The Wachusett Chess Club meets every Wednesday from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM Classroom C159 McKay Campus School Fitchburg State University, 67 Rindge Road, Fitchburg MA 01420
Membership Dues Only $20 per Year (Individual or Family),
Fitchburg State University students, faculty & staff FREE!
All ages & skill levels welcome: USCF rated games, casual games from 6:00 to 7:00 & all night in the skittles room.
♚ "Like Dvoretsky, I think that (all other things being equal), the analytical method of studying chess must give you a colossal advantage over the chess pragmatist, and that there can be no certainty in chess without analysis. I personally acquired these views from my sessions with Mikhail Botvinnik, and they laid the foundations of my chess-playing life." -Garry Kasparov ♚
Carissa Yip, champion of the Wachusett CC in 2014 and the Boylston CC in 2016, scored 7-2 (6 wins, 2 draws, one loss) to capture first place in the 2018 U.S. Girls Junior Championship that ended on Saturday, July 21, at the Saint Louis Chess Club. The 14-year-old Woman International Master from Andover, Mass. finished a full point ahead of her closest rivals, 16-year-old Woman Grandmaster (WGM) Jennifer Yu of Ashburn, Virginia, with whom she drew in the final round, and 15-year-old WIM Emily Nguyen of Austin, Texas, with whom she drew in an earlier round. Yu and Nguyen tied for 2nd-3rd place. Carissa had a performance rating of 2481 and raised her USCF rating to 2394.
-George M
Carissa Yip, champion of the Wachusett Chess Club in 2014, currently leads the field by a full point after 8 rounds in the 2018 US Junior Girls' Championship.
For the 9th & final round Carissa (2364) with 6.5/8 is paired with her closest rival, WGM Jannifer Yu (2358), who stands at 5.5/8. A win or draw with the white pieces will assure Carissa clear first place & the full $3000 prize, while the worst she can do from here is to split the top 2 prizes & end up with the $2500 shared 1st-2nd prize.
Congratulations on a fine performance regardless of the outcome of the round nine game!
Total of 16 boards,
2 major upsets (♔ ♕)
1 upset draw (♖)
♝ Receiving half-point byes were Ralph McNeilage, Mariano Rivera, George Mirijanian, Tom Fratturelli, Bob
Mathieu, and Randy McLaughlin.
♖ Not playing round 2 was Hugh McLaughlin.
♙ Withdrawing from the tournament were Joe Bennett and Kyle Cullen.
(Bennett), Bastarache, H. McLaughlin, Gawboy, Scanlon, Ra. Pulya, Petullo, Elmour
Projected Round 3 Pairings for July 25th:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board 1: Cesolini vs. Booker
Board 2: Cappallo vs. Ri. Pulya
Board 3: Pennington vs. Paulson
Board 4: Godin vs. Rivera
Board 5: Strickland vs. Commisso
Board 6: McNeilage vs. Couture
Board 7: David vs. Mirijanian
Board 8: Fratturelli vs. Brassard
Board 9: Gladding vs. Wheeler
Board 10: Thomas vs. Ostrowski
Board 11: Gurge vs. Biglow
Board 12: Soto vs. Harris
Board 13: Mathieu vs. Hankard
Board 14: Meehan vs. Legros
Board 15: Briggs vs. R. McLaughlin
Board 16: Bastarache vs. O'Rourke
Board 17: H. McLaughlin vs. Ra. Pulya
Board 18: Gawboy vs. Petullo
Board 19: Elmour vs. Scanlon
♗ Requesting a half-point bye for Round 3 is Stephen Murray.
♙ The Wachusett Chess Club welcomes new players John Pennington of Keene, NH and Stephen Murray of Ayer.
It also welcomes back former club member Eric Strickland of Brattleboro, VT.
REMINDER: Players must be present in Room C159 by by 7:10 P.M. in order to be paired for Round 3 on July 25th.
Players running late who wish to be paired MUST CALL 978-881-8728 by 7 P.M.
Carissa Yip was among the new American title holders approved by the World Chess Federation (FIDE) at its Presidential Board Meeting recently in Bucharest, Romania. The 14-year-old from Andover, Mass., who was champion of the Wachusett Chess Club in 2014, was approved as a Woman International Master (WIM) [The other USA applicant receiving this title was Maggie Feng]. She already held the titles of Woman FIDE Master (WFM) and FIDE Master (FM). Carissa is currently the highest-rated 14-year-old girl in the world and is ranked 9th in the world with a FIDE rating of 2364 for all girls under the age of 21. She is currently playing in the U.S. Girls Junior Championship in Saint Louis, [where she is currently tied for the lead with 2.5/3 with WIM Emily Nguyen].
-George M
Total of 14 boards,
2 major upsets (♔ ♕)
1 upset draw (♖)
♝ Receiving half-point byes were Ray Paulson, George Mirijanian, Mike Meehan, Tom Fratturelli, Bob Mathieu,
Larry O'Rourke and Larry Legros.
♖ Not playing round 1 were Kyle Cullen and Raaga Pulya.
Projected Round 2 Pairings for July 18th:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board 1: Harris vs. Cesolini
Board 2: Cappallo vs. Commisso
Board 3: Rivera vs. Godin
Board 4: Booker vs. Gladding
Board 5: Ri. Pulya vs. Thomas
Board 6: Soto vs. Gurge
Board 7: Paulson vs. Fratturelli
Board 8: Mirijanian vs. Briggs
Board 9: Couture vs. Mathieu
Board 10: O'Rourke vs. Meehan
Board 11: Brassard vs. Legros
Board 12: Bennett vs. Bastarache
Board 13: Hankard vs. Gawboy
Board 14: Scanlon vs. David
Board 15: Wheeler vs. Cullen
Board 16: Ostrowski vs. Ra. Pulya
Board 17: Biglow vs. Elmour
♗ Requesting half-point byes for Round 2 are McNeilage and R. McLaughlin.
♙ The Wachusett Chess Club welcomes newcomer James Elmour of Swanzey, NH. & the club welcomes back 2010 club champion Tony Cesolini of Winchendon.
REMINDER: Players must be present in Room C159 by by 7:10 P.M. in order to be paired for Round 2 on July 18th.
Players running late who wish to be paired MUST CALL 978-881-8728 by 7 P.M.
Round 1 of the Harlow B. Daly Memorial will be played Wednesday evening, July 11th, in Room C159 of the McKay Complex at Fitchburg State University.
Players who wish to participate must be present by 7 p.m. in Room C159 of the McKay Campus in order to paired for Round 1. Players running late who wish to be paired for Round 1 must call 978-881-8728 by 7 p.m.
Those arriving at the club by 6:40 p.m. will be able to view the start of the most recent Chess Chat video, "Wachusett Chess Club mourns passing of longtime member Wayne Steadman", complete with a photo slide show.
♔ ♛ ♖ ♝ ♘ ♞ ♗ ♜ ♕ ♚
Ratings in effect for the
2018 Harlow B. Daly Memorial tournament:
Carissa Yip, champion of the Wachusett Chess Club in 2014, scored 5-1 to tie for 1st place in the World Open Women's Championship that ended July 3 at the Philadelphia Marriott Hotel in downtown Philadelphia. The 14-year-old FIDE master from Andover, Mass. shared top honors with 23-year-old California expert Badamkhand Norovsambuu, a native of Mongolia, whom she drew in round 4. Going into the sixth and final round, Carissa was leading the tournament with 4.5 points but elected to take a half-point bye in the final round, allowing Norovsambuu, who won, to tie her. The championship had 19 players.
-George M
Wachusett CC's Paul Godin wins Billerica Midsummer Blitz
Paul Godin scored 12.5-2.5 to finish first in the Billerica Midsummer Blitz (Game 5, no delay), held Friday, June 29, at the Billerica Chess Club in the Billerica Council on Aging Building, aka Billerica Senior Center. The 1967 Wachusett CC champion ended up 1.5 points ahead of his closest rivals in a 16-player single round robin that saw Ray Paulson, the 2017 Wachusett CC champion, lose to Godin in Round 12 and tie for 9th-10th place with a score of 7.5-7.5. Godin's tournament victory gained him 44 blitz rating points and boosted his USCF blitz rating to 1990.
-George M
July 2nd, 2018
Wachusett CC's Roland Booker wins prize in Legends of Chess event at Boylston CC
Wachusett Chess Club's Roland Booker was among the prize winners in the Legends of Chess: Leonid Shamkovich tournament, held Saturday, June 30, at the Boylston Chess Club in North Cambridge. Booker scored 3-1 to tie for first place in the Under 2000 section with Ruohan Yin, Andrew The and Joshua Weiss.
The event honored the memory of Russian-born GM Leonid Shamkovich (1923-2005), who appeared in Leominster in 1976 when he played in the 16th Central New England Open held on June 19-20 at the Holiday Inn. In that event, he tied for 1st place with New England legend John Curdo and 16-year-old Girome Bono. Following that tournament, Shamkovich traveled in August to George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, where he tied for 1st place in the U.S. Open with fellow GM Anatoly Lein (1931-2018). Shamkovich repeated as U.S. Open co-champion at Columbus,Ohio in August 1977, when he shared top honors with GM Andy Soltis and IM Tim Taylor, the latter of whom played in the 11th Central New England Open in 1971 and was defeated by George Mirijanian in the final round. But that was when Taylor was an expert. Shamkovich came back to Leomiinster in November 1977 and played in the Central New England Fall Open. And that was his last appearance in North Central Massachusetts.
-George M
REMINDER: Players must be present in Room C159 by by 7:10 P.M. in order to be paired for Round 1 on July 11th.
There will be NO MEETING of the WCC on July 4th. Happy Independence Day!!!
Players running late who wish to be paired MUST CALL 978-881-8728 by 7 P.M.
♖ Not playing round 7 were Ray Paulson, Mike Meehan, Mariano Rivera, Jim Donahue, Ritvik Pulya, Bob Mathieu,
Larry Gladding (filler), Gary Brasard (filler), Kyle Cullen, Raaga Pulya, Bill Burke, Melissa Long, James Petullo,
Teagan Long, and Charlotte Long.
REMINDER: The next tournament at the club is the Harlow B. Daly Memorial, which starts Wednesday, July 11th.
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.
WCC Championship "A" Section standings after postponed game
Current 2018 Championship Standings
W
L
D
TOTAL
PCT.
GARY
BRASSARD
4
1
1
4.5
0.750
ROGER
CAPPALLO
4
1
1
4.5
0.750
GEORGE
MIRIJANIAN
4
1
1
4.5
0.750
PAUL GODIN
2
2
2
3.0
0.500
KEN GURGE
1
2
3
2.5
0.417
DAVE
COUTURE
2
4
0
2.0
0.333
LARRY
GLADDING
2
4
0
2.0
0.333
ARTHUR
BARLAS
1
5
0
1.0
0.167
RC
GM
PG
LG
DC
GB
AB
KG
TOTAL
PCT.
ROGER
CAPPALLO
1
1
0
1
1
0.5
4.5
0.750
GEORGE
MIRIJANIAN
0.5
1
1
0
1
1
4.5
0.750
PAUL GODIN
0
0.5
1
1
0
0.5
3
0.500
LARRY
GLADDING
0
0
0
0
1
1
2
0.333
DAVE
COUTURE
1
0
0
0
1
0
2
0.333
GARY
BRASSARD
0
1
1
1
1
0.5
4.5
0.750
ARTHUR
BARLAS
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0.167
KEN GURGE
0.5
0
0.5
0
1
0.5
2.5
0.417
June 25th, 2018
Rob "The Rooster" King wins "Chicken Prize" at Kesajuhla
National master Rob King of Framingham showed how he "ruled the roost" by sweeping the non-rated quick Swiss tournament at the 2018 Summer Festival, known as "Kesajuhla," at the Finnish Center at Saima Park in Fitchburg on June 24th. The 2011 Wachusett CC champion posted 4-0 to finish first in a field of 16 players in an event played with a time control of G/15 d3. King's prize was a succulent chicken barbecue dinner, compliments of Dana and Lorna Sulin of the Finnish Center at Saima Park. Tying as runners-up with 3-1 tallies were last year's winner, 1967 club champion Paul Godin of Bedford, and two-time club champion Bruce Felton of Fitchburg.
-George M
Event: Summer Festival (Kesajuhla) SWISS 2018
Location: Fitchburg, MA
Event Date: 2018-06-24
Chief TD: George Mirijanian
Non-rated
Time Control: G/15 d3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pair | Player Name Rating | Round | Round | Round | Round | Total |
Num | | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 | Rob King 2202 | W6 | W4 | W2 | W3 | 4.0 | 🐔
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finnish Center at Saima Park to Host Fun Chess Tournament
SUNDAY, JUNE 24
The Finnish Center at Saima Park, 61 Scott Road in Fitchburg, off Ashby State Road (Route 31), will host on Sunday, June 24th, 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. Free admission and parking. Food for sale. Donations welcome.
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
June 20th, 2018
2018 WCC 'A' Championship
Round 6 of 7
WCC 'A' Championship, June 20th, 2018
Round 6 of 7 Results
White
Result
Black
Gary Brassard
0-1
Roger Cappallo
George Mirijanian
1-0
Dave Couture
♔ Arthur Barlas
1-0
Paul Godin
Gary Brassard
1-0
Larry Gladding [Round 4 make-up game (June 19)]
Total of 5 boards, 1 major upset (♔).
♖ Not playing round 6 were Ken Gurge & Larry Gladding, (game postponed)
WCC 'A' Championship, June 20th, 2018
CURRENT STANDINGS After 6 Rounds
Points
Players
4.5
Cappallo, Brassard, Mirijanian
4.0
-----
3.5
-----
3.0
Godin
2.5
Gurge
2.0
Couture
1.5
-----
1.0
Gladding, Barlas
Projected Round 7 Pairings for June 27th:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board 1: Cappallo vs. Miirjanian
Board 2: Godin vs. Brassard
Board 3: Couture vs. Gladding
Board 4: Barlas vs. Gurge
REMINDER: Players must be present in Room C159 by by 7:10 P.M. in order to be paired for Round 7 on June 27th.
Players running late who wish to be paired MUST CALL 978-881-8728 by 7 P.M.
Total of 1 boards,
no major upsets (♔ ♕)
1 upset draw (♖)
♝ Receiving a half-point bye was Ralph McNeilage.
♖ Not playing round 6 were Jim Donahue, Gary Brassard (filler), Bill Burke (withdrawal), Melissa Long (withdrawal), Petullo (withdrawal),
Teagan Long (withdrawal), and Charlotte Long (withdrawal).
WCC 'B' Championship, June 20th, 2018
CURRENT STANDINGS After 6 Rounds
Points
Players
5.0
McNeilage
4.5
Paulson, David
4.0
Commisso, Meehan, Rivera,
3.5
Harris
3.0
Donahue, Wheeler, Booker, Ri. Pulya, Fratturelli, Mathieu, Briggs, R. McLaughlin
2.5
Hankard, Biglow, Legros
2.0
(Gladding), Ostrowski, Bastarache, O'Rourke, H. McLaughlin, Scanlon, Cullen
1.5
(Brassard), Ra. Pulya
1.0
(Burke), Gawboy, M. Long
0.5
Whistler
0.0
Petullo, T. Long, C.Long
Projected Round 7 Pairings for June 27th:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board 5: McNeilage vs. David
Board 6: Commisso vs. Meehan
Board 7: Harris vs. Rivera
Board 8: Briggs vs. Donahue
Board 9: R. McLaughlin vs. Booker
Board 10: Ri. Pulya vs. Fratturelli
Board 11: Hankard vs. Biglow
Board 12: Legros vs. Ostrowski
Board 13: H. McLaughlin vs. Bastarache
Board 14: O'Rourke vs. Scanlon
Board 15: Gawboy vs. Cullen
Board 16: Whistler vs. Ra. Pulya
♖ Not paired for Round 7 is: Paulson.
REMINDER: Players must be present in Room C159 by by 7:10 P.M. in order to be paired for Round 7 on June 27th.
Players running late who wish to be paired MUST CALL 978-881-8728 by 7 P.M.
Projected Round 6 Pairings for June 20th:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board 1: Brassard vs. Cappallo
Board 2: Mirijanian vs. Couture
Board 3: Barlas vs. Godin
Board X: Gurge vs. Gladding, (postponed)
REMINDER: Players must be present in Room C159 by by 7:10 P.M. in order to be paired for Round 6 on June 20th.
Players running late who wish to be paired MUST CALL 978-881-8728 by 7 P.M.
♝ Receiving half-point byes were Roland Booker, Ritvik Pulya, Bob Mathieu, Francis Scanlon and Raaga Pulya.
♖ Not playing round 5 were Gary Brassard (filler), Bill Burke (withdrawal), Don Ostrowski, Kyle Cullen, Melissa Long,
James Petullo, Teagan Long and Charlotte Long.
Mathieu, Biglow, R. McLaughlin, O'Rourke, H. McLaughlin, Legros
1.5
(Brassard), Bastarache, Scanlon, Ra. Pulya
1.0
(Burke), Ostrowski, Gawboy, Cullen, M. Long
0.5
Whistler
0.0
Petullo, T. Long, C. Long
Projected Round 6 Pairings for June 20th:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board 4: Meehan vs, Paulson
Board 5: David vs. Donahue
Board 6: Fratturelli vs. Commisso
Board 7: Booker vs. Wheeler
Board 8: Harris vs. Rivera
Board 9: Ri. Pulya vs. Briggs
Board 10: Hankard vs. Mathieu
Board 11: Biglow vs. R. McLaughlin
Board 12: O'Rourke vs. H. McLaughlin
Board 13: Scanlon vs. Legros
Board 14: Ra. Pulya vs. Bastarache
Board 15: Ostrowski vs. Gawboy
Board 16: Cullen vs. M. Long
Board 17: Whistler vs. T. Long
♗ Requesting a half-point bye for Round 6 is McNeilage.
REMINDER: Players must be present in Room C159 by by 7:10 P.M. in order to be paired for Round 6 on June 20th.
Players running late who wish to be paired MUST CALL 978-881-8728 by 7 P.M.
Carissa Yip scored her first IM norm in the Charlotte Chess Center's GM/IM Norm Invitational Tournament, held June 6-10 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The 14-year-old former Wachusett Chess Club champion tallied an undefeated 7-2 (5 wins,4 draws) to finish first in one of two IM Norm sections and gained 31 rating points, raising her USCF rating to 2408. Carissa also gained a WGM norm as well as her final WIM norm and is slated to receive the Women's International Master title from the World Chess Federation (FIDE) at one of its next sessions.
-George M
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Below is a list of all players from the state of MA competing in the
CCCSA Summer 2018 GM/IM Norm Invit., Event #201806096562:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Rank, State, USCF ID, Player, Old rating, New rating, Title Norm, Opponents
Section 1 - GM A
#: State USCF-ID Player-Name Rtng-In -> Rtng-Out Title-Norm Opp-List
Section 2 - GM B
#: State USCF-ID Player-Name Rtng-In -> Rtng-Out Title-Norm Opp-List
4: MA 13433622 DENYS SHMELOV R: 2542 -> 2548 Opponents
8: MA 13052087 MIKA BRATTAIN R: 2514 -> 2506 OpponentsSection 3 - IM C
#: State USCF-ID Player-Name Rtng-In -> Rtng-Out Title-Norm Opp-List
Section 4 - IM D
#: State USCF-ID Player-Name Rtng-In -> Rtng-Out Title-Norm Opp-List
1: MA 14514636 CARISSA SHIWEN YIP R: 2377 -> 2408 Opponents
Dave Couture of Westminster, who is currently a contestant in the 2018 Wachusett Chess Club "A" Division Championship, came away a winner on Saturday, June 9, when he tied for first place in the Under 1900 section of the Rhode Island State Championship in Warwick. After taking a half-point bye in round 1, Couture won games in rounds 2 and 3 before drawing fellow Massachusetts player Brandon Ni in the fourth and final round. Ni and fellow Bay State player Matthew Garcia joined Couture for top honors in the 10-player section with scores of 3-1. A total of 32 players competed in the four-section event.
-George M
I missed a win in the endgame in the final round.
I counted 9 moves for me to queen and 8 moves for him, so I just thought "he queens first and wins".
What I SHOULD have realized was that he queens and then I queen immediately after AND I'm 2 pawns up!
So it was another learning experience. -Dave C.
Here's the position with black (me) to move:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Below is a list of all players from the state of MA
competing in the 2018 RI State Championship, Event #201806096562:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Rank, State, USCF ID, Player, Old rating, New rating, Title Norm, Opponents
Section 1 - OPEN
#: State USCF-ID Player-Name Rtng-In -> Rtng-Out Title-Norm Opp-List
3: MA 15072460 DUSTIN LIANG R: 2145 -> 2150 OpponentsSection 2 - U1900
#: State USCF-ID Player-Name Rtng-In -> Rtng-Out Title-Norm Opp-List
1: MA 12413721 DAVE COUTURE R: 1783 -> 1796 Opponents
2: MA 15801498 BRANDON NI R: 1574 -> 1633 Opponents
3: MA 16295852 MATTHEW GARCIA R: 1552 -> 1628 Opponents
8: MA 10014832 ERIC LEVIN R: 1595 -> 1577 Opponents
10: MA 12534279 JOE GARCIA R: 1352 -> 1321 OpponentsSection 3 - U1500
#: State USCF-ID Player-Name Rtng-In -> Rtng-Out Title-Norm Opp-List
2: MA 16442640 PRACHI DAYAL R: 1437 -> 1434 Opponents
7: MA 16614244 TOMMY THACH R: 1030 -> 1035 Opponents
9: MA 16282415 SIDDHARTH AJAY KURUP R: 917 -> 892 OpponentsSection 4 - U1200
#: State USCF-ID Player-Name Rtng-In -> Rtng-Out Title-Norm Opp-List
1: MA 16614223 NGLAN GLA R: 549P11-> 776P14 Opponents
3: MA 16260353 JOSHUA LEE R: 905 -> 833 Opponents
5: MA 16699951 TAMANNA GURUNG R: Unrated-> 511P4 Opponents
6: MA 16680618 ALINA TAMANG R: 170P3 -> 212P6 Opponents
7: MA 16724082 KAMALA SUBBA R: 227P3 -> 102P6 Opponents
Wayne Steadman at
Ernest Fandreyer Memorial tournament, October 18, 2017
Arthur Barlas (L) with the black pieces vs. Wayne Steadman (R) with white.
John Bastarache, Roger Cappallo, & George Mirijanian are seen in the background.
Wayne L. Steadman of Lunenburg, whose membership in the Wachusett Chess Club went back more than 35 years, passed away on Monday, June 4th, in the Life Care Center of Leominster. He was 75. He was a longtime member of the U.S. Chess Federation and a former longtime member of the Massachusetts Chess Association. From November 1991 until his last game at the club, round 4 of the Ernest Fandreyer Memorial on Nov. 8, 2017, Wayne had played in 215 events and over a hundred more prior to 1991,for which the USCF has no online data. Wayne was your "quintessential" club player. The overwhelming majority of his tournaments were played at the Wachusett CC.
His funeral will be held Friday, June 8th, at 10 a.m. at the Silas F. Richardson & Son Funeral Home, 106 West St., Leominster, followed by burial in Bellevue Cemetery in Harvard, Mass.
Calling hours at the funeral home are Thursday, June 7th, from 5 to 7 p.m. The Wachusett Chess Club extends its deepest condolences to the Steadman family. Complete obit is available at www.richardsonfuneralhome.net
-George M
June 6th, 2018
2018 WCC 'A' Championship
Round 4 of 7
4 share lead after 4 in 'A' Division
It was a bad night to have the white pieces for those competing tonight in the 'A' Division because all three games were won by the players with black. This creates a situation where Gary Brassard, Roger Cappallo, George Mirijanian & Paul Godin each stand at 2.5. However Brassard's round 4 game was postponed, so Gary could take sole possession of the lead if he wins or draws that game. With only three rounds remaining, there is still significant uncertainty in the final outcome of the 2018 WCC Championship.
♔ 2018 WCC CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 4 of 7 ♔
Name ▼ & rating
Roger Cappallo
George Mirijanian
Paul Godin
Larry Gladding
Dave Couture
Gary Brassard
Arthur Barlas
Ken Gurge
Score ▼
Roger Cappallo 1982
1
1
0
1/2
2.5
George Mirijanian 1959
1/2
0
1
1
2.5
Paul Godin 1949
0
1/2
1
1
2.5
Larry Gladding 1795
0
0
(postponed)
1
(postponed)
1
Dave Couture 1778
1
0
1
0
2
Gary Brassard 1757
1
(postponed)
1
1/2
2.5
Arthur Barlas 1750
0
0
0
0
0
Ken Gurge 1741
1/2
0
(postponed)
1
1/2
2
Current 2018 Championship Standings
W
L
D
TOTAL
PCT.
GB
GARY
BRASSARD
2
0
1
2.5
0.833
0.0
ROGER
CAPPALLO
2
1
1
2.5
0.625
0.5
GEORGE
MIRIJANIAN
2
1
1
2.5
0.625
0.5
PAUL
GODIN
2
1
1
2.5
0.625
0.5
DAVE
COUTURE
2
2
0
2.0
0.500
1.0
KEN GURGE
1
1
2
2.0
0.500
1.0
LARRY
GLADDING
1
2
0
1.0
0.333
1.5
ARTHUR
BARLAS
0
4
0
0.0
0.000
3.0
Projected Round 5 Pairings for June 13th:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board 1: Couture vs. Brassard
Board 2: Cappallo vs. Barlas
Board 3: Gladding vs. Mirijanian
Board 4: Godin vs. Gurge
♝ Receiving half-point byes were Ray Paulson and Larry O'Rourke.
♖ Not playing round 4 were Don Ostrowski, Kyle Cullen, Melissa Long, James Petullo, Teagan Long and Charlotte Long.
♙ Bill Burke had already withdrawn from the tournament.
♟ Gary Brassard and Ed Harris played as "fillers" for the round.
(Burke), Ostrowski, Ra. McLaughlin, H. McLaughlin, Gawboy, Scanlon, Cullen, Ra. Pulya, M. Long
0.5
Whistler
0.0
Petullo, T. Long, C. Long
Projected Round 5 Pairings for June 13th:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board 5: Paulson vs. McNeilage
Board 6: Hankard vs. Commisso
Board 7: Booker vs. Rivera
Board 8: Meehan vs. David
Board 9: Donahue vs. Briggs
Board 10: Wheeler vs. O'Rourke
Board 11: Ri. Pulya vs. Fratturelli
Board 12: Legros vs. Biglow
Board 13: Mathieu vs. Harris
Board 14: Bastarache vs. R. McLaughlin
Board 15: H. McLaughlin vs. Gawboy
Board 16: Cullen vs. Scanlon
Board 17: M. Long vs. Ra. Pulya
Board 18: T. Long vs. Whistler
Board 19: C. Long vs. Petullo
REMINDER: Players must be present in Room C159 by by 7:10 P.M. in order to be paired for Round 5 on June 13th.
Players running late who wish to be paired MUST CALL 978-881-8728 by 7 P.M.
Updated Projected Round 4 pairings for Wachusett CC Championship "B" Division
Updated (SwissSys) Projected Round 4 Pairings for WCC Ch "B" Div. June 6th:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
5 Ralph McNeilage (2.5) Jim Hankard (2.5)
6 Michael Commisso (2.0) Roland Booker (2.5)
7 Mariano Rivera (2.0) Ritvik Pulya (2.0)
8 Tom Fratturelli (2.0) Mike Meehan (1.5)
9 Michael David (1.5) John Bastarache (1.5)
10 Bob Mathieu (1.5) Don Briggs (1.5)
11 Larry O'Rourke (1.5) Jim Donahue (1.0)
12 Francis Scanlon II (1.0) Mark Wheeler (1.0)
13 Brian Biglow (1.0) Hugh McLaughlin (1.0)
14 Randy McLaughlin (1.0) Melissa Long (1.0)
15 Emily Gawboy (0.5) Larry Legros (1.0)
16 Tom Whistler (0.5) Raaga Pulya (0.5)
17 Teagan Long (0.0) James Petullo (0.0)
June 3rd, 2018
Former WCC member Percy Yip top vote-getter in MACA election
Percy Yip, aka Puichiu Yip, of Andover, formerly of Chelmsford, Mass. was the top vote-getter in the 2018 Massachusetts Chess Association election. Percy, along with his daughter Carissa, 2014 Wachusett CC champion, was a club member from early December 2010 until early January 2015. He received 97 votes out of a total number of 116 ballots received from a total number of 146 registered MACA voters. Percy became one of 8 directors elected to serve on the MACA executive board.
Other directors elected were:
Steven Winer (88 votes),
Steven Frymer (76),
Jiayun Liu (75),
Nicholas Sterling (68),
Jeffrey Caruso (66),
Oleg Poliannikov (63), and
Paul Arond (59),
the last of whom withdrew his nomination after ballots were sent out and whose director's position will be filled by the MACA board at its next meeting. Re-elected as MACA president was Nathan Smolensky, who garnered 89 votes. John Sadoff was re-elected as vice president with 62 votes. Re-elected as treasurer was Bob Messenger with 96 votes. And Andrew Hoy was re-elected as clerk with 94. Interestingly enough, Carissa Yip received 33 write-in votes for director, which was a greater number than was received by two candidates on the MACA ballot!
-George M
♔ 2018 WCC CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 3 of 7 ♔
Name ▼ & rating
Roger Cappallo
George Mirijanian
Paul Godin
Larry Gladding
Dave Couture
Gary Brassard
Arthur Barlas
Ken Gurge
Score ▼
Roger Cappallo 1982
1
0
1/2
1.5
George Mirijanian 1959
1/2
0
1
1.5
Paul Godin 1949
1/2
1
1
2.5
Larry Gladding 1795
0
0
1
1
Dave Couture 1778
1
0
0
1
Gary Brassard 1757
1
1
1/2
2.5
Arthur Barlas 1750
0
0
0
0
Ken Gurge 1741
1/2
1
1/2
2
WCC 'A' Championship, May 30th, 2018
CURRENT STANDINGS After 3 Rounds
Points
Players
2.5
Godin, Brassard
2.0
Gurge
1.5
Cappallo, Mirijanian
1.0
Gladding, Couture
0.5
-----
0.0
Barlas
Projected Round 4 Pairings for June 6th:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board 1: Godin vs. Cappallo
Board 2: Brassard vs. Gladding
Board 3: Gurge vs. Mirijanian
Board 4: Barlas vs. Couture
♝ Receiving half-point byes were Don Ostrowski, Francis Scanlon and Kyle Cullen.
♖ Not playing round 3 was Jim Donahue.
♙ Withdrawn from the tournament were Dave Thomas, Nik Lavoie and Ed Harris. Bill Burke had already withdrawn from the event.
Donahue, Wheeler, (Burke), Ostrowski, Biglow, R.McLaughlin, H. McLaughlin, Scanlon, Legros, Cullen, M. Long
0.5
Gawboy, Whistler, Ra. Pulya
0.0
Petullo,T. Long, C.Long
Projected Round 4 Pairings for June 6th:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board 5: McNeilage vs. Hankard
Board 6: Rivera vs. Booker
Board 7: Ri. Pulya vs. Commisso
Board 8: Fratturelli vs. Meehan
Board 9: David vs. Bastarache
Board 10: Mathieu vs. Briggs
Board 11: O'Rourke vs. Donahue
Board 12: Biglow vs. H. McLaughlin
Board 13: Scanlon vs. Wheeler
Board 14: R.McLaughlin vs. Legros
Board 15: M. Long vs. Gawboy
Board 16: Whistler vs. Ra. Pulya
Board 17: T. Long vs. Petullo
♗ Requesting a half-point bye for Round 4 is Paulson.
♘ Not playing Round 4 are Ostrowski and Cullen.
♙ The Wachusett Chess Club welcomes Melissa Long and her daughters, Teagan Long and Charlotte Long, all of whom are new USCF members and residents of Princeton. Welcome Melissa, Teagan and Charlotte!
REMINDER: Players must be present in Room C159 by by 7:10 P.M. in order to be paired for Round 4 on June 6th.
Players running late who wish to be paired MUST CALL 978-881-8728 by 7 P.M.
Wachusett CC players Gary Brassard, Mariano Rivera, Roland Booker III, Michael David, Ritvik Pulya & Jim Hankard competed this past weekend in the 87th Mass Open Championship tournament. Former WCC Member Andrew Su, also competed, as well as Raaga Pulya, in the Mass Open Scholastics & Paul Godin in the Mass Open Blitz.
Mariano Rivera finished in a tie for second place in the Under 1500 Section, while Paul Godin won the Under 2000 prize in the Mass Open Blitz by finishing in a 3-way tie for 5th place overall.
Rating changes for these players are listed below.
♙ ♝ ♘ ♜ ♘ ♟ Tuesday May 29, 2018 87th Mass Open Rating Updates ♗ ♞ ♖ ♞ ♗ ♟
No perfect scores after 2 rounds of WCC Championship
WCC 'A' Championship, May 23rd, 2018
Round 2 of 7 Results
White
Result
Black
Roger Cappallo
0-1
♔ Dave Couture
Ken Gurge
1/2-1/2
Gary Brassard
Arthur Barlas
0-1
George Mirijanian
Paul Godin
1-0
Larry Gladding
Total of 4 boards, 1 major upset (♔).
WCC 'A' Championship, May 23rd, 2018
CURRENT STANDINGS After 2 Rounds
Points
Players
1.5
Mirijanian, Godin, Brassard, Gurge
1.0
Couture, Cappallo
0.0
Gladding, Barlas
Projected Round 3 Pairings for May 30th:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board 1: Mirijanian vs, Brassard
Board 2: Couture vs. Godin
Board 3: Cappallo vs. Gurge
Board 4:: Gladding vs. Barlas
May 23rd, 2018
2018 WCC 'B' Championship
Round 2 of 7
WCC 'B' Championship, May 23rd, 2018
Round 2 of 7 Results
White
Result
Black
Mariano Rivera
1-0
Mike Commisso
Ralph McNeilage
1-0
Ritvik Pulya
Roland Booker
1-0
Tom Fratturelli
Michael David
1/2-1/2
Jim Hankard
Brian Biglow
0-1
Ray Paulson
Larry O'Rourke
1-0
Tom Whistler
Hugh McLaughlin
0-1
Mark Wheeler
♖ Emily Gawboy
1/2-1/2
Bob Mathieu
Larry Legros
0-1
John Bastarache
Don Briggs
1/2-1/2
♖ Raaga Pulya
Total of 10 boards,
no major upsets (♔ ♕)
2 upset draws (♖)
♝ Receiving half-point byes were Dave Thomas, Nik Lavoie, Jim Donahue, Ed Harris, Mike Meehan, Don Ostrowski,
Francis Scanlon and Kyle Cullen.
♙ Bill Burke withdrew from the tournament.
Projected Round 3 Pairings for May 30th:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board 5: Booker vs. McNeilage
Board 6: Paulson vs. Rivera
Board 7: Hankard vs. O'Rourke
Board 8: Thomas vs. David
Board 9: Bastarache vs. Lavoie
Board 10: Ri. Pulya vs. Donahue
Board 11: Fratturelli vs. Harris
Board 12: Commisso vs. Biglow
Board 13: Wheeler vs. Meehan
Board 14: Scanlon vs. Mathieu
Board 15: Whistler vs. Briggs
Board 16: Ra. Pulya vs. Gawboy
Board 17: McLaughlin vs. Legros
♗ Requesting half-point byes for Round 3 are Ostrowski and Cullen.
REMINDER: Players must be present in Room C159 by by 7:10 P.M. in order to be paired for Round 3 on May 30th.
Players running late who wish to be paired MUST CALL 978-881-8728 by 7 P.M.
Wachusett Chess Club players are among the early advance entries registered to compete in the 87th Massachusetts Open, scheduled for May 26-28 at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel in Marlborough. Roland Booker and Mariano Rivera, both of whom are currently on hot streaks based on their most recent tournament performances, will join scores of other players in vying for top prizes during the Memorial Day weekend. Booker is signed up for the 2-day schedule in the Under 1800 section, while Rivera is registered for the 3-day schedule in the Under 1500 section along with fellow WCC player, Michael David. Booker just finished first in the Under 1800 section of the BCF $15 Open on May 19th at the Boylston Chess Club in North Cambridge and tied for the top Under 1650 prize in the Martin Laine Memorial that finished 10 days earlier at the Wachusett CC. Rivera tied for 2nd place in the Martin Laine Memorial and also tied for first place in the Class D section of the 27th Eastern Class Championships that ended on April 29th in Sturbridge.
Joining Booker and Rivera in the upcoming Mass. Open is a former Wachusett CC co-champion, Erik Zoltan, who is signed up to play in the 3-day schedule of the Under 2100 section. Zoltan, who was known years ago as Erik von Rosenvinge, tied for first place with Lee Denis in the 1989 Wachusett CC championship, when the club was meeting at the St. Joseph Club in the Cleghorn section of Fitchburg. Directing the 87th Mass. Open will be Bob Messenger of Nashua,NH, who was chief TD of the 2011 Wachusett Chess Club championship.
-George M
May 21st, 2018
Wachusett CC's Roland Booker sweeps Under 1800 section of BCF $15 Open
Roland Booker, a Wachusett CC member from Fitchburg, finished first in the U1800 section of the BCF $15 Open, held Saturday, May 19, at the Boylston Chess Club in North Cambridge. Booker, who returned to the WCC on April 5, 2017 - after an absence from the club of more than 13 years - chalked up a perfect score of 4-0 to win the 18-player section and take home first-place prize money. A total of 42 players competed in the two-section, one-day tournament.
-George M
May 16th, 2018
2018 WCC 'A' Championship
Round 1 of 7
2018 Wachusett CC Championship tournaments begin
WCC 'A' Championship, May 16th, 2018
Round 1 of 7 Results
White
Result
Black
Larry Gladding
0-1
Roger Cappallo
George Mirijanian
1/2-1/2
Paul Godin
Gary Brassard
1-0
Arthur Barlas
Dave Couture
0-1
Ken Gurge
Total of 4 boards, no major upsets.
WCC 'A' Championship, May 16th, 2018
CURRENT STANDINGS After 1 Rounds
Points
Players
1.0
Cappallo, Brassard, Gurge
0.5
Mirijanian, Godin
0.0
Gladding, Couture, Barlas
Projected Round 2 Pairings for May 23rd:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board 1: Cappallo vs. Couture
Board 2: Gurge vs. Brassard
Board 3: Barlas vs. Mirijanian
Board 4: Godin vs. Gladding
May 16th, 2018
2018 WCC 'B' Championship
Round 1 of 7
WCC 'B' Championship, May 16th, 2018
Round 1 of 7 Results
White
Result
Black
Mike Commisso
1-0
Don Ostrowski
Bob Mathieu
0-1
Ralph McNeilage
Mark Wheeler
0-1
♔ Brian Biglow
John Bstarache
0-1
Roland Booker
Jim Hankard
1-0
Don Briggs
Emily Gawboy
0-1
Mariano Rivera
Bill Burke
1-0
Francis Scanlon
Larry Legros
0-1
Ritvik Pulya
Tom Fratturelli
1-0
Kyle Cullen
Raaga Pulya
0-1
Michael David
Total of 10 boards, 1 major upset (♔).
♝ Receiving half-point byes were Dave Thomas, Nik Lavoie, Jim Donahue, Ed Harris, Mike Meehan,
Larry O'Rourke and Tom Whistler.
♖ Not playing round 1 and declining a half-point bye was Hugh McLaughlin.
Projected Round 2 Pairings for May 23rd:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board 5: Ri. Pulya vs. Commisso
Board 6: McNeilage vs. Burke
Board 7: Booker vs. Fratturelli
Board 8: David vs. Hankard
Board 9: Rivera vs. Biglow
Board 10: Harris vs. Thomas
Board 11: Lavoie vs. Meehan
Board 12: O'Rourke vs. Donahue
Board 13: Whistler vs. Wheeler
Board 14: Gawboy vs. Mathieu
Board 15: Cullen vs. Bastarache
Board 16: Briggs vs. Legros
Board 17: McLaughlin vs. Ra. Pulya
♙ The Wachusett Chess Club welcomes back Mark Wheeler of Leominster, who has been absent from rated play for more than 25 years.
REMINDER: Players must be present in Room C159 by by 7:10 P.M. in order to be paired for Round 2 on May 23rd.
Players running late who wish to be paired MUST CALL 978-881-8728 by 7 P.M.
Bruce Felton opts out of 2018 WCC "A" Championship; Gary Brassard to play
Last minute update to the lineup for the Wachusett CC "A" Championship
due to start Wednesday, May 16.
The following players are now expected to compete for the 2018 "A" Championship club crown:
Roger Cappallo (1982), George Mirijanian* (1959), Paul Godin (1949), Larry Gladding (1795),
Dave Couture (1778), Gary Brassard (1757), Arthur Barlas (1750), and Ken Gurge (1741).
♔ 2018 Wachusett Chess Club "A" Championship Contestants: ♔
Round 1 of the Wachusett CC Championship "B" Division will be played Wednesday evening, May 16, in Room C159 of the McKay Complex at Fitchburg State University.
Players who wish to participate must be present by 7 p.m. in Room C159 of the McKay Campus in order to paired for Round 1. Players running late who wish to be paired for Round 1 must call 978-881-8728 by 7 p.m.
♔ ♛ ♖ ♝ ♘ ♞ ♗ ♜ ♕ ♚
Ratings in effect for the
Wachusett CC Championship ("B" Division) tournament:
Evgeni Vasiukov, Russian Chess Grandmaster, Is Dead at 85
GM Evgeni A. Vasiukov at
USSR Championship in 1974
GM Evgeni A. Vasiukov at Gerhard Hund
World Senior Championship 1995
"Evgeni Andreyevich Vasiukov was a Russian chess grandmaster, one of the strongest players in the world during his peak.[1] During his career, he won the Moscow Championship on six occasions (1955, 1958, 1960, 1962, 1972, and 1978) and scored numerous victories in international tournaments, such as Belgrade Open 1961, Moscow International 1961, East Berlin 1962, Reykjavik Open 1968, and Manila 1974. He was rarely at his best in Soviet Championship Finals, which were among the very toughest events in the world, and never made the Soviet team for an Olympiad or a European Team Championship. Vasiukov won the World Senior Chess Championship in 1995. He continued to play Master events, well into his 70s, and was active in February 2007 at the European Seniors event at Dresden."
-Wikipedia
Vasiukov was directly involved in - Bobby Fischer's visit to Moscow in 1958 as a 15-year-old.
"[Bronstein], who had already played a World Championship match, said: sorry, but why should I play a kid? Tigran Vartanovich [Petrosian] and I arrived. We played in the grandmasters' room, and Petrosian won by a small margin, while I literally crushed Fischer. From that point on whenever we met he always treated me with great respect."
-Evgeni Vasiukov
2018 WCC "A" Championship contestants & pairings announced
Wednesday, May 16 will be the start of the Wachusett CC "A" Championship, an 8-player round robin,
with the following players who qualified* to compete for the 2018 "A" Championship club crown:
Roger Cappallo (1982), George Mirijanian* (1959), Paul Godin (1949), Bruce Felton (1920),
Larry Gladding (1795), Dave Couture (1778), Arthur Barlas (1750), and Ken Gurge (1741).
The "B" Championship will consist of a 7 round open Swiss tournament to be conducted at the same time.
♔ 2018 Wachusett Chess Club "A" Championship Contestants: ♔
Round 2 - May 23, 2015:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board ?: (8) Gurge vs. (7) Felton
Board ?: (1) Barlas vs. (6) Mirijanian
Board ?: (2) Godin vs. (5) Gladding
Board ?: (3) Cappallo vs. (4) Couture
Round 3 - May 30, 2018:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board ?: (3) Cappallo vs. (8) Gurge
Board ?: (4) Couture vs. (2) Godin
Board ?: (5) Gladding vs. (1) Barlas
Board ?: (6) Mirijanian vs. (7) Felton
Round 4 - June 6, 2018:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board ?: (8) Gurge vs. (6) Mirijanian
Board ?: (7) Felton vs. (5) Gladding
Board ?: (1) Barlas vs. (4) Couture
Board ?: (2) Godin vs. (3) Cappallo
Round 5 - June 13, 2018:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board ?: (2) Godin vs. (8) Gurge
Board ?: (3) Cappallo vs. (1) Barlas
Board ?: (4) Couture vs. (7) Felton
Board ?: (5) Gladding vs. (6) Mirijanian
Round 6 - June 20, 2018:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board ?: (8) Gurge vs. (5) Gladding - POSTPONED
Board ?: (6) Mirijanian vs. (4) Couture
Board ?: (7) Felton vs. (3) Cappallo
Board ?: (1) Barlas vs. (2) Godin
Round 7 (final) - June 27, 2018:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board ?: (1) Barlas vs. (8) Gurge
Board ?: (2) Godin vs. (7) Felton
Board ?: (3) Cappallo vs. (6) Mirijanian
Board ?: (4) Couture vs. (5) Gladding
In keeping with a long standing tradition of the Wachusett Chess Club, dating back to the Summer of 2014,
duplicate score sheets will be distributed to all players in the Championship Section. A copy of each player's score sheet must be handed in at the end of each round.
(Note: This is covered in Rule 15G of the USCF Official Rules of Chess.)
Game scores will not be posted (in the Games Section) until all championship games are completed.
May 11th, 2018
2018 WCC Championship qualifiers still undetermined
REMINDER: The next tournaments at the club are the 2018 Wachusett CC Championships, both "A" and "B" Divisions,
which start Wednesday, May 16th.
Players must be present by 7:00 p.m. in order to be paired for Round 1.
"A" Division entrants will draw numbers to determine pairings for Round 1.
Players running late who wish to be paired MUST CALL 978-881-8728 by 7 p.m.
Rob King, 2011 Wachusett CC champion, father of twins - with different birthdays!
Rob King, champion of the Wachusett Chess Club in 2011, has become the proud father of twins. Robert and his wife, Stephanie (Bovaird) King, are now parents of Weston Ryder King, 6 lbs., 12 oz., born on May 4th at 9:55 p.m., and Tatum Collins King, 6 lbs., 6 oz., born on May 5th at 12:22 a.m. Members of the Wachusett Chess Club congratulate Rob and Stephanie on the birth of the two new members of the King family. May the infants take to chess just as fish take to water. They will definitely have a good teacher.
-George M
May 4th, 2018
2018 WCC Championship qualifiers nearly all determined
♝ Receiving half-point byes were Ken Gurge, Ralph McNeilage, Bill Burke and Alan Condon.
♖ Not playing round 3 was Jackson Parker.
♙ Withdrawn from the tournament were Bruce Felton, Vince Premus and Andrew Kiser.
Hugh McLaughlin had previously withdrawn from the event.
Martin Laine Memorial, May 2nd, 2018
CURRENT STANDINGS After 3 Rounds
Points
Players
3.0
LePoer, Couture
2.5
Godin, Mirijanian, Lavoie, Rivera
2.0
Cappallo, Barlas, Brassard, Harris, Booker, Donahue, David
Projected Round 4 Pairings for May 9th:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board 1: Couture vs. LePoer
Board 2: Godin vs. Lavoie
Board 3: Rivera vs. Mirijanian
Board 4: Cappallo vs. Harris
Board 5: Booker vs. Barlas
Board 6: Brassard vs. Donahue
Board 7: David vs. Paulson
Board 8: Hankard vs. Thomas
Board 9: Meehan vs. Gurge
Board 10: Commisso vs. Burke
Board 11: McNeilage vs. Ri. Pulya
Board 12: Ostrowski vs. Gladding
Board 13: Condon vs. Briggs
Board 14: Legros vs. Fratturelli
Board 15: Bastarache vs. Scanlon
Board 16: Parker vs. Biglow
Board 17: Whistler vs. Cullen
Board 18: Gawboy vs. Ra. Pulya
REMINDER: Players must be present in Room C159 by by 7:10 P.M. in order to be paired for Round 4 on May 9th.
Players running late who wish to be paired MUST CALL 978-881-8728 by 7 P.M.
Wachusett CC players Mike Commisso and Mariano Rivera finished as prize winners in the 27th annual Eastern Class Championships that ended Sunday evening, April 29th, at the Host Hotel at Cedar Lake in Sturbridge. Commisso scored 4-1 to tie for 2nd-6th and share the 2nd-thru-4th-place prizes with four other players in the Class C section. His only loss was in the penultimate round, when he was defeated by the eventual section winner, Sai Sneha Yerra of New Hampshire, [a frequent player at the Billerica CC] who ended up with a score of 4.5-0.5. Rivera did very well in the Class D section, tallying 4-1 to tie for 1st-5th and sharing the 1st-thru-4th-place prizes with four other players..
-George M
[GM Sam Sevian won clear first place in the Open Section with a 4.5/5 score. Eight active WCC players competed for various section prizes.]
♙ ♝ ♘ ♜ ♘ ♟ Monday May 1, 2018 Rating Updates from the Eastern Class Championship ♗ ♞ ♖ ♞ ♗ ♟
Wachusett CC players Mike Commisso of Brookline, NH and Mariano Rivera of Leominster are currently among the sectional leaders in the 27th annual Eastern Class Championships, being held April 27-29 at the Host Hotel at Cedar Lake in Sturbridge. Commisso, playing in the 38-player Class C section, is tied for the lead with fellow Granite Stater Sai Sneha Yerra and Ybelka Grangee of Connectcut. All three have perfect scores of 3-0. Rivera, competing in the 26-player Class D section, is tied for the lead at 3-0 with Adam Credit of Connecticut. The 4th and 5th rounds will be played on Sunday, with fellow Wachusett CC players rooting for Commisso and Rivera to finish as winners.
-George M
One of the biggest and strongest tournaments held in Massachusetts each year will see the participation of at least 9 Wachusett CC players in the 27th annual Eastern Class Championships, scheduled for the weekend of April 27-29 at the Host Hotel at Cedar Lake in Sturbridge. Among the advance entries in the Continental Chess Association-sponsored event are some of the club's most active players. Six club players will take part in the Class B section, which has Joe Bennett (1791), Ed Harris (1731), Jim Donahue (1658), Jim Hankard (1615), Roland Booker (1600) and Nik Lavoie (1493) vying for prize money. Bennett is currently the highest-rated advance entrant in that section. Taking part in the Class C section is Mike Commisso (1578), while Mariano Rivera (1109) and Larry Legros (1014) are participating in the Class D section. Most of the Wachusett CC entrants are playing the 3-day schedule. The tournament will see the appearance of the highest-rated player in Worcester County and currently the highest-rated player in the Master section, 17-year-old GM Sam Sevian of Holden, rated 2619.
-George M
April 25th, 2018
2018 Martin Laine Memorial
Round 2 of 4
Martin Laine Memorial, April 25th, 2018
Round 2 of 4 Results
White
Result
Black
Roland Booker
0-1
Geoff LePoer
Larry Gladding
0-1
Dave Couture
♔ Michael David
1-0
Ken Gurge
Gary Brassard
0-1
♔ Mariano Rivera
Ed Harris
1-0
Francis Scanlon
Don Ostrowski
0-1
Roger Cappallo
Paul Godin
1-0
Ritvik Pulya
Tom Whistler
0-1
Dave Thomas
Jim Hankard
1-0
Brian Biglow
Raaga Pulya
0-1
Ralph McNeilage
Don Briggs
0-1
Bill Burke
Alan Condon
1/2-1/2
Larry O'Rourke
Emily Gawboy
0-1
Tom Fratturelli
John Bastarache
1-0
Larry Legros
Total of 14 boards, 2 major upsets (♔).
♝ Receiving half-point byes were Ray Paulson, George Mirijanian, Nik Lavoie, Arthur Barlas,
Jim Donahue, Mike Commisso and Jackson Parker.
♖ Not playing round 2 were Bruce Felton, Vince Premus, Mike Meehan, Kyle Cullen and Andrew Kiser.
♙ Withdrawn from the tournament were Diego Ubiera and Hugh McLaughlin.
Projected Round 3 Pairings for May 2nd:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board 1: LePoer vs. Harris
Board 2: Couture vs. David
Board 3: Rivera vs. Cappallo
Board 4: Thomas vs. Godin
Board 5: Lavoie vs. Paulson
Board 6: Mirijanian vs. Hankard
Board 7: Burke vs. Gladding
Board 8: Barlas vs. Donahue
Board 9: Fratturelli vs. Brassard
Board 10: McNeilage vs. Bastarache
Board 11: Scanlon vs. Booker
Board 12: Felton vs. Ostrowski
Board 13: Biglow vs. Commisso
Board 14: Parker vs. Ra. Pulya
Board 15: O'Rourke vs. Meehan
Board 16: Cullen vs. Condon
Board 17: Ri. Pulya vs. Whistler
Board 18: Kiser vs. Briggs
Board 19: Legros vs. Gawboy
♗ Requesting a half-point bye for Round 3 is Gurge.
REMINDER: Players must be present in Room C159 by by 7:10 P.M. in order to be paired for Round 3 on May 2nd.
Players running late who wish to be paired MUST CALL 978-881-8728 by 7 P.M.
Total of 16 boards,
2 major upsets (♔ ♕)
4 upset draws (♖)
♝ Receiving half-point byes were Diego Ubiera, Bruce Felton, Vince Premus, Mike Meehan, Ritvik Pulya,
Tom Whistler, Kyle Cullen and Raaga Pulya.
♜ Receiving a full-point bye was Francis Scanlon.
♖ Not playing round 1 was Andrew Kiser.
Projected Round 2 Pairings for April 25th:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board 1: Mirijanian vs. Couture
Board 2: Harris vs. LePoer
Board 3: Gladding vs. Booker
Board 4: David vs. Gurge
Board 5: Brassard vs. Rivera
Board 6: Lavoie vs. Scanlon
Board 7: Meehan vs. Cappallo
Board 8: Ubiera vs. Donahue
Board 9: Godin vs. Ri. Pulya
Board 10: Ostrowski vs. Felton
Board 11: Whistler vs. Thomas
Board 12: Barlas vs. Cullen
Board 13: Premus vs. Biglow
Board 14: Hankard vs. Ra. Pulya
Board 15: Briggs vs. McNeilage
Board 16: Parker vs. O'Rourke
Board 17: Kiser vs. Burke
Board 18: Condon vs. McLaughlin
Board 19: Gawboy vs. Fratturelli
Board 20: Bastarache vs. Legros
♗ Requesting half-point byes for Round 2 are Paulson and Commisso.
♙ The Wachusett Chess welcomes new member Larry Legros of Millbury. Welcome, Larry!
REMINDER: Players must be present in Room C159 by by 7:10 P.M. in order to be paired for Round 2 on April 25th.
Players running late who wish to be paired MUST CALL by 7 P.M.
Round 1 of the Martin Laine Memorial will be played Wednesday evening, April 18, in Room C159 of the McKay Complex at Fitchburg State University.
Players who wish to participate must be present by 7 p.m. in Room C159 of the McKay Campus in order to paired for Round 1. Players running late who wish to be paired for Round 1 must call 978-881-8728 by 7 p.m.
♔ ♛ ♖ ♝ ♘ ♞ ♗ ♜ ♕ ♚
Ratings in effect for
the 2018 Martin Laine Memorial tournament:
Players from the Wachusett Chess Club were among the prize winners in the 2018 Mass Game/60 Chsmpionship, held Sunday, April 15, at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel in Marlborough. Ralph McNeilage of Worcester tied for 2nd place in the Under 1800 section, scoring 3-1 (2 wins, 2 draws), while Mariano Rivera of Leominster tied for 2nd place in the Under 1200 section, tallying 3.5-0.5.
Former Wachusett CC champion Carissa Yip of Andover finished with a score of 3-1 to tie for the Top U2400 prize in the Open section.
-George M
[FM Nathan Solon won clear first place in the Open Section with a perfect 4.0/4 score. Five active WCC players competed for various section prizes. Mariano Rivra's Round 3 game with comments & analysis, is posted on this site in the "Games" section.]
♙ ♝ ♘ ♜ ♘ ♟ Monday April 16, 2018 Rating Updates from the Mass Game/60 Championship ♗ ♞ ♖ ♞ ♗ ♟
2018 Club Championship Qualification Standings as of April 11th, 2018
After 37 of 41 games completed in the 2017-2018 season,
the following are the current standings for qualification for the
2018 WCC 'A' Club Championship Tournament. The Top Four Highest GPP Finishers Qualify.
The remaining four to qualify will be the four with highest percentage as calculated in the last column.
The tiebreaker, if necessary, is the higher USCF rating after the final regular season tournament is rated!
A minimum of 21 games must be completed to qualify.
(Only players currently with more than 16.5 GPP are listed.)
REMINDER: The next tournament at the club, the Martin Laine Memorial, starts Wednesday, April 18th.
Players must be present by 7 p.m. in Room C159 of the McKay Complex in order to be paired for Round 1 on April 18th.
Players running late who wish to be paired MUST CALL 978-881-8728 by 7 p.m.
Nik Lavoie, a Wachusett Chess Club member from Worcester, tied for 1st place in the Chess Fool's Day Open, held Saturday, April 7, in the Alumni House at Amherst College in Amherst, Mass. Lavoie scored 3.5-0.5, as did expert Alan Lasser and Class A entrant Douglas Reed. After drawing a "B" player in round 1, Lavoie then beat 3 "A" players in a row to end up gaining 208 rating points and moving his rating from 1493 to 1701 in the 23-player event. Lavoie, who was away from playing in rated chess for more than 13 years, started playing at the Wachusett CC in early January 2016.
-George M
A quartet of active WCC Class B players took part in the tournament. Nik's outstanding performance earned him 208 rating points, which moves him from mid Class C to mid Class B in the USCF ranks.
♙ ♝ ♘ ♜ ♘ ♟ Monday April 9, 2018 Rating Updates from the Chess Fool's Day Open; ♗ ♞ ♖ ♞ ♗ ♟
Total of 16 boards,
1 major upset (♔ ♕)
1 upset draw (♖)
♝ Receiving half-point byes were Ritvik Pulya, Geoff LePoer, Jim Donahue, Don Ostrowski, Raaga Pulya and Gail Lingner.
♖ Not playing round 4 was Arthur Barlas.
Projected Round 5 Pairings for April 11th:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board 1: Felton vs. Cappallo
Board 2: Paulson vs. Thomas
Board 3: Godin vs. Gurge
Board 4: Bennett vs. Commisso
Board 5: Brassard vs. Mirijanian
Board 6: Gladding vs. Ri. Pulya
Board 7: Booker vs. LePoer
Board 8: Harris vs. Lavoie
Board 9: Ostrowski vs. Couture
Board 10: Ra. Pulya vs. Donahue
Board 11: Burke vs. Fratturelli
Board 12: Briggs vs. Hankard
Board 13: Basttarache vs. McNeilage
Board 14: Meehan vs. Rivera
Board 15: Cullen vs. Biglow
Board 16: Kiser vs. Barlas
Board 17: David vs. Lingner
Board 18: O'Rourke vs. Gawboy
Board 19: McLaughlin vs. Whistler
REMINDER: Players must be present in Room C159 by by 7:10 P.M. in order to be paired for Round 5 on April 11th.
Players running late who wish to be paired MUST CALL by 7 P.M.
Carissa Yip, champion of the Wachusett Chess Club in 2014, made another impressive performance by tying for 2nd place in the 12th annual Philadelphia Open, held March 28 through April 1st at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. The 14-year-old FIDE master from Andover, Mass. tallied 5 wins,3 draws and only one loss, for a score of 6.5-2.5, to tie for the runner-up position with three 3 GMs and 2 IMs. She finished ahead of 4 GMs, including GM Sam Sevian and GM Alexander Stripunsky, the latter of whom she defeated in the final round. Two of her three draws were against IMs. Her score also netted her prize money for tying for 1st-2nd U2400.
-George M
Carissa's round 7 win over IM Andrew Tang is posted in the Games Section.
March 28th, 2018
2018 Evert Siiskonen Memorial
Round 3 of 5
Evert Siiskonen Memorial, March 28th, 2018
Round 3 of 5 Results
White
Result
Black
Joe Bennett
1-0
Dave Couture
Nik Lavoie
0-1
Bruce Felton
Paul Godin
1/2-1/2
♖ Mike Commisso
Jim Donahue
0-1
Gary Brassard
Ken Gurge
1/2-1/2
Dave Thomas
Mike Meehan
0-1
Ray Paulson
Roland Booker
1/2-1/2
Larry Gladding
♔ Ritvik Pulya
1-0
Ralph McNeilage
Ed Harris
1-0
Tom Fratturelli
Brian Biglow
0-1
Bill Burke
Michael David
0-1
Jim Hankard
Tom Whistler
0-1
Don Ostrowski
John Bastarache
0-1
♔ Kyle Cullen
Andrew Kiser
0-1
♔ Raaga Pulya
Don Briggs
1-0
Hugh McLaughlin
♔ Mariano Rivera
1-0
Larry O'Rourke
Total of 16 boards,
4 major upsets (♔ ♕)
1 upset draw (♖)
♝ Receiving half-point byes were Roger Cappallo, Geoff LePoer and George Mirijanian.
♜ Receiving a full-point bye was Emily Gawboy.
♖ Not playing round 3 was Gail Lingner.
♙ Withdrawn from the tournament were Rob King, Diego Ubiera, Vince Premus, Bob Mathieu and Harry Richardson.
Projected Round 4 Pairings for April 4th:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board 1: Cappallo vs. Bennett
Board 2: Brassard vs. Felton
Board 3: Paulson vs. Burke
Board 4: Couture vs. Godin
Board 5: Hankard vs. Gurge
Board 6: Commisso vs. Harris
Board 7: Thomas vs. Ri. Pulya
Board 8: Mirijanian vs. Lavoie
Board 9: Gladding vs. Meehan
Board 10: Cullen vs. Donahue
Board 11: Ostrowski vs. Booker
Board 12: Ra. Pulya vs. McNeilage
Board 13: Fratturelli vs. David
Board 14: Rivera vs. Biglow
Board 15: Gawboy vs. Briggs
Board 16: Lingner vs. Kiser
Board 17: Whistler vs. Bastarache
Board 18: McLaughlin vs. O'Rourke
♗ Requesting a half-point bye for Round 4 is LePoer.
REMINDER: Players must be present in Room C159 by by 7:10 P.M. in order to be paired for Round 4 on April 4th.
Players running late who wish to be paired MUST CALL by 7 P.M.
Five active & inactive WCC members took part in the 2018 New Hampshire Quick Chsmpionship in Portsmouth, NH, held this past weekend. The tournament finished in a three way tie between GM Alexander Ivanov, IM Dave Vigorito & NH resident, John P. Elmore. Reigning WCC Champ, Ray Paulson finished in 11th place with a respectsble score of 5.0/8. Four other WCC players competed.
♙ ♝ ♘ ♜ ♘ ♟ Monday March 26, 2018 Quick Rating Updates from the NH Quick Championship ♗ ♞ ♖ ♞ ♗ ♟
Total of 16 boards,
2 major upsets (♔ ♕)
1 upset draw (♖)
♝ Receiving half-point byes were Rob King, Diego Ubiera, George Mirijanian, Vince Premus, Bob Mathieu,
Harry Richardson, Gail Lingner, Andrew Kiser and Tom Whistler.
♙ Arthur Barlas withdrew from the tournament.
Projected Round 3 Pairings for March 28th:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
1 Joe Bennett (2.0) Dave Couture (2.0)
2 Nik Lavoie (2.0) Paul Godin (1.5)
3 Mike Meehan (1.5) Bruce Felton (1.5)
4 Jim Donahue (1.5) Gary Brassard (1.5)
5 Ken Gurge (1.5) Dave Thomas (1.5)
6 George Mirijanian (1.0) Michael Commisso (1.5)
7 Ray Paulson (1.0) Jim Hankard (1.0)
8 Ritvik Pulya (1.0) Larry Gladding (1.0)
9 Brian Biglow (1.0) Ralph McNeilage (1.0)
10 Ed Harris (1.0) Michael David (1.0)
11 Tom Fratturelli (1.0) William Burke (1.0)
12 Gail Lingner (0.5) Kyle Culllen (0.5)
13 Andrew Kiser (0.5) Don Ostrowski (0.5)
14 Tom Whistler (0.5) John Bastarache (0.5)
15 Raaga Pulya (0.5) Don Briggs (0.0)
16 Mariano Rivera (0.0) Larry O'Rourke (0.0)
17 Hugh McLaughlin (0.0) Emily Gawboy (0.0)
♗ Requesting half-point byes for Round 3 are Cappallo and LePoer.
REMINDER: Players must be present in Room C159 by by 7:10 P.M. in order to be paired for Round 3 on March 28th.
Players running late who wish to be paired MUST CALL by 7 P.M.
Former Wachusett Chess Club champion Carissa Yip of Andover was the winner in the 20-player High School section of the 2018 Barry S. Spiegel Cup on Sunday, March 18, at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel in Marlborough. The tournament, which is the annual Massachusetts Singles Scholastic Championship in four sections, saw the 14-year-old FIDE master accomplish this by winning a playoff against national master Michael Isakov , after both scored 3.5-0.5, including a draw with one another in the final round of regular play. The victory qualifies Carissa to represent Massachusetts in the GM Denker Tournament of High School Champions, which will be played July 28-31, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. Carissa won the 2014 Wachusett CC Championship with a perfect score of 7-0 when she was 10 years old. She finished a full 2 points ahead of her closest rival. Since leaving the Wachusett CC in January 2015, Carissa has become a stronger player - evidenced by her participation in the 2016 and 2017 U.S. Women's Championship in Saint Louis.
-George M
March 15th, 2018
Simultaneous Chess exhibition by Marc Esserman -- Saturday, March 24, 2018
Total of 16 boards,
3 major upsets (♔ ♕)
1 upset draw (♖)
♝ Receiving half-point byes were Rob King, Diego Ubiera, George Mirijanian, Arthur Barlas, Vince Premus,
Jim Donahue, Bob Mathieu, Harry Richardson and Kyle Cullen.
♖ Not playing round 1 was Gail Lingner.
Projected Round 2 Pairings for March 21st:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board 1: Cappallo vs. Harris
Board 2: Thomas vs. Godin
Board 3: Gladding vs. Couture
Board 4: Hankard vs. Bennett
Board 5: Brassard vs. Meehan
Board 6: Commisso vs. Gurge
Board 7: McNeilage vs. Lavoie
Board 8: King vs. David
Board 9: Ubiera vs. Donahue
Board 10: Ostrowski vs. Mirijanian
Board 11: Mathieu vs. Felton
Board 12: Barlas vs. Richardson
Board 13: Premus vs. Cullen
Board 14: O'Rourke vs. Paulson
Board 15: LePoer vs. Briggs
Board 16: Burke vs. McLaughlin
Board 17: Kiser vs. Ri. Pulya
Board 18: Fratturelli vs. Rivera
Board 19: Gawboy vs. Lingner
Board 20: Whistler vs. Biglow
Board 21: Bastarache vs. Ra. Pulya
REMINDER: Players must be present in Room C159 by by 7:10 P.M. in order to be paired for Round 2 on March 21st.
Players running late who wish to be paired MUST CALL by 7 P.M.
Round 1 of the Evert Siiskonen Memorial will be played Wednesday evening, March 14, in Room C159 of the McKay Complex at Fitchburg State University.
Players who wish to participate should make every attempt to arrive on time - by 7:10 p.m., at the latest, so that the round can get under way by 7:15 p.m.
♔ ♛ ♖ ♝ ♘ ♞ ♗ ♜ ♕ ♚
Ratings in effect for
the 2018 Evert Siiskonen Memorial tournament:
REMINDER: Players must be present in Room C159 by by 7:10 P.M. in order to be paired for Round 1 on March 14th.
Players running late who wish to be paired MUST CALL by 7 P.M.
"This is a Fitchburg State University Alert. Due to inclement weather, the University is closed Wednesday, March 7, 2018,
both day and evening classes are cancelled."
Because Fitchburg State University will be closed Wednesday, here's what we are going to do:
WE WILL NOT MEET WEDNESDAY, MARCH. 7.
Everyone playing in the George E. O'Rourke Memorial tournament will receive a half-point bye for Round 5.
This tournament, the George E. O'Rourke Memorial, will remain a 5-round Swiss, despite our inability to meet for Round 5. -GM
♝ Receiving half-point byes were Geoff LePoer, Diego Ubiera, Mike Commisso, Mariano Rivera and Harry Richardson.
♖ Not playing round 4 was Dave Couture, who BTW had the opportunity of visiting the U.S. Chess Center in Saint Louis on Wednesday morning and by chance met Rex Sinquefield and his wife and chatted with him for a few minutes. Dave took photos, which will be posted on the club website (www.wachusettchess.org) soon.
Projected Round 5 Pairings for March 7th:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board 1: Felton vs. Cappallo
Board 2: King vs. LePoer
Board 3: Paulson vs. Mirijanian
Board 4: Gladding vs. Ubiera
Board 5: Godin vs. Ostrowski
Board 6: Gurge vs. McNeilage
Board 7: Commisso vs. Brassard
Board 8: Thomas vs. Fratturelli
Board 9: Meehan vs. Ri. Pulya
Board 10: Lavoie vs. Donahue
Board 11: Mathieu vs. Hankard
Board 12: Biglow vs. Rivera
Board 13: Briggs vs. Burke
Board 14: Kiser vs. Bastarache
Board 15: Richardson vs. Cullen
Board 16: Gawboy vs. David
Board 17: O'Rourke vs. Ra. Pulya
REMINDER: Players must be present in Room C159 by by 7:10 P.M. in order to be paired for Round 5 on March 7th.
Players running late who wish to be paired MUST CALL by 7 P.M.
Starting June 4th last year (2017), newest WCC member, Mike David
has been running an informal chess club Sundays, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.,
at The Billiards Cafe, 39 Main St., Ayer, MA
Play Is "quick chess," i.e. Game/15, usually a round robin.
No entry fees, no prizes - just fun.
February 21st, 2018
2018 George E. O'Rourke Memorial
Round 3 of 5
George E. O'Rourke Memorial, February 21st, 2018
Round 3 of 5 Results
White
Result
Black
♔ Larry Gladding
1-0
Ray Paulson
Dave Thomas
0-1
Roger Cappallo
Paul Godin
1-0
Ralph McNeilage
Mike Meehan
0-1
Geoff LePoer
Bill Burke
0-1
Bruce Felton
Don Briggs
0-1
Diego Ubiera
Bob Mathieu
0-1
Gary Brassard
Nik Lavoie
1-0
Kyle Cullen
Ken Gurge
1-0
Raaga Pulya
John Bastarache
0-1
Jim Hankard
Mike Commisso
1-0
Larry O'Rourke
Don Ostrowski
1-0
Harry Richardson
Brian Biglow
1-0
Tom Whistler
Mariano Rivera
1-0
Michael David
Total of 14 boards, 1 major upset (♔).
♝ Receiving half-point byes were Rob King, George Mirijanian, Dave Couture, Jim Donahue, Tom Fratturelli,
Ritvik Pulya and Emily Gawboy.
♖ Not playing round 3 was Andrew Kiser.
♟ Withdrawn from the tournament were Scott Taylor and James Petullo.
Projected Round 4 Pairings for February 28th:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
1 Roger Cappallo (2.5) Larry Gladding (2.5)
2 Bruce Felton (2.5) Paul Godin (2.5)
3 Gary Brassard (2.0) Robert King (2.0)
4 Diego Ubiera (2.0) Nik Lavoie (2.0)
5 Ray Paulson (1.5) Brian Biglow (1.5)
6 Jim Donahue (1.5) George Mirijanian (1.5)
7 Jim Hankard (1.5) Ken Gurge (1.5)
8 Ralph McNeilage (1.5) Michael Commisso (1.5)
9 Tom Fratturelli (1.5) Dave Thomas (1.5)
10 Don Briggs (1.5) Mike Meehan (1.5)
11 Don Ostrowski (1.5) William Burke (1.5)
12 Ritvik Pulya (1.0) Mariano Rivera (1.5)
13 Kyle Culllen (1.0) Bob Mathieu (1.0)
14 Raaga Pulya (1.0) Emily Gawboy (1.0)
15 Harry Richardson (0.5) Andrew Kiser (0.5)
16 Larry O'Rourke (0.5) John Bastarache (0.5)
17 Michael David (0.0) Tom Whistler (0.5)
♗ Requesting a half-point bye for Round 4 is LePoer.
♙ The Wachusett Chess Club welcomes new player and USCF member Michael David of Groton.
Mike runs an informal chess club Sundays, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., at The Billiards Cafe, 39 Main St., Ayer, Mass.
Play Is "quick chess," i.e. Game/15, usually a round robin. No entry fees, no prizes - just fun. Welcome, Mike, to the club!
REMINDER: Players must be present in Room C159 by by 7:10 P.M. in order to be paired for Round 4 on February 28th.
Players running late who wish to be paired MUST CALL by 7 P.M.
Total of 13 boards,
1 major upset (♔ ♕)
1 upset draw (♖)
♝ Receiving half-point byes were Diego Ubiera, George Mirjanian, Gary Brassard, Dave Couture, Tom Fratturelli,
Nik Lavoie, Scott Taylor, Bob Mathieu, Kyle Cullen and James Petullo.
♖ Not playing round 2 was Andrew Kiser.
Projected Round 3 Pairings for February 21st:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board 1: King vs. McNeilage
Board 2: Gladding vs. Paulson
Board 3: Thomas vs. Cappallo
Board 4: Godin vs. Burke
Board 5: Meehan v. LePoer
Board 6: Briggs vs. Felton
Board 7: Fratturelli vs. Ubiera
Board 8: Lavoie vs. Mirijanian
Board 9: Mathieu vs. Brassard
Board 10: Couture vs. Cullen
Board 11: Donahue vs. Petullo
Board 12: Gurge vs. Ra. Pulya
Board 13: Ostrowski vs. Hankard
Board 14: Commisso vs. O'Rourke
Board 15: Ri. Pulya vs. Kiser
Board 16: Rivera vs. Richardson
Board 17: Biglow vs. Gawboy
Board 18: Bastarache vs. Whistler
♙ The Wachusett Chess Club welcomes new member Mariano Rivera of Leominster, formerly of San Antonio, Texas. Welcome, Mariano!
REMINDER: Players must be present in Room C159 by by 7:10 P.M. in order to be paired for Round 3 on February 21st.
Players running late who wish to be paired MUST CALL by 7 P.M.
Round 2 of the George E. O'Rourke Memorial will be played Wednesday evening, Feb. 14, in Room C159 of the McKay Complex at Fitchburg State University.
Players who wish to participate should make every attempt to arrive on time - by 7:10 p.m., at the latest, so that the round can get under way by 7:15 p.m. All participants will receive retroactively a half-point bye for round 1, which was not played because of a snowstorm and Fitchburg State University being closed on Feb. 7.
♔ ♛ ♖ ♝ ♘ ♞ ♗ ♜ ♕ ♚
Ratings in effect for
the 2018 George E. O.Rourke Memorial tournament:
Despite being snowed out for the first round of the George E. O'Rourke Memorial on Feb. 7th, that tournament finally gets under way this Wednesday, Feb. 14, in Room C159 of the McKay Complex at Fitchburg State University. Those who wish to participate should show up by 7 p.m. in order to be paired for Round 2. Participants will receive retroactively half-point byes for Round 1. The 5-round event honors the memory of Wachusett CC member George Edmund O'Rourke of Concord, who passed away at age 77 on Feb. 26, 2007.
Who will win the 2018 edition of the O'Rourke Memorial?
Here is a historical review of the winners in the past 10 years:
2017 - Brett Kildahl, 4.5-0.5
2016 - Edward Harris, 4.5-0.5
2015 - Walter Niemi, 4.5-0.5
2014 - Carissa Yip, 4.5-0.5
2013 - Ray Paulson, Paul Godin, George Mirijanian, Bruce Felton, 4-1
2012 - Bruce Felton, 4.5-0.5
2011 - Paul Godin, 4.5-0.5
2010 - Paul Giovino, 4.5-0.5
2009 - Ken Gurge, 4.5-0.5
2008 - Ken Gurge, 4-1
[Interestingly, none of the tournament's winners in the past ten years did so with a perfect score.]
-George M
February 7th, 2018
Wachusett CC closed this week!
Because Fitchburg State University will be closed Wednesday, here's what we are going to do:
WE WILL NOT MEET WEDNESDAY, FEB. 7.
Everyone who shows up for Round 2 next Wednesday, Feb. 14 (Valentine's Day),
will receive retroactively a half-point bye for Round 1 tonight.
If you know that you are playing and want a half-point bye for Round 2, please let us know.
This tournament, the George E. O'Rourke Memorial, will remain a 5-round Swiss, despite our inability to meet tonight for Round 1. -GM
REMINDER: The next club tournament, the George E. O'Rourke Memorial, will start Wednesday, Feb. 7.
Players must be present in Room C159 of the McKay Complex 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.
Updated Projected Round 5 pairings for Reggie Boone Memorial
Updated (SwissSys) Projected Round 5 Pairings for January 31st:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
1 Paul Godin (3.0) Roger Cappallo (3.5)
2 Gary Brassard (3.0) Bruce Felton (3.0)
3 Dave Thomas (2.5) Ray Paulson (2.5)
4 Arthur Barlas (2.5) Jim Hankard (2.5)
5 Larry Gladding (2.5) Jim Donahue (2.5)
6 Mike Meehan (2.5) Ken Gurge (2.5)
7 Ritvik Pulya (2.5) Ralph McNeilage (2.5)
8 Nik Lavoie (2.0) Geoff Lepoer (2.0)
9 George Mirijanian (2.0) Tom Fratturelli (2.0)
10 Raaga Pulya (2.0) Paul Lynch (2.0)
11 Harry Richardson (2.0) Dave Couture (2.0)
12 Larry O'Rourke (1.5) Diego Ubiera (1.5)
13 Brian Biglow (1.5) Ed Harris (1.5)
14 Michael Commisso (1.5) Don Ostrowski (1.5)
15 John Bastarache (1.5) Bob Mathieu (1.5)
16 Scott Taylor (1.0) Gail Lingner (1.0)
17 James Petullo (1.0) Andrew Kiser (0.5)
18 Hugh McLaughlin (0.5) Emily Gawboy (0.5)
January 30th, 2018
Wachusett CC players Paulson & Donahue runners-up in 2018 Billerica January Swiss
♝ Receiving half-point byes were Ritvik Pulya, Geoff LePoer, George Mirijanian, Paul Lynch, Bill Burke,
Raaga Pulya, Diego Ubiera, Ed Harris, Gail Lingner and James Petullo.
♙ Vince Premus withdrew from the tournament.
Projected Round 5 Pairings for January 31st:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board 1: Godin vs. Cappallo
Board 2: Brassard vs. Felton
Board 3:Thomas vs. Paulson
Board 4: Barlas vs. Meehan
Board 5: Gladding vs. Hankard
Board 6: Donahue vs. Gurge
Board 7: Ri. Pulya vs. McNeilage
Board 8: Fratturelli vs. LePoer
Board 9: Lavoie vs. Mirijanian
Board 10: Ra. Pulya vs. Lynch
Board 11: Richardson vs. Couture
Board 12: O'Rourke vs. Ubiera
Board 13: Biglow vs. Harris
Board 14: Commisso vs. Ostrowski
Board 15: Bastarache vs. Mathieu
Board 16: Lingner vs. Petullo
Board 17: Taylor vs. Kiser
Board 18: McLaughlin vs. Gawboy
♖ Not paired for Round 5 are: Burke and Briggs.
♙ The Wachusett Chess Club welcomes Scott Taylor of Londonderry, NH. This is his first USCF-rated tournament.
REMINDER: Players must be present in Room C159 by by 7:10 P.M. in order to be paired for Round 5 on January 31st.
Players running late who wish to be paired MUST CALL by 7 P.M.
Players receive half-point byes for round 3 due to snow
♝ Receiving half-point byes were: Paul Godin,
Roger Cappallo, Bruce Felton, Larry Gladding, Ray Paulson, Arthur Barlas, Gary Brassard, Ralph McNeilage, Dave Couture,
Jim Donahue, Ritvik Pulya, Harry Richardson, Geoff LePoer, George Mirijanian, Ken Gurge, Paul Lynch, Dave Thomas, Mike Meehan, Vince Premus, Bill Burke,
Jim Hankard, Mike Commisso, Bob Mathieu, Larry O'Rourke, John Bastarache, Raaga Pulya, Diego Ubiera, Ed Harris,
Tom Fratturelli, Nik Lavoie, Don Briggs, Gail Lingner, Brian Biglow,
Hugh McLaughlin, Andrew Kiser, Emily Gawboy, James Petullo, & Don Ostrowski.
♙ Rob King, Alan Condon, Wayne Steadman and Francis Scanlon were withdrawn from the tournament.
Projected Round 4 Pairings for January 24th:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
1 Bruce Felton (2.5) Paul Godin (2.5)
2 Roger Cappallo (2.5) Larry Gladding (2.5)
3 Ralph McNeilage (2.0) Ray Paulson (2.0)
4 Jim Donahue (2.0) Arthur Barlas (2.0)
5 Dave Couture (2.0) Gary Brassard (2.0)
6 Harry Richardson (2.0) George Mirijanian (1.5)
7 Ken Gurge (1.5) Michael Commisso (1.5)
8 Jim Hankard (1.5) Paul Lynch (1.5)
9 Bob Mathieu (1.5) Dave Thomas (1.5)
10 Larry O'Rourke (1.5) Mike Meehan (1.5)
11 John Bastarache (1.5) Diego Ubiera (1.0)
12 Tom Fratturelli (1.0) Ed Harris (1.0)
13 Don Briggs (1.0) Vince Premus (1.0)
14 Gail Lingner (0.5) Nik Lavoie (1.0)
15 Brian Biglow (0.5) Emily Gawboy (0.5)
16 James Petullo (0.5) Hugh McLaughlin (0.5)
17 Andrew Kiser (0.5) Don Ostrowski (0.5)
♗ Requesting a half-point byes for Round 4 are Geoff Lepoer, William Burke, Ritvik Pulya, & Raaga Pulya.
REMINDER: Players must be present in Room C159 by by 7:10 P.M. in order to be paired for Round 4 on January 24th.
Players running late who wish to be paired MUST CALL by 7 P.M.
Because Fitchburg State University will be closed Wednesday, here's what we are going to do:
WE WILL NOT MEET WEDNESDAY, JAN. 17.
But instead of eliminating the round, we will give half-point byes to everyone for Round 3
except the following players (whom I am withdrawing from the tournament):
Rob King, Alan Condon, Wayne Steadman and Francis Scanlon. -GM
Former Wachusett CC member Richard D. Chromiak dies at 22 Richard D. Chromiak
Richard "Richie" Dmytro Chromiak of Leominster, a former member of the Wachusett Chess Club and the U.S. Chess Federation, died on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2017. He was only 22. He was the son of Stephan and Marylee Chromiak. His father had also been a member of the Wachusett CC. Richard and his father were members of the Wachusett CC between May 2009 and April 2010. Richard played in nine club tournaments during that time. They included the 2009 Wachusett Chess Club Championship ("B" Division), Harlow Daly Memorial, Tigran Petrosian Memorial, Hervey R. Brisson Memorial, Arthur Bisguier Octogenarian Tournament, George Sturgis Memorial, Reggie Boone Memorial, George O'Rourke Memorial, and the Wachusett Chess Club Championship Prelims. Among current club members he faced were Ken Gurge, Lenny Arsenault, Tom Fratturelli, Wayne Steadman, Brian Biglow and Francis Scanlon. He had a win and a draw against Scanlon, and a win against Biglow.
A memorial service for Richard D. Chromiak will be held Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018 at 10 a.m. in Grace Baptist Church, 42 River Road, Pepperell, MA 01463, on Saturday, January 27, 2018, at 10:00 am. Reception immediately following the service.
NM Rob King has posted another instructional video on YouTube as part of the Metrowest Chess Club Video Series:
♖ Fischer - Benko, 1963
Check it out / share if you would like.
Thanks!
Rob
January 10th, 2018
2018 Reggie Boone Memorial
Round 2 of 5
Reggie Boone Memorial, January 10th, 2018
Round 2 of 5 Results
White
Result
Black
Paul Godin
1-0
Ken Gurge
Paul Lynch
0-1
Roger Cappallo
Dave Thomas
0-1
Bruce Felton
Arthur Barlas
1/2-1/2
Dave Couture
Mike Meehan
0-1
Larry Gladding
Gary Brassard
1/2-1/2
Ritvik Pulya
Diego Ubiera
0-1
♔ Jim Donahue
Ralph McNeilage
1-0
Tom Fratturelli
Ed Harris
0-1
♔ Harry Richardson
Geoff LePoer
1-0
Don Briggs
Bill Burke
1-0
Brian Biglow
Hugh McLaughlin
0-1
Jim Hankard
Mike Commisso
1-0
Andrew Kiser
♔ Raaga Pulya
1-0
Gail Lingner
Bob Mathieu
1-0
Emily Gawboy
Larry O'Rourke
1-0
James Petullo
John Bastarache
1-0
Don Ostrowski
Total of 17 boards, 3 major upsets (♔).
♝ Receiving half-point byes were Ray Paulson, Rob King, George Mirijanian, Vince Premus, Alan Condon,
Wayne Steadman, Francis Scanlon and Nik Lavoie.
♙ Tom Whistler withdrew from the tournament.
Projected Round 3 Pairings for January 17th:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board 1: Felton vs. Godin
Board 2: Cappallo vs. Gladding
Board 3: Couture vs. Paulson
Board 4: Donahue vs. Barlas
Board 5: Richardson vs. Brassard
Board 6: Ri. Pulya vs. McNeilage
Board 7: King vs. O'Rourke
Board 8: Hankard vs. LePoer
Board 9: Mirijanian vs. Commisso
Board 10: Gurge vs. Mathieu
Board 11: Condon vs. Lynch
Board 12: Bastarache vs. Thomas
Board 13: Steadman vs. Meehan
Board 14: Ra. Pulya vs. Burke
Board 15: Fratturelli vs. Ubiera
Board 16: Briggs vs. Harris
Board 17: Lingner vs. Lavoie
Board 18: Biglow vs. Gawboy
Board 19: Petullo vs. McLaughlin
Board 20: Kiser vs. Ostrowski
REMINDER: Players must be present in Room C159 by by 7:10 P.M. in order to be paired for Round 3 on January 17th.
Players running late who wish to be paired MUST CALL by 7 P.M.
Former Wachusett CC member Dean E. Turra dies at 62 Dean E. Turra
Dean E. Turra, a USCF life member and a former member of the Wachusett Chess Club, died Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018, at his home in Fitchburg. He was 62. Born Oct. 22, 1955 in Shirley, Mass., the son of Frank and Josephine (Bartolo) Turra, he graduated from Ayer High School in 1973. Dean served in the U.S. Army from 1975 to 1978. During that time, he became chess champion at Fort Meade in Maryland. While serving in the Army, he enrolled in the University of Maryland and continued his education at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
After graduating from UMass-Amherst in 1982 with a degree in business, Dean joined the Wachusett Chess Club, which at that time was meeting at the St. Joseph Club in the Cleghorn section of Fitchburg. Dean became one of the most active members of the club during the 1980s and continued playing there right into the early 1990s. His last tournament at the club was the Wachusett CC Fall Swiss, held October-November 1992. His last over-the-board tournament was the Nashoba Chess Club July Swiss, held in Westford, Mass. in 1995. While playing at the Wachusett CC, Dean was a key member of the Wachusett CC team that narrowly lost a 14-board match to the Framingham Chess Club on April 2, 1985 at the American Legion in Framingham. Outrated on 11 of 14 boards, the Wachusett CC team lost 7.5 to 6.5, with Dean scoring a crucial win on board 8.
Ritvik Pulya opens new year with another big upset!
Reggie Boone Memorial, January 3rd, 2018
Round 1 of 5 Results
White
Result
Black
Ray Paulson
1-0
Bill Burke
Jim Hankard
0-1
Paul Godin
Roger Cappallo
1-0
Mike Commisso
♔ Ritvik Pulya
1-0
Geoff LePoer
Bruce Felton
1-0
Bob Mathieu
Nik Lavoie
0-1
Arthur Barlas
Larry Gladding
1-0
Larry O'Rourke
Brian Biglow
0-1
Gary Brassard
Ken Gurge
1-0
John Bastarache
♖ Don Briggs
1/2-1/2
Ralph McNeilage
Paul Lynch
1-0
Hugh McLaughlin
Emily Gawboy
0-1
Dave Thomas
Dave Couture
1-0
Raaga Pulya
Don Ostrowski
0-1
Mike Meehan
Total of 14 boards,
1 major upset (♔ ♕)
1 upset draw (♖)
♝ Receiving half-point byes were Rob King, Diego Ubiera, George Mirijanian, Vince Premus,
Alan Condon, Jim Donahue, Tom Fratturelli, Harry Richardson, Wayne Steadman, Francis Scanlon, and Tom Whistler.
♖ Not playing round 1 were Gail Lingner, Andrew Kiser, and James Petullo.
Projected Round 2 Pairings for January 10th:Board #: [White] vs. [Black]
Board 1: Godin vs. Gurge
Board 2: Lynch vs. Cappallo
Board 3: Thomas vs. Felton
Board 4: Barlas vs. Couture
Board 5: Meehan vs. Gladding
Board 6: Brassard vs. Ri. Pulya
Board 7: Fratturelli vs. King
Board 8: Ubiera vs. Richardson
Board 9: Steadman vs. Mirijanian
Board 10: McNeilage vs. Scanlon
Board 11: Condon vs. Briggs
Board 12: Whistler vs. Donahue
Board 13: LePoer vs. Biglow
Board 14: Burke vs. Kiser
Board 15: Bastarache vs. Hankard
Board 16: Commisso vs. Gawboy
Board 17: McLaughlin vs. Lingner
Board 18: Mathieu vs. Petullo
Board 19: Ra. Pulya vs. Lavoie
Board 20: O'Rourke vs. Ostrowski
♗ Ray Paulson and Vince Premus are requesting half-point byes for Round 2.
♙ The Wachusett Chess Club welcomes new player, Don Ostrowski (Ph.D) of Fitchburg, a senior advisor and lecturer in social studies at Harvard University Extension School, where he teaches world history.
Don also serves on the Fitchburg Historical Commission and was a member years ago of the Reading (Pennsylvania) Chess Club. Welcome Don!
REMINDER: Players must be present in Room C159 by by 7:10 P.M. in order to be paired for Round 2 on January 10th.
Players running late who wish to be paired MUST CALL by 7 P.M.
Reminder: Your digital electronic chess clock doesn't like the cold either!
"In surface-mount designs, the differential temperature coefficient of expansion between the parts-soldered-to-the-circuit-board and the circuit board can cause large stresses. The stress-strain-temperature relationship often barely works over the specified temperature range. When the equipment is powered up, the hot components can change shape and break the brittle plastic, much like my old ice chest."
"If the equipment is below zero degrees C [32 degrees F] and then you take it into a nice warm, humid office, water will condense on the circuit boards and can cause problems. Presumably a similar thing can happen with frost, depending on the weather. When the frost melts, there can be problems."
For more info, refer to: Storing electronics at low temperatures Operating electronics at low temperatures
Most electronic chess clocks are difficult &/or expensive to repair, so don't leave your clock in your car overnight!
♔ ♛ ♖ ♝ ♘ ♞ ♗ ♜ ♕ ♚
Ratings in effect for
the 2018 Reggie Boone Memorial tournament:
1
Rob King
2220
2
Brett Kildahl
2129
3
Diego Ubiera
2008
4
Ray Paulson
2002
5
Paul Godin
1961
6
Roger Cappallo
1956
7
Geoff LePoer
1955
8
George Mirijanian
1929
9
Bruce Felton
1864
10
Arthur Barlas
1826
11
Larry Gladding
1813
12
Vlad Gaciu
1777
13
Gary Brassard
1769
14
Ken Gurge
1769
15
Ralph McNeilage
1756
16
Paul Lynch
1710
17
Dave Thomas
1708
18
Dave Couture
1703
19
Mike Meehan
1678
20
Vince Premus
1676
21
Bill Burke
1663
22
Lenny Arsenault
1631
23
Alan Condon
1605
24
Roland Booker
1600
25
Jim Hankard
1600
26
Mike Commisso
1582
27
Jim Donahue
1579
28
Tom Fratturelli
1542
29
Gail Lingner
1507
30
Ritvik Pulya
1505
31
Bob Mathieu
1487
32
Harry Richardson
1448
33
Larry O'Rourke
1405
34
Brian Biglow
1400
35
John Bastarache
14000
36
Randy McLaughlin
1371
37
Wayne Steadman
1326
38
Don Briggs
1316
39
Hugh McLaughlin
1208
40
Andrew Kiser
1144
41
Francis Scanlon
1077
42
Emily Gawboy
1070
43
Tom Whistler
1047
44
Raaga Pulya
613
45
James Petullo
515
January 1st, 2018
John Curdo reissues "Chess Caviar" series of 3 books.
Each book contains 100 instructive insightful & entertaining mineature games by FM John Curdo, arguably New England's most successful & prolific practioner of the game.
"Chess Caviar" - 100 games with notes & annotations by John Curdo - $10. "More Chess Caviar" by John Curdo - 100 more games with notes & annotations by John Curdo - $10. "Still More Chess Caviar" by John Curdo - yet another 100 games with notes & annotations by John Curdo - $10.
"A necessary & welcome component of any chess library!" Any or all of these books may be purchased directly from John Curdo at jacurdo@verizon.net.
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