News
Steve Szpisjak, Angelo Young Top '17 IL Senior Open
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Created: 07 November 2017 07 November 2017
With a third-round head-to-head draw, Life Master Steven Szpisjak and International Master Angelo Young earned top honors at the 2017 Illinois Senior Open completed November 5 in Schaumburg.
Both Young and Szpisjak closed out the four-round event with victories, splitting $375 in prize money.
Larry Cohen and Tim Ailes finished tied for third place with 2.5/4's -- a full point behind the co-champions.
With 2.0's, Sam Henderson, Rick Jaconette and Daumants Hauzer tied for the best Under 1800 score in the Open Section.
Three IL Players Up 300 Points in October; 63 Up 100+
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Created: 02 November 2017 02 November 2017
Harris, Pompe and Buckner may sound like a law firm, but in reality this trio represents the three Illinois players with the highest ratings increases during the month of October, as published November 1.
Sam Harris increased his rating 363 points from October's published rating to November's. Niko Pompe and Alex Buckner were both up 346 during that timeframe.
Buckner also had the distinction of being one of the three Illinois players with 100+ rating increases who doubled their rating. Emily Hu and Temuujin Munkhtur also accomplished that distinction.
ICA to Offer Special Deals for Online Chess to ALL Players
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Created: 27 October 2017 27 October 2017
Last year, the Illinois Chess Association through its Warren Junior Scholars program -- and now the ICA Rising Stars -- offered those participants free membership to the Internet Chess Club (www.chessclub.com). Some Scholars and Stars used the accounts, some did not.
The internet offers many different opportunities for chess learning and play, some of which are indeed free. But ultimately, the tool itself is not the solution. It's how it's used.
This year, it is hoped that we provide more guidance as to how to take full advantage of the ICC and its expanding set of tools -- and once again, Scholars and Stars will receive their accounts as a benefit of program participation.
Illinois Full of Over the Board Opportunities for National Chess Day on Saturday, October 14
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Created: 13 October 2017 13 October 2017
Wherever you are in the great state of Illinois, there are opportunities to play tournament chess in Illinois on Saturday, October 14. The day has been declared National Chess Day.
In Springfield, David Long is organizing the Springfield National Chess Day Open on behalf of the Springfield Chess Club. The four-round Swiss-paired event will feature Game/60; delay-5 time controls with a $20 entry fee and $400 in prizes based on 30 entries. Details are here.
Kankakee Chess Club is running its second-ever Open with a small cash prize fund and a $5 entry fee if reserved by Friday, October 13.... otherwise, $15 cash onsite. The event will be held at the Kankakee Public Library in the 3rd floor meeting room. Details are here, on US Chess.
Shake Hands with National Tournament Director Tim Just
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Created: 06 October 2017 06 October 2017
Retired Lake County school teacher and US Chess National Tournament Director Tim Just hasn't let retirement slow him down.
Since then he's co-edited the Fifth Edition of the US Chess Rulebook, edited the Sixth Edition, co-authored with Wayne Clark "My Opponent is Eating A Doughnut" and authored "Just Law". "Doughnut" and "Just Law" deal with the idiocyncracies of tournament life and chess rules beyond the formal rulebook. Copies of both books are available through the ICA -- or through this thing called Amazon.
Now US Chess is providing another outlet to enjoy the wisdom and experience of Mr. Just through their posting of snippets of "Rulebook Tactics" -- an effort with the national organization when it was still known as the USCF. The September posting discusses the idiocyncracy of that time-honored ritual which begins and ends many chess contests: the handshake.