Brought back by popular demand, the annual Planet Earth Chess Championship was hosted again by the historic NBCC at its home at the Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection.
This galactic event, last held in 2018, drew its second-highest turnout since its inaugural event held in 2011, with thirty-nine players from the region competing in this three-section tournament.
This event could not have been a success without the incredible work of Norman Burtness, who did an excellent job with planning, promoting, and directing. He was the man!
Of course, there were many other people who were instrumental in helping with the setup, breakdown, food delivery and preparation, and much more. They all worked tirelessly to ensure that everything went smoothly for this event.
And these people deserve recognition for their efforts: Suhas Kodali, George Himes, Roger Bessette, Estee Axelrad, David Herscovici, Lisa Smith, and Bob Cyr. My apologies if I forgot to mention someone.
Lunch was provided by Jersey Mike's in Simsbury. Our hungry chess warriors were treated to meat and veggie subs, potato chips, apples, cookies, and bottled water. It was a delicious lunch fit for a king! After lunch, play resumed.
After an afternoon of spirited competition on this very hot day, where our games were forced to be played inside due to the excessive heat, a new Planet Earth chess champion was crowned. And that was FM Yoon-Young Kim.
Member Bill Campbell won the U1600 section, and member Jeraldin Sundar won the scholastic section, his first major club event win.
Overall, it was a glorious day for chess. We thank everyone who helped support the club in this incredible, out-of-this-world event. We look forward to seeing you all at next year’s event.
