Sunday, June 29, 2014

Reubens Landey 2014

beginning July7


U2200 Championship
 

Event Organizer: The Boylston Chess Foundation  Visit Organizer Website
Event Location: Boylston Chess Club , 240B Elm Street, Suite B9 , Somerville , MA  02144   
Event Date: Monday, July 07, 2014
Monday, July 14, 2014
Monday, July 21, 2014
Monday, July 28, 2014
Time Control: 4SS; 40/90,d5 G/20,d5
Rounds Time: 7:00
Byes: Maximun two byes; bye for the last round must be declared before round 2
Prize Info: Winner receives free entry into the BCC Championship beginning on 9/8.
Inquiry: boylstonchess@aol.com    (617) 629-3933
Event Webpage: www.boylstonchessclub.org


Registration Information

Entry Fee: $20
Registration - Onsite: 6:15 to 6:55
        

The 2014 Reubens Landey begins Monday, July 7.  It is the second component of the club championship cycle.  The winner becomes the BCC U2200 champion and moves into the club championship to compete against club masters.  

 

Last year's Reubens Landey winner and U2200 Champion was Professor Timothy Sage, Physics Department, Northeastern University.

This is a very special tournament - it is traditionally a very competitive, prestigious, yet
friendly tournament. Only club members can enter, but if you aren't a member, this is the perfect excuse to join or renew.

You may request a 1/2 point, 1st round bye.

                                         ______________________________________


Below is some context for this tournament: two biographical articles by Bernardo Iglesias and a listing of past winners.

 EMIL M. REUBENS 

by Bernardo Iglesias
"....Chess appeals to our emotions and brings us joys and sorrows."



Emil Reubens was born in a beautiful land very far away, in Yelisavetpol (Kirovabad) Russia, in 1886, on September 23 and, died in Massachusetts in Norwood Hospital in 1973, on August 29 after a brief illness. Emil Reubens was 86 years old when he died, an extraordinary man who believed that mankind could become rehabilitated through Chess. Chess is more than life and can change a person to benefit Society.
He was a chess master emeritus and one of the founding member of the United States Chess Federation, a member of the Boylston Chess Club, the Brockton Chess Club and his dear Sharon Chess Club. 

Reubens received his formal education at the University of Prague. In 1906 he immigrated to the United States and worked for a time in steel mills in Detroit. Eventually he moved to Boston and graduated from Boston University in 1922 with a degree in business administration. Much later, in June of 1973 he received his Master's degree in business administration, he was the oldest person in the university's history to obtain such a degree at 86.
He lived in Sharon, Mass. for many years. Emil Reubens was a U.S.C.F. life director and authored a wonderful book on chess play, entitled Chess - Trick and Treat in 1965. This book is a treasure, a precious jewel for any novice player. At the end of the book he recommends that every young player should “Join a chess club. Meet chess players of differing skill and style. Subscribe to a periodical that will keep you abreast of the important events in Chess world." 

In 1964, he helped to bring the U.S. Open to Boston. He was an honorary Chairman of the Committee, along with a lot of the great chess organizers of the time: Robert Goodspeed (Brockton C.C), Harold Dondis (Johnson C.C.), Eleanor Goodspeed, Eleanor Terry, Frank Ferdinand (Harvard C.C.), James Burgess (Boylston C.C. ),Harry Goober (Clarendon C.C.), Beverly Jarnigan and Joseph Hurvitz (Boylston C.C.). That year, the U.S.C.F. was celebrating the silver anniversary of its foundation, in which Emil Reubens had been a strong force in promoting chess in this country. 

Emil had a long time interest in prison reform and was instrumental in assisting many prisoners get back into society. In his book, mentioned above, he thought that “When I was drafted into becoming a "leader" in youth clubs, I employed chess and chocolate bars to lead the youth into the paths of righteousness. There are no available data to estimate the effect of chess on juvenile delinquency, nor are there statistics to gauge the collateral effects of chocolate bars freely rewarded for chess merits." 

Reubens combined a lifelong interest in better prisons, rehabilitation and parole systems with chess activities. He organized many teams of players who visited several penal institutions to play against teams of inmates, or just to play simultaneous exhibitions against the inmates. On one occasion, he took Steve FrymerJohn Curdo, and R. Gleason to Norfolk Prison, delighting one inmate in particular so much that he became an active player and organizer in Norfolk area.
Emil Reubens loved the youth, kids of all ages, -- they are our future joys and sorrows in life. The second Brockton Open, on September 25 & 26, 1971 in Brockton, Mass.William Lombardy, former World Junior Champion, had agreed to participate in the selection and awarding of a special Lombardy - Reubens “best played game” trophy to some player under the age of 21 (Harry Lyman was present in this ceremony). The winner of the award trophy was won by the young John Peters. The third Brockton Open, on September 23 & 24,1972, the Lombardy-Reubens award trophy was won byJohn Stopa. For the Boylston C.C. member’s information, at this event Alex Slive andAndrew Anisimov, two new youngsters showed up in the chess arena. After this event, it seems that such award stopped being awarded by the Brockton Chess Club, since he became sick and died shortly.
The "MASS STATE JUNIOR CHESS CHALLENGE TROPHY PRESENTED BY EMIL M. REUBENS " is a silver trophy cup at the Boylston Chess Club to preserve his memory for future generations. In 1988, William Lukowiak, treasurer of the Boylston Chess Club and long time an officer on the board of MACA, introduced a motion to the Executive Board of MACA that the winner’s name of the Junior Scholastic Champion from Massachusetts be inscribed in this trophy and that MACA will help to pay for traveling expenses to the National Championship whenever it was to be held. The MACA board turned down this motion, and denied youngsters of this State such an honor. 

After his death, the Mass State Chess Association, organized a one time "the Emil Reubens Memorial" at the Massachusetts Open at the new Brockton High School in 1974. The winner of this event was John Peters.
Emil founded the Steinberg-Reubens Educational Foundation. The Boylston Chess Club Board of Directors decided that in 1986 to pay tribute to Emil Reubens and Ben Landey by naming a qualifier cycle of the B.C.C. championship qualifier in their honor, for players rated 1800 to 2199. The winners of the Reubens/Landy move on to play against the club’s masters for the club championship.

__________
BENJAMIN LANDEY 

by Bernardo Iglesias

Benjamin Landey was born in 1912 and died on January 20, 1981 in Quincy. From his high school days he worked for the Sharon Bolt and Screw Company founded by Emil Reubens, reaching the position of board chairman, which he held at his death. According to Harry LymanBenjamin married Reubens’ daughter. 

For many years, he was the ceremonial chess leader of New England: Landey was President of the MSCA, the Boylston Chess Club, the Boston Metropolitan Chess League, the New England Chess Association, and the USCF Regional Vice-President.
He was a truly regional chess entrepreneur, a notable chess organizer, a man of remarkable poise and intelligence, a master of parliamentary procedure and a skillful politician, that is, a leader among leaders in the region. He worked for long hours at his job and then spend evenings and weekends on numerous chess projects and clubs. 

While Ben Landey was a tournament director for M.S.C.A., he brought to Boston the U.S. Open in 1970 and the U.S. Junior Open in 1965 and 1969, held at Northeastern University. Ben Landey's most active years were from 1965 to 1970; after this year his health impeded more time in his passion for the royal game of chess. Despite his failing health, he was an extremely successful teacher of chess for beginners, though he himself was rated only about 1500 during most of his over the board career; he also, worked with the Massachusetts Association for Retarded Citizens and several local groups.
Along with Emil Reubens, Landey was a major sponsor of prison chess programs, and the two of them sought the parole of a number of inmates who were avid chess players. In addition to being a regular tournament player, Ben Landey was very active in postal chess with the Nights of the Square Table (NOST). 

Landey was the first person to compete with a computer in chess at a U.S. Chess Federation rated tournament. He lost. 

Landey’s most glorious moment in the spotlight as an organizer was winning the bid for the 1970 US Open for Boston. It was Ben Landey’s rhetoric that easily won the bid at the 1969 U.S.C.F. meeting in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was unfortunate that the then M.S.C.A. was not ready to host such a major event. The host site, Boston's Parker House, was a less than welcoming host, and a great number of participants complained about the space designated for the playing room, that the light was not good enough for many, etc. Also, Ben Landey got sick a few months before the event along with his co-organizer Lewis Icenogle. It was not Landey's shining hour. ` 

Ben was treasurer of the Greater Boston Committee of the U.S. Peace Council, past President of the South Shore Assn. for Retarded Citizens. He was the President of the Boylston Chess Club at the time of his death. 

After his death in 1981, M.A.C.A. organized a memorial tournament at the Mass. Open in April; the winner of this tournament was the young James Rizzitano in North Darmouth. 

The Boylston Chess Club has honored Ben Landey since 1986, when the Board of Directors dedicated a qualifier tournament to those members of the club rated 1800 to 2199 plus the winners of the Weaver Adam's; the winner to participate in the fall championship. His memory will endure for ever at the Boylston Chess Club along with that of Emil Reubens.


 __________

year Reubens-Landey (U2200 Champion)
2014
2013 J. Timothy Sage
2012 Simon Warfield, Carey Theil
2011 Simon Warfield
2010 Jeffrey Hall, Sean Ingham, David Glickman
2009 NM Greg Kaden
2008 Simon Warfield
2007 Gregory Kaden
2006 Brian Salomon
2005 Kenneth Newman, Carey Theil
2004 Simon Warfield
2003 Edward Astrachan
2002 Simon Warfield
2001 Edward Astrachan, Kimani Stancil
2000 Simon Warfield
1999 Daniel J. Woods
1998 Paul Mishkin
1997 Robert Armes
1996 Larry Schmitt
1995 Miguel Angel Santana
1994 Alex Slive
1993 Timur Feinstein
1992 Daniel J. Woods
1991 Larry Schmitt
1990 Alex Slive
1989 Thomas Durnan
1988 Thomas Durnan
1987 Harold Dean Lawton
1986 Charlie Mays
1st U2200 champion

Monday, June 23, 2014

BCC $5 OPEN REPORT: ARUN / PREMIER // FRICKER / PALNATI / BANAKUS /U1950 // ZHAO U1650 // 31 PLAY // MANY NEW FACES // KIDS DOMINATE //

BOYLSTON CHESS CLUB
$5 OPEN IN 3 SECTIONS
PREMIER
NM Siddharth Arun, a perfect 4.0 for clear 1st place.
+8 to 2242 rating.
2-4th
NM Eric Godin makes a plan v Joe Kelly in Round 1.
Eric scored 2.5 points to share 2-4th place.
ROUND 1
NM Hal Terrie, black v Loring Lauretti;
(background): Conway Xu v Peter Teorodescu;
Sandeep Shankar v Varun Panati;
Richard Alan Chen black, vs Adam Banakus
Suraj Ramanathan plays Loring Lauretti in Round 2.
Loring won this game and scored 2.5 points to share 2-4th
place for a +72 to 1844 rating.
10 yr old Brandon Wu v NM Siddharth Arun, Round 1.
Brandon scored 2.5 points for a share of 2-4th place with
NM Eric Godin and Loring Lauretti.
and a +12 to 1940 rating.
ROUND 2:
Joe Kelley, black v NM Hal Terrie; Peter Teodorescu v Brandon Wu;
Varun Palnati v Seth Lieberman; Maxwell Chen v Adam Banakus.
U1950
Terrence Fricker 3 points for 1-3rd and +15 to 1921 rating.
Varun Palnati plays black vs Sandeep Shankar in Round 1.
Varun scored 3 points to share 1-3rd place.
ROUND 2
Varun Palnati v Seth Lieberman; Maxwell Chen v Adam Banakus.
Adam scored 3 points to share 1-3rd and a +21 to 1786 rating.
Maxwell scored 2 points for a +35 to 1428 rating.
U1650
Derek Chubo Zhao scored a perfect 4 points to 
take clear 1st in the U1650 Section for a +227 to 1520 rating.
Bravo, Derek!
Jeff Weinstein plays Derek Chubo Zhao in Round 1.
Ahaan Rungta plays Tom Shneer in Round 1. Tom won this
game and went on to score 3 points to share 2-3rd place
for a +1 to 1427 rating.
(background): David Tianyi Zhou v Shivrath Yandra.
This was the first tournament for both Ahaan and Shivrath,
and the first appearance at the BCC: Welcome Ahaan and Shivrath!
CRITICAL GAME
David Tianyi Zhou, black vs Derek Chubo Zhao, Round 2.
Derek won this game and went on to win the section.
David did well, with 3 points, a share of 2-3rd place
 and a +6 to 1402 rating.
(background): Bernie Xu, black v Richard Alan Chen;
Sandeep Shankar, black v Brian Yin.
NEW FACES ON THE USCF/BCC CIRCUIT
Ahaan Rungta, black vs Shivrath Yandra, Round 2.
(background): Alex Brown, black v Tom Shneer.
(upper right): Alan Song.
Tony DiNosse v Paul Hyatt, Round 2.
Paul scored 2.5 points to take clear 4th place.
ANALYSIS TIME
Richard Alan Chen shares his thoughts with
Niranjan Shankar, Brandon Wu and friends.
NEW FACES
Alan Song plays black vs Raymond Xu.
STRATEGIC BATTLE
Niranjan Shankar plays black vs Daniel Zhou, Round 2.
Both Niranjan and Daniel scored 2 points for 50 percent.
Daniel was +19 to 1057. Bravo, Daniel!
PARTING SHOT
Kids: the future of the BCC
Daniel Zhou, black v Maxwell Chen, Extra Game.
nice clock !
PHOTOS: STEVE STEPAK
31 PLAYERS
TD Nathan Smolensky

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

BCC PRESENTS: THE EVER POPULAR $5 OPEN !!

BOYLSTON CHESS CLUB
SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2014
REGISTER EARLY FOR DISCOUNT
Come on over to the Club and celebrate
the "Summer Solstice" the first day of
Summer
 June 21, 2014 @ 6:51 am
Registration begins at 9:30 am
Flight of the Bumble-bee
See you this Saturday!

Monday, June 16, 2014

BCC LEGENDS OF CHESS: MIGUEL NAJDORF // 19 ELITE // TIMES / HOY TOP THE CROSSTABLE // KIDS MILESTONES // CHESS IGNITES //

BOYLSTON CHESS CLUB
LEGENDS: NAJDORF
ONE SECTION
MASTERS LEAD
Former BCC Club Champion, NM Lawyer Times scored 3.5
points to tie for 1st place with up-and-coming master to be,
Andrew Hoy. Here Lawyer is playing white vs Nithin Kavi,
in Round 3. (background, right): Srikanth Rapaka.
CRITICAL GAME
NM Farzad Abdi takes a moment of reflection, in an English
Opening potential, vs Andrew Hoy in Round 3. Andrew
went on to win this game to score 3.5 points and a share of 1-2nd
place. Andrew's performance was good for +14 to 2191 rating.
YOUTH AND VETERAN
Eddie Yi Ming Wei confident of victory, awaits the moves
of his opponent, Sammi Pan in Round 2.
After losing to Paul Becotte in Round 1, Eddie went on to win
3 strait for a share of 3-4th place with Veteran Steve West.
 [Eddie and Steve also shared 1-2nd in the U1800 Prize!]
(background): Nithin Kavi.
Steve West, plays black vs Tom Shneer in Round 1.
Steve scored 3 points for a share of 3-4th place and a
+25 rating to 1731. Tom broke even with 2 points.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
Richard Alan Chen poised to play records his move vs
veteran Steve West. Richard scored 2 points for a +7 to 1584 rating.
Steve is back playing "touch-move" chess, after a decade 
of retirement from the tournament circuit.
KIDS SHINE
GAME OF THE DAY: 91 v 9
Harold Dondis plays black vs Sammi Pan, Round 3.
Sammi won this game and was 50%  for the day. 
Sammi Pan: 1 for 2 with 2 byes: a 50% performance 
was good for a  +54 rating to 1100. Brava, Sammi!
SMALL IS GOOD
Ever-ready Evan Wei 5 yr old brother of Eddie Wei, makes
his moves vs NM Farzad Abdi in Round 2. Evan, the lowest
rated player in the event at 920, received a full point bye in
Round 1. He went on to score 1 for 2 with a +85 to 1005 rating.
Bravo, Evan! Farzad scored 1.5 points: 1 win, 1 loss,
and a half point bye, quitting the event in the last round.

  
David Zhu Sun, on the move in Round 2. David was 1.5/4
for a +5 to 1386 Rating. Bravo, David!
Boshen Li on the move in Round 1. Boshen played
Harold Dondis in Round and worked out a draw!
Boshen was +10 to 1195 rating. Bravo, Boshen!
NEW FACES
Srikanth Rapaka (blue) plays Tom Shneer (green)
in Round 2. Srikanth won this game and went on to
score 1 for 3, withdrawing in Round 4. This is
Srikanth's first BCC tournament: welcome Srikanth!
RED VS GREY
Steve West (red) is back at the BCC after a long break.
Steve is seen here playing Paul Becotte in Round 2.
TRAINING
                                                                                                                                     Photo: Tim O'Malley
5 yr old Evan Wei writes down his moves vs 
Steve Stepak in an "extra game" in Round 1.
SEESAW BATTLE
Many chances for both sides!
BEST PORTRAIT
The ever handsome NM Farzad Abdi contemplates
his plan vs Andrew Hoy in Round 3.
I had prepared this photo for a possible Abdi
tournament win. Maybe next time.
RECOMMENDED TO SCORE
Re-release: the ever popular . . . 
I recommend this volume to players
of all levels. After going over all
1001 brilliant checkmates, you are
bound to rating hikes of 200
points and more. Prime your brain.
Excite your creativity!
PHOTOS: STEVE STEPAK
This event was expertly run by
the ever-accurate FM Chris Chase.

Yuja Wang: yes!
But can she play chess?
The question has not yet come up!

Thursday, June 12, 2014

BCC LEGENDS: MIGUEL (MICHAEL MENDEL) NAJDORF: FROM WARSAW TO BUENOS AIRES //

BOYLSTON CHESS CLUB
PRESENTS
4SS 60/SD EVENT
SATURDAY: JUNE 14, 2014
Najdorf's record with Boris Spassky: 1 win; 1 loss; 8 draws!
Boris Spassky analyzes with Miguel Najdorf
Miguel Najdorf v Boris Spassky, Palma de Mallorca, R=3, 1969                                 D34
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.O-O O-O 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.b3 Be6 11.Bb2 Qe7 12.Nb5 Rac8 13.Rc1 Ne4 14.Nfd4 Bd7 15.e3 a6 16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.Nd4 a5 18.Rc2 Bb6 19.Qh5 f5 20.Rfc1 Bxd4 21.Bxd4 Rfe8 22.Qd1 Ra8 23.Bc5 Qf7 24.Qd4 h6 25.Qd1 Re6 26.Bb6 Qf8 27.Qd4 Kh7 28.Qb2 Qe7 29.a3 Qf7 30.Qd4 Qh5 31.Qd1 Qxd1+ 32.Rxd1 Rb8 33.Bxa5 Rxb3 34.Ra1 Re8 35.a4 Ra8 36.Bc7 Nc3 37.a5 Nb5 38.Bb6 Na3 39.Rca2 Nc4 40.Bd4 Ra6 41.h4 g5 42.hxg5 hxg5 43.Bf1 Kg6 44.Be2 g4 45.Kf1 Be6 46.Ke1 Rb5 47.Bc3 Rb3 48.Rc2 c5 49.Rcc1 Ra7 50.Bd1 Rb8 51.Ba4 d4 52.exd4 cxd4 53.Bxd4 1/2
Miguel Najdorf plays Bobby Fischer
Najdorf v Fischer, Leipzig, Olympiad, 1960
Bobby Fischer v Miguel Najdorf, Leipzig, Ol, 1960, R=8   B81
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. g4 a6 7. g5 Nfd7 8. Be3 b5 9. a3 Bb7 10. Qd2 Be7 11. h4 Nc5 12. f3 Qc7 13. O-O-O Nbd7 14. Bxb5 axb5 15. Ndxb5 Qc6 16. Nxd6+ Bxd6 17. Qxd6 O-O-O 18. Qxc6+ Bxc6 19. b4 Na4 20. Rd6 Kc7 21. Rxc6+ Kxc6 22. Nxa4 Ra8 23. Nc3 Rxa3 24. Kb2 Rha8 25. f4 Nb6 26. Bxb6 Kxb6 27. Rd1 R3a7 28. Rd6+ Kb7 29. h5 h6 30. gxh6 gxh6 31. f5 Re8 32. Nb5 Ra4 33. c3 exf5 34. Rf6 Re7 35. Nd6+ Kb8 36. exf5 Ra6 37. Rxh6 Kc7 38. Nb5+ Kb7 39. Nd6+ Kc7 40. Nb5+ Kb7 41. Rh7 Rf6 42. Nd4 Re4 43. Kc2 Re3 44. Kb3 Re4 45. Rh8 Rh4 46. Re8 Rxh5 47. Re7+ Kc8 48. Kc4 Rh3 49. b5 Rg3 50. Nc6 Rxf5 51. Na7+ Kd8 52. Nc6+ Kc8 53. Re4 Kc7 54. Nd4 Rf1 55. Re7+ Kb6 56. Rd7 Rc1 57. Rd6+ Kb7 58. Ne2 Rg4+ 59. Nd4 Rg3 1/2-1/2
Najdorf, standing, is pleased with the draw!
 FISCHER OVER NAJDORF: 4 : 1 : 4
Fischer v Najdorf Varna (ol) 1962
 Bobby Fischer vs Miguel Najdorf, Santa Monica, CA (2nd Piatigorsky Cup) R=7, 1966  E75
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5. Nb5 d6 6. Bf4 e5 7. Be3 Nf6 8. Bg5 Be6 9. N1c3 a6 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11.Na3 Nd4 12. Bc4 b5 
13. Bxe6 fxe6 14. Ne2 Nc6 15. Ng3 Qd7 16. c4 Nd4 17. O-O b4 18. Nc2 Nxc2 19. Qxc2 h5 20. Rfd1 h4 21. Nf1 Rg8 22. a3 h3 23. g3 bxa3 24. Rxa3 Qc6 25. Qe2 f5 26. c5 Qxe4 27. Qxe4 fxe4 28. cxd6 Bh6 29. Ra5 
Kd7 30. Rxe5 Bg7 31. Rxe4 Bxb2 32. Ne3 a5 33. Nc4 Rgb8 34. Rh4 Kc6 
35. Rh7 Bd4 36. Rc7+ Kd5 37.d7 a4 38. Nb6+ Rxb6 39. Rc8 Rd6 40. Rxa8 Rxd7 41. Rxa4 e5 42. Kf1 Rb7 43. f4 Ke6 44. fxe5 Rf7+ 45. Ke2 Rf2+ 
46. Kd3 Bxe5 47. Re1 1-0
Najdorf had the ultimate respect for Fischer 
who he admired as an indomitable 
chess force emerging 
in the post-Botvinnik era.
Miguel Najdorf is also known for his "Najdorf Sicilian" 
which goes like this: 
1. e4 c52. Nf3 d63. d4 cxd44. Nxd4 Nf65. Nc3 a6 . . . ect.
This Saturday, June 14, 2014 // LEGENDS: NAJDORF //
BOYLSTON CHESS CLUB // 
COME ON OVER !
BE PART OF THE 21st CENTURY // CHESS HISTORY
COMMEMORATING THIS 20th Century chess legend, blindfold chess champion,
and ranked #2 in the world, 1947-1949. At the age of 69, Najdorf tied for 2nd 
place at Buenos Aires 1979, and scored 8.5/15 for 4th place at the very strong Buenos Aires tournament in 1988, at the age of 78!
See you Saturday!