BUFFALO BLIZZARD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2007 RESULTS

The Buffalo Blizzard Chess Championships were held at the Kenmore Community Center, 135 Wilbur Avenue, Kenmore NY on Saturday, December 29th 2007, with a total of 27 players participating in 2 sections for cash prizes based upon entries. The crosstable is available at: http://main.uschess.org/assets/msa_joomla/XtblMain.php?200712295431 The U1200 David Evans Jr Memorial Section

1st place-Phillip Laugeman (Undefeated 5-0) 2nd Place - Ryan Madden 3rd Place - Tied between Aaron Mc Duffie and Partho Bhattacharya. The Championship match was between Phillip Laugeman (1038) having 4 points and Aaron Mc Duffie (886) having 3.5 points and ended with Laugeman having a King and Queen vs King. Congratulations to both competitive players. Five girls participated in this section: sisters Bridget and Shannon Smith, Paige Kennedy, Lorena Miles, and Victoria A Stauffiger who received the Fran Mc Duffie Award for Top Female Player. This new section had a new high participation level with 16 players and welcomed the following new players: Matthew J Prohaska (1140), Max Bellatto (678), Steven Browne (669), and Paige Kennedy (517). Most Improved Performance was posted by Garrett E Fryar (255>>521) as he had the following upsets : defeating Victoria Stauffiger (380p) and Steven Browne (669p) while drawing with Aaron Mc Duffie(938) and Paige Kennedy(517p). Other notable upsets were: Max Belfatto(639) defeating Matthew Prohaska(1140p), Adam Schunk(787) defeating Ryan Madden(1076), and drawing with Partho Bhattacharya(867). Ryan Madden scored an upset himself by defeating Matthew Prohaska(+64), while Victoria A Stauffier drew with Adam Schunk(+407). [Note: Upsets are where the lower rated player either draws or defeats a higher rated player and this adds to the lower rated players national rating and decreases points from the higher rated player.]

The U1600 Senator Antoine M Thompson Section 1st Place - David Biddle Tied 2nd Place - James Davis and Jaret Minkler 3rd Place - William Rich James Davis had the greatest rating increase from 1206(pretournament) to 1315(post) as he had upsets as follows: a draw against Lee Smith(1238)and wins over Dr James Paul(1351)and David Biddle(1419). Other upsets included: Jarrett Minkler(1310) beat John Campbell(1386p), and Glenn Conlin(1221) drew Jaret Minkler(1310).

This section had 10 Players (Evan Ashton was out of town and did not participate) and welcomed newcomer Larry Heaney. Old friends returning to the chess scene were Jarret Minkler(1310). Meanwhile 1976 Class C Buffalo Champion - Christopher Mulcahy(1459), and Charles Mang(1843/1870) former members of the Grand Island Chess Club and Niagara Frontier Chess Club were present as spectators and skittles participants.