This weekend: Chicago Class in Wheeling

Info here.  Next, they'll be holding the Wheeling Class in Chicago....

All sections are five games: you can choose between a Friday evening or a Saturday morning.first round.  Online entry closed on the 11th, but you can enter onsite until 6 p.m. Friday Saturday or until 10 a.m. Saturday Sunday.

This is the last Continental Chess Association event for which ICA membership is required.  For future events, ICA members will receive a $5 discount.  Carrots work better than sticks.

"King Eric"

The 2011 National High School Champion learned much from Chicago's Russian Jewish community.  Story in The Chicago Jewish News.

Continental Amateur photos

You might enjoy browsing the 200 cool photos from the tournament with the impossibly long name (also known as "FIDE Continental Americas Amateur Championship") held in Rosemont over the July 4 weekend.

Check out these Facebook pages: here and here  Hat tip to Vito Vitkauskas!

World Open report

GM Jaan Ehlvest (photo Eric Rosen)

On the ICA website, Brad Rosen reports on some outstanding results by Illinois players in Philadelphia (including a few that I'd missed). 

Sadly, there were no restaurant reviews in Brad's report.  (Here's mine: if happy hour sushi appeals, Aki,1210 W. Walnut, is delicious & affordable.)  2012 is rumored to be the last year that the World Open will be in downtown Philadelphia: the event moves to Arlington, Virginia, in 2013.

June 2011 CICL bulletin

The June issue of The Chicago Chess Player was up some time ago: forgot to link to it!  There's one more issue to come to wrap up the 2010-2011 season....

I recognize Matthew Stevens, but who's the other fellow?

Andi Rosen identifies the vaguely familiar mystery guest on the ICA website.

eBay auction items

In the next few days, a few chess books will be auctioned via eBay Giving Works for the benefit of the Illinois Chess Association's Warren Junior Program.

Bid early, bid often: it's for a good cause!

Oops: some of the auction items are not displaying: I've linked directly to the items here.