BCC WEAVER ADAMS SURPRISE ENDING: BERNARDO IGLESIAS / JONATHAN LEE / VLAD JAN GACIU / 1-3rd / QUALIFY FOR RUBENS LANDY TOURNAMENT //

BCC 4SS QUALIFIER FOR REUBENS LANDEY

Prophetic photo: Vlad Jan Gaciu vs Bernardo Iglesias, Round 4.

Vlad went into Round 4 with 3 points: all he had to do was draw,

or of course win, to take clear first place! But, reality bites.

Actually, Bernardo was rested and focused and took the full 

point.  Bravo Bernardo (+30 to 1763 rating). Vlad, even with

this loss had 3 points to tie 1-3rd for a piece of the action and

a seed into the Reubens Landey. And . . . 

 

Jonathan Lee (note: bow tie) takes out Scott Blanchette in

Round 4, after losing to Vlad Gaciu in Round 3.  Nice 

come-back, Jonathan! And this performance was good 

enough to push Lee's rating over 1800 (again): (+13 to 1811)

Bravo, Jonathan !!

Tom Medrek vs Vlad Jan Gaciu, Round 1.

Larry Eldridge takes the full point from Mark Neale in

Round 1 . . . but:

                                                                                                                                 Photo: Bob Oresick

Round 2 play: Steve Stepak (right) vs Larry Eldridge.

English A25. [I missed a chance to get a substantial 

advantage out of the opening and instead, castled king-side

which, one might assume is innocuous at the very worst. Well

it turned out to be disastrous! But, lucky for me, Larry made

a serious blunder later on in the game which allowed me to

convert to a forced win. Otherwise, the game was his.

Lots of action and fire-works in this match.] Well that gave

both Larry and me a piece of 4-9th.

Jonathan Lee, Black vs Will Wisdom, Round 1.

Will finished with 2 points good for 4-9th place.

7 yr old Alexander Meng white vs Mark Neale, Round 4.

Though Alex lost this encounter, he and Mark both 

finished the event with 2 points for a piece of 4-9th place.

And Alex was +69 to 1482 rating-wise.

Bob Oresick, black vs Frank Frazier, Round 1.

Frank won this game and scored 1.5 points for the event.

Bob scored 2 draws for 1 point.

Alexander Meng, black vs Tony Cortizas, Round 1.

Alex won this game for 2 points. Tony had 1 point in this

event overall.

Tom Medrek (upper left in blue): Tom had 2 draws for 1 point.

Will Wisdom vs Bob Oresick. Will had a bit of luck in this

event, drawing Round 3 with Tom Medrek who had a forced

win against Will in a major piece ending. Will won his Round 4
game against Bob Oresick (see above in red shirt) for a
+47 to 1423.  Bravo Will: keep up the good work!

Tom lost his last round game to Larry Eldridge to finish

this event with 1 point. Bob also had 2 draws in this event,
good for 1 point.  Bravo all for playing a great tournament.
(13 players, one section)

So that means:
Jonathan Lee, Vlad Jan Caciu and Bernardo Iglesias
will get a free entry into the Reubens Landey!
Stay tuned!
BERNARDO IGLESIAS TD

PHOTOS: STEVE STEPAK
PS

A more sun-friendly environment in which to play chess:
the Pit, Harvard Square, now featuring 3 red umbrellas
provided by the City of Cambridge.  Bravo, City Hall!

Online Registration

 Online Registration

Have you tried the Boylston online registration for tournament yet?


The online registration process is very well set up.

It's very simple; it's very easy; it's very quick.

If more people would register online - even as late as the morning of the event by 9 am before they start to drive in, they would be secure in knowing that they're all set with accurate information, payment settled,  and  adding to a more speedy start to the tournaments.

For example,  if you are thinking of playing in  a tournament (say, the Quad on Sat.), try visiting the online registration.  The process is easy and obvious and quick.  You will receive an immediate confirmation.  If you change your plans, you can simply email a cancellation.

July Quads

Date

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Event Format

3RR

Time Control

G/65 d10

Sections

Players will be arranged into quads by rating

Entry Fee

$35, $20 for BCF members

Prizes

$$50 First place each quad

Registration

9:15am - 9:45am

Round Times

10:00am, 1:00pm, and 3:30pm

Register Online Now

Entry List

I just learned that beginning in August, onsite registration for tournaments will be $5 more than online registration to encourage this option.

Try it.  You'll like it.

BCC SUMMER SOLSTICE RESOUNDING SUCCESS: 46 PLAY / KIDS EXCEL // FM ED SONG / NM OSCAR MALDONADO /AIDAN SOWA / 1-3 RD / OPEN // KALVIN HORI / JOHN ARCHIBALD 1-2ND U1950 //

SUMMER SOLTICE OPEN

SMASHES ALL SATURDAY EVENT ATTENDANCE RECORDS!!

with 46 registered players . . . in 2 sections

FULL HOUSE!!

OPEN SECTION

FM Ed Song vs Brandon Wu, Round 3.

Ed won this game on the road to share 1-3rd place

with Oscar Maldonado and Aidan Sowa: each scoring 3.5 points.
[Ed, a high-school senior, playing out of Michigan, is visiting
Cambridge MA for MIT to check out the possibilities for next year.]

Brandon was 4-6th with Andrew Hoy and Nithin Kavi scoring

3 points each. Brandon was 2188 to 2192 rating hike on his

quest for the 2200 mark! Go Brandon!

NM Oscar Maldonado vs Alan Song, Round 2.

Oscar, visiting from Florida, won this game on the road to 

sharing 1-3rd place with FM Ed Song (no relation to Alan) 

and Aidan Sowa, each scoring 3.5 points.

Alan finished the event with 2.5 points and a +19 rating 

hike to 1994. Bravo Alan!

Aidan Sowa v Nithin Kavi, Round 3. Aidan won this game

and secured a 1-3rd place finish in the Open Section with 3.5 

points. Nithin was 4-6th place with 3 points and a +14 to 

2127 rating hike.

U1950 SECTION

Eddie Wei v Jerry Li, Round 2

Paul Mishkin vs Fridrik Karlsson;

John Archibald (upper right corner) v Calvin Hori: draw!

Archibald and Hori scored 3.5 points each and tied for

1-2nd place in the U1950 section. Bravo Jonny!! Way-t'go!

Skyler Zhou scored 3 points to take clear
3rd place in the U1950 section,
for a +60 point rating hike to 1606.
Bravo, Skyler!

Joy Cao scored 2.5 points in the U1950 section
for a +30 to a 1563 rating. Brava, Joy!

BETWEEN ROUNDS
THE COUCH: 
KIDS LEARNING GROUP CONFIGURATIONS

No doubt focusing on a chess app, Eddie Wei

keeps the kids enthralled . . .

BOYS LEARNING GROUP CONSULTATIONS

Eddie Wei and David Tianyi Zhou lead the group . . .

Bernardo Iglesias, Chief TD

Mother and daughter learning

PHOTOS: STEVE STEPAK

BLACK TO MOVE AND WIN: KRAMNIK V CARLSEN / GCT RAPID / ROUND 9.1 / PARIS / 2016

Vladimir Kramnik v Magnus Carlsen

GCT Rapid (Your Next Move) Paris, (Round 9.1) France, 2016

Great chess game by the number 1 and number 2 ranked chess players in the world. Here we are using the "Live Chess Ratings" as of 27 June 2016.  Carlsen is No. 1 with a 2855 Classical Rating and a 2894 Rapid Rating; Kramnik is No. 2 with a 2812 Classical Rating and a 2778 Rapid Rating.

This game is featured because it is well played, in each of the 3 parts of a chess game: opening; middle game and endgame.  Well, all chess games well played by both players should end in a draw, and this game is no exception.  Kramnik just should not have exchanged queens and he would have been able to hold the position. At the same time, Carlsen is truly a great chess player and champion and it is no doubt that Kramnik was just really drained, emotionally and physically by the time he decided to trade queens.  Well, the resulting minor piece endgame was complicated enough for Kramnik not to calculate down to the last move to realize the un-advisability of trading queens:  At the same time, it is to Carlson's credit and prowess that he played this endgame with great accuracy and took home the full point as well as the championship trophy.  Bravo both players for a fantastic example of chess well played.  This is also a great example of the importance of endgame play for the mastery of chess and determining the winning of tournaments where a win is the only outcome to capture the trophy while a draw, as pleasant as it is, will not suffice to get you 1st place.

                                                                             Photo: Albert Silver

Online Registration

 Online Registration

 Have you tried the Boylston online registration for tournament yet?


The online registration process is very well set up.

It's very simple; it's very easy; it's very quick.

If more people would register online - even as late as the morning of the event by 9 am before they start to drive in, they would be secure in knowing that they're all set with accurate information, payment settled,  and  adding to a more speedy start to the tournaments.

For example,  if you are thinking of playing in  a tournament (say, the Quad on Sat.), try visiting the online registration.  The process is easy and obvious and quick.  You will receive an immediate confirmation.  If you change your plans, you can simply email a cancellation.

July Quads

Date

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Event Format

3RR

Time Control

G/65 d10

Sections

Players will be arranged into quads by rating

Entry Fee

$35, $20 for BCF members

Prizes

$$50 First place each quad

Registration

9:15am - 9:45am

Round Times

10:00am, 1:00pm, and 3:30pm

Register Online Now

Entry List

I just learned that beginning in August, onsite registration for tournaments will be $5 more than online registration to encourage this option.

Try it.  You'll like it.

us girls junior invitational photos

US Girls Junior Invitational 

Photos 

by 

Tony Cortizas, Jr.

2016 U.S. Girl's Junior Invitational.

Tony visited New Hampshire to document this historic event.  

You can view his photo gallery here.

July Thursday Night Swiss

July Thursday Night Swiss  

 

 

 

 

 

Register Online Now

 

 

 

Date	Thursday, July 7, 14, 21, 28
Event Format	4SS
Time Control	40/90 SD/20 d10
Sections	Open & U1900
Entry Fee	$35, $20 for BCF members
Prizes	$300 based on 25 paid entries: Open 1st $125, 2nd $75 U1800 1st $60, 2nd $40
Registration	6:30pm - 7:00pm
Round Times	7:15pm
Entry List	Current Pre-Registration List

July Quads

July Quads 

 

 

 Register Online Now

 

 

Date	Saturday, July 2, 2016
Event Format	3RR
Time Control	G/65 d10
Sections	Players will be arranged into quads by rating
Entry Fee	$35, $20 for BCF members
Prizes	$$50 First place each quad
Registration	9:15am - 9:45am
Round Times	10:00am, 1:00pm, and 3:30pm
Entry List	Current Pre-Registration List

Summer Solstice Open

Summer Solstice Open  

 

 

 

 

Register Online Now

 

 

Date	Saturday, June 25, 2016
Event Format	4SS
Time Control	G/60 D10
Sections	Open & U1950
Entry Fee	$35, $20 for BCF members
Prizes	$300 based on 25 paid entries: Open $125, $75, U1950 $70, $30
Registration	9:15am - 9:45am
Round Times	10:00am, 1:00pm, 3:30pm, 6:00pm
Entry List	Current Pre-Registration List

VERY SAD !! DANNY KOPEC // LONG-TIME FRIEND OF BCC // February 28, 1954 - June 12, 2016 //

a time to weep and a time to laugh, 

a time to mourn and a time to dance . . .

                                                                                                                                Photo: Steve Stepak

IM Dr. Danny Kopec, Boston Chess Congress, 2015

CHESSBASE LINK

IM DANNY KOPEC DIES AT 62 

June / July School Break Program

June/July School Break Program

When 

Tue, June 28, 9:00am – Fri, July 1, 12:30pm

Where 

Boylston Chess Club, 40 Norris Street, Cambridge, MA 02140, United States (map)

Description 

June 28, 29, 30; July 1 - 

9:00am - 12:30pm each day. 

This program invites young chess players who already have a complete understanding of the rules of chess to come and develop their abilities. With a combination of lecture, question/answer and guided cooperative learning, the instructor will cover essential elements of the game  Who can join? School-age children, K-12. How much does it cost? Club membership is required for participation (Junior Membership: $120; Family Membership: $180). Participation fee: $120; $90 per child, if two or more per family. For first-time members the fee is reduced to $80. Please make checks payable to the" Boylston Chess Foundation" and please pay on site. Registration: Located in the renovated former Ellis School building. Reservation is not required. Just show up to unit B103, at 40 Norris Street the morning of the first day, before or around 9:00 a.m.! Use the right-side door of the building.  About the instructor: A master of the game and a Boylston Chess Club member for 25 years, Jacob Rasin has been a professional chess teacher for over 35 years. For more information on the camp, please call Jacob Rasin at (617) 783 6307.

 

The Boylston School Break Program for Children 2015-2016

 
Over the course of the 2015-2016 school year, the Boylston Chess Foundation will hold its series of clinics during the December, February, and April school recesses, as well as two summer sessions in June/July and August.
.

2016

June/July (summer recess): 28, 29, 30, 1

9:00am - 12:30pm each day

August (summer recess): 16, 17, 18, 19

9:00am - 12:30pm each day
.
.

This program invites young chess players who already have a complete understanding of the rules of chess to come and develop their abilities. With a combination of lecture, question/answer and guided cooperative learning, the instructor will cover essential elements of the game:

Tactics    Strategy    Openings    Middlegames    Endgames    Problems   

Students will develop their memory, visualization ability, attention span, critical thinking skills, as well as their sense of fairness and good sportsmanship – all while having fun!

Who can join? School-age children, K-12, who are interested in improving at chess and maturing from motivated beginners to skilled intermediate players.

How much does it cost? Club membership is required for participation (Junior Membership: $120; Family Membership: $180). Participation fee: $120; $90 per child, if two or more per family. For first-time members the fee is reduced to $80. Please make checks payable to the Boylston Chess Foundation and please pay on site.

Registration and capacity: Located in the renovated former Ellis School building, there is plenty of room at our pristine site for more students; we will bring in additional qualified instructors to maintain a healthy student-teacher ratio. Reservation is not required. Just show up to unit B103, at 40 Norris Street the morning of the first day, before or around 9:00 a.m.! Use the right-side door of the building.

About the instructor: A master of the game and a Boylston Chess Club member for over 25 years, Jacob Rasin has been a professional chess teacher for over 35 years in the Soviet Union and the United States. 1978-1989, Jacob served as head coach at the Pioneers Palace of the Leningrad Province; 1982-1985, he had the additional assignment of training Soviet grandmasters and international masters. Since 1990, he has taught privately and at schools in the Boston area. His students have won dozens of scholastic state championships and medals, and more than ten national championships in various brackets. Jacob has directed the School Break Program since 1994.

For more information on the Program, please call Jacob Rasin at 617-783-6307.

.

Father's Day Swiss

Father's Day Swiss 

Register Online Now

Date	Saturday, June 18, 2016
Event Format	4SS
Time Control	G/60 d10
Sections	Open & U1800
Entry Fee	$35, $20 for BCF members
Prizes	$300 based on 25 paid entries: Open 1st $125, 2nd $75 U1800 1st $60, 2nd $40
Registration	9:15am - 9:45am
Round Times	10:00am, 1:00pm, 3:30pm, 6:00pm
Entry List	Current Pre-Registration List

BCC $15 OPEN / 4SS / SMASHING SUCCESS / 38 PLAY / FM JACOB CHUDNOVSKY / 1ST / PERFECT 4-0 OPEN / YILUN LIU 3.5 / 1ST / U1800 / JUNIORS SHINE //

BCC $15 OPEN 

OPEN SECTION

Brandon Wu vs FM Jacob Chudnovsky, Round 2.

Jacob (deep in thought) won this game on his way to a 4 - 0 sweep 

and clear 1st place. Jacob was +10 to 2426 rating! Bravo, Jacob!

Nithin Kavi, black vs Ryan Sowa, Round 2.

Nithin tied 2-3rd with Elliott Wu.

Nithin was 2096 to 2113 rating increase! Bravo Nithin!

Aidan Sowa plays white vs Elliott Wu, Round 3.

Elliott Wu 3/4 for 2-3rd place.  Elliott was +47 to 1886 rating

increase!!! Bravo, Elliott, who continues to play consistently

in his tournament outings!

Bernie Xu plays white vs BCC President, and event TD

NM Andrew Hoy (a man of many hats, yet not wearing a hat).

Andrew scored 2.5 points for a share of 4-7th place.

YOUTH POWER!

NM Hal Terrie white vs 9 yr old Derek Jin, Round 1.

Derek was accurate in his defense and held the position

to a draw. Hal scored 2.5 points to take a share of 4-7th

place. Derek also scored 2.5 points with a share of

4-7th place and a rating hike of 30 rating points to 1905!

NOTABLE RESULT

Calvin Hori, black vs 9 yr old Raymond Xu.

Raymond won this Round 3 game for a 1.5/4 total

and a rating jump of 18 points to 1592. Bravo Raymond!

U1800 SECTION

Yilun Liu plays white vs Chris Estremera in Round 3.

Yilun etched his victory in the U1800 section with a win

in this game. This is Yilun 3rd rated tournament; he earned

a 1691P to 1781P rating for his efforts in this event.

(background): Nicholas Belous, black vs Mark Kaprielian.

Mark won this game for a total of 3/4. Mark, Chris and

Kurt Milligan each scored a total of 3 points to share

2-4th place in the U1800 section. Bravo all !

Victor Feng, black vs Boshen Li. Victor won this game and

scored 2.5 points to share 5-7th place with Lewis Tu and

David Katzman; (above): Kurt Milligan plays black vs

Tony DiNosse. Kurt scored 3 points to claim a share of

2-4th place and a rating hike from 1514 to 1560!

David Katzman, black vs Lewis Tu. David won this Round 3

game for a total of 2.5 points and a rating hike of 22 points to

1643 and a share of 5-7th place. Lewis also scored 2.5 points

for a share of 5-7th points! Bravo all!

(background): David Martin vs Bob Oresick; 

Alexander Fang Meng, black vs Boshen Li: draw!

Kurt Milligan, black vs Stefan Grosser.

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THIS LAD

6 yr old Nangk Dang, black vs Jonathan Hsu,

Round 1. Nangk had 1 points and Jonathan

scored 2 points. [I played Nangk in an extra game

in Round 2. He had white. Playing forcefully

he had drawing chances, before he lost his focus

and dropped the exchange and the game.

With time, Nangk will become a highly

competitive player.  Keep up the good work, Nangk!

BCC PRESIDENT/TD/

DEBUTS AS HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHER

                                                                                       PHOTO: ANDREW HOY

Stefan Grosser vs Steve Stepak, Round 1. 

extra game. [Andrew took 3 shots of me; they 

were all quite good! Bravo, Andrew!]

PARTING SHOT

Below the portraits of 2 icons of BCC chess:

(left): Harry Lyman and (right): Harold Dondis

under the watchful eyes of these two great patrons

play Timmy Guan, black vs David Martin,

and Nicholas Belous, black vs Cuu Dang,

Round 1, $15 Open U1800 section.

ANDREW HOY, EVENT TD

PHOTOS: STEVE STEPAK