The 6th Patrick D. Hart Memorial (PHM) Scholastic chess tournament is being held January 22, 2011.  The new site is the Hawthorn Suites, 2455 Savannah Hwy (US17South) in Charleston, SC.  This is a USCF-rated tournament, but features a special non-USCF section for beginning players.  Checkout the details by clicking on “Upcoming Tournaments” on our main webpage (right side).  For those who never knew Pat, he was an avid chessplayer who excelled in both over-the-board and postal chess, achieving an Expert rating in both.  Though stricken with muscular dystrophy since his youth and wheel chair bound, he was an able chessplayer, even excelling at speed and blitz chess.  Pat was also the backbone behind the Charleston Chess Club, where he served as President and perenial Treasurer until near the end of his life.  He also served as the S.C. Chess Assocation’s Treasurer from 1985 until his death.  He will always be remembered as a pillar of both Charleston and South Carolina chess.  For all scholastic players, join us at the 6th PHM Scholastic and help us support chess as Pat would have.

Charleston’s Scholastic Kickoff

When: 10:30 am on Dec. 4th

Where: Charles Pinkney Elementary Cafeteria

Cost: Entry fee is $10

Tournament Details:

USCF Rated

4 Rounds in 3 Section*

K-3, K-6, K-12

Game :30*

Swiss System

Tournament will be USCF rated, accordingly players MUST register with USCF.  To register visit uschess.org and follow the join/renew tab.

The tournament will last up to 5 hours, however many players will be finished by 2:30.  Parents may feel free to stay and watch from specified sections.

Please remember to bring a snack!

As this is the first tournament of the year it will be the best opportunity for 1^st time tournament players to compete competitively!

*Number of rounds and game duration may be subject to slight alterations depending on section size.  Sections may be combined for pairing purposes only.

Questions?

Contact sawelt@yahoo.com or 843-991-1116

 EF: $20     USCF membership required   

Free EF for players rated 2200 and over ($15 deducted from prize)   

Registration: 9:15- 9:45AM   

Rounds: 10:00AM, 1:00PM, 3:30PM   

10 – players sections   

Prizes: $90 1st, $40 2nd, $10 3rd   

Director reserves the right to adjust the number of players in the bottom section based on attendance.   

For questions, contact Josh Nissenboim (joshnissenboim@gmail.com)   

For pre-registration, include Name, USCF ID#, bye requests (Any prepayments by check can be made out to “Charleston Chess Club”.)   

We will start our weekly game :60 tournament this Wednesday.  All details will be tentative, but this is what we will try for the first 5 weeks.

Entry Fee: $5 for non-members/week, $2 for members/week.

Prizes per section*:  1st $20, 2nd $10, Upset $10, Brilliancy $8/$2 (victor/victim)

*All prizes based on 12 member entries per week.  Players may not win more than 2 prizes per tournament.  Upset prizes require a 200 pt rating gap for wins, and 400 pt gap for draws.  If there is no winner prizes will be rolled over into the next tournament.  Games for brilliancy prize to be submitted before end of tournament and to be judged by club before the first round of next tournament.  Players will be limited to one submission per tournament.  There will be no limit to the number of byes available for pairing purposes but only 2 1/2 pt byes will be counted towards 1st and 2nd place prizes.  For the time being we will not require notification for rd 5 byes.  If there is the perception that players are skipping the last round to secure prizes this will be changed.  If you know that you will be missing the last round please notify us in advance.

Players may be forced to play up or down from original section.  Players forced to play up will receive 1/2 pt + their score (not to exceed 1 pt) in lower section.  Players are eligible for prizes only in the section they have played the most games in, with the exception of the upset prize.

We had a full meeting last Wednesday.  Club Champion David Causey finished his simul +8, -1, =3, a score that wouldn’t seem out of place with ones we’ve seen from GMs in our state.

Members also discussed and voted unanimously on a couple changes that will be taking place.  We will be adding a monthly kids/family night with a start time around 5 or 5:30 once the space becomes available to us in a month or so.  We will also be having continual 5 round Game :60 tournaments.  There will be one round each week starting July 7th at 8pm.  There will be a weekly entry fee and prizes given, details will be announced soon.  The change in starting time is designed to accommodate  blitz and thematic tournaments, players looking for casual games, and those members who have a difficult time making it by 7:30.  If able please come by 7 to enjoy some of these other activities.

“Make a Difference” G/60 Chess Tournament & Festival
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 – 9:30; 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. R on Clements Ferry Rd .25 mi, L on St Thomas Rd 0.9 mi (becomes Daniel Island Dr) Blackbaud is on the left; parking is free. See map
Information/Advance Registration: Chris Falter, 213 Goldfinch Ln, Summerville, SC 29485; 843-771-3509; chrisfalter@gmail.com

We will also be taking advanced entries at our weekly meetings up until the event.

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

We have a big meeting planned for June 30th.  We will be doing an awards ceremony for our club championship and our Charleston Chess Club Champion, David Causey, will be doing a simultaneous exhibition for all members.

We will also be having a book swap.  In addition to members bringing any unwanted books the club will again be offering a good portion of its library to any interested members.  Books deemed generally undesirable as part of our club’s library will be sold, so this may be your last chance to take advantage of some free chess literature!

Since there will most likely be so many members present we will also take this opportunity to have a business meeting.  On the agenda is a kids/family night, possible weekly rated events, new membership options, possible weekend tournaments, an additional weekly meeting at a new venue, and more!

Needless to say it’s an important meeting and I hope all of you will try to be there to be heard, play, and help get rid of all these books and magazines!

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.

$ 1,600 Prize Fund (based on 40 entries; $ 800 guaranteed)

World Chess Live Grand Prix Points – 6

5 Round  Swiss         USCF Heritage Event      Charleston, SC

Best Western Charleston – Downtown

Open to all USCF/SCCA members (memberships available at registration)

3-day option:  Registration – Friday 6-7 pm  Time Controls: 35/90 SD 60  Rounds: 8pm, 2pm, 8pm, 9am, 2:30pm

2-day option:  Registration – Friday 6-7pm or Sat. 8-9am   Time controls: Rd 1 G90, then same as 3 day  Rd 1 – 10am, then merge with 3 day

Site:  Best Western Charleston-Downtown, 250 Spring St., Charleston, SC 29403  (843) 722-4000 or Toll Free 1-(888)-377-2121

Hotel Rates:  $74.99 (reserve by Jan. 29, 2010; mention “Charleston Chess Club”)

Total Prize Fund:  $1,600 ($800 guaranteed) based on 40 entries; more $$ per entries

One Section, open to all.

Prizes:    1st – $400     2nd – $200     3rd – $100    Top Expert, A, B, C, D, E & below – 1st/$100, 2nd/$50  (Unrateds will be based on performance rating after 4th rd.)

Entry Fee:  $60 if received by 2/03/2010; $70 at site; $35 re-entry  Note:  Free entry to masters or above; $60 will deducted from any prizes won.

Byes available all rounds but must commit before Rd. 2 for Rds. 4 & 5 (irrevocable).

SCCA membership required ($10 adult; $5 junior under 19); other states OK

Address for advance entry:  Charleston Chess Club c/o David Y. Causey, 741 Dragoon Dr., Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 (H) 843-881-8460 (M) 843-343-1879 email: chessbass@att.net

Please indicate whether playing in 2 or 3 day schedule when you send your entry.  If paying SCCA membership with advance entry, please include in total amount payable to “Charleston Chess Club”.