Free Coach and TD Listings Now Available

ICA frequently receives inquiries from chess players, parents and clubs looking for coaches, and from coaches looking for teaching opportunities. We also receive inquiries from persons interested in hosting tournaments who need an experienced tournament director. In a new effort to link members of these groups together, we will offer coaches and TDs a free opportunity to advertise in a new section of this website called “Coach and TD Listings.”

To be listed, coaches and tournament directors need to be members of ICA. Members at the Affiliate and higher levels automatically receive a listing if they want one. Basic memberships cost $15.

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Sam Schmakel: Expert Soon to Be Master?

Sam Schmakel has been playing quite a bit of chess recently. Back in October 2010 he was rated around 2000 after that he

  • Tied for 1st place at the US Game 60 Championship 3.5/4
  • 1st place at the 9th grade section of All Grades IL tournament 4/4
  • Tied for 1st place at the 1st North American Amateur Closed tournament 6/9
  • Scored 3/4 at the 2010 IL Class Championship
  • Tied for 1st place in the 9th grade section of the 2010 National K12 Championship 5.5/7
  • Tied for 1st place at the 1st North American Amateur open 4/5 which included a win over IM Florin Felecan
  • A strong 3/5 at the Denker Invitational which indluded wins over NM's Eric Rosen and Trevor Magness
  • 1st place at the Scott Silverman Memorial tournament 4/4 which included 2 wins over Masters

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2012 K-8 Chess Championship Scheduled for Rockford

The Illinois Chess Association is pleased to announce that the 2012 Illinois K-8 State Chess Championship will be held in Rockford, Illinois at the Clock Tower Resort on March 2-4, 2012, with State Blitz and Bughouse Championships on the evening of March 2.

The ICA Board of Directors unanimously approved the ICA Bid Committee's recommendation of the bid from BubbaCat Chess and organizers Tim Just and Glenn Panner. Just and Panner are both USCF National Tournament Directors and have organized a variety of scholastic and open chess tournaments.

Rockford Area Chess will be assisting the event with volunteer support. The Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the City of Rockford have both extended an enthusiastic welcome to the event.

2011 Illinois All Grade Chess Championship Scheduled for Peoria

The Illinois Chess Association is pleased to announce that the 2011 Illinois State All Grade Chess Championship will be held in Peoria, Illinois at the Pere Marquette Hotel on November 5, 2011.

The ICA Board of Directors unanimously approved the ICA Bid Committee's recommendation of the bid from the Greater Peoria Chess Federation. GPCF has organized and hosted a variety of scholastic and open chess tournaments over the years, including national events.

Magness, Bian, Holecek Win Illinois Youth Invitationals

Trevor MagnessAll three Illinois Youth Invitational Championships were held March 26 and 27 at the North Shore Chess Center. Trevor Magness joins Kayin Barclay and Yelena Gorlin as a two-time winner of the Illinois High School Invitational Championship title. As in 2009, Trevor will represent Illinois in the Denker Tournament of High School Champions. After losing to freshman Sam Schmakel in round 2, Trevor reeled off consecutive wins against Michael Auger, Jonathan Kogen, and NM Eric Rosen to take clear first with a 4-1 score.

I expect Tommy Ulrich to earn his master title soon. He was leading the tournament until losing to Rosen in round 4, and took second on tiebreaks with 3½-1½. NM Adarsh Jayakumar was essentially eliminated from contention after being held to half a point by Kogen and Rosen in the first two rounds, but won out to tie for second with Ulrich.

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