BCC QUADS: MASTERING LIFE // GODIN / THEIL // BANAKUS // BERNIE XU // DANIEL ZHOU // STRONG PLAY // LESSONS LEARNED //

BOYLSTON CHESS CLUB

4 QUADS: KIDS STRONG SHOWING

QUAD 1

THE MASTER AND THE PRESIDENT

NM Eric Godin scores 2.5/3 for 1-2nd place

and a rating of +8 to 2227.

Eric is smiling because he not only figured in

the prize money for QUADS but also won the

Thursday Night Swiss (TNS) outright with 3.5/4

in a field of 20 players. Bravo, Eric!

BCC president, Carey Theil scored 2.5 points

to share 1-2nd place and the prize money.

Nithin Kavi faced strong competition in this master

quad scoring 1/3.

Brandon Wu, nursing a head-cold, was

out-gunned in this strong section and

did not score. Yet, Brandon is a fighter

and will, no doubt, be back in his winning

ways in the near future.

QUAD 2

Adam Banakus was in the groove scoring
3 out of 3 to take clear first place.

Richard Kahn and Eddie Wei each scored 1 point
to share 2-3rd place. Conway Xu did not score.

The ever-creative Eddie-Wei thinks out his line
of play in Round 1 vs Conway Xu, a game which he won.
(background): Carey Theil
QUAD 3

Bernie Xu scored 2.5 points to take clear
1st place and a rating upgrade of
+59 to 1534. Bravo, Bernie!

Bernie Xu vs Harold Dondis: draw. 

This is truly an accomplishment for Bernie who is playing a man who will

be 92 years young next month(!) a man who beat Bobby Fischer in a

simul in 1964! and is an accomplished lawyer and chess journalist with

decades of tournament chess experience! This draw is truly a feather in Bernie's

 cap. Well, it is Harold with the cap and Bernie has the feather! Bravo to

both players who clearly show that chess is for the strong-willed of all ages.

MD UPDATE

Dr. Chase Yarbrough, Resident at Children's

Hospital, Boston, scored 50 percent and a

rating of +14 to 1432. Chase started serious

chess in medical school (!) proving that even

adults in challenging professions can learn and 

play tournament chess and do it successfully.

6 yr old David Zhou met some stiff

competition in Quad 3 and did not score.

Yet we know David will be reviewing his

games and improving his technique

for next week's BCC Grand Prix event.

QUAD 4

KID'S TABLE

Boshen Li, Daniel Zhou, Winston Zhao 2/3 each: 1-3rd

Boshen Li vs Daniel Zhou: 1-0.

Boshen earned a +11 to 1227 rating.

 (background): Evan Wei vs Winston Zhao (0-1)

7 yr old Winston Zhao scored 2/3 for a +16 to 1200

rating. Bravo Winston! Older brother Maxwell was

not at the BCC due to a previous commitment

at a soccer match. Hope to see Max back soon at a 

future BCC event!

5 yr old Evan Wei. Though he did not score in

this very talented & tough Quad 4, Evan certainly 

picked up some new techniques and 

strategies which he will perfect for his

next tournament. Bravo, Evan, for being

a good sport in a difficult circumstance!

After all, chess is a sport which requires a

decade or more to master, and lots of perseverance in

the face of defeat and critical review towards improvement 

of play and Evan in on the right path to mastery.

BERNARDO IGLESIAS, TD

PHOTOS: STEVE STEPAK