Thursday, December 1, 2011
"Chess forges friendship, keeps it in check "
"As buddies, Loop lawyer, homeless man seem an unlikely match."
From today's Chicago Tribune.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Illinois Class in Orland Park, December 10-11!
Enough of that. Back to constructive things.
Cribbed from the ICA Tournament Calendar:
Cribbed from the ICA Tournament Calendar:
- Illinois Class Championships
- 12/10/2011 - 12/11/2011
- Orland Park Cultural Center - Orland Park
4SS, G90 + 30 sec. U1000/U700 Sections plays 5SS, G/75 with separate schedule. Orland Park Cultural Center, 14760 Park Lane, Orland Park, 60090 (from I-355 take IL-171 Archer Rd Exit toward 143rd Street (7.5 mi), take West St toward 147th St and follow the curve. From I-55 take US-12E/US-20E/US-45E/ S LaGrange Rd (10 mi); take W 144 PL and follow the curve). Free parking. Prizes $2,000 based on 80 paid entries. In 8 sections; no unrated allowed in Master/Expert section. Master/Expert (2000/up): $250-175-150-100-75. FIDE. Class A (1800-1999/unr): $125-75-50. FIDE. Class B (1600-1799/Unr): $125-75-50. Class C (1400-1599/Unr): $125-75-50. Class D (1200-1399/Unr): $125-75-50. Class E (Under 1200/Unr): $125-75-50. Under 1000 (K-12 only): Trophies to top 5. Under 700 (K-12 only): Trophies to top 5. Rated players may play up one section (additional $10). Unrated prize limit $50 on each section. Top 6 sections EF: Top 6 sections EF: $50 by 11/20, $60 after 11/20; $70 at site. U1000/U700: $25 by 11/20, $30 after 11/20; $40 at site. No credit cards on site! Online reservations and payments at www.intecsus.org Official uschess.org December supplement for ratings will be used if otherwise unrated. Schedule: Reg. on Dec. 10th at 8:30 – 9:30 am Top 6 sections: Sat: 10:00 am & 3:00 pm; Sun: 10:00 am & 3:00 pm U1000/U700 sections: Sat: 10:00 am, 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm; Sun: 10:00 am, 1:00 pm Bye: all, must commit before rd 2 or not have plus score. Boards, Sets, and Clocks will be provided by the North American Chess Association. Organizer supplied equipment must be used. Hotels: Comfort Inn Suites (8800 W 159TH ST Orland Park, IL 60462); HR: $85; Homewood Suites by Hilton (16245 LaGrange Road Orland Park, IL 60467); HR: $135 Both hotels are located in 10-15 minutes drive from the tournament site.
Ent: IntECS, Inc., 63 W 75th St., Willowbrook, IL 60527 www.intecsus.org 630-789-2951
Chess Magnet School JGP.
Before the police were called....
David Heiser sent me a Facebook "friend" request some weeks ago, I turned it down, as I generally do when I get a request from a person I believe to be of low character. But I held my tongue at the time.
Today, I touched David on the shoulder. (In retrospect, a big mistake, I know, as Sheila Heiser had made it clear she had no interest in talking: but I hadn't heard that from David.). David threatened to "lay me on the ground."
As the folks at the office said, "This is all about chess?"
I sincerely believe that the ICA proposal for Chicago Public Schools is far stronger than the Renaissance Knights proposal. But I believe in the transformational power of chess in the schools strongly enough that, for all my misgivings, I'd be willing to back the Renaissance Knights proposal. After all, the children in Chicago Public Schools should come first. That's all I wanted to say.
After the meeting, I'm standing outside City Hall chatting with GM Yury Shulman and Paul Kash, the Whitney Young coach, about ten yards north of the LaSalle Street entrance to City Hall. David and Sheila walk out the door. I motion for them to come to me, without approaching them. They scurry back in:: Sheila yells, "I'm calling the police!"
Today, I touched David on the shoulder. (In retrospect, a big mistake, I know, as Sheila Heiser had made it clear she had no interest in talking: but I hadn't heard that from David.). David threatened to "lay me on the ground."
As the folks at the office said, "This is all about chess?"
I sincerely believe that the ICA proposal for Chicago Public Schools is far stronger than the Renaissance Knights proposal. But I believe in the transformational power of chess in the schools strongly enough that, for all my misgivings, I'd be willing to back the Renaissance Knights proposal. After all, the children in Chicago Public Schools should come first. That's all I wanted to say.
After the meeting, I'm standing outside City Hall chatting with GM Yury Shulman and Paul Kash, the Whitney Young coach, about ten yards north of the LaSalle Street entrance to City Hall. David and Sheila walk out the door. I motion for them to come to me, without approaching them. They scurry back in:: Sheila yells, "I'm calling the police!"
...in appearance and fact
Two questions:
Who are the members of the board of Renaissance Knights Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in Illinois?
Who are the paid employees and independent contractors of Renaissance Knights Foundation (and affiliated entities, if any)? Why didn't David Heiser want to talk about his economic self-interest at today's CPS summit meeting? (OK, make that three questions.)
After all, this is Chicago. And people do have to eat: there's nothing nefarious about having an economic self-interest.
Who are the members of the board of Renaissance Knights Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in Illinois?
Who are the paid employees and independent contractors of Renaissance Knights Foundation (and affiliated entities, if any)? Why didn't David Heiser want to talk about his economic self-interest at today's CPS summit meeting? (OK, make that three questions.)
After all, this is Chicago. And people do have to eat: there's nothing nefarious about having an economic self-interest.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Eric Rosen gets IM Norm at World Youth!
Eric Rosen drew his last-round game to finish in 9th place with 6/9 (+4 =4 -1) in the World Youth Championships (under-18 section) in Caldas Novas, Brazil. His opponents included two GMs, an IM, and four FMs. His only loss was to top-rated GM Samvel Ter-Sahakyan of Armenia, who won the tournament with an undefeated 8-1 score.
Eric started the tournament ranked 27th with a 2305 rating. This apparently gives him his first IM norm, less than 30 days after receiving his FM title! By my calculation, he had a performance rating of 2455. According to the tournament site, he gained 27 rating points, gaining rating points every round except in his one loss. Very impressive. Congratulations, Eric!
Here are his round-by-round results (link here):
1: WIN Vasconcelos, Paulo Cesar Silva (1897) BRA
2: DRAW Zhou, Yang-Fan (IM, 2436) ENG
3: DRAW Grandadam, Nicolas (FM, 2370)
4: WIN Benitez Lozano, Javier (2068) MEX
5: WIN FM Kantans, Toms (FM, 2338) LAT
6: WIN FM Rios Cristhian, Camilo (FM, 2388) COL
7: DRAW Salem, A R Saleh (GM, 2511) UAE
8: LOSS Ter-Sahakyan, Samvel (GM, 2556) ARM
9: DRAW Aghasaryan, Robert (FM, 2331) ARM
Eric started the tournament ranked 27th with a 2305 rating. This apparently gives him his first IM norm, less than 30 days after receiving his FM title! By my calculation, he had a performance rating of 2455. According to the tournament site, he gained 27 rating points, gaining rating points every round except in his one loss. Very impressive. Congratulations, Eric!
Here are his round-by-round results (link here):
1: WIN Vasconcelos, Paulo Cesar Silva (1897) BRA
2: DRAW Zhou, Yang-Fan (IM, 2436) ENG
3: DRAW Grandadam, Nicolas (FM, 2370)
4: WIN Benitez Lozano, Javier (2068) MEX
5: WIN FM Kantans, Toms (FM, 2338) LAT
6: WIN FM Rios Cristhian, Camilo (FM, 2388) COL
7: DRAW Salem, A R Saleh (GM, 2511) UAE
8: LOSS Ter-Sahakyan, Samvel (GM, 2556) ARM
9: DRAW Aghasaryan, Robert (FM, 2331) ARM
Friday, November 25, 2011
Round 8 of World Youth Chess Championship underway
Eric Rosen is playing on Board 1 against GM Samvel Ter-Sahakyan of Armenia. Follow the action here!
Update 9:00 p.m. by Frederick Rhine Alas, Eric lost, leaving him with 5.5/8 (+4 =3 -1) with one round left. I haven't done the math, but according to Jon Burgess on Facebook he can still get an IM norm if he wins or draws tomorrow. Go Eric!! Update 2:05 p.m., courtesy Matt Pullin, who doesn't think it looks good. I agree.Update 12:20 p.m. I've been unable to get moves for some time. Here's the last I saw (obscure opening, still theory):
Here are the round 7 standings: Eric moves into a tie for first if he wins. Awonder Liang of Wisconsin leads the World Under-8 by a full point, while Aydin Turgut has a plus score in the same event!
Update 9:00 p.m. by Frederick Rhine Alas, Eric lost, leaving him with 5.5/8 (+4 =3 -1) with one round left. I haven't done the math, but according to Jon Burgess on Facebook he can still get an IM norm if he wins or draws tomorrow. Go Eric!! Update 2:05 p.m., courtesy Matt Pullin, who doesn't think it looks good. I agree.Update 12:20 p.m. I've been unable to get moves for some time. Here's the last I saw (obscure opening, still theory):
Here are the round 7 standings: Eric moves into a tie for first if he wins. Awonder Liang of Wisconsin leads the World Under-8 by a full point, while Aydin Turgut has a plus score in the same event!
Monday, November 21, 2011
Eric Rosen at World Youth Championship, Caldas Novas, Brazil
Round 5 pairings here! Eric is doing very well so far, with two draws against higher-rated players and two wins.
I found the draws at The Week in Chess. Eric defends a difficult Taimanov Sicilian with skill:
An exciting opening (the Ragozin QGD) fizzles out to a sterile draw:
Andi Rosen will be covering the event for Chess Life Online.
I found the draws at The Week in Chess. Eric defends a difficult Taimanov Sicilian with skill:
An exciting opening (the Ragozin QGD) fizzles out to a sterile draw:
Andi Rosen will be covering the event for Chess Life Online.
Samvel Ter-Sahakyan
GM Samvel Ter-Sahakyan of Armenia leads the event: he finished second in last year's event, held in Greece.At least we got one championship yesterday!
("We"? OK, I'm over 50 and living vicariously.)
NM Sam Schmakel of Whitney Young High School won his third national championship this weekend, the 10th grade section of the K-12 Championships in Dallas, Texas.
These events are not easy for the average 2200 teenager to win: Sam scored 6½-½, including 4½-½ against two fellow NMs and three experts. The event drew 1,182 players from across the nation, including 48 in the 10th-grade section.
Crosstable here! And here's the story on USCF's home page (no mention of Sam, but more on the event).
If only the young master could master the art of being in two places at one time.
NM Sam Schmakel of Whitney Young High School won his third national championship this weekend, the 10th grade section of the K-12 Championships in Dallas, Texas.
These events are not easy for the average 2200 teenager to win: Sam scored 6½-½, including 4½-½ against two fellow NMs and three experts. The event drew 1,182 players from across the nation, including 48 in the 10th-grade section.
Crosstable here! And here's the story on USCF's home page (no mention of Sam, but more on the event).
If only the young master could master the art of being in two places at one time.
"New York Knights extinguish Chicago Blaze in chess championship"
Bummer.
Listen to the podcast of WBEZ's coverage here!
Chicago Blaze (10.0 – 2.0) vs New York Knights (7.5 – 4.5) 
Listen to the podcast of WBEZ's coverage here!
Chicago Blaze (10.0 – 2.0) vs New York Knights (7.5 – 4.5) | Chicago Blaze | New York Knights | ||
| GM Mesgen Amanov: 2576 | 0.0 | 1.0 | GM Giorgi Kacheishvili: 2653 |
| GM Dmitry Gurevich: 2547 | 0.5 | 0.5 | IM Irina Krush: 2560 |
| IM Angelo Young: 2415 | 0.0 | 1.0 | SM Matt Herman: 2426 |
| NM Gopal Menon: 2222 | 1.0 | 0.0 | John Fernandez: 2129 |
| Avg Rating: 2440 | Avg Rating: 2442 | ||
| Chicago Total ------- | 1.5 | 2.5 | ------- New York Total |
Sunday, November 20, 2011
U.S. Chess League finals starting NOW!
Stolen from the USCL website. I'll be stopping by shortly: good luck to the Blaze!
1. Chicago Blaze vs New York Knights 3:00 PM ET
If you are wondering why some teams have an average rating of above 2401, click here
All ratings listed below are August ratings - not always the ratings used for the league rating calculations!
Team listed first has White on Boards 1+3
Sunday, November 20th, 2011
Chicago Blaze (10.0 – 2.0) vs New York Knights (7.5 – 4.5)
All Time Series Record: (This is their first match)
Starts at 2:00 PM CST Time Control - Game in 90 with 30 second increment
*Due to the World Youth and K-12 Nationals causing many players to be unavailable, Chicago agreed to allow New York to use John Fernandez on Board Four when generally that would not have been permitted as he had not played the requisite two games during the regular season
If the match ties 2 – 2, there will be a special tiebreaker. Click here for the tiebreaker procedures.
1. Chicago Blaze vs New York Knights 3:00 PM ET
If you are wondering why some teams have an average rating of above 2401, click here
All ratings listed below are August ratings - not always the ratings used for the league rating calculations!
Team listed first has White on Boards 1+3
Sunday, November 20th, 2011
Chicago Blaze (10.0 – 2.0) vs New York Knights (7.5 – 4.5)
All Time Series Record: (This is their first match)
Starts at 2:00 PM CST Time Control - Game in 90 with 30 second increment
| Chicago Blaze |
New York Knights |
||
| GM Mesgen Amanov: 2576 | GM Giorgi Kacheishvili: 2653 | ||
| GM Dmitry Gurevich: 2547 | IM Irina Krush: 2560 | ||
| IM Angelo Young: 2415 | SM Matt Herman: 2426 | ||
| NM Gopal Menon: 2222 | John Fernandez: 2129 | ||
| Avg Rating: 2440 |
Avg Rating: 2442 |
||
| Chicago Total ------- | ------- New York Total |
*Due to the World Youth and K-12 Nationals causing many players to be unavailable, Chicago agreed to allow New York to use John Fernandez on Board Four when generally that would not have been permitted as he had not played the requisite two games during the regular season
If the match ties 2 – 2, there will be a special tiebreaker. Click here for the tiebreaker procedures.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Armenian Gambit
From Avet Demourian's September 15th Associated Press story in the Chicago Tribune
Tiny Armenia is a big player in world chess, and a new gambit could make it even bigger: mandatory chess in school.
The click-clack of chess pieces is being heard around the former Soviet nation's primary schools this fall, as the game becomes part of the curriculum along with such standards as math and history for children between the ages of 7 and 9 [....]
Wendi Fischer, executive director of the United States' Foundation for Chess [sic], has campaigned for the game to be taken up in U.S. classrooms and says Armenia's program has big potential.
"By incorporating chess as part of the curriculum, you are including a game, and that's how kids see it," Fischer said. "They think they're focused on fun. So I think it is a great way to cross over between a true hardcore curriculum that's mandatory and the young children being able to play and explore and have fun.":
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
"Local chess team Chicago Blaze looks to keep competition in check "
Prior to last night's Blaze match, Sevan Muradian was interviewed yesterday by Alison Cuddy of WBEZ's Eight Forty-Eight. Listen here!
Chicago 2½, L.A. 1½!!!
Last night at the North Shore Chess Center, Dmitry Gurevich and Josh Friedel powered the Chicago Blaze to a 2½-1½ win over the L.A. Vibe. On to the U.S. Chess League finals!
Must work: games here!
Must work: games here!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Road trip: Kings Island Open
I saw many Chicago players this weekend at the Kings Island Open in Mason, Ohio: the top section included GM Dmitry Gurevich, FM Andrew Karklins, and FM Aleksandar Stamnov, and Wayne Clark was one of the directors. The top Illinois finisher, FM Igor Tsyganov, scored an undefeated 3½-1½ and drew GM Alexander Shabalov. Kentucky lion Gregory Kaidanov took top honors in the Open Section with a perfect 5-0.
Congratulations to Illinois players Zhijin Hu, who won $1186 for clear first in the Under 1250 section, and Delondon Hawthorne, who won $678 for equal first in the Under 1000 section.
Vanity p.s.: I won the $678 "second-best fish" prize when the congenial NM Owechuku Iwu (who'd previously beaten me four games in a row) once again outplayed me as he normally does, but then went wrong in a tricky bishop vs. knight ending. But is there any other kind?
Crosstables here!
Congratulations to Illinois players Zhijin Hu, who won $1186 for clear first in the Under 1250 section, and Delondon Hawthorne, who won $678 for equal first in the Under 1000 section.
Vanity p.s.: I won the $678 "second-best fish" prize when the congenial NM Owechuku Iwu (who'd previously beaten me four games in a row) once again outplayed me as he normally does, but then went wrong in a tricky bishop vs. knight ending. But is there any other kind?
Brock-Iwu, Kings Island Open 2011
Black to play
The problems that knights have in stopping rook pawns from queening are legendary. But sometimes bishops have issues coping with rook pawns, too, especially when they're supported by a friendly king and knight. (I learned this lesson the hard way from Jiri Marek at the 2002 Illinois Open.)
Normally, play on both sides of the board favors the player with the bishop, and Black is up two pawns to boot. But it seems that White is not worse here! Dr. Iwu went into a 45-minute think, then played 1...Kb3? 2.Kxf7 h4 3.Nd3, and White soon won. What would you have done? Some reasonable-looking moves appear to lose, and I suspect that two strange-looking moves draw.
"Masters of the Game and Leaders by Example"
Left to right: James Black Jr., Justus Williams and Joshua Colas
Richard Perry for The New York Times
Fewer than 2 percent of the 47,000 members of the United States Chess Federation are masters — and just 13 of them are under the age of 14.
Check out this great story in The New York Times.
Among that select group of prodigies are three black players from the New York City area — Justus Williams, Joshua Colas and James Black Jr. — who each became masters before their 13th birthdays.
And let's work together to create some competition for the New Yorkers.
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