The Premier Chess Club of Northeast Ohio!
Ivanchuk! Ivanchuk! Ivanchuk! He is the current headline in chess at the moment. Can he sustain this winning streak? What is your prediction?
1. He will score 10-0.
2. He will coast the rest of the way.
3. He will self-destruct and finish second behind Topalov.
4. He is unpredictable and no one can predict what will happen with him.
Here are the matchups for round 6.
Ivanchuk, V - Radjabov, T
Topalov, V - Aronian, L
Xiangzhi, Bu - Cheparinov, I
Title: 2008 All-Army Chess Championship
Location: Fort Myer, Arlington, VA
Date: 11-17 May 2008
All Army personnel on active duty for 90 days or more are eligible to participate. We look for applicants that are strong players, are actively participating in USCF sanctioned tournaments and have a high level of tournament experience.
The Inter-Service Chess Championship (Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines) is scheduled for 8-14 June, 2008 at Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, Arizona. The 2008 NATO Chess Championships will be held in Brussels,Belgium, the date to be determined.
Please note that you MUST play, and place in the top 6, in the 2008 All Army Chess to qualify for the 2008 Inter-Sservice. Top finishers in the Inter-Service will form the Armed Forces Team for the 2008 NATO Chess Championship.
For more information, contact the CFSC Army Recreation Office via email (kris.dalessandro@us.army.mil) or call (703) 681-7204 and DSN 761-7204, FAX 703-681-7249
The objective of the annual All Army Chess Tournament is to promote interest in the Army Recreation program through the application of mental skills that relate to military strategy. It gives soldiers a chance to enhance their combat readiness by applying learned skills in logic and strategic thinking at the Army’s highest level of competition.
MonRoic.com, one of this site’s sponsors will provide live coverage of the tournament. Come back to this page for final instructions on how to to follow live games or replay games during the tournament.
Games can be seen live on MonRoi (http://monroi.com/watch/?tnm_id=1058#).
White to move. How should White proceed using a very common chess tactical theme?
Just as in some other chess tournaments in Europe, sports are usually played during the day off and soccer is a popular choice. Here is a soccer game between the players and the team Levski.
Levski – Chess United 3:2
(Sofia, 13 May 2008) The football mega derby between football and chess players ended 3:2. In a very competitive battle the Blues emerged victorious with goals of Nikolay Dimitrov who was the skipper of the team in this match (2’) and Igor Tomashich (8’, 17’). For the team of the participants in the international super chess tornament M-Tel Masters 2008 scored Bulgaria’s best open water swimmer Petar Stoychev (penalty 16’) and Ivan Cheparinov (19’). The game will be remembered for the phenomenal saves of Vassily Ivanchuk who played as a goalkeeper in the game.
The head referee of the game was the CEO of M-Tel Josef Vinatzer. He handed a 3-meter chess queen to the team of Levski as a prize for their victory. Svetla Nestorova, executive director of the official insurer of M-Tel Masters - Bulstrad Life Insurance JSC, handed prizes for fairplay to Bu Xiangzhi and for the teamwork – to the team of Levski. Corporate Commercial Bank awarded Vassily Ivanchuk as the Man of the match with a golden pen.
Source: mtelmasters.com
So how did Tommy celebrate after he tied for first at the National Elementary Championship (K-3 section) with Danny Angermeir? By going to the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh before we headed to the airport to go back to Lubbock, Texas. He loves Science, Math, Reading and Puzzle Solving.
Standings at the half way mark:
1 Ivanchuk Vassily 2740 UKR 5.0
2 Topalov Veselin 2767 BUL 3.5
3 Cheparinov Ivan 2695 BUL 2.0
4 Radjabov Teimour 2751 AZE 2.0
5 Aronian Levon 2763 ARM 1.5
6 Bu Xiangzhi 2708 CHN 1.0
Ivanchuk has often been considered a great talent of chess. Some even say that he is as talented as Kasparov or Karpov. He has dominated many tournaments in the past when everything clicks. Unfortunately, he seems to falter in super elite event. But not the 2008 Mtel Masters, at least not so far. 5-0 against this field is unfathomable.
So what’s his secret? Is it the tie that blinds his opponents? Is it the suit that intimidates his opponents? Is it the jokes which crack his opponents up? Or is it the special Sofia water? Can you solve this mystery? 
The chair of Topalov was sold for BGN 10 000
(Sofia, 13 May 2008) The chair on which the 19th World Champion Veselin Topalov is sitting during the games of the super chess tournament M-Tel Masters 2008 was sold for BGN 10 000. The antiquarian chair was purchased by the businessman Ivo Krastev and will be put in a new bar by the lake Ariana in Sofia. The gathered money will be used for the award fund of the circuit of children’s chess tournaments M-Tel Masters Junior starting this year.
The auction took place during the Black and White party last night, before the rest day of the traditional super chess tournament. In the garden of Grand Hotel Sofia gathered the participants in M-Tel masters 2008, the organizers, the sponsors, the guests, businessmen politicians, clients and partners of the general sponsor M-Tel, etc.
During the party there was also a lottery with a special prize – 4-day trip to the Spanish town Bilbao where the final tournament of the Grand Slam circuit will take place in the end of the year. It includes the competitions in Sofia, Linares, Wijk aan Zee and Mexico City. The prize was won by Svetla Nestorova, executive director of Bulstrad Life Insurance JSC. Her name was picked among the business cards of all guests of the Black and White party by the mascot of M-Tel Masters Quenn Kalina.
The famous TV host and former model Violeta Sechkova was the host of the party. The strings formation Intro took care of the music.
Source: Mtelmasters.com
‘It will be difficult for Vishy, more difficult for Kramnik’
Vijay Tagore
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 10:40 IST
Elizbar Ubilava, who spent 10 years with Anand as a Second, says the unification match will be between Russian’s opening and Indian’s middle game
MUMBAI: Elizbar Ubilava was believed to be the man responsible for Viswanathan Anand’s transformation from a rookie to a world champion.
The Georgian-born Spanish Grandmaster was Anand’s second for nearly 10 years. During the period, the Indian maestro won the world championship, the world cup and rose to World No 1 position. Ubilava is now the coach of Indian women’s team. DNA caught up with him at the GM tournament in the city. Excerpts:
How do you analyse Anand as a person, player and a professional?
He is well organised and disciplined. Mainly, he makes himself. He is a world champion and that speaks for itself. His greatness is his ability to maintain the highest standard for a long time. He is an absolutely exceptional talent.
The chess players world over respect him. He never looks for any artificial advantage world champions like Karpov tried to obtain at different times. He wants to achieve across the board. He is also a great human being. I was lucky for my association with him. My contribution to his growth, though, is modest.
How did it all start?
It started in Spain through some common friends. We still stay in the same city in Spain, which is very close to Madrid. Vishy invited me once in 1994.
We played some rapid games. Then he asked me to join him for the world championship cycle in Hyderabad against Gata Kamsky. We worked for about 10 days before coming to Hyderabad. That was the starting point.
It was not the best start right? Vishy lost to Kamsky 3.5-1.5.
That’s right. Anand should have won all those five games. But he made errors here and there and then went on to lose it. It was a big setback for the Indian fans but I thought he had a home disadvantage.
A lot of people would interrupt his preparation, to convey their best wishes. It was not an ideal situation for him. However, our association continued. I took a break in 2001. The last tournament was 2005 Linares.
How do look back at the time you spent with Vishy? Any highpoints that you recall?
We had fantastic time together travelling all over the world. It is difficult to nominate one or two watershed moments. Probably, the 2000 world championship was a milestone. Then the 2001 World Cup.
In 1997, he practically won the world championship. It was unjust of Fide to ask Anand to play Karpov after he came though knock-out system in the Netherlands. Two days after winning the knock-out tournament, he had to play Karpov. In the championship match, he made it 3-3 before losing in the additional game.
It was completely unjust. Karpov was very fresh and Vishy was totally exhausted. He was the best player in the Fide cycle. He proved that by ripping apart Karpov some months later 5.5-.5. But what I would like to stress is that we always tried to do different and new things. In that sense, it was a successful collaboration.
What are the areas you helped him develop?
Mainly opening. It is a huge, huge area. Today Vishy’s opening range is unbelievable. When we started, his opening repertoire was not as vast. There is a marked improvement in his middle and end games too. He is now a complete player. Psychologically he is very strong. He handles success and failure perfectly.
Ok, how do you rate Vishy of 1994 and 2008?
Now, he is a 2800 player, the best player in the world. What else one wants? I’m sure he will stay there for some more years. He stabilised himself as the highest level player. When we started, he was 2700 player.
Source: DNA India
Black to move. How should Black proceed?
2rR4/2P1kp1p/6p1/p3B3/8/1p2P3/n4PPP/6K1 b - - 0 36
Krogius, Nikolai - Aronin, Lev Solomonovich (Yerevan, 1962), presented by Andreas
Chess Club complains about lack of recognition
Liza Atamy
Issue date: 5/12/08
The SJSU Chess Club has had trouble being recognized as an official club on campus by Student Involvement, said Albert Rich, the president of the club. Rich, a senior economics major, said the club did not receive funding for a trip to a Pan-Am in Miami, resulting in the club’s inability to participate in the competition.
“Associated Students provides the funds, and they failed to fully fund us because Student Involvement didn’t promptly approve us as an official group,” Rich said. “A.S. didn’t want the paperwork until we were approved as a club.
“The Chess Club on campus has 12 to 20 active members who show up to meetings and 150 members who have signed up for the club, Rich said. “Our team defeated Rowan University, the University of Utah and tied with George Washington University,” Rich said, referring to exhibition matches held online.
Rich said he went to Student Involvement to complain about the lack of recognition of the club, but the meeting was unhelpful.
Here is the full article.
May 6th, 2008
Dear Friends,
The organizers in Beijing have been working with full force in order to bring the 1st World Mind Sports Games to success. The event brings the participating federations, the International Olympic movement and IOC closer to each other and provides a good opportunity for enjoying a marvellous festival of four different mind sports.
Following the previous notes of information, I just want to re-emphasize the importance of the event and encourage the Federations to bring good chess players and teams who can participate in the Mind Games and to co-operate with the national teams of the other mind sports. The event is an excellent opportunity to show how strong the chess sport is in the family of sports and how popular it is in all the continents of the world.
It is in our interest to send the best possible teams and individual players to Beijing in order to ensure the highest possible level of the sport on the board. We can show that chess is not only the cultivation of the mind, not only the artful creation of beautiful combinations and consequent strategies but also an exciting sport that brings joy and happiness into the lives of people.
FIDE has succeeded in arranging free air travel to Beijing from the hubs of the Air China flight company for the chess players and also ensuring free accommodation in superior apartments. In order to support the work of the organizers and to enable the process regarding visas to begin, it is important to provide the list of the participating national federations to them as soon as possible.
Therefore, we are kindly asking you to submit your letter (e-mail) of confirmation of participation by the end of May to Mr. Peter Rajcsanyi, FIDE Public Relations and Marketing Director at the address of postmaster@ugrp.axelero.net or by post to 19 Molnar Viktor, Budapest, 1158 Hungary.
We are happy to answer any question regarding your participation in the Mind Games, which you may have.
Sincerely yours
David Jarrett
Executive Director
Peter Rajcsanyi
Public Relations and Marketing Director
After the request and the letter below of Mr Alexander Chernenko, manager of GM Gata Kamsky, the FIDE President has agreed to give an extension of three more days as deadline for receiving alternative bids on the Kamsky - Topalov WCC semi-final match.
FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov considers this decision as a last resource to achieve improved financial conditions for both players.
Below is the letter of Mr Alexander Chernenko, manager of GM Gata Kamsky:
Manager of GM Gata Kamsky
Postal Address: Kovpaka str. 17, app. 131. Kiev, Ukraine, 03150.Phone: +380445694162; Fax: +380445694163. E-mail: multiinvest.holding@gmail.com
Date: 12 May, 2008.
To: FIDE President, Mr. Kirsan ILYUMZHINOV
Re: BID to hold match Kamsky-Topalov
Dear Mr. ILYUMZHINOV,
I would like to inform you because of bank technical reasons BID amount USD 935,000.00 will be designated on FIDE bank account May 15, 2008.
Kindly ask you for understanding.
With Kindest Regards,
Oleksandr Chernenko,
Manager of GM Gata Kamsky
Here is a response from Topalov’s manager S. Danailov which is published on the chessdom.com website:
“The first deadline was April 11, since then it changed 4 times. This seriously damages the FIDE image and shows that they cannot cope with the situation. I am sure in 3 days nothing will have changed. This is not funny, it is sad.”
What is your prediction?
- More delay?
- A match in Bulgaria?
- A match in Ukraine?
- Replacement by Shirov?
7th Annual Mid-South Chess Summer Camp is coming to Lausanne Collegiate School June 15th-20th, in Memphis Tennessee
kicking off with a Chess Party at 5:00 pm on June 15th for campers, families, and friends at Elder Performing Arts Center at Lausanne.
Our instructors: GM Alex Stripunsky, GM Leonid Yudasin, GM Alex Yermolinsky, FM Jake Kleiman, WFM Irina Zenyuk
Just like last year we will end the camp with a USCF rated tournament! Camp will again be your choice: Commuter or Residential
Please visit http://www.chesscamp.us/ to get more information about the location, activities, registration, and schedule.
Email us if you have any questions: contact@chesscamp.us Or call for info: (901) 276-4663
Who do you pick to win the 2008 Frank K. Berry US and US Women’s Championship?
Here are the top 10 seeds and how they qualified:
1 GM Alexander SHABALOV 2697 Current Champion
2 GM Alexander ONISCHUK 2728 Rating
3 GM Gregory KAIDANOV 2697 Rating
4 GM Varuzhan Akobian 2666 Rating
5 GM Yury Shulman 2664 Rating
6 GM Julio Becerra 2637 Rating
7 GM Boris GULKO 2623 U.S. Open Champion
8 GM Alexander Ivanov 2622 Rating
9 GM Eugene Perelshteyn 2615 Rating
10 GM Sergey Kudrin 2610 Rating
Here are the top 5 seeds in the Women’s Championship:
1 IM Irina KRUSH 2515 Current Champion
2 IM Anna ZATONSKIH 2490 Rating
3 WGM Katerine ROHONYAN 2318 Rating
4 WIM Batchimeg TUVSHINTUGS 2289 Rating
5 WFM Tatev ABRAHAMYAN 2280 Rating
The U.S. Championships both take place May 13-21 in Tulsa. For more details, see the website: http://monroi.com/the-2008-fkb-us-chess-championship-home.html
You can watch the games live online at www.monroi.com
This is an actually story that happened to me in Pittsburgh during the National Elementary Championship. The tournament was held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. I could not book a room at the closest hotel to the playing site. So I had to stay at a nearby hotel along with many other chess parents.
Tommy and I usually walk about 8 - 10 minutes each way to go to and from the hotel and the Convention Center. We decided to take the taxi from the Convention Center back to our hotel on night because Tommy was not feeling well and I wanted him to get extra rest. When we got on the cab, our driver Nick recognized who I am. He is a chess player and loves the game. He asked if I am in Pittsburgh to do a speaking engagement or simul. I told him that I was only there as a Chess Mom. He also asked how my sisters are doing.
When we reached our hotel, he did not charge me for the cab fare which I was of course more than happy to pay. It was very nice of him. On top of that, Tommy forgot his score book inside the cab. When Nick found it, he drove back to the hotel at midnight to drop it off for Tommy. I think that this was a very nice gesture by him and I would like to thank him for it. So Nick, if you happen to read this, thank you and good luck with your chess!
Dear Friends of chess,
The official announcement concerning the host country of the WCC semi-final match Kamsky-Topalov will be published and distributed by Monday 12 May 2008.
Both qualifying players will be expected to sign their undertakings by Tuesday 27 May 2008. As originally planned, the WCC semi-final match will take place between 26 November and 11 December 2008.
We are looking forward to a great match which will determine the challenger for the World Championship of 2009!
Kirsan N. Ilyumzhinov
FIDE President
Does anyone know of the status of this match? There has been no announcement about this match on the FIDE site today and the official announcement has been delayed numerous times already.
Based on the recent performance of the two players, what is your prediction of the outcome of the match?
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GM Aronian (2763) - GM Ivanchuk (2740) [D12]
Mtel - Round 5, 12.05.2008
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Bg6 7.Nxg6 hxg6 8.a3 Nbd7 9.g3 Be7 10.b3 e5 11.cxd5 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 Qa5+ 13.Nc3 Qxc3+ 14.Bd2 Qb2 15.d5 cxd5 16.Bb5 a6 17.Bxd7+ Kxd7 18.0–0 e4 19.Bc3 Qxc3 20.Qxd5+ Ke8 21.Rac1 Qd3 22.Qxb7 Rd8 23.Rfd1 Qxd1+ 24.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 25.Kg2 a5 26.g4 Kf8 27.Qxe4 g5 28.Qf5 Bd8 29.Qc5+ Kg8 30.Qe5 g6 31.b4 axb4 32.axb4 Kh7 33.b5 Rf8 34.Qc5 Kg8 35.b6 Rb1 36.f4 Rb2+ 37.Kg3 gxf4+ 38.exf4 Bxb6 39.Qc3 Rb1 40.f5 Rg1+ 41.Kh3 Re8 42.Qf6 Bf2 43.Qg7+ Kxg7 44.f6+ Kf8 Black wins 0–1
Click here to replay the game.
GM Topalov (2767) - GM Bu Xiangzhi (2708) [D19]
Mtel - Round 5, 12.05.2008
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3 e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4 8.0–0 0–0 9.Qe2 Ne4 10.Ne5 Nd7 11.Nxd7 Qxd7 12.Na2 Be7 13.f3 Nf6 14.e4 Bg6 15.Be3 Qc7 16.Nc1 a5 17.Nd3 Nd7 18.Rac1 Rfe8 19.g3 Bd6 20.Nf4 e5 21.Nxg6 hxg6 22.f4 exd4 23.Bxd4 b6 24.f5 g5 25.Qh5 Nf6 26.Bxf6 gxf6 27.Qg6+ Kf8 28.Qxf6 Be5 29.Qxg5 Qe7 30.f6 Bd4+ 31.Rf2 White wins 1–0
Click here to replay the game.
GM Cheparinov (2695) - GM Radjabov (2751) [E97]
Mtel - Round 5, 12.05.2008
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0–0 6.Be2 e5 7.0–0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.b4 Nh5 10.Re1 f5 11.Ng5 Nf6 12.f3 Kh8 13.Ne6 Bxe6 14.dxe6 Nh5 15.g3 Bf6 16.exf5 Nxf5 17.g4 e4 18.Nxe4 Bxa1 19.Bg5 Bd4+ 20.Kh1 Qe8 21.e7 Nxe7 22.Qxd4+ Ng7 23.b5 Ng8 24.Bd2 Qf7 25.Bc3 h6 26.f4 Rae8 27.Rf1 Nf6 28.Bf3 Nd7 29.g5 Kh7 30.Bg4 h5 31.Bh3 Ne6 32.Qd1 Nec5 33.Nf6+ Nxf6 34.Bxf6 Ne4 35.f5 Kg8 36.fxg6 Qxg6 37.Bf5 Qf7 38.Qd4 Nxf6 39.gxf6 Kh8 40.Bd3 Re6 41.Qh4 Rfe8 42.Qg5 Re1 43.Qh6+ Kg8 44.Qg5+ Kh8 45.Qh6+ Kg8 46.Qg5+ Game drawn ½–½
Click here to replay the game.
Standings after 4 rounds:
1 Ivanchuk Vassily 2740 UKR 4,0
2 Topalov Veselin 2767 BUL 2,5
3 Cheparinov Ivan 2695 BUL 1,5
4 Radjabov Teimour 2751 AZE 1,5
5 Aronian Levon 2763 ARM 1,5
6 Bu Xiangzhi 2708 CHN 1,0
Round 5 pairings:
Topalov, V - Xiangzhi, Bu
Aronian, L - Ivanchuk, V
Cheparinov, I - Radjabov, T
Boris Spassky will award the winner in the children’s tournament M-Tel Masters Junior
(Sofia, 12 May 2008) The 10th chess World Champion Boris Spassky will award the winner in the children’s chess tournament M-Tel Мasters Junior on 17 May in Sofia. Spassky will hand the winner his award - a laptop computer. The legendary chess player arrives in Sofia on 13 May with a flight from Paris at 14:05 local time.
The competition will start at 9:00 local time in the Central Military Club in Sofia where currently is held the fourth edition of the traditional super chess tournament M-Tel Masters. The tournament is open for boys and girls who were born after 1 January 1994 from the chess clubs in Bulgaria.
The participants will play 6 rounds according to the Swiss system with a control of 10 minutes for a player for the whole game. The first two players in the ranking after that will play a final match of two games to determine the final winner. In case of a draw in the final mach an additional game will be played where the player with white has 6 minutes and his opponent has 5 minutes. In case of a draw in that game the player with black wins.
The participant who lost in the final and the best of the girls will receive a cup and a chess clock DGT each. For the participants ranked from 3rd to 6th among the boys and the 2nd and 3rd among the girls will get as prizes chess sets Staunton, chess boards and books.
M-Tel Masters Junior is a children’s chess tournaments circuit, starting this year in Bulgaria. Four Bulgarian towns will host tournaments and the winners in them will play at a final competition in Sofia to determine the best children under 14.
Source: Mtel
Battle of minds
By DAVID HARPER World Staff Writer
5/12/2008
Tulsa to host U.S. Chess Championship
Frank K. Berry’s passion for chess will put Tulsa in the center of the chess world this week.The 2008 U.S. Chess Championship will begin Tuesday and last until May 21 at the Radisson Hotel, 10918 E. 41st St. The event will feature 24 masters, including 14 “grandmasters” and 12 of the top 18 rated players in the country. They will compete in nine rounds, one round per day.
The 2008 Frank K. Berry U.S. Women’s Chess Championship will also be held at the same time and location, as a 10-player, round-robin tournament.
Last year’s competition was held in Berry’s hometown of Stillwater. He said that the venue was shifted a little further east this year to make it easier to take the players back and forth to Tulsa International Airport.
The competition promises to have an international flair. Berry said many of the participants were born in Europe but have lived in the United States for several years. Last year’s champion was Alexander Shabalov, a Pittsburgh resident who was born in Latvia.
Berry said that a lot of American children excel in chess but start to drift away from it around junior high school.
That has not been the case for Berry, however. The 62-year-old said he took up chess when he was about seven or eight and today has attained the official title of “International Arbiter.” Those who have earned the distinction must have, among other things, a thorough knowledge of the laws of chess, impartiality and previous experience directing important tournaments.
The U.S. Chess Championship dates to 1845 and has been played in a variety of U.S. cities through the years. Berry allows that his patronage — as well as the support shown by his twin brother Jim — is a big reason why the tournament is being held in Oklahoma for the second consecutive year.Berry said that the event is open to the public and free of charge.
Here is the full article.
Kid chess players show off their moves
Monday, May 12, 2008
By Anya Sostek, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Ben Hinthorne rode the escalator at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center all by himself this weekend, grinning when he spotted his mother on an upper floor.
“Winner,” blurted out the Seattle 9-year-old, smiling from under his baseball cap. “Winner winner, chicken dinner.”
Ben had just won his third chess game during the six-round National Bert Lerner Elementary Championship, an annual event crowning the best young chess players in the country.
The competition this past weekend brought 2,200 chess players — some as young as 4 — to Pittsburgh from nearly every corner of the United States.
The competition was open to any child willing to come to Pittsburgh and pay a registration fee (between $40 and $80, depending on the time of registration).
And come they did. The convention center and surrounding streets teemed with children over the weekend, many wearing their team T-shirts and carrying special bags to hold chess pieces.
Chess popularity has been on the upswing recently, said chief tournament director Bill Snead, fueled by research showing chess can improve academic performance, cognitive reasoning, spatial thinking and a host of other indicators that are appealing to parents and schools.
“Does it make them better thinkers?” asked Mr. Snead. “The answer is yes.”
…”Like piano, it helps discipline the mind,” said Mr. Peterson. “I use d to beat him all the time. Now I only win a third of the time.”
Ryan Polk, of Indianapolis, said chess has helped build confidence in his sons, 8-year-old Mitchell and 9-year-old Patrick.
“We just started playing as another game, like Monopoly, just playing for fun,” he said. “We entered a tournament for fun, my older son liked it, and we kept going.”
His sons practice four or five hours a week, he said, which is “four or five hours that they’re not watching television or playing video games.”
Patrick, a third-grader, only has to think for a second when asked whether he prefers chess or his other competitive activity, football.
“Chess,” he said. “I like how you can learn the strategies. Your brain can have more thinking opportunities.”
Here is the full article.
National Elementary Championship Results:
K-1: Feng, Roland and Vasudeva, Tanuj (co-champions) 7 points
K-3: Angermeier, Danny and Polgar, Tommy (co-champions) 6.5 points
K-5: Li, Brian S and Liao, Eric N (co-champions) 6.5 points
K-6: Ostrovskiy, Aleksandr A (champions) 6.5 points
Full results can be found here. Congratulations to ALL the winners!
After (Friday) the first day of the championship, Tommy got sick. When he woke up on Saturday morning, he almost had to withdraw from the tournament. He was not feeling well at all. At the last minute, he decided to give it a shot. After drawing round 4, he won the last games today, including against 2 of the top 5 seeds. He said it was a Mother’s Day Present for me.
Special thanks to the Texas Tech / SPICE Chess Club and members of the Texas Tech Knight Raiders chess team for practicing and working out with Tommy. They took him under their wings as one of their own since he arrived to Lubbock late August last year.
Congratulations to the bride Jenna Bush and the groom Henry Hager!
Photos courtesy of the White House.
