Sardinia Tournament this Saturday

Sat. Feb 5 At the Sardinia Community Center(Town Hall),12320 Savage Rd, Sardinia NY 2 sections: Adults: 3SS, G45, EF $10, Rds.:11am,1pm,2:30pm. $50 first prize guaranteed! Scholastic: 1-4pm Round Robin-Play as many games as possible in 3 hrs! EF$5, Trophy for 1st place. All Scholastic players will receive a prize! For info call Tom Warner 716-560-4160 E-mail warner689@roadrunner.com

Nakamura wins Major tournament!

Congrats to Hikaru Nakamura for winning the Tata Steel chess tournament held in Wik an Zee, Netherlands. A great win for him and for American chess! You can read more at http://www.tatasteelchess.com/tournament/report/round/13

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 2011 Memorial Results

HAPPY NEW YEAR! A record number of 49 chess players turned out for the first tournament of 2011! The cross table is at http://main.uschess.org/assets/msa_joomla/XtblMain.php?201101155701

The Urban Queens section continues to gain popularity with a total of 8 players, which hosted 7 females. This section is dedicated to the training and development of females and new developing tournament chess players. Newcomers, Laura E. Cohn,2nd grader at Lindbgergh Elementary, Da'Ron Lipscomb, Tomescia S. Weissinger and Jessica C. Dixon, 3rd grader at Charter School for Applied Technology, all made their marks in the section.

The results are Genuine M. Ubiles, 8th grader from North Park, was Undefeated Champion, 2nd Place - Da'Ron L. Lipscomb, 5th grader at Lydia T. Wright School of Excellence, 3rd Place Tie - Tomescia S. Weissinger, 7th grader at Charter School for Applied Technology and Ruby Z. Soudant, 2nd grader at Olmstead #64.

Others returnees are Luxury M. Ubiles, 5th grader at North Park and Eliza S. Conyers, 4th grader at Olmstead #64. We plan to take the entire Urban Queens Team to Rochester, New York in February for another team scholastic tournament.

In the Whitfield Jr. Scholastic K-12 Section hosted 12 players. Welcome newcomer James Lyon from Hamburg, NY. The final results had a 1st Place Tie with Trevor D. Cohn and Kevin Roulhac both members of the Urban Knights Chess Club. In December 2010, Trevor finished 3rd place and Kevin finished in 4th place and his first trophy. There was a five way tie for 3rd place, all had 3pts out of 5 games, shows how competitive the section has become. Tie breakers went to 3rd Place - James Lyon, 4th Place - Lucas Grisanti, Pioneer Chess Club and 5th Place - James Hampton from East High School. Other honors were Joshua Hampton, East High and Austin Will from Pioneer Chess Club.

In the MLK Jr. U1500 Section hosted 16 players. Welcome to the Buffalo Chess community are Randy H. Gugino, Attorney, Nicholas J. Moscatello, upgraded from the K - 12 section Champion - Matthew Rzeznick, Bishop Timon and Canadian Vinay Sharma, who returns and helps us keep our USA & Canada motto, The Archangel 8 Chess Academy is Buffalo's "Gateway to International Chess"!.

Top honor Co-Champions goes to the WNY BAR Association members Randy H. Gugino, Esq. and James P. Davis, Esq. Newcomer Randy H. Gugino, Esq.(1445), was the highest rated player and both finished 3.5 pts out of 4 pts. This was James P. Davis(1424) second consecutive top finish in two months. Other top finishers with 3pts were in the field of Medicine with Dr. James J. Paul, OD and Dr. Mark Mieth(Niagara Falls, NY).

Top Upset leaders were Nathan Palmisano(Pioneer) - 603.5pts, Nicholas J. Moscatello - 581pts, Diane M. Ruminski - 326pts, Reagan Lyle - 325pts, Matthew Leahy(Bishop Timon) - 148pts, Matthew Rzeznick(Bishop Timon) - 137pts, Michael Skok - 103pts, Justin Craddock - 92pts and James P. Davis - 10.5pts.

In the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Open Section hosted 13 players. Top rated players were National Master, Lionel L. Davis(2242),National Master, Barry Davis(2106)and National Master, Mark J. Clark(2067) from Jamestown, NY. Mark Clark host the Jamestown City Championships and is looking for tournament players.

Top Honors Co-Champions were Lionel L. Davis, Barry Davis and U1900 winner Erik W. Lubas from Kenmore West, all shared in the top money.

Top Upset leaders were Riyath A. Mallahi, Notre Dame University - 617pts, David S. Miller - 381pts, Gary Boye - 120pts, Barry Davis - 68pts, Mark Clark - 19.5pts, and Erik W. Lubas - 6pts.

Please "SAVE THE DATE", Friday, June 3rd, 4th and 5th, 2011 when we host the 5th Annual Mayor's Cup Class Championships, Campbell Student Union, 1300 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY. The Grandmaster Section will be a 3 day event, FIDE Rated, 7 Rounds, Swiss Championship with defending 2008 and 2010 Mayor's Cup Champion - International Master Kenneth W. Regan. Please send in your name for the Early Bird Discount list by January 31, 2011. The 2011 Mayor's Cup Champion will compete for $1000.00 first prize and $500 for 2nd place. More details will be listed in the upcoming Chess Life Magazine in the Grand Prix listing with Enhanced Grand Prix points.

Our next Buffalo Monthly Chess Tournament will be on Saturday, Feb. 19th, 2011, 4 Rounds, Swiss, Game 50. Paid Advanced entries are greatly appreciated. Advance entry fees are $25.00 or $35 at the door. Checks should be made payable to The Archangel 8 Chess Academy, 60F Guilford Lane, Buffalo, NY 14221 no later than Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011, with full name, USCF Id number, Section of play and phone.

I want to thank all of those who came out to support us and those dedicated loyal supporters who continue to support our tournament efforts. Special "GET Well" wishes should be sent to Jonathan Havey, father to Benjamin Havey was finally released from the hospital and is recovering at home.

Help us continue to grow the Buffalo Chess community, "Tell a Friend, Bring a Friend", we all benefit as more challengers become part of our chess community.

Reported by Mc Duffie, USCF Chief Tournament Director

Madden boys win in Sardinia

Yes there's another Madden on the rise in our chess community. Zach Madden (upper left in top photo) won the scholastic section of the Sardinia tournament last Saturday. He had 8 wins 1 loss to edge out Todd Thompson by one point. Great job Zach! Luke Grisanti, Hunter Witt, Bobby Mahiques, Anderson Miles, James Lyon, Max Peters, Isaiah Hackett, and Sam Tillinghast also competed.

Meanwhile, big brother Ryan ended Pat Patterson's 3 month winning streak and won the $50 1st prize in the adult section. Ryan won all 3 games. Patterson and Nathan Palmisano tied for 2nd. Ryan Palmisano, Luke Grisanti, Todd Thompson, and Hunter Witt also competed.

Next tournament Feb 5. See you there!

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR MEMORIAL USCF OPEN!

Hosted and presented by Garnell W. Whitfield Jr, Buffalo Fire Commissioner in conjunction with The Archangel 8 Chess Academy, an affiliate with the United States Chess Federation.

Saturday, Januuary 15, 2011, Upper Level, Main Place Mall, 390 Main St, Buffalo, NY. Free Parking under the Mall. PIZZA and refreshments to all paid tournament players.

Four games, Swiss, Game 50, USCF rated, USCF membership is required!

Sections are OPEN, U1500, Scholastic K-12 and Urban Queens(Unrated).

Advance entry fees for Open & U1500 are $25 or $35 Cash at the door. Scholastic and Scholastic Novice Urban Queens are $10 or $15 Cash at the door, 5 games, Swiss, Game 30.

Guaranteed Cash Prizes for OPEN: $150 - $80, U1900 $75, U1500:$60 and $50.

Scholastic K-12 Awards: Trophies to the Top 5 players. Medals for Urban Queens.

SCHEDULES: OPEN & U1500 players must report by 9:25am. Games start at 9:45am. Scholastics must report no later than 10:30am, Games start at 11am and will finish at 4pm.

ONLINE REGISTRATION by Friday, January 14, 2011 with full name, USCF ID number, Section of play and telephone number with reply to arcangel8chess@yahoo.com.

Please mail and make checks payable to: The Archangel 8 Chess Academy, 60F Guilford Lane, Buffalo, NY, no later than Wendesday, January 12, 2011.

SAVE THE DATE: MAYOR'S CUP CHESS 2011 CHAMPIONSHIPS, a NEW! 3 day event, 7 Rounds, Game 120, FIDE & USCF rated Open Grand Prix, Enhanced Grand Prix points, $2700 Guaranteed Cash Prizes of $1000, 2011 Mayors Cup Champion Title and Mayor's Cup Trophy, 2nd Place $500, 3rd Place $300, U2200 of $300 & $150, U2000 $300 & $150. Others will play a 2 day event of 5 rounds with more details to follow.

The 5th Annual Mayor's Chess Championships will be on Friday, June 3, Saturday, June 4, and Sunday, June 5, 2011. Presented in conjunction with the Buffalo State College Student Affairs Department and The Archangel 8 Chess Academy. If you are interested in playing please email me your full name, USCF Id number, telephone number and FIDE/USCF current rating to be on the EARLY BIRD List for a discounted advance entry fee by January 31, 2011. Submitted by Mc Duffie, USCF Chief Tournament Director

URBAN GOLDEN KNIGHTS K-2 HARLEY SCHOLASTIC CHAMPIONS

The Urban Golden Knights Chess Team earned their first 2011 Team Championship at the 19th Annual Harley Scholastic Chess Tournament in Pittsford, New York.

Please send out a special congratulations to The Golden Knights team members, Laura Cohn, Lindbergh Elementary, Alexis and Matthew Schlaak, Ruby Soudant, Olmstead #64 and Chinmayi Krishnan, Heim Elementary, Coached by Mc Duffie, Chess Ambassador.

Top honors for Laura Cohn for Top 2nd Grader and Alexis Schlaak for Top Kindergartener, both earned Trophies and each member earned a Team Medal.

There was a total of 13 players which 8 were females from the Urban Queens Chess Club. The Urban Golden Knights were also represented by 6 players in the Third to Fifth Grade section, which 3 were females, Shayla Carr, 4th grader at School 17, Eliza Conyers, 4th grader at Olmstead #64, and Luxury Ubiles, 5th grader at North Park #66, their counterparts were Joshua Harbert, 5th grader at Olmstead #97 and both Benjamin Rummell, 5th grader and Samuel E. Santora, 3rd grader from The homeschool chess club - The Chess Club of Buffalo.

Samuel E. Santora earns a trophy for being the Top Overall 3-5 Section player.

Finally, in the 6 - 8th Section, The Urban Golden Knights were represented by Trevor Cohn, 7th grader at Kenmore Middle and Genuine Ubiles, 8th grader at North Park #66. This section was very challenging and only played three games. Trevor won 2 games, one game he won in 6 moves and Genuine won one game.

Congratulations to all the students for representing the Buffalo - Niagara area. A special thanks to all the parents who took time to drive and stayed to encourage their children during their first chess event.

If you have a student who would like to be part of the Golden Knights K-8 team, please email me at arcangel8chess@yahoo.com. Our next Star Scholastic Chess Tournament will be on Saturday, January 15th, 2011 at the Main Place Mall, Upper Level, 390 Main Street, Buffalo, NY. Scholastic players are to report no later than 10:30am, the first games will start at 11am. The format is non rated, 5 games, Game/30. Scholastic advance entry fee is $10 or $15 at the door. Pizza and refreshments are provided to all tournament players.

Please check the January Issue of the Family Magazine on page 61 for our first quarter 2011 Chess Tournament schedule.

Reported by Mc Duffie, Chess Ambassador

Web Interviews of Peter Svidler, with two Q's by Harish

The Crestbook website run by GM Sergey Shipov, in conjunction with Colin McGourty (mishanp) who translates much of its content onto Chess In Translation, have published a mass web-forum interview with GM Peter Svidler, which makes engaging reading:

Part I.

Part II.

Our very own Harish Srinivasan has an interesting question in each part. There is much here including The Ashes---I never thought I'd see England waltz down to Matilda and win three Tests by an innings and runs to spare each. My former rainy home even put up 644 runs in one go, their highest innings since WWII. On Boxing Day, with over 84,000 watching (more than American football!), they bowled Australia out for 98 before tea, then piled on 157 for nought in the evening session. The superfluous Fifth Test just wound up today with another ENG whitewash---and I come from the days when England were whipped 5-nil on home soil by the Windies. Oh wait, this is supposed to be a chess blog... Hat-tip to The Chess Mind blog for the interviews.

Sardinia Tournament this Saturday

Sat. Jan 8 At the Sardinia Community Center(Town Hall),12320 Savage Rd, Sardinia NY 2 sections: Adults: 3SS, G45, EF $10, Rds.:11am,1pm,2:30pm. New this year! $50 guaranteed 1st prize Scholastic: 1-4pm Round Robin-Play as many games as possible in 3 hrs! EF$5, Trophy for 1st place. All Scholastic players will receive a prize! For info call Tom Warner 716-560-4160 E-mail warner689@roadrunner.com