WCC News 2017 ♔

The 2017 Rocco R. Pasquale Memorial tournament, honoring the memory of one of the founders of the Wachusett Chess Club in February 1960, will begin on Wednesday, Sept. 13, in Room C159 of the McKay Complex at Fitchburg State University.
Players must be present by 7 p.m. in order to be paired for Round 1. Players running late who wish to be paired MUST CALL by 7 p.m. The following are the ratings in effect for this tournament.

2017 John A. Grefe Memorial
Round 5 of 5

On-again-off-again Wachusett CC player Dave Martin of Boylston, Mass. captured first place in the Under 1700 section of the Metrowest Chess Club's "Hot Summer Days Swiss," held Tuesday nights, Aug. 1-29, at the Natick Community Center. Martin, competing in the 21-player U1700 division, scored 4.5-0.5, to take home first prize. A total of 77 players took part in the four-section tournament, which also saw the participation of Wachusett CC players Rob King of Framingham and Arthur "Dwight" Bramble of Worcester.
-George M

2017 John A. Grefe Memorial
Round 3 of 5

Edward D.W. Goguen, who was president of the Wachusett Chess Club more than 55 years ago, died Saturday, Aug. 19, in Endwell, NY, where he had resided since 1963. Goguen, who was vice president of the club when it officially adopted the name Wachusett Chess Club in February 1960, played a key role in the running of the club, which met at that time at the Lt. Laurence S. Ayer Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars headquarters, at 10 Pleasant St. in Fitchburg. Goguen was born in Fitchburg on May 3, 1926 and graduated from Fitchburg High School in 1944. While he and his wife, Rita V. Goguen (1925-2005), were living at 81 Myrtle Ave. in Fitchburg, Ed worked as a photographer for the General Electric Co. on Boulder Drive in the city. After moving to Endwell. Ed worked many years for IBM at its facility in Endicott, NY before he retired. Ed was very much involved in chess in upstate New York, running tournaments and coaching numerous chess teams. He played at the Binghamton Chess Club, among others. He was a life member of the U.S. Chess Federation (ID number 10129567). Ed visited his old stomping grounds, the Wachusett CC, on several occasions when he was in the Fitchburg area. His last visit to the club was on July 24, 2013, when he played the 5th and final round in the Harlow B. Daly Memorial, drawing Bob Mathieu of Ashburnham. An earlier visit by Ed took place on March 22, 2006, when round 4 of the Dr. Max Levinger Memorial was played and Ed stuck around as a spectator. The Wachusett CC mourns the loss of one of its founding members.
-George M

FIDE master Carissa Yip, Wachusett Chess Club champion in 2014, tied for first place in the 2017 U.S. Cadet Championship, held Aug. 17-21 at the Homewood Suites by Hilton at the Manchester Airport in Manchester, NH. The 13-year-old FM from Andover, MA scored 6-3 (five wins, two draws, two losses) in a 10-player round-robin field to share top honors with 15-year-old FM Ben Li of Michigan, who chalked up four wins, four draws, one loss. Yip and Li played to a draw in their individual encounter. Carissa's rating now stands at 2367, 16 points short of her all-time high of 2383, which she reached after competing in this year's 45th World Open in Philadelphia. Ben reached a new all-time high rating of 2426 as a result of his performance in this year's U.S. Cadet Championship.
-George M

Arthur Barlas and I played an instructive game last Wednesday in Fitchburg. Check it out!
Kildahl-Barlas August 2017
-Brett

[See this & all of Brett's other videos at Brett's YouTube Channel].

The 2017 US Cadet Championship is being held in Manchester, NH this year under the auspices of Relyea Chess. Carissa Yip, 2014 WCC Champ currently is tied for the lead with 3.5 after the first five rounds of the nine round National Level event.

Watch live here.

2017 John A. Grefe Memorial
Round 2 of 5

Joe Bennett, the 29-year-old Class A player and Wachusett Chess Club member from Hubbardston, Mass., was the sole prize winner among Wachusett CC players competing in the 47th Continental Open, Aug. 10-13, at the Host Hotel at Cedar Lake in Sturbridge, Mass. Bennett, competing in the Under 1900 section of the 7-section, record-breaking 352-player tournament, posted a score of 4.5-1.5 to tie for the 5th prize in the section. Had he won his final-round game, instead of drawing, Bennett would have tied for 1st-4th place and won a huge share of the combined top prizes in the section.

The Continental Chess Association-sponsored event was organized by the country's top chess organizer, Bill Goichberg, who has been running tournaments for more than a half-century. He was assisted by Bob Messenger, a national TD who was the chief director of the 2011 Wachusett CC Championship, and Harold Stenzel, an international arbiter who had a Wachusett CC tournament named after him in 2012: the Harold G. Stenzel 60-Year Tribute.
-George M

I had a rematch this week against Neto at the Worcester club. Neto - Kildahl August 2017
-Brett

[See this & all of Brett's other videos at Brett's YouTube Channel].

The 47th Continental Open rating reports were filed this weekend. Here are the results for WCC players:

Link to gallery of 47th Continental Open 2017: Tony Cortizas photos

Four Wachusett Chess Club players are among the participants in the 47th annual Continental Open, being played Aug. 10-13 at the Host Hotel at Cedar Lake in Sturbridge, Mass. Competing in this year's event are:
Kevork Haddad of Hollis, NH (U2100 section, 4-day schedule),
Joe Bennett of Hubbardston (U1900 section, 2-day),
Jim Donahue of Stow (U1700 section, 3-day), and
Steve Koroskenyi of Leominster (U1500 section, 4-day).
-George M

2017 John A. Grefe Memorial
Round 1 of 5

Hello All,
Here is a link to last week's last-round game of the Harlow B. Daly Memorial tournament. I played against Ken Gurge (1793) in a Semi-Slav opening. Hope you like it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_0rGgiCulY
Roger

See this & all of Roger Cappallo's other videos at Roger's YouTube Channel

The 2017 IM John A. Grefe Memorial tournament starts Wednesday, August 9, at the Wachusett Chess Club at Fitchburg State University. Those wishing to play round 1 on that date must be present by 7 p.m. in Room C159 of the McKay Complex, 67 Rindge Road, Fitchburg, in order to be paired. The following ratings for players will be in effect for this event:

Hey!
In the final round of the most recent Wachusett Chess Club tournament, I played against NM Rob King.
[Here is the video, board one, last round of five, top two highest rated players in the club, & some crazy opening shenanigans, What's not to like?] Kildahl - King August 2017
[Also see Brett's latest engame video:] Basic Endgames: QvP7
Thanks!
Brett
[See this & all of Brett's other videos at Brett's YouTube Channel].

2017 Harlow B. Daly Memorial
Round 5 of 5

Hey!
My eighth video [Basic Endgames: Two Pawns ] is up, and you can find it and the others on my YouTube channel, which is easy to get to by bringing up YouTube and typing Brett Kildahl into the search bar.
I won't be sending out anymore mass emails, so if you want to be aware of future videos, check my channel occasionally or watch for Paul's updates on the WCC website.
[Kildahl - Cappallo July 2017 Posted July 30, 2017]
Thanks!
Brett
See this & all of Brett's other videos at Brett's YouTube Channel.

2017 Harlow B. Daly Memorial
Round 4 of 5

Brett Kildahl has posted two more student videos, & one of his own games on YouTube
Student Game #2
Student Game #3
Kildahl vs. Neto

See this & all of Brett's other videos at Brett's YouTube Channel.

"The Chess Player," a one-man play written by Fitchburg State University theater professor Richard McElvain, will be performed Saturday, July 22, at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Fitchburg Public Library, 610 Main St., Fitchburg. Admission is free and open to the public. Access to the library's auditorium is through the Fitchburg Youth Library entrance on Newton Place, just off Main Street. Free parking is available behind the library and across the street. Professor McElvain will perform in this play, which was inspired by the 1941 classic novella of Austrian writer Stefan Zweig. Members of the Wachusett Chess Club at Fitchburg State University are expected to attend the performance.
-George M

Here's a game played recently at the Worcester club by Mike, one of my students. Enjoy!
Student Game #1
-Brett

See this & all of Brett's other videos at Brett's YouTube Channel.

2017 Harlow B. Daly Memorial
Round 3 of 5

My third video is up! It's the first in a series about basic endgames.
[It's at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnCAvxcTgBo]
(The cats are back!)
-Brett

See this & all of Brett's other videos at Brett's YouTube Channel.

2017 Harlow B. Daly Memorial
Round 2 of 5

♙ The Wachusett Chess Club welcomes back - after absences of various lengths:
Bruce Felton, Lenny Arsenault, Harry Richardson, Ed Rogers, Noah Rogers and Finneas Rogers.

♔ The club also welcomed back - after an absence of 57 years (!) - Frank Hacker of Fort Myers, FL,
who won the 1st official Wachusett Chess Club championship in 1960.
Frank visited the club and had his picture taken along with 7 other club champions.
The 8 are each listed with year(s) of their championships:
Rob King (2011), Bruce Felton (2004, 2005), Paul Godin (1967), Roger Cappallo (2016), Larry Gladding (1992, 1998, 2009), George Mirijanian (17 times between 1977 and 2015), Ray Paulson (2016, 2017), Frank Hacker (1960).

8 WCC Champs spanning 58 years, L to R:
♔ Rob King, Bruce Felton, Paul Godin, Roger Cappallo, Larry Gladding, George Mirijanian, Ray Paulson, & Frank Hacker ♔

Hi guys,
I made another video. It's much shorter this time, and the board sounds are softer, but for some reason the webcam footage came out darker.
Here's an attempt at a shorter video, check it out if you feel like it: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UxeYYXGWFwI
What do you think?
-Brett

2014 WCC, Champ Carissa Yip, & Mika Brattain 4-time winner of the MACA Spiegel Cup High School Championship will provide strong representation of their home state as they compete in this year's US Junior Championships

With a USCF rating of 2368, WFM Carissa is the top seed in the Girls' Section. Having recently logged a plus score of 5/9 at the 2017 World Open in the Open Section competing with dozens of titled players, she is expected to be in top form for this tournament.
Mika Brattain, with a USCF rating 2486, a recent #2 finish at the 2017 Columbus Open in Ohio 1/2 point behind GM Pavel Blatney, & a regular top competitor in New England tournaments is expected to have a steeper climb at the US Junior as the #8 seed. We wish them both the best.

The round robin tournaments will run from July 7 to July 18 & will be held at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center in St Louis.
You may view the games live online at: http://uschesschamps.com/2017-us-junior-championship/information/watch-live
Prizes include $20,600 cahs plus invitations to next year's US Championship & US Women's Championship.

2017 Harlow B. Daly Memorial
Round 1 of 5

Hello Everyone,
The link below is to my youtube video of my last round game against Ray Paulson. It was an exciting game, but ended in a draw, which allowed Ray to win the 2017 Club Championship with 6.5/7. I'd like to extend my hearty congratulations to Ray on his achievement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzPXD1aT9rc
Cheers,
Roger
See this & all of Roger Cappallo's other videos at Roger's YouTube Channel

The 2017 Harlow B. Daly Memorial tournament starts Wednesday, July 5, at the Wachusett Chess Club at Fitchburg State University. Those wishing to play round 1 on that date must be present by 7 p.m. in Room C159 of the McKay Complex, 67 Rindge Road, Fitchburg, in order to be paired. The following ratings for players will be in effect for this event:

Hi!
Roger's video about our game inspired me to make one of my own. Check it out if you're interested:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S4tRT6QipKE Cappallo - Kildahl 20170622
Thanks for checking out my first video! This is a game I played against Roger Cappallo during the 2017 Wachusett Chess Club Championship.

Hello All,
Linked below is my 6th round loss to Brett Kildahl in this year's championship. Brett played a Gruunfeld Defense, though I was able to steer it into somewhat unusual channels.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-76-nQqsdU My Week at the Club #35
Cheers,
Roger
See this & all of Roger Cappallo's other videos at Roger's YouTube Channel

2017 WCC 'A' Championship
Round 7 of 7

Paul "Chicken Player" Godin sweeps Summer Festival Swiss

Some players play for money prizes and other play for rating points, but Paul Godin proved once again that he's in the game "for the chicken," i.e. the barbecue chicken dinner top prize that was awarded at the non-rated, four-round quick Swiss on Sunday, June 25, at the Finnish Center at Saima Park in Fitchburg. The 1967 Wachusett CC champion swept the 10-player field with a perfect 4-0 score - a score he also posted last year when he won the event that is part of the Finnish Center's Summer Festival each year, known in Finnish as "Kesajuhla." Tying as runners-up with 3-1 scores were 2016 club co-champion Roger Cappallo and inactive club player Dave Thomas.
-George M

Event: 		Summer Festival (Kesajuhla) SWISS 2017
Location: 	Fitchburg, MA
Event Date: 	2017-06-25
Chief TD: 	George Mirijanian
Non-rated
Time Control: G/15 d5


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Pair | Player Name		Rating	| Round	| Round	| Round	| Round	| Total	|
 Num  | 				|  1	|  2	|  3	|  4	| 	|
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1  | Paul Godin		2002	|  W8   |  W2	|  W4	|  W5	|  4.0	| 🐔
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   2  | Roger Cappallo		1969	|  W7   |  L1	|  W6	|  W4	|  3.0	|
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   3  | Dave Thomas		1704	|  W10  |  L6	|  W9	|  W8	|  3.0	|
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   4  | Brett Kildahl		2177	|  W6   |  W5	|  L1	|  L2	|  2.0	|
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   5  | Joe Bennett		1832	|  W9   |  L4	|  W8	|  L1	|  2.0	|
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   6  | Dave Couture		1702	|  L4	|  W3	|  L2	|  W10	|  2.0	|
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   7  | Francis Scanlon		1101	|  L2	|  L8	|  W10	|  W9	|  2.0	|
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   8  | Gail Lingner		1500	|  L1   |  W7	|  L5	|  L3	|  1.0	|
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   9  | Rick Evans		1051	|  L5	|  W10	|  L3	|  L7	|  1.0	|
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  10  | Steven Bousquet		Unr	|  L3	|  L9	|  L7	|  L6	|  0.0	|
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Larry Eldridge, longtime chess player, teacher, coach and journalist, dead at 84

Larry Eldridge at 27th Mass Game/60 Championship, Sunday, April 23, 2017
Larry Eldridge, one of this country's most accomplished chess teachers, died on Sunday, June 18th, at his home in West Newton, Mass. He was 84. Eldridge, a longtime active player who competed in tournaments at the Metrowest Chess Club in Natick and the Boylston Chess Club in North Cambridge, among others, was noted as a skillful chess coach who mentored many winning teams for years at the Hurvitz Cup, the Massachusetts Scholastic Team Championships, sponsored by the Massachusetts Chess Association (MACA). He was also a chess journalist who wrote many chess stories for the Christian Science Monitor, of which he was once the sports editor. He played a key role in getting the late GM Arthur Bisguier to become a chess columnist for the Monitor. Eldridge was also very generous with his huge chess library, donating many books and magazines over the years to MACA to sell at its fundraising auctions.
The funeral for Larry Eldridge will be held 11 a.m. Friday, June 23rd, in the Newton Cemetery Chapel, 791 Walnut St., Newton Centre, MA 02459. Following burial, a lunch/repast will be held at 36 Wedgewood Road, West Newton. Family and chess friends are welcome to attend.
-George M

Finnish Center at Saima Park to Host Fun Chess Tournament

The Finnish Center at Saima Park, Scott Road in Fitchburg, off Ashby State Road (Route 31), will host on Sunday, June 25th, as part of its Summer Festival (Kesajuhla), a fun chess tournament in its function hall. The non-rated event will be a 4-round Swiss in one section. Time control is Game/15, with a 5-second delay (on digital clocks). The tournament honors the memory of two-time Wachusett Chess Club champion Evert Siiskonen (1963 and 1966), a Finnish-born Fitchburg resident who is memorialized with a stone chess table at Saima Park. Registration for the tournament is from 9:30 to 10 a.m., with Round 1 starting shortly thereafter. The tourney will end by 12:30 p.m.. There is no entry fee. Top prize will be a succulent chicken barbecue dinner, compliments of Lorna Sulin of the Finnish Center. Other prizes will be awarded to all participants. For a complete schedule of activities at the Summer Festival, visit www.saima-park.org
-George M

>2017 WCC 'A' Championship
Round 6 of 7

2017 WCC 'A' Championship
Standings Update

	Paulson	Kildahl	Godin	Cappallo	Brassard	Gurge	Venezia	Commisso
Paulson	X	1	1		1	1		1
Kildahl	0	X	1			1	1	1
Godin	0	0	X	0F	1	1	0F	0F
Cappallo			1F	X		1	0.5	1
Brassard	0		0		X	0	1	1
Gurge	0	0	0	0	1	X	1
Venezia		0	1F	0.5	0	0	X	1
Commisso	0	0	1F	0	0		0	X
STANDINGS	PCT.	RECORD		GB	GR
	1.000	5-0-0	Paulson	-	2
	0.875	3-0-1	Cappallo	1	3
	0.800	4-1-0	Kildahl	1	2
	0.417	2-3-1	Venezia		1
	0.400	2-3-0	Brassard		2
	0.333	2-4-0	Gurge		1
	0.286	2-5-0	Godin		0
	0.167	1-5-0	Commisso		1

GB = Games Behind, GR = Games Remaining

2017 WCC 'A' Championship
Standings Update

	Paulson	Kildahl	Godin	Cappallo	Brassard	Gurge	Venezia	Commisso
Paulson	X	1	1		1	1		1
Kildahl	0	X	1			1	1	1
Godin	0	0	X		1	1
Cappallo				X		1	0.5	1
Brassard	0		0		X	0	1	1
Gurge	0	0	0	0	1	X	1
Venezia		0		0.5	0	0	X	1
Commisso	0	0		0	0		0	X
STANDINGS	PCT.	RECORD		GB	GR
	1.000	5-0-0	Paulson	-	2
	0.833	2-0-1	Cappallo	1.5	4
	0.800	4-1-0	Kildahl	1	2
	0.500	2-2-0	Godin	2.5	3
	0.400	2-3-0	Brassard	3	2
	0.333	2-4-0	Gurge	3.5	1
	0.300	1-3-1	Venezia	3.5	2
	0.000	0-5-0	Commisso	5	2

GB = Games Behind, GR = Games Remaining

2017 WCC 'A' Championship
Standings Update

2017 WCC 'A' Championship
Standings Update

	Paulson	Kildahl	Godin	Cappallo	Brassard	Gurge	Venezia	Commisso
Paulson	X	1	1		1	1		1
Kildahl	0	X	1			1	1	1
Godin	0	0	X		1	1
Cappallo				X			0.5	1
Brassard	0		0		X	0	1	1
Gurge	0	0	0		1	X	1
Venezia		0		0.5	0	0	X	1
Commisso	0	0		0	0		0	X
STANDINGS	PCT.	RECORD		GB	GR
	1.000	5-0-0	Paulson	-	2
	0.800	4-1-0	Kildahl	1	2
	0.750	1-0-1	Cappallo	1.5	5
	0.500	2-2-0	Godin	2.5	3
	0.400	2-3-0	Brassard	3	2
	0.400	2-3-0	Gurge	3	2
	0.300	1-3-1	Venezia	3.5	2
	0.000	0-5-0	Commisso	5	2

GB = Games Behind, GR = Games Remaining

2017 WCC 'A' Championship
Round 5 of 7

	Paulson	Kildahl	Godin	Cappallo	Brassard	Gurge	Venezia	Commisso
Paulson	X	1	1		1	1		1
Kildahl	0	X	1			1	1	1
Godin	0	0	X		1	1
Cappallo				X			0.5	1
Brassard	0		0		X		1	1
Gurge	0	0	0			X	1
Venezia		0		0.5	0	0	X	1
Commisso	0	0		0	0		0	X
STANDINGS				GB	GR
	1.000	5-0-0	Paulson	-	2
	0.800	4-1-0	Kildahl	1	2
	0.750	1-0-1	Cappallo	1.5	5
	0.500	2-2-0	Brassard	2.5	3
	0.500	2-2-0	Godin	2.5	3
	0.300	1-3-1	Venezia	3.5	2
	0.250	1-3-0	Gurge	3.5	3
	0.000	0-5-0	Commisso	5	2

GB = Games Behind, GR = Games Remaining

Four very active members of the Wachusett Chess Club and five inactive members of the Wachusett CC were among the participants in the tournament, "In Memory of IM Dr. Danny Kopec," held Saturday, June 10th, at Congregation Ahavas Achim in Keene, NH. The WCC contingent represented 20 percent of the total field of 43 players in three sections. Class A-rated players Vince Bradley III and Dave Kochman, inactive club members, competed in the Master-Expert section, which was won by GM Alexander Ivanov of Newton, MA with a score of 3.5-0.5. Semi-active club member Joe Bennett of Hubbardston also tallied 3.5-0.5 to tie for 1st-2nd place in the Under 1900 section. Also playing in that section were active club members Gary Brassard of Leominster, Dave Couture of Westminster, Mike Commisso of Brookline, NH, and Jim Hankard of Antrim, NH, as well as inactive club members Eric Strickland of Brattleboro, VT and Francois Gauthier of Francistown, NH. The tournament, directed by Hal Terrie of Manchester, NH, honored the memory of IM Danny Kopec. who died on June 12, 2016 at age 62. Kopec had played in the 1970s and '80s in the Central New Open tournaments held in Fitchburg and Leominster.
-George M

Two former Wachusett CC champions finished high in the standings in the Waltham June G/15 tournament held Friday night, June 9th, at the Waltham Chess Club. Rob King of Framingham, club champion in 2011, scored 4-1 to take clear second place, while Carissa Yip of Andover, club champion in 2014, tallied 3-2 to finish in a seven-way tie for 3rd place. The winner of the tournament with a perfect 5-0 result was IM Denys Shmelov of Newton, formerly of Pepperell. King lost to Shmelov in round 3, while Yip suffered losses to Shmelov and King in rounds 4 and 5, respectively. The quick-rated event drew 19 players.
-George M

Hi all,
George has won an award! The US Chess Forum announcement is pasted below.
-Mike C
The Executive Board names the following 2017 award winners. The awards ceremony will be held Saturday, August 5 at the US Open in Norfolk, VA.
Distinguished Service Award - Ruth Haring (N-CA), Mike Atkins (MD)
Outstandng Career Achievement Award:
Murrel Rhodes (IL), GM Larry Kaufman (MD), John Roush (WV), R. Mark Johnson (VA),
FM Macon Shibut (VA), Ernest W. Schlich (VA)
Special Services Award - Maureen Grimaud (SC), Tom Dart (IL)
Meritorious Services Award:
Jean Troendle (LA), Andy Rea (VA), Anand Dommalapati (VA), Ed Westing (WA), Ralph Mikell (DC)
Committee of the Year - Ethics Committee
Chess City of the Year - Franklin County, MS
Koltanowski Awards:
Gold - US Chess Trust
Silver - Two Sigma
Scholastic Service Award:
Individual - David MacEnulty (NY)
Organizer of the Year - Judit Sztaray (N-CA)
Frank J. Marshall Award - IM Walter Shipman (N-CA and NY) posthumously and IM Danny Kopec (NY) Posthumously
Grandmaster of the Year - GM Wesley So (MN)
Honorary Chess Mate - Helen and Allen Hinshaw (VA)
Chess Club of the Year - Hampton Roads Scholastic Chess Club (VA)
Chess College of the Year - St. Louis University (MO)
Tournament Director of the Year - NTD Korey J. Kormick (TN))
Tournament Director Lifetime Achievement Award - NTD George M. Mirijanian (MA) and NTD Ernest W. Schlich (VA)
Outstanding Player Achievement Award - IM Jay Bonin (NY)
Outstanding Team Performance Award:
2016 gold medal winning US Olympiad team
Woman Chessplayer of the Year Award - Nazi Paikidze (NV)
Special Friend of US Chess - Sen. John Davison "Jay" Rockefeller IV

2017 WCC 'A' Championship
Round 4 of 7

	Paulson	Kildahl	Godin	Cappallo	Brassard	Gurge	Venezia	Commisso
Paulson	X	1	1			1		1
Kildahl	0	X	1				1	1
Godin	0	0	X		1	1
Cappallo				X			0.5	1
Brassard			0		X		1	1
Gurge	0		0			X	1
Venezia		0		0.5	0	0	X
Commisso	0	0		0	0			X
STANDINGS				GB	GR
	1.000	4-0-0	Paulson	-	3
	0.750	3-1-0	Kildahl	1	3
	0.750	1-0-1	Cappallo	1.5	5
	0.667	2-1-0	Brassard	1.5	4
	0.500	2-2-0	Godin	2	3
	0.333	1-2-0	Gurge	2.5	4
	0.125	0-3-1	Venezia	3.5	3
	0.000	0-4-0	Commisso	4	3

GB = Games Behind, GR = Games Remaining

Rob King, champion of the Wachusett Chess Club in 2011, is now 2017 co-champion of the Metrowest Chess Club in Natick. The 33-year-old player from Framingham shared top honors with master Sherif Khater in this year's MCC championship by drawing him in the 5th and final round of the event on Tuesday night, May 30th. Both scored 3.5-1.5. Among those whom King defeated in the six-player round robin was master Lawyer Times, who the day before (May 29th) had defeated GM Alexander Ivanov in the final round of the 86th Massachusetts Open in Marlborough, winning the event and becoming the new state champion.
-George M

2017 WCC 'A' Championship
Round 3 of 7

Joe Bennett, a once-active member of the Wachusett Chess Club (whose last appearance at the club was at the Rocco Pasquale Memorial in October 2016), captured first place in the Under 1800 section of the 86th Massachusetts Open, held May 27-29 at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel in Marlborough. The Hubbardston player scored 5.5.-0.5 in a 46-player field, the largest section in the four-section, three-day main event, and gained more than 100 rating points, bringing his current rating to 1804.
-George M

Bob Messenger, chief tournament director of the 2011 Wachusett Chess Club Championship, has been awarded the National Tournament Director title by the U.S. Chess Federation. The Nashua, NH resident, who is viewed by many players as New England's premier TD, received the award recently from the USCF for his more than 25 years of directing tournaments throughout the country and primarily on the East Coast. Since directing his first tournament, the Fall Foliage Festival, for the Massachusetts Chess Association on Nov. 3, 1991 in Andover, Mass., Messenger has been chief TD of 460 tournaments and has directed 2,648 sections and worked at 79 other events - for a total of 2,799 sections. Messenger's directing of the 2011 Wachusett CC Championship involved overseeing a 10-player round-robin "A" Division and a 20-player, 9-round Swiss "B" Division.
-George M

Hi all,
Link to gallery of 86th Mass Open, Saturday photos: https://goo.gl/photos/XDACnPg666YEWERJ9
Something to look at Sunday night instead of preparing for Monday's games. Good luck.
-Tony Cortizas Jr.

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The 86th Mass Open & the Billerica CC May Swiss rating reports were filed this weekend. So, these are the rating updates for May 30, 2017: