The club championship was harrowing, well kind of. In the end it was a tie for first between Stephen Welt and David Causey with 4.5/5. As was pre-arranged the players were to play an indefinite sequence of 2-game mini-matches (G/45) until there was a decisive result. The first and second week experienced missed wins by both sides, and all 4 games were drawn. In week 3 of the playoff Stephen struck in the first game with a win in a Q+R+6 pawns vs Q+R+6 pawns ending. In the second game Stephen offered a draw in a winning position. The draw was accepted, ending the match.

Enjoy a video of this last game.

Grandmaster Gregory Kaidanov will attend the Charleston Chess Club on June 24, 2009, and give a lecture, simul, and four-game blind blitz exhibition.  GM Kaidanov is a highly respected chessplayer who immigrated from Russia in 1991 and now resides in Kentucky.  He has won numerous international tournaments as well as a World Open and U.S. Open.  Check out his website at www.kaidanov.org.

For those who wish to participate, the fee for the evening’s events will be $15.00.  Its “first come-first serve” so register and pay early to ensure a spot.  Finally registration will be at 7:00pm on June 24, with the start of the lecture at 7:30pm.  Bring your boards and sets.

Click through to view David Causey’s and Dan Quigley’s games in the 2008 Folloween Open. Both David and Dan finished in a 5 way tie for 2nd.

Click here for the games.

On June 25, 2008 the Charleston Chess Club in conjunction with the South Carolina Chess Association hosted a simultaneous exhibition by Grandmaster Lubomir Ftacnik. For the second year in a row, Josh Nissenboim held a draw against the Grandmaster and can continue to boast about his 50% lifetime score against GMs. Ian Morton also held a draw.

GM Ftacnik’s appearance was made possible by the generous sponsorship of Precision Tune Auto Care.

Ian Morton went undefeated (7 wins 2 draws) in the U1100 section of the World Open to win it outright with a score of 8/9.  A very, very impressive feat.

Click here  for 4 of his games.

Click here for the crosstables.

With all the good news concerning our members lately, nothing tops the performance of our own club member, Ian Morton.  Having set his sights on tackling the U1100 section at the World Open this past week in Philadelphia, Ian delivered a stunning victory.  With seven wins and two draws, he basically “lapped the field” and won the top prize for that section.  Ian should have some great games and stories to tell us at the club, so, as President, I have declared the July 11th meeting as “Ian Morton Night”.  Join us in celebrating with Ian his great triumph in the North and give him the opportunity to “show-off” his games and tell his tournament stories.  See you there.

David Causey, CCC President

On June 13, GM Ftacnik visited the club for a lecture and a 15 board simul. He went undefeated, scoring 14 wins and 1 draw. His draw was against Josh Nissenboim who, after a single game against a GM, can brag about his 50% lifetime performance rating against GMs.

To see the game.

GM Ftacnik will be defending his championship in the South Carolina Open tournament June 15-17 at the Carolina First Center in Greenville.  Contact your local club or SC Chess for more information.

Sponsored by: Precision Tune Auto Care

1. GM Ftacnik showing the club one of his interesting games.

2. Club President David Causey getting a lesson in the King’s Indian Defense.

3. Our top junior player, Paul Miller, ready to give the GM ” a run for his money”.

4. The GM in action while John Vonderlieth, in the background, thinks about his next move.

5. Josh Nissenboim was the only player to draw GM Ftacnik.

Four CCC members participated in the S.C. Open last weekend in Greenville, S.C., and made an excellent showing.  Our own CCC president, David Causey, tied for 2nd-3rd place in the Open section by winning his last round game against Life Master and 12-time S.C. champion, Klaus Pohl.  David has broken the 2000 rating point barrier that he has hovered under for over 25 years!  Stephen Welt, one of our class B players, tied for 9th-12th place also in the Open section, gaining over 30 rating points!   Our lone representative in the Under 1800 section (since Stephen was playing up in the Open section) was “grandmaster-drawing” Josh Nissenboim.  Josh had a respectable 50% result against “C” class players, holding his own and confirming his solid status at that level.  Finally, bringing up the “anchor-leg” in the Under 1400 section with an outstanding result, was Ian Morton.  Ian tied for 1st-4th by knocking off Daniel Dodds in the last round, who was undefeated to that point.  Daniel, you may remember, was the young player who garnered a win against GM Ftacnik in the Columbia simul.  All in all, a solid performance for our contingent from the Charleston Chess Club.  Be sure to congratulate them!