2013 INAUGURAL JUNETEENTH SCHOLASTIC CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS

Photos posted are to highlight "Father's Day" with Team Dubose, Team Davis, Team Kuzdzal, Team Lyon, and Pioneer Team with Coach Thomas A Warner. Group photos of the 12 - 18 Underground Railroad Section, and Under 11 year old Freedom Section.

The Results in the Under 11 yr. olds "Freedom Section" Co-Champions, and leading the way was Ethen Warner, 2nd grader(Pioneer Chess), Colton Kuzdzal, new comer from Fredonia NY, and Clayton Wallrich, new comer from Clarence NY. All were awarded First Place Trophies, MPYR Fashion - TOP FEMALE was Yahnia Brown - Mc Reynolds, Urban Queens Chess Club, Fourth Place - Garett Rumfola, (Pioneer Chess - Delevan NY) and Fifth Place - Nia Worsham, Enterprise Charter Knights Chess Club.

Results of the Underground Railroad Under 18 yr. old Section was Undefeated Champion - Kevin N. Roulhac, Urban Knights Chess, MPYR Fashion - TOP FEMALE AWARD to Dekayla S. Dubose, Urban Queens Chess Club, Second Place Tie - Joshua Benham, Bishop Timon and Benjamin Rummell, Niagara Falls Chess Club, Fourth Place - James W. Lyon, Hamburg NY, Fifth Place - Russell Wijesiriwardena, Niagara Falls NY and 2013 Mayor's Cup U1500 CHAMPION.

WENDY'S Restaurant Upset Leaders were Dakayla S. Dubose(894) defeated Benjamin Rummell(1496) for 602 points, Joshua Benham(1302) defeated Russell Wijesiriwardena(1566) for 489 points and Benjamin Rummell(1496) defeated Russell Wijesiriwardena(1566) for 70 points.

SPECIAL THANKS! Asssitant Tournament Directors - Attorney James P. Davis, Jerome Green and Thomas A. Warner. To all the mothers, fathers, grandparents and families that took part in this special scholastic chess event. Also to Diane Ruminski, David Blackburn, Ideas for Sale, MPYR Fashion, Buffalo Teachers Federation, Buffalo Public Schools, Mayor Byron W. Brown Special Events Department, Juneteenth Festival Committee, and The Mc Duffie Family for all their help, contributions and support to help make this a successful event.

Reported by Mc Duffie, USCF Tournament Director and Juneteenth Chess Festival Director

7TH ANNUAL BUFFALO INTERNATIONAL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS

The 7th Annual Buffalo International Chess Championships hosted by The Archangel 8 Chess Academy, celebrating over 13 years of Afterschool Enrichment Youth Chess programs held on Saturday, June 1 and 2nd, 2013 at the Old First Ward Community Center in Buffalo New York attracted fifty two chess players in three sections, from as far away as Syracuse NY, Ithaca NY, Binghamton NY, Pittsburgh PA, Grove City PA and Toronto Canada.

Sponsorships were greatly appreciated and without them, this event would not be possible! A new Chess Partner is Shatona Mathis of MPYR FASHION, our MPYR FASHION - Top Female Champion sponsor, other contributors were Old First Ward Community Center, Buffalo Public & Erie County Library, Buffalo Fire Commissioner, Garnell W. Whitfield, Jr., Trophies were donated by The Willie Hutch Jones Educational & Sports Clinics, Scanlon Jewelers of Williamsville, Simpson & Simpson, PLLC. and Cheryl, Fran and Horace Mc Duffie, Jr. Special Thanks for their In Kind Service were Diane Ruminski, David Blackwell of Ideas for Sale, Citizens Bank Jefferson Branch - Marcus Cherry, Dr. John N. Zilliox, Thomas A. Warner, Vic Bahl, Richard Hennessey, OFW Students - Alivia Walden and Brian Klein, Melissa Goff, Mrs. Rizun, Jen Santora and Historian Eva M. Doyle.

CHESS NORMS - A Norm in chess is a high level of performance in a chess tournament. Several Norms are on of the requirements to receive a title such as Grand Master, International Grand Master, FIDE Master or Candidate Master from the World Chess Federation (FIDE), established in 1950. In 2009, the US Chess Federation introduced its own title system, this system requires 5 Norms in order to achieve titles at seven different levels, rankings from "Life Senior Master" down to "Level 4 Category". There were 20 chess players who achieved category points towards a Norm for their strong performance at the 2013 Mayors Cup International Chess Championships. CONGRATULATIONS to those players in the Jeff White Memorial Section were Michael Huang N:Category 3, Russell Wijesiriwardena N:Category 4, Andrew Orr N:Category 4, Samuel E. Santora N:Category 4, Jerome J. Green N:Category 4, and Nathan Palmisano N:Category 4.

In the FIDE OPEN Section were International Master Kenneth W. Regan, Ph.D. N:Category C, Thomas H. Riccardi N:Category 1, Samuel Copeland N:Category C, Malcolm Mast N:Category 2, Danny Inzinga N:Category 2, Dr. John N. Zilliox N:Category 2, Chris Bieniek N:Category 3, Marijan Procyk N:Category 3, Erik W. Lubas N:Category 3, Thomas A. Warner N:Category 3, Jason Zhou N:Category 4, Gary A. Boye N:Category 3, Christopher Darling N:Category 3 and Brian W. Sayers N:Category 4.

The results of the 2013 David W. "Pawn Master" Mc Duffie Memorial Scholastic K-12 Section were as follows, a historic sixteen scholastic players competed. The winner of the Annual Fran and Horace Mc Duffie, Jr. Top Scholastic Award is Alexis J. Schlaak for her outstanding performance on becoming the first female chess player from Buffalo and WNY to earn a National Chess trophy at her first attendance at the 2013 All Girls National Chess Championships held in Chicago, IL.

The 2013 Buffalo International Scholastic Overall undefeated Champion - Benjamin Liao from Toronto Canada. The 2013 Mayor's Cup K-3 MPYR Fashion Top Female - Alexis J. Schlaak, 2013 Mayor's Cup defending K-3 Champion - Ashton A. William, 2nd Place - Jacob Wind, 3rd Place - Garett Rumfola, 4th Place - Ethen Warner both from Pioneer Chess Club, Coached by Thomas A. Warner, and 5th Place - Phineas Cox from Olmsted Golden Knights of 64.

Winners in the K-12 Section were 2013 Mayor's Cup - MPYR Fashion Top Female Award to Yahnia Brown- Reynolds, 2013 Mayor's Cup Champion - Alexander Rizun, 3rd Place - Andrew HE Huang(Ithaca NY), 4th Place - Scott Nowak(OFW Irish Buffalos)and 5th Place - Willie Brown - Reynolds(Urban Knights Chess). Olympic Style Chess Medals were awarded to Ethen H. Walden and Kai D. Patrone our first Pre K student earned his first "checkmate" from Interlaken NY.

The 2013 Mayor's Cup - Jeff White U1500 Memorial Section attracted a strong field and a new record of eighteen chess players. The 2013 Mayor's Cup Overall undefeated International 1500 Champion - Michael Huang of Toronto Canada. The 2013 Mayor's Cup Jeff White Memorial U1500 Champion - new comer, Russell K. Wijesiriwardena from Niagara Falls New York, 3rd Place Tie - Samuel E. Santora and Andrew S. Orr(Pittsburgh PA, 2012 Mayor's Cup Jeff White Memorial U1500 Champion, 2013 Mayor's Cup Top U1200 Champion - Nathan Palmisano, Pioneer Chess, 2nd Place Tie - Daniel F. Morgan(Pittsburg PA), Bradley M. Schrock, Pioneer Chess, and Maxwell Peters.

UPSET CHESS LEADERS by Wendy's Restaurant located at Maple and Bailey in Amherst. These individuals were awarded point for defeating or achieving a Draw against a higher rated opponent. CONGRATULATIONS! Nathan Palmisano with 714.5 pts, Maxwell Peters with 699.5 pts, Daniel F. Morgan with 541 pts, Bradley M. Schrock with 344 pts, Michael Huang with 205 pts, Christopher P. Roland with 130 pts, Reagan Lyle with 32 pts, Samuel E. Santora with 23 pts, Wesley Darling with 18 pts and Zachary Madden with 17 pts.

In the FIDE International OPEN Section attracted a strong field of 17 players. Defending his title, International Master Kenneth W. Regan, Ph.D is now our FIRST! Five time MAYORS CUP FIDE CHAMPION! Winning in 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2008! 2nd Place Tie - Samuel Copeland and Thomas H. Riccardi, Top U2000 Champion - Malcolm Mast, U2000 2nd Place - Dr. John N. Zilliox, Top U1800 Champion - Danny Inzinga, U1800 2nd Place - Chris Bieniek.

UPSET LEADERS by Wendy's Restaurant - Amherst NY were Danny Inzinga with 546.5 pts, Brian W. Sayers with 229 pts., Christopher Darling with 199 pts, Dr. John N. Zilliox with 169.5 pts., Chris Bieniek with 133.5 pts., James P. Davis, Esq. with 112 pts., Samuel Copeland with 103 pts., Gary A. Boye with 58 pts., and Malcolm Mast with 28.5 pts.

Pitured are the three sections of chess players who helped make this a great success, we welcome your comments, suggestions by email to Knightsof64@yahoo.com, We look to see you in 2014, for to another positive and successful 8TH ANNUAL BUFFALO INTERNATIONL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS. The crosstable is available at www.uschess.org.

Reported by Michael A. Mc Duffie, Chief Arbiter and USCF Tournament Director

2013 MAYOR'S CUP- 60 ADVANCE ENTRIES! RECORD NUMBERS!

WELCOME CHESS PLAYERS! Special Thanks to our sponsors for their kind, thoughtful, generous and continued support in the growth of chess in the Buffalo and WNY region. Please support the Old First Ward Community Center, Willie Hutch Jones Educational Sports Clinics, MPYR Fashion, Buffalo Fire Commissioner, Garnell W. Whitfield, Jr., Scanlon Jewelers of Williamsville and Simpson & Simpson, PLLC., Ideas for Sale and The Mc Duffie Family which is keeping the memory of David W. Mc Duffie, aka "Pawn Master".

The 7th Annual Buffalo International Chess Championships has achieved a record number of close to 60 advance entries. Players in the FIDE and U1500 sections must report by 9:30am, Games will start at 10am. Scholastic chess players are required to report by 11:30am. Please use the off street parking lot on Republic Street. Please lock your valuables and don't leave them visible in the vehicle.

Advance entries are coming from Toronto Canada, Binghamton, Clarence, Ithaca, Niagara Falls Rochester, Syracuse and Erie Pa. New chess players from Clarence. All USCF rated players must bring a chess set, chess board and digital chess clock. USCF Scholastic players should bring chess equipment but new comers are supplied with chess equipment.

All chess players are to report to the Senior Community Room, which will be the official Championship room, and the scholastic players will have access to the gym, where they can run around, play basketball between games, tables and chairs are available to reviewing your championship games.

NEW - addition is that we will be selling Bottle water & Coffee for $1.00. Soft drinks and snacks are available in the Old First Ward Vending machines which supports their afterschool programs. Please use the Recycle Bins which is also supports the Old First Ward.

Thanks again for all your continued help and support to help promote the Royal game of chess! Best of luck to all the participants!