OFW SCHOLASTIC CHESS REMINDER

Seats still remain for the Old First Ward Beginners Scholastic Holiday Chess Tournament, located at the Old First Ward Community Center, 62 Republic St, Buffalo, NY. FRIDAY, December 28, 2012!

Hosted by the Old First Ward Community Center, Willie Hutch Jones Educational Sports Clinics and The Archangel 8 Chess Academy. USCF rules enforced!

Players are asked to bring chess set, chess board and digital chess clock.

Entry fee is $5.00 Cash at the door, NO CHECKS!. All elgible scholastic K-9 players, USCF rating will be used for seeding only.

Online registration by midnight, December 27, 2012 with full name, grade, school and telephone with reply to arcangel8chess@yahoo.com.

All scholastic players are to report by 10am, Four games, Game 35;d5, Games will start at 10:30am, 11:30am, 12:30pm and 1:30pm.

Two section: K-5 and 6-9th grades.

Awards to the Top two winners in each section and Top Female.

Group photos and awards presented after the last game.

Submitted by Mc Duffie, USCF Tournament Director, Boy Scouts of America, Chess Merit Badge Counselor

2nd Annual "Blizzard Challenge"

SONWIL Distribution Center presents their…

2nd Annual Western New York K-12 Chess Teams

"Blizzard Challenge"

Come and prove your game against the best chess teams of Western NY on

January 12^th 2013 from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm

Where: at Global Concepts Charter School, 1001 Ridge Rd., Lackawanna NY 14218

Entrance Fee: FREE and LUNCH IS INCLUDED.

Sections and game time: K-5, K-8, K-12 (4SS rounds at G/35)

Blitz section open to all players, 4ss unrated (G/5).

Awards: Trophies for top 3 teams in each section and medals for the top 4 performers within the team; individual trophies for top 3 in each section, and all participants will receive certificates. In the Blitz section top 3 individuals receive trophies.

All players must have a current USCF membership to participate. Renewals and new memberships may be purchased at the registration table 30 minutes before first round. Minimum team size is 2 players but will be at a disadvantage. Top 4 scores will be counted for the team competition.

To register or for more information: Send your Name, your Team Name (May or may not be schools name), Birth Date, Grade Level, and USCF number to Mr. Cirillo at  cirilloav@yahoo.com If you want to register for the blitz section, please mention it in the e-mail.

CHRISTMAS COOKIES FOR SANTA 2012

With no Chess games to play, after helping Santa, went to church with my santa hat on and a lil 4 1/2 yr old girl, who I didnt know, came over and sat down next to me and said "Hi" whats your name?, Im Elf Michael, Santa's Helper! I asked her what did she want from Santa, she said she wanted Santa to know she asked for a "Dream Light" but someone has already given her a Dream Light, so Santa can take that off her list. I smiled and said as Santa's Elf, I would make sure that Santa would take it off his list for her. SANTA lives in our hearts and minds, you never know what a christmas hat and christmas spirit will bring out in all of us!

Merry Christmas to everyone, Happy Holidays and have a safe Happy New Year 2013!

Bought some spices for christmas cookies and sweetpotato pie from Penzeys Spices on Elmwood, being a "Pampered Santa Chef", great smells at the store, still in the christmas spirit came home, put on christmas music of the mighty Temptations, Babyface, Vandross, Silk, Barry White, and Gerald Levert, made some chocolate chip with walnuts "Christmas cookies. Family told me you cant make christmas cookies with chocolate chip dough, floured the cutters of Angel, Buffalo, Xmas Tree and Candy cane, thought I pass these photos on to all who might have the same idea.

Despite all the good advice, all the cookies have now disappeared, now I have to make another batch for Santa and the Elfs for the upcoming Elf party.

OLD FIRST WARD BEGINNERS SCHOLASTIC TOURNAMENT 2012

Hosted by the Old First Ward Community Center, The Willie Hutch Jones Educational Sports Clinics and The Archangel 8 Chess Academy.

This is a Beginners Scholastic K-9 Chess Tournament with two sections; K-5 and 6th - 9th grades!

Please join us on Friday, December 28th, 2012 at the Old First Ward Community Center, 62 Republic Street, Buffalo NY from 10am to 3pm. USCF rules are enforced, players are asked to bring a chess set, chess board and digital chess clock. Must know how to checkmate!

All players must report by 10am, first games will start at 10:30am. Players will play four games, game 35;d5, no elimination. Chess players are asked to bring a chess set, chess board and digital chess clock. Limited supply available upon request!

All scholastic players must register in advance with reply to arcangel8chess@yahoo.com with full name, uscf number, section, grade, school and telephone by midnight on thursday, December 27th, 2012. Entry fee is $5.00 CASH only at the door!

AWARDS: Group Photos and Trophies awarded immediately after the last game to the Top 2 winners and Top Female in each section!

Submitted by Mc Duffie, USCF Tournament Director and Boy Scouts of America, Chess Merit Badge Counselor

AUDUBON BEGINNERS SCHOLASTIC CHRISTMAS TOURNAMENT 2012

Hosted by The Archangel 8 Chess Academy and the Amherst Audubon Branch library, located on John James Parkway in Amherst NY.

FREE ENTRY! This is a Beginners Open Scholastic Chess Tournament for ALL SCHOLASTIC K-12 PLAYERS with advance email entry with full name, USCF number, grade, school and telephone to arcangel8chess@yahoo.com by midnight on Wednesday, December 26 2012.

All scholastic players are to report by 11am and join us on Thursday, December 27, 2012 from 11am to 5pm. First games start at 11:30am.

Three sections: K-3rd, 4th - 7th and 8th - 12th grades. Free entry with library card!

All scholastic players will play 4 to 5 chess games, no elimination, game 30;d5, all players are asked to bring a chess set, chess board and digital chess clock. No glass or miniature sets. Limited supply with advance notice! USCF Rules apply ie "Touch Move" and must know how to checkmate!

Awards - Group Photos and Trophies for the Top 2 winners in each section immediately after the last game!

Best Wishes and Merry Christmas! Mc Duffie, USCF Tournament Director and Boy Scouts of America, Chess Merit Badge Counselor

2012 SANDY HOOK MEMORIAL RESULTS

"HEARTS ARE BROKEN but our SPIRITS ARE STRONG"! The Holiday Classic was unamiously changed due to remember the 20 children and 7 educators who died in the tradegy Sandy Hook Elementary in Conn. Over 55 players, parents and spectators with thoughts and prayers, supported the USCF 2012 Sandy Hook Memorial Chess event. The only photo shown is of the Sandy Hook Memorial Scholastic K-12 Section to honor those angels at Sandy Hook Elementary.

USCF membership renewals - if you need to renew your membership, please contact arcangel8chess@yahoo.com and renew your membership with the Archangel 8 Chess Academy, the US Chess Federation is asking all its chess affiliates to do more to host more Rated events and help bring organized chess to more people and to achieve long sought goal of topping the 100,000 mark in USCF memberships. With your help and support, WNY can help do their part with your renewals. There are new plastic membership cards being issued a change instead of the paper cards.

The Sandy Hook Memorial Scholastic K-12 Section had 12 players from Olmsted Golden Knights of 64, Enterprise Charter Knights, Gloria J Parks Chess Club, Boy Scouts of America Troop 554, Stars of India Chess Club, George K Arthur Chess Club, Pioneer Middle School in Yorkshire NY and Erie, PA. As a Christmas wish, most of these players are not members of the US Chess Federation, if you would like to sponsor a child, please contact The Archangel 8 Chess Academy.

Trophies were awarded in two sections K-4 and 5-8th grades. The K-4 undefeated Champion was Ashton A. William, 2nd Place - Ethen Warner and 3rd Place - Joshua Rasmussen from Erie, PA.

The 5th - 8th grade section Champion and Top Boy Scout of America was Aaron Cooper, 2nd Place - James Shippens and 3rd Place - Donte Simmons.

The Urban Queens Section; Champion and Top Girl Scout - Lovejoy District was Jessica Dixon, 2nd Place - Ruby Z. Soudant.

"My 1st Trophy" Awards in memory of David "Pawnmaster Mc Duffie were awarded to Ayanna Shelton and DeJon Betts and chess necklace presented to Nia Worsham and Jayden Whitt.

Results of the Sandy Hook Angels U1500 Section hosted 21 players were Co Champions - James J. Paul, MD and visitor, Kenneth Crumpler from Kansas City MO, and 3rd Place - 5 way tie with Top Scholastic - Zachary Madden, Sandipan Kundu, Michael Skok, Jerome J. Green and Cory Mc Lean.

Highlights in the section was Bishop Timon and Pioneer Middle School Chess Teams joined the group in preparations for the upcoming 2013 New York State Scholastic Championships, Saratoga Springs NY and USCF Scholastic National Championships, Nashville TN. Visitors from Kansas City, Fredonia NY, Erie Pa, new USCF members Cory Mc Lean, James Brown from Fables Cafe Chess Club and Peter Killinger.

U1500 Angels - Upset Leaders were Cory Mc Lean(653) with 677 points, Peter Killinger(977) with 405 points, Zachary Madden(1257) with 292 points, Chris Dunsworth(1186) with 287 points and Kenneth Crumpler(1445) with 11 points.

Results in the Sandy Hook Open Section hosted 22 players were Co Champions and National Master Lionel L. Davis and National Master Samuel S. Copeland. 3rd Place tie with Tom Warner, NM Barry Davis, Daniel Allen and Top HS Scholastic - Erik W. Lubas.

Open Upset Leaders were Tim Keane(975) with 780 points, Lucas Seybold(1562) with 193 points, Thomas Warner(1794) with 145 points, Matthew G. Peck(1511) with 116 points and Samuel S. Copeland(2201) with 33 points.

Special thanks to the Refreshment volunteers were Mr and Mrs Lyon, Mrs Santora, photos by Jethro Soudant, the Girls Scouts of WNY, Diane Ruminski and Buffalo Common Council President Richard Fontana.

Please check out our Archangel 8 Chess Academy Facebook page and "LIKE" our page for all the photos taken during tournament play.

SAVE THE DATE for Saturday, January 19th - 2013 William J O'Leary - Soudant Memorial Classic and Saturday, January 26, 2013 - David "Pawnmaster" W. Mc Duffie Memorial both USCF rated tournaments to be held in the Main Place Mall in Buffalo NY.

Refer a Friend, Tell a Friend and Bring a Friend, help us grow the Buffalo - Niagara Falls Chess Community, comments and suggestions with reply to arcangel8chess@yahoo.com.

Reported by Mc Duffie, USCF Tournament Director and Boy Scouts of America, Chess Merit Badge Counselor

2012 VETERANS DAY MEMORIAL RESULTS

Over forty two total players and spectators came out to honor our fallen veterans and the serving armed forces servicemen and families. This year we honored The Montford Marines and Norwich University, the oldest private military academy in the United States.

Results of the Norwich University Scholastic K-12 Section are as follows; 7 scholastic players participated in four games with a chess clock.

Undefeated Champion - Ashton A. William, 2nd grader of the Stars of India Chess Club, Top Female Award and Top 4th grader - Ruby Z. Soudant, member of the Olmsted Golden Knights of 64 and Urban Queens Chess club, Top Boy Scout of America Award - Aaron Cooper, Troop 554, Top 7th - 9th grader - James Regdos.

Results in the Tuskegee Airmen U1500 Section where 16 players participated. Honors for Undefeated Champion and Top Collegiate Champion, an Unrated new member to the USCF - Tamal T. Biswas from the University of Buffalo Collegiate Chess Club, 2nd Place Tie - Glenn Conlin and Samuel E. Santora the 2012 Mayor's Cup K-12 Champion.

The Wendys Restaurant Upset Leaders; Wesley Darling with 263 points and Todd Thompson with 113 points both visitors from the Pioneer Middle School Chess Club and Top Scholastic Canadian was Vinay Sharma of Welland Ontario.

Results of the Montord Marines Open Section had 19 players participate, two were USCF National Masters. Undefeated Champion was National Master - Lionel L. Davis, 2nd Place Tie was National Master - Barry Davis, Erik W. Lubas, Daniel J Allen and Charles A. Lubas.

Top Collegiate Award - Charles A. Lubas, Pittsburgh, Pa, Top High School Award - Erik W. Lubas, Kenmore West, Wendy's Restaurant Upset Leaders were Matthew G. Peck with 427 points and Brian Sayers with 313 points.

Thanks for all your continued help and support.

Mc Duffie, USCF Tournament Director

Immortal Chess Endgame

Immortal Chess Endgame

White plays and wins.

Did you see this?

It is just incredible!

...and here is the  video if you had enough.

USCF DECEMBER HOLIDAY CLASSIC 2012

CONGRATULATIONS! Buffalo Common Council President Richard A. Fontana plays chess against Lovejoy district Girlscout Ayanna Shelton, 7th grader at School 89 from the Buffalo Urban Queens enrichment Youth Afterschool Chess program at the George K Arthur Community Center.

If you are looking for the ultimate chess challenge, or simply come and play for fun, then you are invited to join the US Chess Federation members in the Buffalo - Niagara Falls, New York Chess Community in an open, friendly and respectful chess environment, Free parking under the Mall, Boutique shops and Food Court open during tournament play.
This is a unique opportunity to come and compete, test your skill, knowledge and your will to win against some of the most respected and admired nationally ranked, top International Masters, National Masters and Scholastic New York State Champion chess players in the United States.

The USCF December Holiday Classic 2012 Chess Tournament will take place on Saturday, December 15, 2012 at the Main Place Mall, 390 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14201.

US Chess Federation membership is required and available with reply to arcangel8chess@yahoo.com.

PIZZA and Refreshment will be provided for all paid tournament players.

The format will be 4 games, Game 50 with 5 sec delay, USCF Open dual rated tournament with four sections of play. Sections are Open, U1500, Scholastic Stars will be 4 games, Game 30, K-3 and 5-9.

Open and U1500 CASH Prizes of $560.00 based on 18 players in each section. OPEN Cash prizes are $200, $100 and $50, U1500 Cash prizes are $120, $60 and $30. Scholastic Stars Section will award Trophies to the Top 3 players and Top Female in each section K-3 and 5-9 grades.

Online Advance entries are greatly appreciated by midnight on wednesday, December 12th to arcangel8chess@yahoo.com.

Early Bird Entries and discounts should be mailed and made payable to The Archangel 8 Chess Academy, 60F Guilford Lane, Buffalo, NY 14221, must be received by wednesday, December 12, with full name, USCF number, section and telephone to confirm your participation in the tournament.

Early Bird Entry Fees are OPEN and U1500 are $25 vs $35 CASH At the door. Scholastic Stars are $10 v $15 Cash at the door.

Game Schedule for OPEN and U1500, ALL players are to report by 9am, Games will start at 9:30am, 11:30am, 1:15pm and 3pm. Written algebraic notation with a digital chess clock is required. Byes are available in advance with request. Late arrivals will be given a one half point non playing BYE!

Scholastic Stars Game Schedule, all players must report by 10am, Games will start at 10:30am, 11:30am, 12:30pm and 1:30pm. Photos and awards immediately to follow. Players will play with a digital chess clock provided by the tournament and must be returned to the TD.

Submitted by Mc Duffie, US Chess Federation Tournament Director and BoyScouts of America, Chess Merit Badge Counselor and The Archangel 8 Chess Academy founder.

Pioneer wins K-12 at Olympics GCCS wins K-6

  Pioneer won the  K-12 and Global Concepts Charter school won the K-6 team titles at the 28th USA Jr Chess Olympics held at the Pioneer Middle School last Saturday. 73 of the best scholastic players in Western New York showed up and battled it out and some great chess was played.
 Pioneer junior Ryan Madden won the individual title in the K-12 section, beating expert Abe Glasser of Rochester in round 5 to go undefeated. Last year's winner Owen Shriver of  Brighton High was held to a draw by last year's K-6 winner Jacob Chen in round 5 and finished 2nd. Glasser got 3rd.
 Brighton High of Rochester finished 2nd to Pioneer, Global Concepts 3rd and Bishop Timon of Buffalo 4th.
 In the K-6 section Edwin Rosenberg, Wendell Lambert, Anoop Suncara, and Michael Dunaevsky all tied for 1st with Rosenberg from Brighton winning on tiebreaks. Sunkara is also from Brighton while Lambert goes to GCCS of Rochester and Dunaevsky goes to Pittsford. Tom Blum of GCCS of Lackawanna finished 5th.
  Brighton finished 2nd in the k-6 also, GCCS of Rochester 3rd and Pioneer 4th.
  In the unrated section Connor Paradis from Depew won with 4.5/5. Tied for 2nd was Helena and Cora Blackwell, Chris Ward, and Ethen Warner, all of Pioneer and Colby Hess from GCCS of Lackawanna.
Thanks to Michael McDuffie and Antonio Cirillo for assisting and Barry Davis for his expert analysis. Also to Bob Simpson for donating the medals.  Special thanks to the He and Peterson family for traveling 2 hrs ffrom Horseheads NY to play. Hope to see you again next year!