Sunday, June 30, 2019

Boylston Chess: Champions - Reubens Landey and Weaver Adams



Reubens Landey                   Weaver Adams

U2200 Champion               U1800 Champion


year 

2019                                           Bernardo Iglesias
                                                 Pitamber Dayal
                                                   Tony Cortizas, Jr.

2018  John Graf                         Bernardo Iglesias

2017   John Graf                                John Graf, Joaquin Carlson

2016  Soren Pedersen             Jonathan Lee
           Ed Astrachan                  Vlad Gaciu
                                                           Bernardo Iglesias


2015  Soren Pedersen             Tom Medrek

2014  Ted Cross                        Timothy O'Malley

2013  Timothy Sage                     Joel Bryan Wald
                                                    Brandon Wu

2012  Simon Warfield             Bryan Perez-Daple
                                     Carey Theil

2011  Simon Warfield             Ken Ho
                                                                    Michael Griffin
                                                                   Khimet Sadykov

2010  Jeffrey Hall                    Alexander Paphitis
                                         Sean Ingham
                                              David Glickman

2009  Greg Kaden                   Frank Frazier

2008  Simon Warfield            Jonathan Lee
                                                   Adam Yedidia

2007  Greg Kaden                   Alexander Paphitis

2006  Brian Solomon             Alexander Paphitis
                                                  Jonathan Lee
                                                  Lior Rozhansky

2005  Ken Newman               Robert Oresick
                Carey Theil                   Joshua Blanchfield

2004  Simon Warfield           Mike Griffin

2003  Edward Astrachan      Robert Oresick

2002  Simon Warfield           William MacClellan

2001  Edward Astrachan      Mike Griffi
Kamani Stancil           

2000  Simon Warfield           Stephen Smith

1999  Daniel Woods             Bryan Clark

1998  Paul Mishkin               Bryan Clark, Charles Alex

1997  Robert Armes             Walter Driscoll III

1996  Larry Schmitt              Hector Perez, Jared Becker

1995  Miguel A.  Santana    Miguel A. Santana

1994  Alex Slive                     Andrew Yerre

1993  Timur Feinstein          Charles Alex

1992  Daniel Woods

1991  Larry Schmitt

1990  Alex Slive


1989  Thomas Durnan

1988  Thomas Durnan

1987  Harold Dean Lawton

1986  Charlie Mays  1st

Boylston Chess: Reubens Landey

banner:  Tony Cortizas, Jr.


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DateMondays, July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Event Format5SS
Time ControlG/105 d10
Sections1800-2199
Entry Fee$20, BCF membership required
PrizesWinner(s) receives free entry to Club Championship
Registration6:15pm - 6:45pm
Round Times7:00pm
DescriptionTournament open to all players rated between 1800 and 2199 on either the June or July rating supplements.
This tournament is part of the BCF Championship Series. Winner receives free entry to the Club Championship, held in the fall of 2019.
Entry ListCurrent Pre-Registration List


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Reubens Landey

Boylston U2200 Championship

The 2019 Reubens Landey begins Monday, July 1.  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.  

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.

If you are traveling for the holiday, you may request a 1/2 point, 1st round bye.                                        


Below is some context for this tournament: two biographical articles by Bernardo Iglesias. 

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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 and Andrew 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.

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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.

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Boylston Chess: July Quads

banner:  Tony Cortizas, Jr.




Saturday, July 6, 2019
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3RR
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G/65 d10
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Players will be arranged into quads by rating
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$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.
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Prizes:  $80 First place in top quad, $50 First place in each of the other quads
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Registration:  9:15 am - 9:45 am
 ..... ABSOLUTELY NO ONSITE REGISTRATION AFTER 9:45 AM.
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Rounds:  10:00 am, 1:15 pm, 4:00 pm
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. ** No byes or withdrawals are allowed. All rounds must be played.
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Current Pre-Registration List







Friday, June 21, 2019

Boylston Chess: Legends of Chess - Mikhail Tal

banner:  Tony Cortizas, Jr.



 
 
 
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DateSaturday, June 29, 2019
Event Format4SS
Time ControlG/60 d5
SectionsOpen, 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 GUARANTEED: Open 1st $150, 2nd $90 U2000 1st $70, U1500 1st $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






Wednesday, June 19, 2019

Boylston Chess: Fathers Day Open report

banner:  Tony Cortizas,Jr.



BCF Father's Day Open - 06-15-2019

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Bay State Chess Kings Facebook Group


Photos by Nick Sterling
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Fellow BCF players,

As you'll see in my other Album on the Scholastics, Father's Day weekend provided an impressive one-two attendance punch for BCF, with 76 players participating in the two events combined. 38 players appeared on Saturday, among whom were Nicholas Belous who took the Open Section and visitor Mason Korb who took the U1900 Section.

I had my own gratifying experience with SIde Games, successfully raising my Rating 29 points after a really challenging Round 3 game. When a TD gets to play AND direct and succeed at doing both, it's double the rapture.


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Winners:

Open:

1st: Nicholas Belous
2nd (tied): Bernie Xu, Nithin Kavi, Tianna Wang

U1900:

1st: Mason Korb
2nd (tied): Jericho Carlson, Calvin Hori

I look forward to seeing many of you back at the end of the month (LOC Tal), and I hope also many of you will join the Boston Elite weekend event overseen by Yi Wang. See you over the board.

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








Boylston Chess: June Scholastics report

 
BCF June Scholastics - 06-16-2019.
report by Nick Sterling

Nicholas Sterling added 77 photos to the album:  
 

Fellow BCF Scholastics players.

This was an absolutely spectacular Scholastics on Father's Day; apparently many dads decided that the best way to celebrate Father's Day was to let their kids excel at chess. Thanks to the 39 players we got - this was a record attendance.
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Congratulations to Diego Abadie who smoked the top Section - by getting "lucky" - to take the 14 & Under 1st Place Trophy with a 4-0 Score. Kaustubh Kislay placed an impressive 2nd Place with 3.5-0.5.
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Tye Moore has improved a great deal since his last effort and was able to play in both events this weekend and emerge with a 3rd Place Medal. Congratulations to Tye.
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The real killer of this weekend was Santhosh Ayyappan who blazed through the 8 & Under Section to pick up the 1st Place Trophy. His sister Anushka also came away with a 3rd Place Medal. This is a pair to watch.
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Finally, the two Mennell brothers must be very pleased that their dad let them play all day instead of just for two Rounds, Thanks to their playing through the day, they both came away with Medals.
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Thanks to Dmitriy Barash for bringing three of his students to play in addition to his son Yan. Daniil Landau was one of the winners.
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Winners:

14 & Under:
1st: Diego Abadie
2nd: Kaustubh Kislay
Medals (tied): Aedyn Mennell, Tye Moore, Ansh Jeslani, Danil Landau

8 & Under:
1st: Santhosh Ayyappan
2nd: Peiheng Jiang
Medals: Anushka Ayyappan, Owen Mennell








We hope many of you will come back on 7/21/19 for the July Scholastics. 
Have a great July 4th and we'll see you over the board.

Nicholas P. Sterling, Ph.D.

BCF. Local Scholastics TD





Tuesday, June 18, 2019

2019 COLLINS CUP U2200 QUALIFIER 2 // ANATOLY LEVIN WINS // JOE PERL 2ND // 20 PLAY IN SUNSHINE AND WARMTH

COLLINS CUP U2200
2ND QUALIFIER 
15 JUNE 2019
 DECIDING MATCH
Anatoly Levin prevails, wins Group B.
[left: Nathan Smolensky, Turquoise, with clip-board is the
TD for this most auspicious event.]
LINE UP
Nathan Smolensky, event organizer and TD takes 
entry fee before the tournament begins.
LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!
GROUP B ACTION
Professor Sage, NU Physics plays white.
Bill Kelleher (right), keeps things hopp'n.
BLITZ CHESS IS BIG GUNS BLAZING
A FIGHT TO THE FINISH
GROUP A ACTION
Joe Perl, black considers a dynamic defense.
Joe won Group A.
STATISTICAL: GROUP B
Winner of Group B, Anatoly Levin defends with black
vs Harvard Professor of Statistics Natesh Pillai.
GUNS BLAZING
 PIECES FLYING
GROUP B
 Captain Cliff, left, observes the battle.
 INTENSE
 DEEP THOUGHT

THE BATTLE RAGES ON
GROUP A ACTION


MASTERLY PLAY
In a play-off between Group A winner Joe Perl 
and Group B winner Anatoly Levin, 
Anatoly emerged on top.
 
VICTORY
CROSSTABLES: 



PHOTOGRAPHICS; STEVE STEPAK

Sunday, June 16, 2019

Boylston Chess: June School Break Clinic

banner:  Tony Cortizas, Jr.


 




June 25, 26, 27, 28

9 am - 12:30 pm 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: $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