Boylston Chess Club Weblog: February 2019

Sunday, February 24, 2019

Boylston Chess : Tornado #133 report

Fellow BCF players,
Although this tournament started off growing slowly, in the end we had a respectable showing of 32 players. Congratulations to our visitor from Turkey, Ridvan Sakir, who was playing in his first USCF-rated tournament, and who took the Open Section 1st Place with a score of 3.5 Points. (David Grazian took 2nd Place with 3 Points.)
The two Ji brothers, Y Owen and Y Luke, also joined us, and they carried out a sweep. Owen took 1st Place int eh U200 Section with a perfect score of 4 Points. Luke split the U1500 1st Prize with Dhairya Mehta. Both are also Spiegel Cup contendors. Congratulations to both.

Winners:
Open:
1st: Ridvan Sakir
2nd: David Grazian
U2000:
1st: Y Owen Ji
U1500:
1st (tied): Y Luke Ji, Dhairya Mehta

Word came to me today that BCF and Harvard Chess Club will be collaborating to host a 6-Round Double Swiss Blitz on Sunday 4/28/19.. Stay tuned to see that become a reality. In the meantime, see you over the board.

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

Some photos by Nick ( for more follow the Tornado #133 link.)

Carissa Yip to Compete in World Team Championship

NM Carissa Yip photo: Tony Cortizas, Jr.

Ex-Wachusett Chess Club Champion Carissa Yip

To Compete in 2019 World Team Championship

(Also Ex-Boylston Chess Club Champion rjo)

Former Wachusett Chess Club champion Carissa Yip of Andover, Mass. will represent the United States on a national women's team competing in the 2019 World Team Championship, which will be played between March 4 (arrival) and March 15 (departure) in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan. The 2014 Wachusett CC champion and Woman International Master will join team mates WGM Tatev Abrahamyan, WGM Katerina Nemcova, WGM Sabina-Francesca Foisor, and alternate WCM Rochelle Wu in competing with teams from Russia, China, Armenia, Ukraine, Georgia, India, Hungary, Kazakhstan and Egypt. Team captain is noted chess teacher GM Melikset Khachiyan of Los Angeles, GM Levon Aronian's first chess coach.

George M

photo: Tony Cortizas, Jr.

Boylston Chess: Thursday Night Swiss

banner: Tony Cortizas, Jr.

Thursday Night Swiss

Date	Thursdays, March 7, 14, 21, 28
Event Format	4SS
Time Control	G/105 d10
Sections	Open & 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
Registration	6:15pm - 6:45pm
Round Times	7:00pm
Description	Bye and withdrawal requests must be received by 6:45pm. Sections with fewer than 10 players may be merged.
Entry List	Current Pre-Registration List

Boylston Chess: Paramount

banner: Tony Cortizas, Jr.

Paramount

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Date	Mondays, March 4, 11, 18, 25; April 1, 8
Event Format	6RR (double round robin)
Time Control	G/105 d10
Sections	Players will be grouped into groups of 4 by rating.
Entry Fee	$35, $20 for BCF members if registering online in advance, $5 more at the door
Prizes	TBA
Registration	6:15 pm - 6:45 pm
Round Times	7:00 pm
Description	Double round robin format, with all players in each quad playing each other twice, once with white and once with black. No adjournments.
Entry List	Current Pre-Registration List

Boylston Chess: Milestones Sunday

banner: Tony Cortizas, Jr.

Milestones Sunday

Date	Sunday, March 3, 2019
Event Format	3SS
Time Control	G/80 d10
Sections	Players 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
Prizes	TBA
Registration	9:30am-9:45am
Round Times	10:00am, 1:45pm, 5:00pm
Description	Open to all players born in 1998 or earlier. Accelerated pairings may be used. Free parking on Sundays!
Entry List	Current Pre-Registration List

Boylston Chess: March Quads

banner: Tony Cortizas, Jr.

March Quads

Date	Saturday, March 2, 2019
Event Format	3RR
Time Control	G/65 d10
Sections	Players 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
Registration	9:15am - 9:45am
Round Times	10:00am, 1:15pm, 4:00pm
Description	ABSOLUTELY NO ONSITE REGISTRATION AFTER 9:45AM ** No byes or withdrawals are allowed. All rounds must be played
Entry List	Current Pre-Registration List

Sunday, February 17, 2019

Boylston Chess: Masters Octads

banner: Tony Cortizas, Jr.

Masters Octads

Date	Sunday, February 24, 2019
Event Format	3SS
Time Control	G/85 d10
Sections	Octads, see description
Entry Fee	$45, $60 for non-BCF members
Prizes	Top section $$200-$100; Other sections $125; All guaranteed
Registration	9:30am-9:45am
Round Times	10:00am, 2:00pm, 5:30pm
Description	Players rated at least 2200 may register for the top section. Players rated at least 2000 may register for the second section. Players rated below 2000 may register for the lowest section, i.e., "other octads." The top two Octads are open to the first 8 players to register for each. Additional players over 2200 and over 2000, as well as all players rated 2000 and below, will be arranged into Octads by rating. Higher of live rating and February supplement used for eligibility to top two Octads. Juniors under 18 may add 50 points for qualification purposes. Octad winners of second and third Octads may play up one section in the next event. Registration will open Wed, Feb 6 at 10am. Minimum prize of $200 for the first two GM's or IM's to register and complete all three games.
Entry List	Current Pre-Registration List

Boylston Chess: Tornado #133

banner: Tony Cortizas, Jr.

Tornado #133

Date	Saturday, February 23, 2019
Event Format	4SS
Time Control	G/60 d5
Sections	Open, U2000, & U1500
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	Prizes$$360 GUARANTEED: Open 1st $150, 2nd $90 U2000 1st $70, U1500 1st $50
Registration	9:15am - 9:45am
Round Times	10:00am, 1:00pm, 3:30pm, 6:00pm
Description	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. Sections with fewer than 10 players may be combined.
Entry List	Current Pre-Registration List

Sunday, February 10, 2019

Boylston Chess: February Scholastics

banner: Tony Cortizas, Jr.

February Scholastics

Date	Sunday, February 17, 2019
Event Format	4SS
Time Control	G/30 d5
Sections	14 & Under, 8 & Under. A current USCF membership is required for both sections.
Entry Fee	$25, $20 for BCF members; $5 more if not registering online in advance
Prizes	Trophies for 1st/2nd each age group section, medal for 3rd
Registration	10:00am - 10:20am
Round Times	10:30am, 11:50am, 1:00pm, 2:00pm
Entry List	Current Pre-Registration List

Boylston Chess: Presidents Day Swiss

banner: Tony Cortizas, Jr.

Presidents Day Swiss

Date	Saturday, February 16, 2019
Event Format	4SS
Time Control	G/60 d5
Sections	Open, U2000, & U1500
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 Based on 30 paid entries: Open 1st $150, 2nd $90 U2000 1st $70, U1500 1st $50
Registration	9:15am - 9:45am
Round Times	10:00am, 1:00pm, 3:30pm, 6:00pm
Description	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. Sections with fewer than 10 players may be combined.
Entry List	Current Pre-Registration List

Thursday, February 07, 2019

Nithin Kavi on the "Magnus Metric"

banner: Tony Cortizas, Jr.

NM Nithin Kavi wrote a clever piece on the Magnus Metric in the February issue of Chess Life. Read it on page 34 of your copy.

photo: Tony Cortizas, Jr.

banner: Tony Cortizas, Jr.

Monday, February 04, 2019

Boylston Chess: Feb School Break Chess Clinic

banner: Tony Cortizas, Jr.

February School Break

Chess Clinic

Date	February 19, 20, 21, 22
Event Format	9am - 12:30pm each day
Description	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: $120/yr; $67/6 months; Family: $180/yr; $100/6 months). Participation fee: $180; $140 per child, if two or more per family. For first-time Club members, the fee is reduced to $150. Please make checks payable to the Boylston Chess Foundation and please pay on site. Registration: Located in the renovated former Ellis School building, there is plenty of room at our pristine site. 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, call Jacob Rasin at home after 9pm (617) 783-6307; cell (857) 225-1297 or email boylstonchess@gmail.com

Boylston Chess: Legends of Chess - Alexey Suetin


banner: Tony Cortizas, Jr.

Legends of Chess:

Alexey Suetin

Date	Saturday, February 9, 2019
Event Format	4SS
Time Control	G/60 d5
Sections	Open & 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
Registration	9:15am - 9:45am
Round Times	10:00am, 1:00pm, 3:30pm, 6:00pm
Description	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 List	Current Pre-Registration List

Boylston Chess: Feb Thursday Night Swiss

banner: Tony Cortizas, Jr.

February Thursday Night Swiss

Date	Thursdays, February 7, 14, 21, 28
Event Format	4SS
Time Control	G/105 d10
Sections	Open & 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
Registration	6:15pm - 6:45pm
Round Times	7:00pm
Description	Bye and withdrawal requests must be received by 6:45pm. Sections with fewer than 10 players may be merged.
Entry List	Current Pre-Registration List

Friday, February 01, 2019

Natasha plays in the Marshall Senior Classic

Natasha plays in the Marshall Senior Classic photo: Jim West

Jim West On Chess

From Paul Morphy to Bobby Fischer

Thursday, January 31, 2019

Pix from Marshall Senior Classic 1/27/2019
Look at these pictures, taken by me on Sunday, during the tournament at the Marshall Chess Club.