2011 HOLIDAY CLASSIC RESULTS

The 2011 Holiday Classic attracted 33 players in the Open, U1500 and Scholastic sections on December 17, 2011 at the Main Place Mall. New USCF members were Dylan Teague, a scholastic player from The Lockport Knights Chess Club, Quinn H. Caya, and Sandipan Kundu from the University of Buffalo Chess Club referred by Scott Zdunczyk also from the University of Buffalo Chess Club.

Kudos goes out to Dylan Teague, 7th grader defeated Steve L. Baer, USCF rated 1283 in his first opening game. James W. Lyon, 6th grader who played in both U1500 and Scholastic sections in preparation for the NY State Championships. Three girls participated in the Scholastic section. Liberty Wendt, 3rd grader from Lockport Knights Chess Club completed her first tournament. The other two girls were Ruby Z. Soudant and Laura E. Cohn both are 3rd graders and Urban Queens Chess Club members. Ashton Williams, 1st grader from The Stars of India, completed another tournament in the Main Place Mall.

The 2011 Buffalo Stars Scholastic Undefeated Champion is James W. Lyon, 2nd place - Corey K. Spencer from Lockport Knights, 3rd place - James A. Shippens from Olmsted Golden Knights, 4th place - Ruby Z. Soudant from Olmsted Golden Knights. The Top Female Award which goes to the highest performing female in the section is Laura E. Cohn, Urban Queens Chess Club.

The 2011 Holiday Classic U1500 Undefeated Champion is Adam Chelpinski, 2nd place finisher was newcomer Sandipan Kundu from the University of Buffalo.

U1500 UPSET LEADERS; Lucas Grisanti, Pioneer Chess Club draws Ryan Palmisano, Pionner Chess Club for 149.5 pts, Vic Bahl defeated James W. Lyon for 91 pts, Adam Chelpinski defeated Kevin N. Roulhac for 41 pts, Scott Zdunczyk draws Glenn Conlin for 20 pts, Ryan Palmisano defeated Steve L. Baer for 5pts.

The 2011 Holiday Classic Open Champion is National Master Barry Davis, 2nd place was Thomas A. Warner, U2000 Class Prize winner was Erik W. Lubas, Senior at Kenmore West.

Holiday Classic UPSET LEADERS; Emory Parish defeated Albert Patterson for 193 pts, Brian W. Sayers defeated Dr. James J. Paul for 174 pts, Lucas A. Seybold from Fredonia defeated Dr. James J. Paul for 164 pts, Erik W. Lubas defeated Douglas W. Dubose for 153 pts, Albert Patterson draws Erik W. Lubas for 116.5 pts, Douglas W. Dubose draws National Master Barry Davis for 66.5 pts, and Justin Craddock defeated Albert Patterson for 55 pts. We want to wish Justin "GOOD LUCK", as he travels to New York City to play in a Holiday tournament at the Marshall Chess Club. The Marshall Chess Club was visited by Alexis and Matthew Schlaak from the Chess Club of Buffalo over the summer and gifted me a Marshall Chess Club Polo Shirt. The Marshall Chess Club is where famous Grandmasters and GM Bobby Fischer played on a regular basis.

SAVE THE DATE; We will host 2 USCF tournaments in January 2012. Our next tournament will be on Saturday, January 14, 2012 in the Main Place Mall, 3 games, Game 60, USCF Rated, Entry fee $15 or $20 Cash at the door. PIZZA and Refreshments Provided! CASH PRIZES BASED ON NUMBER OF ENTRIES! Players must report by 9:30am, Games will start at 10am, Noon and 2pm. Online registrations are greatly appreciated with reply to arcangel8chess@yahoo.com. Please include full name, USCF number and telephone number no later than Wednesday, January 11, 2012. Please mail and make checks payable to The Archangel 8 Chess Academy, 60F Guilford Lane, Buffalo, NY 14221. Then the second USCF rated tournament will be on Saturday, January 21, 2012, The First Annual William J. O'Leary Memorial Classic 2012 hosted by the O'Leary - Soudant Family!

Thanks to all the parents who helped served pizza, refreshments, Dr James Paul for the chocolate desserts. There wasnt the Canon Digital professional camera due to an holiday office party, so I want to give a special thanks to the parents, our Freelance photographers who will be sending me camera photos for facebook, which Im still learning.

Have a safe, warm MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!

Resptfully submitted by Mc Duffie, USCF Tournament Director and Chess Ambassador

WILLIAM J. O'LEARY MEMORIAL CLASSIC 2012

Presented and hosted in loving memory by The O'Leary - Soudant Family, Buffalo Fire Commissioner, Garnell W. Whitfield, Jr. and The Archangel 8 Chess Academy. Held on Saturday, January 21, 2012, Main Place Mall, 390 Main Street, Buffalo, NY. The Archangel 8 Chess Academy is celebrating 12 years of Educational Enrichment Youth Chess Programs.

Pictured are Ruby and Jethro Soudant whose family who wanted to host a Chess event in loving memory of Ruby's Grandfather who was an avid chess player. Ruby, recently became the first Olmsted Elementary 2011 Scholastic K-4 Chess Champion. Her accomplishment is highlighted on the Buffalo School District webpage BuffaloSchools.org.

The First Annual William J. O'Leary Memorial Classic 2012 will be an US Chess Federation Open Rated Chess Tournament. United States Chess Federation annual membership is REQUIRED!

The format is Four Games, Swiss, Game 50, Four sections of play OPEN, U1500, USCF rated Scholastic K-12 and Urban Queens K-12 Unrated.

PIZZA AND REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED TO ALL PAID TOURNAMENT PLAYERS!

Advance discount Entry Fees vs Cash at the door; OPEN and U1500 Sections - $30 vs $35, Scholastic Section - $10 vs $15.

CASH PRIZES based upon 25 total paid players; $175, $125, U2000 - $100 & $60, U1500 - $100 and $60. Advance online registrations are greatly appreciated with reply to arcangel8chess@yahoo.com by wednesday at midnight on January 18, 2012 for the discounted Entry fee. Please mail and make checks payable to The Archangel 8 Chess Academy, 60F Guilford Lane, Buffalo, New York 14221, checks must be received no later than Wednesday, January 18, 2012 with full name, USCF number, Section and telephone number.

Game Schedule: All OPEN and U1500 players must report no later than 9:30am, so we can start promptly Round One at 9:45am, Round 2 at 11:30am, Round 3 at 1:15pm and Round 4 at 3:00pm.

Scholastic Format and Schedule; USCF rated provided we have enough USCF registrations, Advance Entry fee is $10 or $15 Cash at the door. 4 Games, Game 30, Swiss. All Scholastic players must report by 11am, Games will start at 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm and 2:30pm. Trophies will be awarded to Top 5 players in K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12 sections of play. Souvenir Medals for all tournament players!

Come join us and the O'Leary - Soudant Family in this special chess event to honor their loved one. We want to wish every one a SAFE, HAPPY, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012! Thanks for all your continued help and support!

SAVE THE DATE 2012 - MAYORS CUP 2012 - BUFFALO's 6th Annual FIDE Chess Championships, featuring 2010 Mayors Cup Champion - International Master, Kenneth W. Regan, Ph.D on Saturday, June 2nd and June 3rd, 2012, NEW Venue - Old First Ward Community Center, 62 Republic Street, Buffalo, NY. This will be a two day, 5 Rounds, Swiss, Game 120, FIDE Rated Tournament. Check your USCF Chess Life Magazine TLA listing for more details.

Submitted by Mc Duffie, Chess Ambassador

Global Concepts Holiday Chess Tournament

Come on out and join us for the 2011 Holiday Chess Tournamment!

Date: Saturday, December 17th

Location: Global Concepts Charter School, 1001 Ridge Rd., Lackawanna, NY

Time: 9:45 - 3:00

Entry Fee: $5.00 non-refundable, bring a lunch, baskets of goodies will be raffled as well :)

4 sections: Unrated, U700, U1400 and U1600 Adults (This section will be G/45, will play 3 rounds and will have medals, not trophies)

Time Control: Unrated, U700 and U1400 will play 4SS rounds, G/30. 1/2 point byes are available for rounds 1, 2 or 3 only

If you'd like to register or have any questions, please contact tournament director, Mr. Cirillo at cirilloav@yahoo.com.

Advance registrations greatly appreciated!

Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you there!

Recovering from a loss

I like the following article. Important. Recovering from a loss

BUFFALO HOLIDAY CHESS TOURNAMENT 2011

Presented by Garnell W. Whitfield, Jr., Buffalo Fire Commissioner and The Archangel 8 Chess Academy. The Archangel 8 Chess Academy is an US Chess Federation affiliate which host USCF rated Chess Tournaments.

Saturday, December 17, 2011 at the Main Place Mall, Upper Level, 390 Main St, Buffalo, New York. There is FREE Parking under the Mall.

NEW FORMAT! There will be PIZZA and Refreshments for all paid Tournament players.

NEW FORMAT FOR CASH PRIZES! Cash prizes will be based on 25 total paid players. Sections may be combined if less players are registered. I hope this eliminates any confusions!

Two sections are OPEN and U1500. OPEN Cash Prizes; $175 and $125, U2000 $100 and $60. U1500 Cash Prizes; $100 and $60.

Game Schedule; Players must report by 9:30am, Games start at 9:45am, 11:30am, 1:15pm and 3pm. Please bring chess set, chess board and digital chess clock.

Advance discounted entries are greatly appreciated by Midnight on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 with full name, section of play, USCF number and telephone sent to arcangel8chess@yahoo.com. All other advance registrations which help us start promptly must be sent by midnight on Friday, December 16, 2011. Advanced Entries are $30 or $35 Cash at the door.

Buffalo Star Scholastics K-12 Section; 4 games, Swiss, Game 30, Awards to the Top 3 winners and Top Female. Scholastic players must report by 11am, Games start at 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm and 2:30pm. Advance discounted Entry fee is $10 or $15 Cash at the door.

Please mail and make checks payable to The Archangel 8 Chess Acadmey, 60F Guilford Lane, Buffalo, NY postmarked by Midnight, Wednesday, December 14, 2011.

Pictured above on the left is the 2011 1st Annual Olmsted Elementary Chess Championship winners held on December 10, 2011 and on the right are the 16 scholastic players from the Buffalo November Veterans Day Memorial honoring The Montford Point Marines.

Buffalo Fire Commissioner Garnell W. Whitfield, Jr and The Archangel 8 Chess Academy wishes the Buffalo Niagara Chess Community a Safe, Warm and Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012. If you have any comments or suggestions on how we can improve the chess environment, please reply to arcangel8chess@yahoo.com, all comments are read and taking under consideration.

27th USA Jr Chess Olympics

Owen Shriver of 12 Corners School in Rochester won all 5 games to win the grade 7-12 section of the USA Jr Chess Olympics held at Pioneer Middle School last Saturday. Shriver beat Ethan Yung in round 4 and Abe Glasser in round 5 ( both rated over 200 pts higher than Owen) to win the Trophy and gold medal. Yung finished 2nd and Glasser 3rd.

Shriver, Yung and Glasser (all from 12 corners school) also combined to win the team gold medal, edging out Pioneer central by one half point. Keshequa Central from Nunda,NY got the bronze.

In the k-6 section Jacob Chen, another Rochester player, dominated going 5-0 to win the gold. Andy He, who got up early and traveled for 2 hours from Horseheads,NY to play, won the silver. Andy, playing in his first tournament, lost his first game but then won 4 in a row. Sam Santora from Kenmore got the bronze in a tie-break over Anoop Sankara.

It was a 3 way for first in the team competition with the Home School from the Buffalo area winning on tiebreaks. French Road school and Mendon school, both from Rochester got the silver and bronze.

Nageeb Umar, Kamal Ali, both of Global Concepts charter school of Lackawanna, and Jeff Schalberg from Pioneer tied for 1st in the unrated section. After an exciting blitz playoff, Umar came away with the Gold, Ali the silver and Schalberg the bronze.

Mark Clark won the Adult section, going undefeated 4-0.

80 kids participated in the event this year, and a lot of interesting and excellent chess was played.

Thanks to Mark Mieth and all the chess moms who helped with the pizza and pop. Thanks also to Tony Cirillo and Sam Copeland for their assistance and to Barry Davis for analyzing. Also to Mike McDuffie for the pictures. Lets do this again next year!