Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Boylston Chess: June Thursday Night Swiss

banner:  Tony Cortizas, Jr.



 
 
 
 
DateThursdays, June 6, 13, 20, 27
Event Format4SS
Time ControlG/105 d10
SectionsOpen & U1900
Entry Fee$35, $20 for BCF members, $5 more if not registering online in advance. Club members rated 2200+ may play in the Thursday Night Swiss with no entry fee and no prize deductions.
Prizes$300 based on 25 paid entries: 1st $125, 2nd $75; U1900 1st $60, 2nd $40
Registration6:15pm - 6:45pm
Round Times7:00pm
DescriptionBye and withdrawal requests must be received by 6:45pm.
Sections with fewer than 10 players may be merged
Entry ListCurrent Pre-Registration List





Boylston Chess: Weaver Adams

banner:  Tony Cortizas, Jr.



DateMondays, June 3, 10, 17, and 24
Event Format4SS
Time ControlG/105 d10
SectionsU1800
Entry Fee$20, BCF membership required
PrizesWinner(s) receive free entry to Reubens Landey
Registration6:15pm - 6:45pm
Round Times7:00pm
DescriptionTournament is open to all BCF players U1800 in the June 2019 supplement. This tournament is part of the BCF Championship Series. Winner(s) receive free entry to the Reubens Landey. Players rated between 1800 and 2200 in the June supplement may play in the Reubens Landey (1800 - U2200 championship) in July.
Entry ListCurrent Pre-Registration List






Boylston Chess: Milestones Sunday


banner:  Tony Cortizas, Jr.



 
 
 
 
DateSunday, June 2, 2019
Event Format3SS
Time ControlG/80 d10
SectionsPlayers will be arranged in groups of 6 by rating, to the extent possible.
Entry Fee$35, $20 for BCF members, $5 more if not registering online in advance
PrizesTBA
Registration9:30am-9:45am
Round Times10:00am, 1:45pm, 5:00pm
DescriptionOpen to all players born in 1998 or earlier.
Accelerated pairings may be used.
Free parking on Sundays!
Entry ListCurrent Pre-Registration List







Boylston Chess: June Quads

banner:  Tony Cortizas, Jr.


 
 
 
 
DateSaturday, June 1, 2019
Event Format3RR
Time ControlG/65 d10
SectionsPlayers will be arranged into quads by rating
Entry Fee$35, $20 for BCF members, $5 more if not registering online in advance. Free entry for BCF members rated 2300+, but entry fee deducted from won prize.
Prizes$80 First place in top quad, $50 First place in each of the other quads
Registration9:15am-9:45am
Round Times10:00am, 1:15pm, 4:00pm
DescriptionABSOLUTELY NO ONSITE REGISTRATION AFTER 9:45AM
** No byes or withdrawals are allowed. All rounds must be played
Entry ListCurrent Pre-Registration List







88th MA Open report by Dr Nick Sterling


88th MA Open 

05-25-2019 - 05-27-2019



Ridvan Sakir v Denys  Shmelov   photo: Nick Sterling




Fellow MA Chess Players,

The chess community of the country of Turkey, even if it does not know it, is celebrating tonight.

MACA observed Memorial Day weekend once again with the 88th MA Open and State Championship held at the Westford Regency. Thanks to Bob Messenger, Frank Vogel, Dmitriy Barash, and incoming MACA President Oleg Poliannikov for directing.

Among the nearly 300 players were GM Alexander Ivanov, MA Masters Denys Shmelov, Lawyer Times, Nathan Solon, David Vigorito, and Danila Poliannikov, along with RI Master Ryan Sowa, NH Master Hal Terrie, and NY Master Iris Mou.

None of them likely, nor anyone else, was prepared for what was about to happen.

Enter FIDE CM Ridvan Sakir, a 19-year pre-med from Turkey who has been visiting New England this year for an English language program to assist him one day to immigrate to the US in a few years after completing his medical program in Turkey.

After drawing with Denys Shmelov and defeating Kenneth Thomas, Iris Mou, Libario Rueda, Alexander Ivanov, and Lawyer Times, Ridvan emerged the winner. He secured sole Champion status once Nathan Solon on Board 1 defeated Denys Shmelov in a Q & P endgame.

One should have seen the enormous beaming smile on his face when he learned that he had won. It was Sam Shankland 2018 all over again. And this was an especially sweet and joyous moment for me because I was his driver between Westford and Cambridge. Uniquely did I get to share his jubilation.

The physical Trophy will have to remain here in the US, but the title of 2019 MACA State Championship will reside overseas in Turkey.

From the chess community of MACA to the chess community of the country of Turkey, rapturous in a state of festivity, congratulations to Ridvan.

Nicholas P. Sterling, Ph.D.
MACA, Local TD



Winners:

MA State Championship (FIDE-rated):
1st:  Ridvan Sakir
2nd: Nathan Solon
3rd:  Denys Shmelov
U2100:
1st-2nd (tied): Anton Barash, Andrew The

U1800:
1st-2nd (tied): Ranjan Dey, Arthur Nagel

U1500:
1st: Ian Van Hulle
2nd (tied): Kurt Amber

Blitz:
1st (tied): Vadim Martirosov, Charles Slade

Scholastic K-12 U1500:
1st: Tyler Cummins
2nd: Steven Feng

Scholastic K-12 U700:
1st: Santhosh Ayyappan
2nd: Anushka Ayyappan

Scholastic K-3 U1200:
1st-2nd (tied): Andrew X. Liu, Pragyan Sriram

Scholastic K-3 U400:
1st: John Duguid
2nd: George Zhang

Scholastic K-6 U1400:
1st: Franklin Lewis
2nd (tied): Alex Haight, Kaustubh Kislay
Scholastic K-6 U600:
1st: Lev Strougov
2nd (tied): Yan Barash, Aidin Narynbekov

You can view more than 500 photos by Nick at  Bay State Chess Kings Facebook Group


Sunday, May 19, 2019

BCC SUMMER TRAINING CAMP: SMITH CAMPUS CENTER // HARVARD SQUARE // CAMBRIDGE // MASSACHUSETTS //

SMITH CAMPUS CENTER
HARVARD SQUARE, CAMBRIDGE
OUTDOOR CHESS FOR THE SUMMER
CASUAL GAMES, CHESS INSTRUCTION,
BLITZ CHESS, CHESS FOR FUN, CHESS FOR LEARNING
Leo (blue) shares a few insights with Sebastian (red)
Leo is 60. Sebastian is 6. Chess for all ages
at Smith Center, Harvard Square Cambridge.
Andrei From (left,hat) brings fascination of chess to the kids.
Smith Campus Center, Chess Plaza.
[The weather was spectactular.]
 INDOOR VENUE
Captain Cliff trains for speed and accuracy.
Moise Y. Safra Welcome Pavilion 
Smith Campus Center

IN THE EVENING
Women chess experts: Ellen, black vs Ella.
Nick observes. A fascinating experience.
 
Ella plays black vs Billy Collins eating ice-cream.
Two games were played. Each player won one game,
with the white pieces.
[Rafik, sitting, observes intently.]
GOOD WEATHER, GOOD CHESS
EXPERT CHESS 
 Michelle Chen plays Yang Dai, both BCC tournament
players and both MIT graduates . . . 
CHESS INSTRUCTION AND COACHING
Proud mummy photographs her young boy
just starting out on his chess career. He will
play in the scholastic section of the Massachusetts
Open (state chess championship) next week!  Photo:ChessPress
EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITIES
Steve Stepak watches intently as his young student
finds the move. Photo:ChessPress
Kids play chess at Smith Center, Harvard Square
OUTDOOR FUN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY 
 
MAKING A POINT
Chess Prodigy Seth with Steve Stepak, Smith Campus Center
Chess Plaza, Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA USA
CHESS OUTREACH
Steve Stepak engages enthralled kids of a Somerville
Field Trip, June 2019, Smith Campus Center
Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA USA
CONCEIVING THE PLAN 
 Steve Stepak teaches control of the center.
PRODIGY
 Steve Stepak plays black vs chess
prodigy from Taiwan, Sophie Tsai.
Sophie won every game she played up and down 
the Smith Center Campus Center
Harvard Square. Sophie is 11 years old and
will enter the 6th grade in Taipai in the Fall.
She has an uncanny and precise endgame
technique!! 
TENDER PERFECTION 
 Sophie
MASTER BLITZ
 Alex plays NM Joel Johnson visiting from Phoenix AZ
LONDON RUGBY 
 Steve Stepak takes on the entire high school London Rugby
team here in the Colonies to challenge local rugby.
Steve won all his games and preserved the honor of
chess in the Americas.
  CHESS HATS
STEVE.CHESS: SYNERGETICS
YOUNG AND OLD PLAY CHESS 
 Big John, 60 year veteran of chess plays black vs
Steve Stepak. On the Chess Plaza, Smith Campus
Center, Harvard University, Cambridge. Photo: BA 
FRENCH CONNECTION 
Marie France plays white vs Steve Stepak
Smith Campus Center, Harvard Square.
FATHER AND DAUGHTER
Chess instruction for the whole family.
BLITZ CHESS WORKOUT
 AFTERNOON CHESS ON THE PLAZA
SMITH CAMPUS CENTER, HARVARD SQUARE
 
 COMMEMORATING THE US CHESS OPEN 1988
PHOTOS AND STORY
STEVE STEPAK

Thursday, May 16, 2019

Boylston Chess: Mother's Day Open report by Nick Sterling

banner:  Tony Cortizas, Jr.


BCF Mother's Day Open

05-11-2019


Fellow BCF Chess Players,

This time we were able, with 26 players, comfortably to field both Open and U1900 Sections without major headaches all the way to the end. Thanks to all the players who joined us on the holiday weekend of Mother's Day for a fun, smooth-flowing event. Chess obviously benefits when New England weather turns into a micro-monsoon, and we at BCF are grateful.



Ryan Sun, taking 2nd Place in the U1900, continues to march onward and upward toward Expert-hood. He had a couple of prizes to take home with him, and as a result a boatload of cash made the quest to a higher Rating all the sweeter.

Winners:

Open:

1st: Ridvan Sakir
2nd: Harry Gates

U1900:

1st: Pinyi Hu
2nd: Ryan Sun

Can't wait for an enormous turnout for the May Scholastics. See you over the board.

Nicholas P. Sterling, Ph.D.
BCF, Local TD












Sunday, May 12, 2019

Boylston Chess: $15 Open

banner:  Tony Cortizas, Jr.



 
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DateSaturday, May 18, 2019
Event Format4SS
Time ControlG/60 d5
SectionsOpen, U2000, & U1500
Entry Fee$15 in advance, $30 at door, $20 for BCF members at door. Free entry for BCF members rated 2300+ but entry fee deducted from prize won.
Prizes$$300 Guaranteed: Open: $150-$50, U2000: $60, U1500: $40
Registration9:15am-9:45am
Round Times10:00am, 1:00pm, 3:30pm, 6:00pm
DescriptionOPEN TO FIRST 56 PLAYERS TO REGISTER; no refund of advance entries.
Sections with fewer than 10 players may be merged.
In accordance with BCF policy, unrated players may play in any section. Rated players rated within 200 points of the lower section maximum may play up one section.
Entry ListCurrent Pre-Registration List







Boylston Chess: May Scholastics

banner:  Tony Cortizas, Jr.





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Register Online Now
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DateSunday, May 19, 2019
Event Format4SS
Time ControlG/30 d5
Sections14 & Under, 8 & Under
Entry Fee14 & Under, 8 & Under. A current USCF membership is required for both sections.
PrizesTrophies for 1st/2nd each age group, medal for 3rd
Registration10:00am - 10:20am
Round Times10:30am, 11:50am, 1:00pm, 2:00pm
Entry ListCurrent Pre-Registration List








Monday, May 06, 2019

Boylston Chess: Milestones Sunday

banner:  Tony Cortizas, Jr.


 
 
 
 
 
DateSunday, May 12, 2019
Event Format3SS
Time ControlG/80 d10
SectionsPlayers will be arranged in groups of 6 by rating, to the extent possible.
Entry Fee$35, $20 for BCF members, $5 more if not registering online in advance
PrizesTBA
Registration9:30am-9:45am
Round Times10:00am, 1:45pm, 5:00pm
DescriptionOpen to all players born in 1998 or earlier.
Accelerated pairings may be used. Free parking on Sundays!
Entry ListCurrent Pre-Registration List






Boylston Chess: Mother's Day Open

banner:  Tony Cortizas, Jr.


DateSaturday, May 11, 2019
Event Format4SS
Time ControlG/60 d5
SectionsOpen & U1900
Entry Fee$35, $20 for BCF members, $5 more if not registering online in advance. Free entry for BCF members rated 2300+, but entry fee deducted from won prize.
Prizes$$360 GUARANTEED: Open 1st $150, 2nd $90 U1900 1st $70, 2nd $50
Registration9:15am - 9:45am
Round Times10:00am, 1:00pm, 3:30pm, 6:00pm
DescriptionIn accordance with BCF policy, unrated players may play in any section. Rated players rated within 200 points of the lower section maximum may play up one section.
Entry ListCurrent Pre-Registration List






Friday, May 03, 2019

PROFESSOR JERRY WILLIAMS // ALWAYS A FRIEND // A FIERCE COMPETITOR // A MAN OF DISTINCTION // A STUDENT OF CHESS

PROFESSOR JERRY WILLIAMS
A MAN OF DISTINCTION
A FRIEND
A CHESS PARTNER
A PROFOUND PERSONALITY
 
 Professor Jerry Williams, Boylston Chess Club,
Davis Square Summerville, BCC Saturday Game 60.
[I have this photo hanging in my study.]
To say that Jerry was "dapper" would not
be an exaggeration. He was always inspiring
in his erudition and his dress. 
[I have taken so many photos of Jerry over the
decades I have know him and played chess
along side him, and also over the board
as an opponent. He always had a kind word
for all; he loves children and they love him.
We all shared many laughs together,
during lunch breaks at the BCC Saturday
Game 60 events, at Davis Square and
in Cambridge. In a word, Jerry was "cool"
in every respect.
I am stunned to hear of his death.
Perhaps I thought he and I would go on
forever, meeting in Harvard Square
for chess and banter. Perhaps I was
unconsciously looking forward to 
sharing the new chess area at the
Smith Campus Center, Harvard (the old Holyoke Center)
in the heart of Harvard Square,
just taking for granted that both he and I 
would be alive to engage in the fun of summer outdoor
chess and conversation.  No doubt it also shakes
me up. Why? Because Jerry's passing reminds me
that I too am only mortal. My days are numbered!
Sad, those remaining days I have left will ring of a
hollow-ness without Jerry's sparkling energy
to share the scene.
CHESS PRODIGIES IN HARVARD SQUARE
JERRY ALWAYS SUPPORTED CHESS
WITH HIS PRESENCE
"The Professor" watches intensely as Carissa Yip engages
Cory Tolbert in a blitz game, on the Au Bon Pan Chess
Plaza, Harvard Square.
 Professor Willliams prepares his score sheet as he faces
off with Eric Feng at the BCC Davis Square Game Saturday
Game 60 event. [Boy in red is Alex Yu, winner of the
2019 Blitz Qualifier event held last weekend.]
ALWAYS DAPPER: CUTTING A UNIQUE IMAGE
IN HARVARD SQUARE
 INTENSE AND DEFINED
ALWAYS SERIOUS
 WELL, NOT ALWAYS
YES A MAN WITH A SENSE OF HUMOR
Professor Jerry Williams
[If there is a Heaven and if Jerry is listening:
Steve Stepak says: you have inspired;
you have made a difference.
You will be dearly missed. 
Thank you for sharing your love!]
A CLASS ACT 
 PHOTOS: STEVE STEPAK