News
Chess Without Borders Honored By Points of Light
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Created: 14 April 2016 14 April 2016
Barrington-based Chess Without Borders (CWB) has been honored by the Points of Light (POL) organization. The "service-minded" chess-education philanthropy was honored as the POL Daily recipient of April 13.
The Points of Light has recognized more than 5,000 organizations since the famous George Bush (Sr.) pronouncement of a societal need for volunteerism. The awards were initiated in November of 1989 with some the recognized volunteer initiatives dating back to 1900. CWB is recipient number 5717.
POL's posted profile recognizes the rich history borne out of Rishi Sethi's efforts at starting a chess club at an elementary school when he was nine-years old. Rishi is now a successful data analyst in New York City.
Illinois Team Got Mate? Wins 2016 National USAT Playoff
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Created: 10 April 2016 10 April 2016
The Illinois foursome of Daniel Bronfeyn, Jacob Furfine, Vincent Do and Todd Freitag has won the US Amateur Team Playoff conducted April 9.
The Got Mate? squad had won the USAT North competition and won both playoff rounds to claim the championship.
Updated: Karagianis Publishes Cover Article in Chess Life
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Created: 27 March 2016 27 March 2016
Bloomington-Normal Area chess coach and US Chess-master level player Pete Karagianis has published the lead article in month's (March 2016) Chess Life. The article is entitled, "The Struggle" -- well understood by anyone playing chess over the long haul.
"I have coached chess for nearly ten years and there is simply no way around it, to improve, you must play tournaments," says the well-respected coach who received a top Illinois coaching award at the 2014 K-8's.
Pete suggests he's given the same speech to thousands of students: "Chess is two parts: knowledge and playing tendencies. It is impossible to improve one without the other, and playing habits canonly truly be worked on within the confines and pressures of a tournament.
George Li Perfect at 2016 Mid-America Blitz
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Created: 20 March 2016 20 March 2016
With over two dozen competitors in the field, IMSA sophomore George Li blitzed through all eight games to win the 2016 Mid-America Blitz Championship. The side event was held after the third round of the Mid-America Open.
George took home $135 for his efforts. His brother, Roger, and Ishaar Ganesaan also brought home prize money from the Blitz.
FM David Peng is Illinois' top scorer so far in the Open section of the main event with 2.5/3. David's lone blemish was a second round draw against U of I's Aakaash Meduri.
The field includes six Grandmasters, only two of whom have perfect 3.0/3 scores. 56 are battling it out in the Open section with over 250 registered in all seven sections.
Got Mate Wins '16 USAT North on Tiebreaks; Schmakel 5.0/5
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Created: 23 February 2016 23 February 2016
Despite a fifth-round draw with the Goldin Shower squad, Got Mate pulled out the championship of the US Amateur Team event, edging (on tiebreaks) Sam's Scrubs which had an identical 4.5 score. The Got Mate squad included Jacob Furfine on 1st Board, Todd Freitag on 2nd, Vincent Do on 3rd and Daniel Bronfeyn on 4th.
The five-round event was held February 19 - 21 at the Hyatt Schaumburg, organized by Chess Weekend's Glenn Panner and the late Sevan Muradian. Mr. Muradian's untimely death February 17 was the chief topic of conversation between rounds and attendees recorded their thoughts on a pair of memory boards which were later presented to family.
There were six players with perfect 5-for-5 scores on the weekend; Sam Schmakel had the only one on board one; five players had perfect scores on board four.