Want to share something about your participation in these events? Please share your comments, stories, photos and games with us! Email to support@uschesstrust.org.  

The EAST:  Parsippany, New Jersey - Feb. 13-15, 2010 (Parsippany Hilton, 1 Hilton Ct.)

A Heritage Event!

40th Annual World Amateur Team & U.S. Team East – Ruby Anniversary

This event is open to 4- player teams with one optional alternate. Team average (4 highest ratings-2009 Annual Rating list) must be under 2200.

Check out official website www.njscf.org.

There are many competitive entries!

Among them is a U.S. Amateur Team East Team that consists of Former USCF President WIM Beatriz Marinello of the U.S. Chess Trust, USCF Executive Director Bill Hall, USCF Vice-president Ruth Haring and USCF Editorial Assistant & Clubs & Member Associate Alan Kantor.

WIM Beatriz Marinello missed the 1st Round when a fire in New York prevented her from accessing her vehicle where she had already packed her luggage. Being the trooper that she is, she still managed to make it in time for the 2nd Round!

Prizes: 1-5th Place teams, plaque and 4 digital clocks; Top Team (Denis Barry Award) U2100, 2000, 1900, 1800, 1700, 1600, 1500, 1400, 1300, 1200, 1000 each plaque and 4 Digital Clocks; Top college team (same school) 4 Digital Clocks & plaque; Top HS team (grades 9-12 same school), Top Middle School (grades 5-9 same school), Top Elementary School (grades K-6 same school), Top 2 Scholastic Teams (mixed schools okay) (Collins Award), Mixed Doubles (2 males, 2 females-no alternates), Seniors (all players over age 50), Military, each plaque & 4 Digital Clocks to top team; Company Team (same employer) Old Timers Trophy (all players over 65), Family (4 family members), State teams-CT, DE, MD, MA, NJ, NY (Benjamin Award), PA, VA, NC, RI, OH, Canada, each plaque top team; team traveling longest distance-entry refunded. Best Player 1-4 and top alternate, All 6-0 scores each Digital clock. Biggest Individual upset each round Engraved Cross pen; Entry fee refunded to team with Best “Chess related” name, Sunday night- Best “Chess Related costumes or gimmick-gourmet dinner for four. Reg.: 9-12 Sat 2/13. Rds.: 1-7:30, 11-6, 9-3:30. Special Events!! Surprises and special give-aways each round. Sunday night-Bughouse $20 per team. Cash prizes.

• U.S. Amateur Team East (Click Here for Additional Info)
  

The WEST: 21850 Oxnard Steet, Woodland Hills, CA 91367 Feb. 13-15, 2010

Warner Center Marriott

Open to teams of four players plus optional alternate.  Average rating of four highest rated players must be under 2200. Difference beween boards 3 and 4 may not exceed 1000 points. December rating list used.

Prizes: Trophy and four chess clocks to: Top 3 teams; Top teams rated Under 2100, Under 2000, Under 1800, Under 1600, Under 1400/unrated.  Trophies (1 large, 4 small) to top College, Industrial, and Junior (all under age 18 or HS), Senior (over age 50), U1200 teams.  Clocks to top scorers on each board (1-4 and Alternate), plus any perfect score.  Gift certificates for Best Team Name (1st and 2nd).

• U.S. Amateur Team West (Click Here for Additional Info)
  

CLICK HERE for STANDINGS

The NORTH: U.S. Amateur Team Championship North - Milwaukee WI , Feb. 12-14 or Feb. 13-14, 2010

Crowne Plaza Hotel: 6401 South 13th Street, Milwaukee, WI 414-764-5300

Co-Sponsors: WI Chess Academy & Vaja International Chess Academy

• U.S. Amateur Team North (Click Here for Additional info)
• Download Event Flyer Here for Details

The SOUTH: 60 South Ivanhoe Blvd., Orlando Florida , Feb. 12-14 or 13-14, 2010

U.S. Amateur Team South & Scholastic Chess Championship at the Sonesta Hotel Orlando Downtown

5 Rounds at G/120 (2-day option: Sat Rd1 G/60) / 2 sections: 4-player teams (plus optional lower rated alternate) / Open Team average rating under 2200 (Yr-end) / (Winning Open Team plays on ICC in National Playoffs on March 27th.) / Scholastic Team average rating under 1200 (Yr-end) G/60 / (Players need not be from the same school. Teams can be formed on-site.) / EF per player: OPEN $30 mailed by February 6, $40 later / SCHOLASTIC $20 mailed by February 6, $25 later / (SPECIAL EF $140 for 5-player team by Feb 6, $180 later.)

PRIZES: Plaques/Trophies to top 3 teams in each section plus:

OPEN: (four per teams indicated)

1st & 2nd: Excalibur chess clock; 3rd: Plaque

TOP U2000, U1800, U1600, U1400: Trophy

***FCA members are eligible for FL GP Points.***

SCHOLASTIC: (four per teams indicated)

1st & 2nd: Excalibur chess clock

3rd, & TOP U1000, U800: Trophy

BOARDS 1-4 in each section: Excalibur chess clock

Prizes for best team name in each section and all 5-0 scores.

SCHEDULE: Registration ends ½-hour before 1st round.

OPEN 3-day: rounds 8, 1-7, 9-3; 2-day: rounds 10-1-7, 9-3;

SCHOLASTIC (Sat & Sun): rounds 10-1-4, 9-12, Awards 2:30.

• U.S. Amateur Team South (Click Here for Additional Info)

Check back for more on these events!!!

The U.S. Chess Trust wishes you a Happy Valentine’s Day!

Good luck to all of the chessplayers participating in Amateur Team weekend events!

February 8, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

• CLICK HERE to Download a Copy of this PRESS RELEASE (PDF)
• CLICK HERE to Download the 2010 Scholar Chessplayer Application

Contact: Chuck Lovingood clovingood@uschess.org

The applications for the Scholar-Chessplayer Awards are due on March 1st 2010.

These annual scholarships are awarded by the U.S. Chess Federation and the U.S. Chess Trust to recognize outstanding achievements in chess and academics by High School students (juniors or seniors). High School students who have shown outstanding merits in academics, sportsmanship and chess are eligible to apply to these scholarships. Five awards of $1,500.00 each (total of $7,500) in scholarship money are available.

To apply for the Scholar-Chessplayer Award, you must be a current U.S. Chess Federation member and submit five copies of a completed application form, high school transcript showing all courses and grades, a letter of recommendation from a teacher, a letter of recommendation from a chess coach, an essay of no more than 500 words describing the positive influence that chess has had on your life, and a recent photograph.

Important Note for Electronic Submissions: Documents should be converted to PDF format. In the event that this isn’t possible, documents must be in Word Format (for Windows), Pages Format (for Apple). Photographs should be in JPG format.

Thanks to the generosity of it’s long-time supporters, the U.S. Chess Trust continues to fund many wonderful programs including the Scholar-Chessplayer Awards.

Please spread the word to potential donors to “Say Yes to Chess!” Donations to the U.S. Chess Trust are tax-deductible. The U.S. Chess Trust is a 501(c)(3) organization.

Special thanks to the National Scholastic Chess Foundation for their contribution to this program.

The United States Chess Federation (USCF), founded in 1939, serves as the governing body for chess in the United States and is now headquartered in Crossville, Tennessee. USCF is devoted to extending the role of chess in American society. It promotes the study and knowledge of the game of chess, for its own sake as an art and enjoyment, and as a means for the improvement of society. The USCF is a not-for-profit membership organization with over 80,000 members.
For additional information on the USCF see: http://www.uschess.org.

Good luck to all the chessplayers!

Last Year’s (2009) Scholar-Chessplayer Award Recipients were:

• Adithya Balasubramanian, VA
• Robert Lau, HI
• Haotian Zheng, CT
• Michael Thaler, NY
• Troy Daly, FL

The Denker Tournament of High School Champions (July 31, 2010 to August 3, 2010)

The U.S. Chess Trust is a Proud Sponsor of this tournament!!

The 2009 Denker Tournament held in August 2009 was a huge success!

CLICK HERE to find out more about last year’s winner!

We look forward to this years tournament!

Below are the complete details for the 2010 Denker Tournament.

The 2010 Denker Tournament of High School Champions

General Information

The tournament shall be played during the 2010 U.S. Open in Irvine, California from July 31, 2010 to August 3, 2010. The Denker Tournament of High School Champions fields High School State Champions from across the United States.

The “Denker” is considered a prestigious event held in memory of Grandmaster Arnold Denker who helped found it and who helped support it financially for over 20 years. Scholarships totaling $2,200 are now awarded to the top five finishers, through the generosity of GM Denker’s son, Mitchell, the U.S. Chess Trust and the National Scholastic Chess Foundation.

Eligibility

Each state shall be allowed one Representative as determined by the USCF State Affiliate. Alternates may be substituted as the official Representative. If there are an uneven number of entrants in the tournament, the Chairman of the Denker Committee will allow the host state to enter an additional qualified player. The additional player may not receive any prize monies, but is eligible for expense monies and the UTD Scholarship. Should the USCF state affiliate fail to respond to the notice for this tournament by June 15, the Denker Chairman may determine the candidate from that state. Representatives must be residents of the state they are representing. Only first Denker state qualifier will be used.

All players including home schooled students must be under the age of 20 on September 1 of the year in which the tournament is held. They must have been enrolled in high school courses, during the previous spring using the 9th through 12th grade curriculum. The Representative may not be listed as a full-time student at any college. Proof of eligibility shall be the responsibility of the players and the USCF state official certifying the Representative or Alternate.

It is the goal of the Denker Committee to have all fifty states and the District of Columbia represented. Consequently, we strongly encourage each USCF state affiliate and the District of Columbia to hold a High School Championship tournament to determine its champion. Failing this, rating or some other criteria may be acceptable.

Playing Schedule

The Opening Ceremony and 6-round Swiss will consist of the following dates and times:

Opening Ceremony-4 PM Saturday, July 31, 2010 (REQUIRED ATTENDANCE AND CHECK-IN). All participants are required to attend for awarding of Medallions, introduction of dignitaries and photo session.

• Round 1-Saturday, July 31, 2010. Same time as evening round of the US Open.
• Round 2-Sunday, August 1, 2010- 11AM,
• Round 3-Same starting time as evening round of the US Open.
• Round 4-Monday, August 2, 2010- 11 AM.
• Round 5-Same starting time as evening round of the US Open.
• Round 6-Tuesday, August 3, 2010- 11 AM, Denker Awards Ceremony- 4 PM.

This playing schedule is especially convenient, because it allows players an opportunity to participate in the US Open. This is possible because you can now enter the US Open upon completion of the Denker. Please note that the USCF Delegates voted to provide a 50% entry fee for all Denker participants who choose to enter the US Open after the Denker is concluded.

Rules

1. Players shall be required to play all six rounds of the tournament. Failure to do so, without notifying the TD personally, will result in a forfeiture of expense monies.
2. Player shall be required to furnish the TD with a legible and complete score sheet at the conclusion of each round.
3. The time control will be 90 minutes per player with 30 second increment added per move. This is the approved FIDE time control.

Scholarship Details

The Denker Tournament of High School Champions is proud to announce that a 4 year Academic Distinction Scholarship will be awarded by the University of Texas, Dallas. The scholarship is valued at $68,000 for an out-of-state student. UTD has been a leader in the promotion of Scholastic Chess for many years. You can see their campus and chess program at the following locations: www.utdallas.edu and www.chess.utdallas.edu.

In addition, the “new” video of the UTD chess team has been uploaded to YouTube.

Note:  Find it on the U.S. Chess Trust’s video sidebar.

It is about UTD (University of Texas at Dallas) which is the sponsor of the scholarship that will be given at the 2010 Denker Tournament of High School Champions. This will give you a look into what UTD is all about and what players can expect when they attend UTD. Eligible winners must meet UTD entry requirements and have been in grades 9-11 during the previous spring.

The U.S. Chess Trust, Mitchell Denker and the National Scholastic Chess Foundation will award $2200 in Scholarships (1st place: $800, 2nd place $500, 3rd place $300, 4th place $300 and 5th place $300). Scholarships are designated for college expenses and will be sent to winners only upon proof of college enrollment (copies of paid bills, or official letters, etc.) by the Chess Trust. In some cases, prizes will be held in escrow pending receipt of paper documentation.

There will also be a $500 Ursula Foster scholarship awarded by the Chess Trust to the highest finisher who is under the age of 16 on the first day of the tournament. If less than two participants are under 16, then the scholarship will go to the top participant under 17. Two or more players must be in the lowest age qualified group.

The winner of the tournament shall receive the title of Denker High School Champion of Champions. In case of ties, co-champions shall be recognized.

Expense money: Through the generosity of Mitchell Denker, each participant will receive a minimum of $100 to help defray travel expenses, plus a share of the remaining funds after tournament expenses. Expense money will be paid in check or cash at the conclusion of the event. A proportion of a player’s expense money will be withheld for each forfeited game. Players expelled from the tournament, or who withdraw without contacting the Tournament Director forfeit all expense money.

Travel & Accommodations: Players are responsible for their own travel and accommodations. Players sharing rooms should make their arrangements carefully, as neither the USCF nor the tournament are responsible for any consequences arising from such arrangements. Please note that registration in a hotel room will require a person 18 years of age or older to be present.

Contact Information: Each player must provide the Denker Chairman with a phone number of a parent or other responsible adult in case of an emergency.

Denker Chairman: Dewain Barber, 524 S. Avenida Faro, Anaheim CA 92807 (714) 998-5508. FAX (714) 998-1160 E-Mail: AmChessEq@aol.com .

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact:
Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis
Mike Wilmering
mwilmering@saintlouischessclub.org
www.saintlouischessclub.org

EXCITING NEW FORMAT DEBUTS AT THE 2010 U.S. CHAMPIONSHIP

SAINT LOUIS, January 28, 2010 — The 2010 U.S. Championship, scheduled to be held May 13-26 at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, will feature a new format, which includes a 24-player, seven-round Swiss tournament followed by a four-player Championship final. The idea is designed to ensure drama in the final three days of play and to avoid the potentially less climactic pairings that are typical in a 24-player, nine-round Swiss. This innovative new format will ensure an exciting finale for chess fans around the world. After seven rounds of play, the top four players will face off in a round robin (also known as a quad). The scores from the Swiss tournament will carry over into the final.

Players who do not make it into the top four places after seven rounds will play two more rounds of the Swiss event. They will also have much to play for as fifth place will be awarded $10,000 and the total prize fund of the “Challenger’s Swiss” will exceed $90,000.

“By structuring this year’s event with both a preliminary Swiss and climactic final, we hope to host a U.S. Championship that fans will never forget and that will help advance the cause of chess as telegenic and thrilling,” said Tony Rich, executive director of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. “Come out to Saint Louis for a long weekend during the finals to see for yourself!”

Tournament Chairperson WGM Jennifer Shahade will provide live commentary of the tournament alongside a Grandmaster commentator soon to be announced.

This year’s prize fund is being increased from $135,000 to more than $170,000 with a grand prize of $35,000, a minimum of $3,000 for last place and more funds going to second place in particular ($20,000 as compared to $15,000 in 2009). The prize fund is differentiated at every single place with the exception of the fourth- and fifth-place finishers, who will both receive $10,000.

“We are proud to present the largest per capita prize fund in U.S. Championship history,” Rich said.

In the event that there is no clear U.S. Champion after the quad finals, there will be a championship playoff. The U.S. Champion will receive $5,000 more than other players tied for first prior to the playoff, but other tied players throughout the tournament will share monies equally. If after seven rounds, there are ties for the four places into the final round-robin quad, then there will be a concise fourth-place playoff on May 21, the scheduled rest day.

“Rules to break possible ties (and multiple ties) for fourth and first will be fully outlined,” said U.S. Championship Rules Advisor Greg Shahade.

They will appear in the players contracts and on the CCSCSL Web site closer to the tournament start.

The 24 invited players will include:

• defending U.S. Chess Champion, GM Hikaru Nakamura;
• winner of the 2009 U.S. Senior Open Championship, GM Larry Christiansen;
• winner of the 2009 U.S. Junior Championship, GM Ray Robson;
• winner of the 2009 U.S. Women’s Championship, IM Anna Zatonskih;
• the top five qualifiers from the 2009 U.S. Open Championship: GM-elect Alex Lenderman, GM Sergey Kudrin, GM Alex Yermolinsky, GM Dmitri Gurevich and GM Jesse Kraai;
• winner of the 2010 ICC State Champion of Champions (to be determined);
• the top 10 U.S. players by rating of the United States Chess Federation’s February supplement (to be determined);
• four wild card spots (to be determined).

Stay tuned to the Web site of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis for more details on the prize fund breakdown, schedule and participants.

###

The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis is a not-for-profit, 501(c)3 organization that opened in July 2008. It has more than 500 members. The club offers free classes, discounted tournament entry fees and discounted merchandise for club members.

The United States Chess Federation is the official, not-for-profit U.S. membership organization for chess players and chess supporters of all ages and strengths, from beginners to grand masters. Founded in 1939 with the merger of the American Chess Federation and the National Chess Federation, USCF has grown to more than 80,000 members and nearly 1,200 affiliated chess clubs and organizations. USCF sanctions 25 national championship award titles to both amateurs and professionals, ranging from elementary school students to senior citizens. For more information, visit www.uschess.org.

New York City, Jan. 29th, 2010

Along with the excitement of the New York City Chess Championship comes the nerves and the last minute private chess classes in preparation for the big tournament.  On Friday night, such was the case for me who had just wrapped up a private chess lesson with a student.

As I headed home, I was caught up in a police chase in the vicinity of 86th and Columbus Avenue as I headed towards the East side.  It was an outrageous chase involving police cars and even a yellow cab.  As a precaution, I pulled over then called a friend to describe the unbelievable scene that unfolded in front of me.  She commented that perhaps I just happened across the filming of an action movie, a typical thing in NYC where once a friend from Pennsylvania was caught in a crowd running hysterically down the street, his first thought…terrorist attack….but, nothing that serious…just a Spider-Man movie filming on location.

It was not until now that I saw the news and put two and two together.  Sadly, the scene I happened across on Friday night was not a movie.

The talented film editor Karen Schmeer was hit by a getaway driver as he fled the scene of a robbery on the West side and what I witnessed was the police chase.  Certainly very sad and tragic news.  Our thoughts and condolences go out to her family.

Karen has been called “one of the greatest editors of her generation.” Her current project was a documentary about Bobby Fischer that’s supposed to air on HBO.  Many chess personalities had already been interviewed for the documentary.

Here are a few of the websites covering this tragedy:

• Gothamist.com
• New York Times
• New York Post

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact:
Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis
Mike Wilmering, 314-578-7879
mwilmering@saintlouischessclub.org
www.saintlouischessclub.org

2010 U.S. CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP SHIFTS DATES TO MAY 13-25

ST. LOUIS, Jan. 6, 2010 — The dates for the 2010 U.S. Championship have shifted. The tournament is now scheduled from May 13-25 at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. The U.S. Championship will have a larger prize fund than the 2009 tournament with more than $170,000 up for grabs.

The U.S. Championship was rescheduled to prevent overlapping with the World Championship match between Veselin Topalov and Viswanathan Anand in Bulgaria in order to ensure the highest quality of coverage.
The format in 2010 is also a bit different and promises a unique and exciting experience. The opening ceremony is scheduled for May 13, and rounds one through seven (Swiss paired) will take place May 14-20. The final three rounds, scheduled for May 22-24, will feature a round-robin quad format that is sure to lead to some thrilling games of fighting chess. A possible playoff may take place on May 25, along with a community day for the players and a closing ceremony, which will feature various awards and prizes.

The tournament will host 24 of the best players in the country. Nine of the 24 spots have already been filled, which leaves 15 invitations still to be determined.

The 24 invited players include:

• The defending U.S. Champion – GM Hikaru Nakamura
• The winner of the 2009 U.S. Senior Open Championship – GM Larry Christiansen
• The winner of the 2009 U.S. Junior Championship – GM Ray Robson
• The 2009 U.S. Women’s Champion – IM Anna Zatonskih
• The top five qualifiers from the 2009 U.S. Open Championship – GM-elect Alex Lenderman, GMs Sergey Kudrin, Alex Yermolinsky, Dmitry Gurevich, and Jesse Kraai
• The winner of the 2010 ICC State Champion of Champions – TBD
• The top 10 U.S. players by rating of the United States Chess Federation – TBD
• Four wildcard spots – TBD

The Chess Club and Scholastic Center also hosted the 2009 U.S. Championship in May and the 2009 U.S. Women’s Championship in October.

“It was our privilege to host the 2009 U.S. Championship, and we’re honored to be chosen again,” said Tony Rich, executive director of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis.

The top 10 U.S. players will be determined by their ratings according to the February USCF rating supplement. The ICC State Champion of Champions will be determined through an online tournament that will pit state champions against one another. Stay tuned for updates, special event information and a complete prize-fund breakdown.

###
The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis is a not-for-profit, 501(c)3 organization that opened in July 2008. It has more than 500 members. The club offers free classes, discounted tournament entry fees and discounted merchandise for club members. For more, please visit www.saintlouischessclub.org or call 314-361-CHESS.

Jan. 5-14 in Bursa, Turkey

The U.S Team is scheduled to play against Turkey at the World Team Chess Championship which starts today in Bursa, the old capitol of Turkey.

“The tournament system is 9-rounds all-play-all. Time control for the event is 90 min/40 moves +30 min/end, with 30 seconds additional time per move, starting from move one. This event was organized by the Government of Turkey and the Turkish Chess Federation (TCF) with the patronage of the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality.”

The top three teams from the 2008 Chess Olympiad are:

• Armenia
• Israel
• …and USA!

Federations qualified to participate in the Championship are Continental Champions:

• Russia
• Brazil
• India (replacing China who withdrew their team)
• …and Egypt

The two teams invited by the FIDE President’s approval are:

• Azerbaijan
• …and Greece.

And Turkey, who as the host country, automatically qualifies to participate.

Each team has one captain and six players (4 plus 2 reserves). The organizer of this event is providing all teams with full hospitality, which includes lodging, and transportation from the Istanbul airport.

The World Teams:

For the United States of America…

• Hikaru Nakamura 2715
• Alexander Onischuk 2672
• Yuri Shulman 2623
• Varuzhan Akobian 2624
• Robert L. Hess 2572
• Ray Robson 2567

Armenia:

• Levon Aronian 2786
• Vladimir Akopian 2700
• Gabriel Sargissian 2676
• Arman Pashikian 2656
• Tigran Petrosian 2615
• Tigran Kotanjian 2542

Israel:

• Boris Gelfand 2758
• Michael Roiz 2659
• Ilia Smirin 2662
• Emil Sutovsky 2666
• Evgeny Postny 2650
• Maxim Rodhstein 2650

Russia:

• Alexander Morozevich 2750
• Alexander Grischuk 2736
• Vladimir Malakhov 2706
• Dmitry Jakovenko 2736
• Evgeny Tomashevsky 2708
• Nikita Vityugov 2694

Brazil:

• Giovanni Vescovi 2648
• Rafael Leitao 2621
• Alexandr Fier 2653
• Gilberto Milos 2603
• Andre Diamant 2493
• Darcy Lima 2504

Egypt:

• Ahmed Adly 2583
• Bassem Amin 2553
• Mohamed Ezat 2472
• Khaled Abdel Razik 2469
• Imed Abdelnabbi 2447
• Walaa Sarwat 2405

Azerbaijan:

• Vugar Gashimov 2758
• Teimour Radjabov 2748
• Shakhriyar Mamedyarov 2719
• Rauf Mamedov 2634
• Gadir Guseinov 2625
• Nidjat Mamedov 2617

Greece:

• Vassilios Kotronias 2599
• Ioannis Papaioannou 2628
• Hristos Banikas 2615
• Stelios Halkias 2573
• Dimitrios Mastrovasilis 2569
• Athanasios Mastrovasilis 2513

Turkey:

• Kivanc Haznedaroglu 2497
• Mert Erdogdu 2489
• Mustafa Yilmaz 2468
• Emre Can 2449
• Baris Esen 2493
• Burak Firat 2392

India:

• Sasikiran Krishnan 2653
• Harikrishna P 2672
• Ganguly Surya Shekhar 2654
• Geetha Narayanan Gopal 2584
• Arun Prasad S 2567
• Adhiban B 2511

Stay tuned for more on this event!!

CLICK HERE for Official website

All Photos and Article by Dora Leticia

As many prepare to ring in the New Year with family, friends and an onslaught of parties…there are still those who prefer to end the year with a chess tournament at our nations capital, Washington, D.C.!

About the 36th Annual Eastern Open:  A Heritage Event

Where? Westin Washington DC City Center Hotel, Thomas Circle, 1400 M St. NW, Washington, DC.

Organizer - Tom Beckman – Info only, tombeckman@rcn.com
Tournament Directors – NTDs Michael Atkins and Ernie Schlich

$17,000 Unconditionally Guaranteed Prizes – Over 60 Prizes
Class prizes for each 100 points!

• CLICK HERE FOR RESULTS PAGE
• CLICK HERE FOR THE TOURNAMENTS WEBSITE
  

Schedule:

• Sunday 12/27: 1pm & 7:30pm
• Monday 12/28: 11am & 6pm
• Tuesday 12/29:  11am & 6pm
• Wednesday 12/30:  10am & 4:30pm

This year the 36th Annual Eastern Open has rocked our nations capitol!  But, I can’t help but think that something else, something bigger is at play here…and I don’t mean the prize money.

Coming together in our nation’s capitol at the end of a year to play competitive chess means more than the obvious….just look, pay attention…and observe.

The look on a players face during a morning coffee run (prior to game play)…the complete absorption in their own thoughts as they prepare for what could be a win…or a win…because as someone most of us know always says:

“Even when we lose, we win.” – Beatriz Marinello.

You may even come across a player with a slight fear of dogs, even small ones…and even if he has a bigger bite when it comes to chess, well, dogs can be scary.  You know who we mean Mr. Lenderman. ; – )

A chess tournament that draws young and older players alike, whether they travel alone or accompanied by friends and family, they share a common sentiment – love for the game.

AND I MEAN L-O-V-E, LOVE.  These are high playing, chess loving beings!

Recently, I read a book called “The Equation That Couldn’t Be Solved” by Mario Livio and found a section titled, “The Rules of the Game”.

In this section there is a quote by the man who was nicknamed “Darwin’s Bulldog”, Biologist, Thomas Henry Huxley (1825-95).

“The chess board is the world, the pieces are the phenomena of the universe, the rules of the game are what we call the laws of Nature.  The player on the other side is hidden from us…”

According to the book’s author, “today’s physicists would like the laws of nature not only to represent the rules of the game, but also to explain even the existence and properties of the chessboard and the pieces themselves!”

But, the board and the pieces don’t play themselves…and as our chessplayers wander the halls of the Westin lost in thought, or analyze their games after play to try to determine what went wrong, or bask in the glory of a battle won, or simply are just dying to get something to eat after hours on end of a grueling chess match.

Where do the holidays go and how are they celebrated for these chess beings?

And then I see….Chess is their celebration! Chess is their glory, it’s their need, their balance, their life!

What better way to welcome and celebrate the New Year than in doing what we love?

As this event is wrapped up as well as many others being held across our great country – we at the U.S. Chess Trust would like to wish you and yours a very happy and safe New Year!

Check out the 36th Annual Eastern Open photo gallery below and stay tuned for final standings!

The U.S. Chess Trust would like to send warm wishes to all this holiday season!

Thank you for your continued support and interest in the U.S. Chess Trust!