Twelve club members are participating in the second weekly swiss tournament, but more can join anytime.  For just $2 per round played and a 1/2 pt. bye for any unplayed rounds, you cannot beat this deal for rated chess.  More players are welcomed and encouraged to come out and join us.  Check out the results of the first round last Wednesday night by clicking the “Weekly Swiss Results” link on the main page of the CCC website.  Remember to bring your set, board, and clock!  We provide pens and scoresheets.

For those playing in our weekly swiss tournament, the final round will be next Wednesday, 8/04/10.  Based on the scores so far in each section, this will be the decisive round for many to have the opportunity to win a prize.  Checkout the “Weekly Swiss Results” page and see where you stand.  Remember that only two unplayed 1/2 pt. byes can be used towards winning a prize, so many need to play their last game to be eligible.  Also, don’t forget about the “Upset” prize and “Brilliancy” prize.  With the upsets that have occurred so far, there certainly should be a winner in that catagory.

Fifteen local players showed up on 7/10/10 at the Blackbaud Office on Daniel Island and participated in a two section Game 60 USCF-rated Swiss event to benefit prison chess in South Carolina.  This was the “brainchild” of SCCA Prison Chess Coordinator, Chris Falter, of Summerville, who organized and directed the event.  All proceeds were donated to fund prison chess activities under Chris’ direction in S.C.  As for the chess event, go to the following link to see the outcome of the competition – Make a Difference Game 60 Swiss.  Hopefully, Chris will stage another benefit for prison chess so that we can encourage more players to visit the excellent facility that hosted this event and help with this important cause.

We have added a new feature in the Members Section.  You can “click” on any name that’s highlighted orange to access the member’s USCF file.  Give it a try and let us hear your comments. 

Update:  We have also added an Upcoming Tournaments page where local, state and regional tournaments will be listed with links to their announcements.  Go to the right side of the webpage and click on “Upcoming Tournaments”.

After over two months of competition, the final results of the Charleston CC Championship have been rated.  Go to 2010 CCC Championship and view how everyone finished.  Trophies will be awarded at the next meeting on Wednesday, June 30, followed by a simulteanous exhibition by the 2010 champion, David Causey.  Also, bring any chess books or equipment that you would like to sell, swap or donate.  Be sure to bring your board and set to participate in the simul.  See you there and be ready to give the new champion your best game!

Come enjoy 3 rounds of chess fun, and support chess programs for SC prison inmates!  Activities will include a USCF-rated tournament and a festival/tournament for non-rated players.

When:  Saturday, July 10, 2010. Registration 9-9:30am; rounds at 9:45, 12:45, and 3:00.

Where:  Blackbaud facility, 2000 Daniel Island Dr., Charleston, SC.  Go through the atrium to the cafeteria at the back.

Cost:  $10 entry fee (check payable to Charleston Chess Club, or cash).  100% of net proceeds will benefit inmate chess programs.

Directions:  I-526 to Exit 23A. right on Clements Ferry Rd., .25mi., left on St. Thomas Rd., 0.9mi. (becomes Daniel Island Dr.) Blackbaud is on the left; parking is free.

Information/Advance Registration:  Chris Falter, 213 Goldfinch Ln., Summerville, SC 29485; 843-771-3509; chrisfalter@gmail. com

GM Lubomir Ftacnik, after giving an instructive lecture using the last game between GM Anand and GM Topolov in the World Championship match, dispatched all twelve participants in the simultaneous exhibition that followed.  Not even a draw was recorded this year against the grandmaster, who just finished winning this year’s S.C. Open in Greenville with a 5-0 score.  Though all are “licking their wounds” from the grandmaster’s drubbing, they should have a chance to conduct a post mortem on their game and see where they went wrong.  As has always been said in chess, “we learn mostly from our losses.”  Many thanks go out to our SCCA president, David Grimaud, along with his sponsorship of GM Ftacnik’s tour of our state through Precision Tune Automotive Care.  Also, many thanks to the participants who came out to see GM Ftacnik’s lecture and take their turn over the board against such a formidible grandmaster.

GM Lubomir Ftacnik will return to the Charleston CC on Wednesday, June 16, at 7:00pm and give a chess lecture followed by a simultaneous exhibition.  This is everyone’s chance to play a grandmaster in over-to-board chess and see if you can hold your own against a formidable opponent.  Members and guests are urged to attend both the lecture and exhibition.  While the chess lecture is free for everyone, if you would like to play in the simul, we ask for a $10 donation for adults and a $5 donation for scholastic players.  All proceeds from this event go towards scholastic events held by the Charleston CC.  Check out the announcement and background info at “http://www.scchess.org/“.

Precision Tune Auto Care is the official sponsor for this event and also sponsors the upcoming South Carolina Open being held in Greenville on June 11-13, 2010.  Check out the announcement at the above link to the SCCA website.

With the confirmed withdrawal of Josh Nissenboim from the tournament, the new 2010 Upper Section champion is David Causey.  Like in the Lower Section, the runner up trophy is still to be determined awaiting the final game between last year’s champion, Stephen Welt, who has 3 points and Ian Morton, who currently has 4 points.  The critical game for David was two weeks ago when he played Ian, who had four wins to that point.  David had given up a draw with fellow A-player, John Vonderlieth, earlier, so he needed a win against Ian in order to overtake him.   Playing the King’s Indian Defense against a well-prepared Ian Morton, David sacrificed a center pawn for counterplay and after Ian did not find the best moves, David reached an ending with both his rooks on Ian’s second rank.  In time pressure, Ian dropped a pawn and reached a difficult rook and pawn ending with barely any time on his clock.  After a few more moves, Ian’s time ran out and David posted a welcomed point to seal his championship victory.  By his own admission, David says that none of his games were easy or very dominant, only that he won by keeping pressure on his opponents. He actually survived a blunder and went on to win against Stephen Welt in their game, when he played a move that allowed Stephen to win a piece, only Stephen grabbed a pawn instead!  Maybe there is a reason we wish each other “good luck” in chess!  David has only won the CCC championship title once before in 2007, but has had numerous second place finishes, dating back to 1981, his first CCC Championship.