In order for our club to hold rated quick/blitz chess, we must have all interested participants arrive between 7:00-7:15pm in order to sign up.  Also, to offset rating fees, we ask for a contribution of $2.00 to play.  If any are interested in a prize fund, we can set up an optional side pot for the winners.  Be sure to bring your board, set, and clock!

After the fourth and final round concluded, the Charleston Chess Club Championship will be shared by Stephen Welt and David Causey, who won their final games after drawing each other in the 3rd round.  Each player finished with a score of 3.5 – .5.  The “Under 1500” prize was won by Michael Doyle, who came out of semi- retirement to defend his title, scoring 2.5-1.5 in a field where he played both higher and lower rated opponents.  The “Under 1500 Runner-Up” prize will be shared by Zach Darga and Gregg Passmore, both with a final result of 2.0-2.0.  Congratulations to all the winners!

 We will have an awards presentation during next week’s meeting and make plans for some upcoming “Quick-rated” and “Blitz” tournaments.  Click on the following link to view the USCF-rated crosstable:

2013 CCC Championship Crosstable

The third round of the Charleston Chess Club Championship did not produce any real upsets, but it did produce some interesting fighting games and build the stage for the critical final round next week.  The following grid shows the results of the games:

Congratulations to Alan Hopkins on achieving his first USCF-rated tournament win!  It’s all easy from here, Alan!

Here are the current point standings for each player:

Unlike Round 1, there were some upsets in Round 2 that will make the rest of the pairings rather interesting!  See below for the Rd. 2 results:

Fourteen members registered Wednesday night to compete in the 2013 CCC Championship.  We decided on a Swiss System format to provide flexibility for those who can’t make it every night but still want to play.  If you have not signed up to play, you can still register and just take a 1/2 pt. bye for any rounds missed.  First round results are as follows:

No upsets in Rd. 1, but some games were closely contested.  Since the lower rated players are playing for the “Top Under 1500” and “Runner Up Under 1500” prize, the tournament will be really just beginning for them in Rd. 2! 

Hope to see more join us for Rd. 2!

President – Dennis Dawley

Vice President – Stephen Welt

Secretary/Treasurer – David Causey

Club championship will be a Game 90, delay 10 sec., with the 1st round beginning Wednesday, April 10th, followed by subsequent needed rounds each week.  Registration begins at 7pm and 1st round will begin at 7:30pm.  Get there early to register so that we can begin on time.  Entry fee is just $5.00 and we will offer trophies for 1st place and runner-up, plus an “Under” prize and runner-up to be determined by entries.  Club membership is also required ($5.00) as well as USCF current membership.  We will determine the rounds and format when we know the number of entries.  Bring your set, board, and clock!

Just a reminder to all members, former members, and future members – our annual meeting and election of officers will be on Wednesday, April 3, 2013, at 7:00pm.  If you need to re-new your club membership or join, please arrive at 7:00pm so that we can take care of it before the official meeting begins at 7:30pm.  Dues are just $5 per year!  Also, we will be planning our club championship which begins the following Wednesday, April 10.  Join us so that you can be involved in the affairs of our club.  Hope to see you there!

Click the following link for the USCF crosstable – 8th PHM Scholastic

Report and photos to follow soon.

National Life Master Klaus Pohl of Greenville, S.C., winner of the 39th Snowstorm Special

NM Klaus Pohl of Greenville, S.C., won his tenth Snowstorm Special last weekend with a final score of 4.5 – .5, drawing only his compatriot from the upstate, Expert Wayne Christensen.  Two crucial games decided his final standing, one in the 3rd round when he defeated NM Philipp Lamby, and the other in the final 5th round when he defeated NM Pat Sciacca.  Lamby won against Christensen in the final round to finish 2nd, with local “A” player, Ian Morton, who also took the U2000 prize.  Sixteen players competed in the Open section, including the U1700 prize winner, “B” player, John Retarides of North Carolina.

In the U1400 Section of the tournament, local player, John King, and upstate player, Joe Rochester, Jr., tied for 1st-2nd with a final score of 4-1.  John was returning to chess after a long layoff and showed he was not “out of form” with his result.  Only seven players competed in the newly established “U1400” section, so we hope this will grow as players realize their missed opportunity to compete.

Thanks to all who played and we hope you had an enjoyable tournament!  We even had a little snow in Summerville to commemorate this special tournament!

Click this link to see the USCF final crosstable and ratings – 39th Snowstorm Special