, but in Elista everything will become clear."
Dolmatov also stated "...[I] would not be surprised if Topalov will find some way to avoid the duel" (i.e. the title match versus
Kramnik in Elista. Here and above the translation is mine - MG). We requested Topalov's manager, IM Silvio Danailov, to comment on
Dolmatov's interview and we publish his answer below:
"The only conclusion that we find in such statements is that they are not just [the] absurd ones, but it is absolute
paranoia. The campaign is being orchestrated to make nervous the World Champion Veselin Topalov
before his match for the title against GM Vladimir Kramnik. [The intention] is to win the match before playing it.
The article is an effort against the moral integrity of the person and it is called the dirty war. I do not believe
that it is a coincidence that all the commentaries of this type are coming from Russia. I understand that some
fans of the Russian challenger [might not to support], it, but I would like to ask them to put the slander and other
accusations away since they [are] based on neither logic, nor any evidence. It is legally [punishable] in
all the environment of the international law and it is in no way will benefit the world of chess.

Silvio Danailov
Kaissa chess management
 
6) Robert Hess wins US Junior Closed and Marc Arnold wins US Junior Cadet
 

The US Junior Invitational took place at the  Dallas Chess Club 15th-20th July 2006. Robert Hess won the event with 7/9.

Official site: http://www.swchess.com/sce/tourney/USJrInv06/results.htm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
US Junior Dallas USA (USA), 15-20 vii 2006            cat. II (2279)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 
--------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Hess, Robert L        f USA 2358  * 0 = 1 1 = 1 1 1 1  7.0  2489 
 2. Kleiman, Jake           USA 2271  1 * 1 = 0 = 1 = 1 1  6.5  2445 
 3. Bercys, Salvijus      f USA 2368  = 0 * = 1 1 = = 1 1  6.0  2393 
 4. Gulamali, Kazim         USA 2302  0 = = * = 1 = = 1 1  5.5  2356 
 5. Schneider, Igor       f USA 2367  0 1 0 = * = = = 1 1  5.0  2311 
 6. Ludwig, Daniel          USA 2391  = = 0 0 = * = 1 1 1  5.0  2309 
 7. Molner, Mackenzie       USA 2280  0 0 = = = = * 1 = 1  4.5  2278 
 8. Banawa, Joel Cholo      USA 2260  0 = = = = 0 0 * 1 =  3.5  2200 
 9. Coraretti, Benjamin     USA 1974  0 0 0 0 0 0 = 0 * 1  1.5  2039 
10. Maltese, Adam           USA 2216  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 = 0 *  0.5  1841 
--------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Minute Heroics By Arnold Earns The Coveted
2006 U.S. Cadet Chess Championship Title by Alan Kantor

Eight of the strongest youngsters under the age of 16 faced off in Dallas, Texas at the Marriott Dallas/Addison Quorum from July 15-21, 2006 to see who would win the 2006 U.S. Cadet Championship. The stakes are high as the winner receives a four-year college scholarship including tuition and fees from the University of Maryland at Baltimore County (UMBC). The current value of the generous award that UMBC offers is over $34,000 for Maryland residents and over $66,000 for non-residents.

The tournament went right down to the wire as two New Yorkers faced head-to-head to see who would earn the scholarship: Parker Bi Guang Zhao had 5 points, needing just a draw and Mark Tyler Arnold had 4-1/2 points in a must-win situation entering the final round. Arnold came through in the clutch but Zhao certainly deserves recognition for his second place. When it was all said and done, Arnold had 5-1/2 points, Zhao accumulated 5 points and won the 2nd place $200 scholarship with Jeffrey Haskel, from Florida, getting 4 points and a $100 scholarship.

Here is the key game from the tournament winner:

White: Parker Bi Guang Zhao (2203)
Black: Marc Tyler Arnold (2241)
Sicilian Defense (Bb5+ Variation)
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. O-O Nc6 6. c4 Nf6 7. Nc3 e6 8. d4 cxd4
9. Nxd4 Be7 10. b3 O-O 11. Be3 a6 12. f3 Rfd8 13. Rc1 Nxd4 14. Qxd4 b5 15. cxb5 axb5
16. Rfd1 Rab8 17. e5 dxe5 18. Qxe5 Qe8 19. Rxd8 Qxd8 20. Rd1 Qe8 21. a4 bxa4 22. bxa4 Bb4
23. Bd4 Rd8 24. Nb5 Rd5 25. Qe2 Qd7 26. Rc1 Rxd4 27. Nxd4 Qxd4+ 28. Qf2 Qd8 29. Qa7 g6
30. Rb1 Nd5 31. Qd4 Qa5 32. Rc1 Bc3 33. Qc4 Qb6+ 34. Kh1 Qe3 35. Rb1 Kg7 36. Qe4 Qd2
37. Qh4 Nf4 38. Qg3 Qd3 39. Re1 Bxe1 40. Qxe1 Qc2 0-1

The tournament was organized by Luis Salinas and directed by Francisco Guadalupe. For all the game scores, see http://swchess.com/sce/tourney/USCadet06/games.htm.

7) USCF Award Winners
 
MINUTES OF THE MAY, 07-08, 2006, USCF EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING, BOCA RATON, FL
 
 
EB06-074 - Board - The Board authorizes the following awards:
Award Recipient(s)
Chess City of the Year Crossville, TN, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Chess Club of the Year St. George UT Chess Club
Chess College of the Year U of CT. School of Engineering, Texas Tech
Committee of the Year International Affairs
Distinguished Service Award Mike Nolan
Frank J. Marshall Ambassador Shaun Alexander
Grandmaster of the Year Ildar Ibragimov, Anna Zatonskih
Honorary Chess Mates Jim Warren, Delores Wagner, Elizabeth Tanner
Gold Koltanowski Medal America’s Foundation for chess (AF4C)
Meritorious Service Jim Brotsos, Jon Haskel, Wilder Wadford, Jon & Barbara Fortune
Organizer of the Year Cris Collinsworth Pro Scan Foundation
Outstanding Career Achievement Gus Gosselin, Fred Goldhirsch/Doug Bellizzi, David MacEnulty, Jerry Weikel
Scholastic Service Tim Redman
Special Services Kim Cramer, John Donaldson, Mikhail Korenman, Greg Shahade
Tournament Director of the Year Walter Brown
Special Friend of USCF Phil Haley
 
8) Adams-Akobian match and North American Chess Review
 
Chess Match in the Making!!
 
Currently the North American Chess Association is working alongside two well known GM's to bring a match to North America!

We are in talks with English GM Michael Adams (FIDE 2732) and American-Armenian GM Varuzhan Akobian (FIDE 2567) to bring a 4-round match to Chicago.

The tentative schedule has the event just before the 2007 Memorial Day holiday in the U.S. The tentative schedule of events is as follows:

May 18 - GM Akobian Simul
May 19 - Round 1
May 20 - Round 2
May 21 - Rest Day
May 22 - Round 3
May 23 - Round 4
May 24 - GM Adams Simul

Stay tuned over the course of the coming weeks for further details on this super match!

If you are an organization or individual wishing to provide sponsorship for the event please contact me at sevan.muradian@nachess.org for further details.
 
 
The following updates to NACA can be found on our website:
 
1. The July issue of the North American Chess Review is available for download (free registration required)
2. Illinois Junior chess player Gopal Menon's daily chess puzzles (on our blog site - www.nachess.org/blog.html) with solutions posted on the discussion forums (free registration required)
3. The July NACA screensaver is available (on our home page)
4. A new offering of weekly chess analysis by various players is available. The sample e-zine can be found on our homepage with another issue located in the discussion forums (free registration required).
 
Some changes we have experienced:
 
1. Due to logisitical issues the Summer North American FIDE Invitational was cancelled but we are planning the October one now with no cancellation!
2. We have, for 2006, changed our publication to be available on a bi-monthly basis. We are hoping to go back to monthly in 2007 along with translation in Spanish and French.
 
Things that are in the works:
 
1. Decision to drop membership dues in 2007 to $15 for everyone!
2. Starting in August 2006 we will have lessons in Windows Media Format available for download. There will be a number of samples available for free download and then blocks of lessons will be available for purchase over time.
3. Organization of a match between a US based GM on a hot streak of tournament wins - GM Varuzhan Akobian and Super-GM GM Michael Adams. Tentatively set for May 2007 prior to the Chicago Open. Watch our website for further inforamtion on Adams-Akobian 2007.
4. Q1-2007 (pushed back) - ChessPro Live - our online live chess playing server! Part of the $15 yearly membership fee!
 
We are in need of some volunteer services if they are out there:
 
1. Weekly chess articles
2. Translation services (English to Spanish, and English to French)
 
 
Good Chess to All,
 
Sevan A. Muradian, President
North American Chess Association
 
9) Here and There

Black's paradoxical 24th move ...Bxe5  brings to mind a stratagem first seen in Jimenez-Larsen, Palma de Mallorca 1967. It has been written about by MI Grandmaster-in-Residence Alex Yermolinsky.
 
Petersen,S (2244) - De Firmian,N (2559)
Politiken Cup Copenhagen (4.10), 25.07.2006
 
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 g6 5.Bc4 c6 6.0-0 Bg7 7.exd6 Qxd6 8.Nbd2 0-0 9.Bb3 Nd7 10.Nc4 Qc7 11.Re1 N7f6 12.Nce5 Ng4 13.Qe2 Nxe5 14.Nxe5 Be6 15.c3 Rad8 16.h4 Bf5 17.h5 c5 18.hxg6 hxg6 19.Qf3 cxd4 20.cxd4 Qd6 21.Bd2 Be6 22.Rac1 Qb8 23.Rc5 Qd6 24.Ba5 Bxe5 25.Rxe5 Nb6 26.Bxe6 fxe6 27.Qe4 Rf6 28.Bxb6 Qxb6 29.b3 Kf7 30.Rc4 Rh8 31.Rec5 Rf5 32.g4 Rf6 33.d5? Qd6 34.dxe6+ Kg7 35.Qd4 Qh2+ 36.Kf1 Rd8 37.Qe3 Rd3 38.Qe1 Qh1+ 39.Ke2 Qf3+ 40.Kf1 Rd1 41.g5 Qxf2# 0-1
 
The Governor's Cup will be held in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, from October 27-29. Among the invitees are MI Grandmaster-in-Residence Alex Yermolinsky and GM Sergey Kudrin.
 
Kasparov to play first serious event since retirement
TWIC informs: Garry Kasparov will play his first serious chess event since his retirement after the Linares 2005  tournament in Zurich on August 22nd
2006. Kasparov always left open the door to play rapid events and he will take on Anatoly Karpov, Viktor Korchnoi and Judit Polgar on the occasion of the Lichthof Chess
Champions Day. Other reports have suggested this will be a FIscher Random event.
 
Garry Kasparov was a guest on the Charlie Rose Show last night. Kasparov and Russian foreign policy maven Steven F.Cohen discussed the current political  situation in Russia.
 
Texas Master Mikhail Langer won the Jerry Spann Memorial, held July 15-16 in Oklahoma City, with NM Bill Orton, Tom Braunlich and Sergey Galant sharing second.. Braunlich won the title of Oklahoma champion  on tie break. Frank and Jim Berry organized and directed.
 
The USCF reports as a result of elections at the recent FIDE Congress in Turin, Italy, and subsequent action by the USCF Executive Board, the following changes were made in the representatives of the USCF to the World Chess Federation.

William Kelleher was elected by FIDE to the position of Presidential Board Vice President. He replaced Steve Doyle who stepped down after ten years on the Board. Mr. Kelleher had previously served as the USCF’s Delegate to FIDE. Don Schultz was then selected by the USCF Executive Board to fill the vacancy left by Kelleher as FIDE Delegate.

10) Joel Benjamin on Chess.FM

 

Fred Wilson writes:

 
 IF YOU MISSED LAST NIGHT'S SHOW, OR TRIED TO LISTEN IN BUT COULD NOT GET ANY SOUNDŠ


Due to technical difficulties last night's terrific interview with GM JOEL BENJAMIN was not broadcast for the first 40 minutes of the show, although it WAS recorded!  I urge any of you who haven't already heard a replay to listen to one of the continuous replays running today until about 8:30 PM this evening.  This was a fascinating interview-I THINK ONE OF THE BEST SHOWS EVER-in which Joel candidly discusses his exciting success in the World Open, his new online column for the USCF ("Ask Joel") and what types of questions he is seeking from chessplayers (& what questions he doesn't want!), teaching children and not having them be afraid of being challenged, Kasparov's canards about the Deep Blue Team, his views on both the FIDE & USCF tournament rules & various time controls, and much else.  This is really a show worth hearing if you can possibly find the time today!
 
11) Upcoming Events

 

   
Mechanics' Events

Vladimir Pafnutieff - August 5 

Bernardo Smith Amateur - August 19 and 20

3rd California Classic Championship!

South Bay - Cupertino, CA         July 29: Blitz, Bug; July 29-30: 2-Day Adult; July 30: 1-Day Adult

Note: This is not a scholastic event! However, Juniors may sign up provided they can observe the decorum of adult tournaments.

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

PLACE: University of San Francisco, 2nd floor, 20085 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, CA (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

 

EVENT & SCHEDULE:  Three sections: Expert (above 2000), Reserve (U2000) and Amateur (U1600) in a one or two-day schedule. USCF rated four-round Swiss. Ratings will be based only on the

 June 2006 USCF rating supplement.  Registration:  7/29 - 8:30 am - 9:30 am.  7/30 - 7:30am - 8:30am.

Rounds: 2-day: 7/29 - 10 & 3:00, 7/30 - 1:30 & 6:30, 1-day: 7/30 - 9, 11:10, 1:30, & 6:30.  (1-day and 2-day events merge in round 3).

Time controls: 2-day, 30/90 G/60 all rounds.  1-day, Rounds 1-2, G/60; Rounds 3-4, 30/90, G/60.

 

ENTRY FEE: $49 postmarked by 7/24/2006; $64 postmarked after 7/24/2006 & on-site.  IMs/GMs free.  USCF membership required. Entrants may play up one section for $10. 

Reentry after round 2 of the 2-day schedule into the 1-day schedule: $20. $5 discount for Juniors (U18) or Seniors (65+). $5 discount for postmark before 7/14.

 

Team: Four or more individuals may compete for a club, team, or school. Multiple club teams allowed. Team discount of $5 per entry. All (four or more) entries must be in 1

package or not counted. Teams may form on-site, but won’t receive discount.

 

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.

 

PRIZES:    Expert (2000 and up):        1st - $400 , 2nd - $150, 3rd - $100

                   Reserve (U2000):         1st - $400 , 2nd - $150, U1900 - $50, U1800 - $50 - U1700 - $50

Amateur (U1600):        1st - $400 , 2nd - $150, U1500 - $50, U1400 - $50 - U1300 - $50

Club or Team            1st- 3rd receive Club Trophy

Top Junior (U18)        Highest Score between Juniors - $50 for main event.

                              Blitz Prize                               1st - $50, 2nd - $35, U2000 - $20, U1800 - $20, U1600 - $20, U1400 - $20

Bughouse Prize       1st - $50, 2nd - $40, 3rd- -$30 4th - $20 (per team)

 

Overall prize fund based on 70 fully paid adult entries. Blitz prize fund based on fully paid 20 entries. Bughouse prize fund based on fully paid 12 teams. 

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

 

Additional Events-Blitz: Blitz Championship (Open) in a 5 round Swiss format. Each game will be played with both colors (10 games played total).

 Both sides will have 5 minutes to make all moves. This is a G/5 rated event. Event will start following the conclusion of 2nd round play or 8:00pm. Bughouse:

 Bughouse Championship (Open) in 5 round swiss. Each game will played with both colors (10 games played total). Both sides will have 5 minutes to make all moves.

Unrated Event will start following conclusion of Blitz or 9:00pm. (May Sign up individually and td will partner to avoid late fee) (You may pay in advance and then form a team at the tournament.)

 

OTHER: Bring chess clocks and sets (Black chooses equipment); few provided!!  Registration will close as scheduled to allow round 1 to start on time.  Late entries will be

given a ½ point bye or paired against another late entry at the TD’s discretion.  No computer entries accepted.  Wheelchair access to site.  USCF rated.

 

MORE INFO: E-mail: sfchessclassic@yahoo.com

 

         2006 California Classic Entry Form

Name:                                                                                 USCF ID #                                Rating:                 .                      

Address:                                                                                                                Expiration Date:                  .                                         

City & State:                                                                          Zip:                           Phone: (        )       -            .                                    

E-mail Address:                                                                         Requested ½ point bye (if any), round           .                     

Circle the section being entered:          o          Expert          o          Reserve          o          Amateur

Mark all that apply:

            2-day:  $49 postmarked by 7/24/2006 , $64 postmarked after 7/24/2006 & on-site

            1-day:  $49 postmarked by 7/24/2006 , $64 postmarked after 7/24/2006 & on-site

            Play up one section for $10.

            Discount (maximum 2 discounts [$10] per entry)

            Team Discount of $5 per member. Team Name:                                                                         !

            $5 discount for Juniors (U18) or Seniors (65+).

            $5 discount Early Registration Postmarked by 7/14/2006 for main event.

            $10 Bughouse Championship Entry Partner:                      postmarked by 7/24/2006, $20 after & on-site

            $15 Blitz Championship Entry postmarked by 7/24/2006, $25 postmarked after 7/24/2006 & on-site

            Re-Entry 1-day schedule for $20.

            TOTAL (Make checks payable to Jason Gurtovoy)

Mail entries to: Jason Gurtovoy, 34249 Fremont Blvd. #158 Fremont, CA 94555

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