NBCC Weekly News - December 14, 2021

This Week’s News Items:

• WCH Thematic

• Christmas Party Next Tuesday (Dec. 21) at 6 PM

• Upcoming Events

• Blitz XXVI Results

• Game of the Year - 2021

• Training - WCH Thematic

• Saturday Study Group - 5 pm (Different Link)

====================================

WCH Thematic

This Tuesday will be the second week of the WCH Thematic tournament. We will review the remaining games of the World Championship and play out positions in a G/10;d/5 tournament. Spoiler alert - Magnus Carlsen retained his World Championship crown.

Last week, we played out the first four positions of Nelson’s thematic positions. With 3.5/4, Suhas Kodali took first, and in second with 3/4 was a four-way tie: Mario Guevara-Rodriguez, Norman Burtness, and Nelson Castaneda.

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Christmas Party

Next Tuesday (Dec. 21) is our Christmas Party! Doors will be open by 6 and food will be arriving at 6:15. We have a mix of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes from Fitzgerald’s Foods. Come early, bring your family and join us in our celebrations. Afterward, we will have our annual bullet tournament. It’s a pure 1+0, where everyone plays everyone else for yearly bragging rights.

If you have any time in between, you can peruse our fabulous historian’s review of the year. The annual newsletter is also available on the club website.

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Upcoming Events

 

We will close out the year with an unrated tournament. Starting next year, we will have a qualifying tournament for the Club Championship, followed by our most popular tournament of the year - the NBCC Championship. 

 

Events are posted on the club calendar on the club website - newbritainchessclub.com

 

====================================

 

Blitz XXVI Results

 

Congrats to NM Derek Meredith for winning the top section with 8/10. In second place was FM Nelson Castaneda with 7.5/10. In the next section, congrats to Lisa Smith for winning with 9/10pts. In a tie for second were Sumanyu Nandecha and Vishnu Mukku with 7/10 pts.

 

Many thanks to Lisa Smith for sharing her first-place prize with the 2nd place winners in her section. It’s a nice gesture to our young players, who won $10 each, rather than sharing the 2nd place $5 prize.

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Game of the Year

FM Rick Bauer will be announcing the Game of the Year prize at the Christmas Party. Many games were submitted this year, from Oktoberfest, Summer Open, and the Club Championship. You can preview the games analyzed by Rick on Lichess.

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In-person Lecture - NM Suhas Kodali

Tuesday 12/14 - 6:15pm 

Suhas will wrap up the World Championship and Ian Nepomniatchi’s characteristic collapse after Game 6.

====================================

Saturday Study Group at 5pm

The Saturday Study group will be experimenting with their schedule. It will start at 5pm and run for three hours. The first hour will be general, where one of the regulars will give a club-like demo.  The second hour will be "practice games" or a "practice game."  These are very informal and geared towards learning.  We are experimenting with group games involving input from everyone for BOTH sides. The third hour will review games from participants, from the club, if and when we get them, the internet, or from history and their analysis.  

Link to Zoom - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85697496782?pwd=T3FnRi9lNVp5VkRrMjRoZmFPWkpjZz09

Meeting ID: 856 9749 6782

Passcode: NBCC

Cheers,

Suhas Kodali

President

New Britain Chess Club

newbritainchessclub.com

newbritainchessclub@gmail.com

 

 

 

New Britain Chess Club - Weekly News

 

This Week’s News Items:

• NBCC Quick Chess Championships

• Upcoming Events

• Training - Joe

• Saturday Study Group - 5pm (Different Link)

==================================================================

2021 NBCC Quick Chess Championships

This Tuesday will be the second week of the three week Quick Chess Championship. We do offer three half-point byes, but you need to let our Tournament Director, Bob Cyr, know a week in advance. We will start promptly so please be at the club by 7pm.

==================================================================

Upcoming Events

After the Quick Chess Championship, we will have a blitz tournament. 

Description: Blitz XXV Tournament Details:

•    Tuesday, Nov 30, 2021

•    9-SS G/3;+2

•    sections: 1

•    Entry Fee: $5 (Members); $10 (Non-Members)

•    Prizes: 70% returned in prizes

•    USCF blitz rated (USCF membership is required)

•    Blitz Ratings used for pairings

•    Registration 6:45-7:00 P.M.

•    Pairings made at 7:15

The world championship between Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepominatchi is taking place between 11/26-12/14. It’s a 14 round Classical Slugfest. To commemorate, we will be having lectures on the two players and their games. Our tournaments on Dec 7 and 14 will also be Wch Thematics. Details to come soon. 

Afterwards, we will have our annual Christmas Dinner Party on Dec 21. The club will supply food and you have to come and have fun. We will also have a bullet tournament!

Events will be posted on the club calendar on the club website - newbritainchessclub.com

 

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In-person Lecture - Joe Bihlmeyer - Tuesday 11/16 - 6:15pm 

Joe will continue his endgame lectures next week. Arrive early to not miss out!

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Saturday Study Group at 5pm

The Saturday Study group will be experimenting with their schedule. It will start at 5pm and run for three hours. The first hour will be general, where one of the regulars will give a club-like demo.  The second hour will be "practice games" or a "practice game."  These are very informal and geared towards learning.  We are experimenting with group games involving input from everyone for BOTH sides. The third hour will review games from participants, from the club, if and when we get them, the internet, or from history and their analysis.  

Link to Zoom - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85697496782?pwd=T3FnRi9lNVp5VkRrMjRoZmFPWkpjZz09

Meeting ID: 856 9749 6782

Passcode: NBCC

Cheers,

Suhas Kodali

President

New Britain Chess Club

newbritainchessclub.com

newbritainchessclub@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

2021 Connecticut State Chess Championships - Saturday Dec.4, Wesleyan

2021 Connecticut State Championships

 

State Championship Event

Wesleyan University, Exley Science Center

Saturday, December 4, 2021

EVENT OVERVIEW

General Info

Event organized by the Connecticut State Chess Association, funded and

sponsored by the Connecticut State Chess Association together with Russell Enterprises and DGT North America.

Connecticut players only—see definition under note [1] below.

Vaccination and Mask Wearing Required. See notes [4] and [5] below for site and organizer policies. 

Rounds/Time Control: 4 Rounds SS, G/55 d5, USCF Rated

Schedule: 9:30a, 12p, 2:30p, 5p (Awards by 8p)

Prizes: Championship: $500-350-250-200-150.

Trophy to State Champion.  Open: $300-200-150-125-100.

Top U1600, U1200, U800 $100 each. Trophy, clock

and book prizes to top Female, Unrated, Collegiate,

High, Middle players in Open.

Collegiate Team: Trophy to top three collegiate teams in Open.

Byes: One half-point bye is permitted in Rounds 1-3 only;

must commit by end of registration. 

Playoff: Playoff applied to Championship section for players

tied for 1st place. Playoff affects trophy and Champion title

only. See note [3] below.

Entry: $70 by November 30; $90 by December 3 at 7 PM. NO on-site entries permitted. Online registration ends December 3, 2021 at 7 PM.

Free & Special Entry: Players conditions to GMs and IMs

(not deducted from prizes). Free entry in Championship

Section to: (1) Players rated 2400 and over,

(2) Winner of 2020 CT Senior Championship, and

(3) Winner of 2020 CT High School Championship.

2020 State Championship entries honored.

If you qualify for entry under this paragraph, please email chess.CSCA@gmail.com to request registration. 

CSCA membership: Participation creates or extends CSCA event membership status to 12/4/2022. 

Snow Date: Sunday, December 5, 2021.

Equipment: Bring sets and clocks.

See event page for news and updates. Also see official event flyer. 

 

Notes

[1] Connecticut player. For the purpose of these Championships, a “Connecticut player” is (a) any player whose state is designated Connecticut (“CT”) with U.S. Chess, or (b) any player whose state is not designated “CT” with U.S. Chess, but who (i) resides, (ii) attends school or (iii) is employed or self-employed in the state of Connecticut. Event entrants pursuant to section (b) will provide proof of eligibility.  

[2] Championship Section Entry Limits. Entry in the Championship section is limited to the top 14 players by rating and the two event Champion invitees—2020 Senior and 2020 High School Champions. If an invitee declines to participate, an additional rating-based entry will be permitted. Additionally, except for Champion invitees, a minimum rating of 2000 is required to participate in the Championship section.

[3] Playoff Tiebreak in Championship Section. In case of a tie score for 1st place in the Championship Section, a playoff will immediately follow Round 4. The playoff format will be as follows: G/10 d5 with reversed colors. If players not played, USCF tie breaks determine choice of color. If still tied, Armageddon game with reversed colors G/5v4. If multiple players are tied for 1st place, players will be paired highest finishing against lowest finishing and so on based on USCF tie breaks (NCAA March Madness format), and each playoff round will result in elimination of the losing player. If the number of players in the first playoff round is other than 2, 4, 8 or 16, the highest finishing players on USCF tie breaks will advance without play to the second playoff round to conform to the 2-4-8-16 format. Playoff affects trophy and Champion title only. 

[4] COVID-19 vaccination and completion of site attestation are required for participation in this event. Pursuant to Wesleyan University policy, no person is permitted inside campus buildings unless they are two weeks removed from the date of receipt of their final vaccination dose. As part of registration, all players are required to complete the Wesleyan University Visitor Vaccination Attestation Form. Unvaccinated individuals are not permitted in campus buildings and to participate in this event. Any player, who fails to complete the Attestation by end of registration, shall be denied entry. Performance under this mandate is subject to legal and site policy remedies, as well as U.S. Chess and CSCA ethics reviews. The site or the organizer may request players to present proof of vaccination.

[5] COVID-19 Protocols Apply. In addition to the attestation requirement under note [4], no on-site entries are permitted. All players and family members must wear masks at all times while indoors, including in the playing and waiting areas. Only one accompanying adult is permitted per player. Number of persons in any room may also be restricted.

[6] Rating Supplement. Dec 2021 USCF Rating Suppl. used for section entry, pairings and prizes.

[7] Contact. All questions/inquiries to events.CSCA@gmail.com.

[8] Refunds/Cancellation Policy: To withdraw registration or request a refund, email your request to events.CSCA@gmail.com  no later than December 3 at 8 PM. Refund requests not received by email or received after the above deadline will not be honored. Refunds are subject to $15 administrative fee.

Address:

265 Church Street
Middletown, CT 06459
United States

Sections: 2

Grand Prix Points:

Prize Fund: $2,625

FIDE Rated: No

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Residency Restriction: Yes

Online Event: No

Connecticut State Chess Association

Email: chess.CSCA@gmail.com

Phone: 8605930225

Website: https://www.chessct.org

 

1977 - 1980 magazines by Rob Roy

• • Vol 5, No 6: Nov-Dec  b   c   d   e   f   g   h   i 
• 1978
  • Vol 6, No 1: Jan-Feb  b   c   d   e   f   g   h   i   j   k 
    
    
  • Vol 6, No 2: Mar-Apr  b   c   d   e   f   g   h   i 
    
    
  • Vol 6, No 3: July-August-September  b   c   d   e   f   g   h   i   j   k   l   m 
• 1979
  • Vol 7, No 1: Winter 1978-9  b   c   d   e   f   g   h   i   j   k 
    
    
  • Vol 7, No 2: Spring  b   c   d   e   f   g   h   i   j   k   l   m 
    
    
  • Vol 7, No 3: Fall  b   c   d   e   f   g   h   i   j   k   l   m 

Conn. Chess & Backgammon Magazine

No 16: September-October 1980  b   c   d   e 
No 17: November-December 1980  b   c   d   e 

Hamden Chess Club

Here are some of the upcoming opportunities to play over-the-board chess including The October Opposition this coming Saturday!  Masks will be required and space is limited.

• Sat. Oct 30, 2021, 1:00pm 
  The October Opposition! (4SS, G/30, d5; USCF-rated; In-Person)
  Projected Prizes: $300 (based on 16 entries)
  Registration Link: https://caissachess.net/online-registration/index/1188
  

• Advance online registration (with $10 savings) ends Thurs, Oct 28 11:59pm. Regular online registration closes Sat Oct 30 @ 11:00am or when full.  (Capacity limited to 20 for this event due to Covid). No on-site registration.
  
  

• Mon. Nov 15, 2021, 6:30pm
  November Little Open (Adult-HS and up; Quads - 3RR; Elo-club rated, USCF not required to register; In-Person)
  Prizes: Winner of each Quad: $30
  Registration link: https://caissachess.net/online-registration/index/1231
  
  

• Sat. December 4, 2021, 9:30am
  December Scholastic Quads (Grades K-12; Quads - 3RR; USCF-rated; G/25, d5; In-Person)
  Trophies for Quad Winners and chess medals for all other participants
  Registration Link: https://caissachess.net/online-registration/index/1232
  
  

• Sat. December 11, 2021, 1:00pm
  The December Desperado! (4SS, G/30, d5; USCF-rated; In-Person)
  Projected Prizes: $300
  Registration Link: https://caissachess.net/online-registration/index/1233
  
  

Hamden Chess Club members who enjoy playing online can also join the HCC team on lichess at no extra cost, participate in weekly tournaments with a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card.  (There are no entry fees for the online tournaments but must be a member in good standing to win a prize): 

12+ Online Tournaments each month - for every level
No entry fee for online tournaments. HCC team members just sign up at the respective tournament link. Winner receives $20 gift card if HCC membership in good standing (or currently enrolled student); and a minimum of four team members participated in the tournament.

Hope to see you for chess sometime soon!

Rod

 

Rod Groff

Play More Chess Academy

Hamden Chess Club

1227 Whitney Ave., Hamden, CT 06517   
Phone: (203) 680-8456  

 

Links: PlayMoreChess.com | Hamden Chess Club | Weekly HCC Tournaments on Lichess 

Feature Article (The Daily Nutmeg)

 

 

 

Pandemic Update - Coventry Chess

Hi, Rob:

 

Hope you are well!

 

I am updating the CSCA website. I had the following questions:

 

(1) Does the Coventry Chess Center hold any club activities, like a weekly chess club?

 

(2) Are your tournaments back? Will you be organizing those? Any flyers for posting?

 

(3) Looks like the Connecticut Chess Magazine is back. When did you start up again? 

 

(4) How would you feel about an interview feature article about you for the CSCA website?

 

Thank you.

 

Alex

 

Dear Alex, thanks for your email.

 

My health is improving.  I've been on insulin for many years now.  Finally seeing my AIC coming down from 8.9 to 7.4

 

Finally, I went to an orthopedist for my right hip.  Turns out my pain is from bursitis and tendonitis.  I am in a physical therapy program twice a week for 3 months, with daily homework exercises.  Already I have some relief from the pain.

 

1) Coventry Chess Center not offering any meetings at this time.

2) No tournaments yet after the pandemic.  I am happy to see kids 5-11 will now get vaccinated.

3) CCM won't be published on a periodical basis.  I will publish special editions when the material is good, and I have the time.

4) An article about me will go a long way to counteract the damage from the lies distributed by GB.  Only a handful of players are still around who remember all of my chess work from 1976 thru 2000 in Connecticut.  Over 1,200 newspaper columns, a few dozen magazines, and 12 years elected CSCA president. and tournament programs at 20 different cities and towns across the state.

 

Gens Una Sumus,

 

Rob Roy

 

P.S. My laptop died, and Gert Hilhorst generously donated a personal computer.  That's a big step forward for chess in Coventry, as I can no longer afford to spend more and more money on chess.  Thank you again Gert.

 

I also got all the back issues of the state chess newsletter from the 50's, 60's, and 70's, thanks to Fred Townsend.

 

I also got the scrapbooks of G.E.Avery's newspaper column from the 40's and 50's.

 

 CC:   Bob Cyr, Gert Hilhorst, Rick Bauer, Fred Townsend, Nelson Castaneda, Mark Bourque, David Herscovici, Doug Fiske, Dan Starbuck Pelletier, Michael Smith, Lisa Smith, Al Lasser, Larry Lafosse, Joe Bihlmeyer.