Idaho Chess News

2010 ICA President's Cup

July 31-Aug 1

Twin Falls ID

Nicholas Brown of Boise wins Prez Cup

Outrated but not outplayed as 2.0/3 earns The Cup

Paul Edvalson wins small blitz event 6.5/8

Final Four

Nicholas Ross Brown      2.0/3

Hugh S Myers            1.5/3

Barry D Eacker           1.5/3

Tom R Booth              1.0/3

Blitz

Paul F Edvalson         6.5/8

Fred Bartell               4.5/8

Glen Buckendorf           1.0/8    

COMPLETE RESULTS

2010 ICA Summer Classic

June 26-27, 2010

Boise ID

OPEN SECTION

David Wayne Stewart - 4.0/5

Garrett Reynolds - 4.0/5

Randall W Pellam - 4.0/5

RESERVE SECTION

Carmen Pemsler - 5.0/5

Cory Longhurst - 4.0/5

Katie Patterson - 3.0/5

COMPLETE RESULTS AND STORY

2010 National Open

June 11 - 13, 2010

Las Vegas NV

Timur Gareyev wins event 5.5/6

Official Site

Material by: The Week in Chess

Material by: Chessbase

IDAHO PLAYERS IN VEGAS

Luke Harmon-Vellotti (2118)    Boise ID     3.5/6     OPEN

SIMUL DRAW WITH GM VARUZHAN AKOBIAN (2664)

Carl Harmon-Vellotti (1786)     Boise ID     2.5/6     U2200

SIMUL DRAW WITH GM VARUZHAN AKOBIAN (2664)

Dan Mayers (1816)         Sun Valley ID     3.0/6     U2000

Kevin Patterson (1305)       Meridian ID     3.0/6     U1400

Katie Patterson (992)        Meridian ID     2.0/6     U1200

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2010 Twin Falls City Championship

June 12, 2010

Twin Falls ID

Fred Bartell of Twin Falls

wins event 3.5/4

Idaho Chess Union event

Rated by Rocky Mountain Chess

  Place    Name/Team                                   Pre     Post     Score    Solk    CumOp    Cum    MMed
   1    BARTELL, FRED (2)                             1799    1799      3.5       8.5      24.0         9.5       6.5
   2    GARRABRANDT, NATHANIEL (13)     1200    1240      3.0       9.0      22.0         7.5       7.5
   3    BAGGETT, JEFF M (5)                         1644    1636      3.0       8.0      18.0         7.0       6.5
   4    EACKER, BARRY D (3)                        1656    1652      3.0       7.5      22.0          6.0       6.5
   5    MYERS, HUGH S (4)                            1653    1657      3.0       6.0      15.0         6.5       6.0
   6    LOONEY, DANIEL S (6)                      1624     1636      2.5       8.0      19.5         6.0       8.0
   7    DUGGER, GARY (11)                           1276     1280      2.0       9.5      23.5         7.0       5.0
   8    VERESHCHAGIN, ALEKSANDR (10)  1435     1433      2.0       9.5      22.0         6.0       5.0
   9    PORTH, ADAM (12)                             1220     1224      2.0       7.5      20.5         5.0       4.0
 10    CHRIST, ANDREW (15)                      1000     1016      2.0       7.0      18.0         4.0       4.0
 11    WRAY, JAMES (9)                               1453     1437      2.0       6.0      16.5         3.0       3.0
 12    HINTON, STEVE (7)                            1577     1555      1.5       8.0      16.5         5.5       5.0
 13    BRUCK, NICK JON (14)                      1089     1101      1.5       8.0      16.5         3.0       5.0
 14    BUCKENDORF, GLEN (1)                    1801     1800     1.5       7.0      16.0         3.5       4.0
 15    WEATHERS, RICKEY (8)                    1484     1479      1.5       5.5      14.5         2.5       2.5
 16    WALTON, TAYLOR (18)                      1000     1014     1.0       7.5      17.5         4.0       5.5
 17    PORTH, DESMOND (17)                     1000     1000      1.0       7.0      16.0         2.0       4.0
 18    DEAN, LACY (16)                                1000    1000      0.0       6.0      15.5         0.0       4.0

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2010 Idaho Open

May 1-2, 2010

Pocatello ID

Abderhalden, Morrow tie 4.0/5

GM Jesse Kraai wins

2009 Far West Open 5.0/6

April 4-6, 2010

Reno NV

RESULTS

Pictures

Current and former Idaho players in Reno

Luke Harmon-Vellotti  2100 Boise ID      OPEN        2.5/6     

Carl Harmon-Vellotti  1778  Boise ID      OPEN        1.5/7

Hans Morrow      1964   Farmington UT  A Section    2.5/6

Glen Buckendorf  1800    Buhl ID         A Section     2.0/6

David Eacker      1772   Berkeley CA     B Section     4.0/6

Emily Patterson    1463  Meridian ID     B Section     3.0/6

Barry Eacker      1669  Twin Falls ID    B Section     1.0/6

Kevin Patterson    1302  Meridian ID      D Section    4.0/6

Katie Patterson     957  Meridian ID      D Section    2.0/6 

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2010 Magic Valley Chess Club Championship
March 6-7, 2010 

Twin Falls, ID

      Barry Eacker wins MVCC Championship 3.5/4

  Andrew Uriarte wins Challenger Section Quad 2.5/3

                         SEE MORE PICTURES FROM THIS EVENT

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2010 Idaho Closed State Championship
February 13-15, 2010 

Boise, ID

Weyland, Parsons, Evers Co-Champions

COMPLETE RESULTS

Games

* As there was a 3-way tie for first place, the title of "Idaho State Chess Champion" is awarded to all three players as co-champions.

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2010 Treasure Valley Championship

January 23, 2010

Nampa ID

Mike Gold wins 2010 TVC with perfect 4.0/4

Kevin Patterson takes U1400 with 3.5/4

Open:

1st –  Michael Gold (Boise)

2nd – Garrett Reynolds (Boise)

3rd – Katherine Abderhalden (Boise)

U1400:

1st –  Kevin Patterson (Boise)

2nd – Wayne Ebenroth (Nampa)

Story by Garrett Reynolds

     Neil Young sang, “it’s better to burn out than to fade away” on the opening and closing tracks of the album, Rust Never Sleeps.  During the last decade, many of Idaho chess’s most gifted and prominent players have decided to try the latter, allowing their formerly sharp skills to oxidize like a 60’s muscle car in a wooden barn.  Fortunately, many of these red giants can once again be white-hot stars, as was the case for Idaho’s highest-rated player Michael “Rust Shines Like” Gold.  He neither burned out nor faded away, easily winning the 2010 Treasure Valley Championship with a stellar 4.0/4.0.  Like the a kung-fu master who uses only necessary means to defeat his opponents, Gold often sat back and watched his opponents fall in his shadow, simply nudging them into positional desolation.  Even then state champion Garrett Reynolds proved no obstacle for Gold; carefully laying a prophylactic wall brick by brick, Reynolds found that he had simply sealed himself in the catacombs of Montresor.

    Similarly, in the U 1400 section, nothing could slow Kevin Patterson’s crushing ascent to the top of the mountain, mercilessly crushing the hopes and dreams of all whom played him.  Only one person was able to escape to tell the tale – Aaron Proferes, who nicked Patterson for a draw in the final round.
    

     With every tournament – indeed, particularly in light of the recent 2010 Idaho Closed – Caleb Kircher and Katie Abderhalden showed why they are two Idaho chess’s rising stars.  Both continued to show strong progress; Abderhalden’s only blemish – a loss to Reynolds – would have been a draw had she more time on the clock.  Kircher’s only loss was also to Reynolds, missing a tactical interposition.  In the end, however, both would display additional fortitude and skill at the 2010 Idaho Closed, both securing draws against Reynolds in their impressive play at that event.
 

    Special thanks to Dan Looney and Intermountain West Bank for providing us with a place to play.  Dan is a pleasure to be around, always regaling attendees with self-deprecating wit and an unbridled enthusiasm for chess.  Thanks also to Jeff Roland for running the event.  One cannot fully appreciate how difficult it is to play and direct a tournament at the same time.  In fact, ask Adam Porth about it sometime – he’ll be glad to tell you.  Finally, thank you to everyone who attended, especially to everyone who donated.  As long as there are weekend warriors, OTB chess in Idaho will never die (hey hey, my my).

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ICU New Year G/10 Tournament

January 2, 2010

Twin Falls ID

Dave Eacker wins event 9.0/10

Bartell second - Felice third

Story and Results

       On Jan 2, 2010 The Idaho Chess Union and Dan Looney Art Studio sponsored the first chess tournament in Idaho this year, an eleven round G/10 round robin at Crowley's Soda Fountain in Twin Falls ID. Eleven players attended the event won in dominating fashion by David Eacker from Berkeley, CA. Eacker finished 9.0/10 to finish in the first spot, 1.5 points ahead of the nearest competitor, Fred Bartell of Twin Falls, ID who finished 7.5/10. Louis Felice of Boise, ID rounded out the top three with a 7.0/10 score.

       Bartell had the hottest start, winning his first four games and boasting a 5.5 score after his first six games. Bartell lost to Eacker in round eight and Dan Looney in round nine, while Eacker was assuming the lead which he did not relinquish . Eacker won his first two games, but then stumbled against Aleksandr Vereshchagin before ripping off seven straight victories to clinch the tournament. Felice started well also, but then losses to the two tournament leaders and a round eleven loss to Adam Porth relegated him to third place.

       Two first time tournament players participated in the event, Andrew Christ of Buhl, ID and Modhafer Al-Mahi of Portland, OR. The winter weather did not prevent the chess obssessed from traveling, with two players making the trek from Boise, ID, one from Meridian, ID and one from Bellevue, ID. In all, three states and seven cities were represented by attending players. THANKS to everyone who came and supported chess in Southern Idaho!

       Crowley's Soda Fountain is a very nostalgic and historic business located at 144 Main Ave So in downtown Twin Falls. The business was recently purchased by new owners who have kindly allowed the twisted chess culture to meet at this great site and examine the 64 squares. I encourage any and all support that the chess community can give to this establishment. GREAT old-timey burgers and shakes are only part of the menu. We would like to thank Crowley's for their support of chess in Twin Falls!

       Dan Looney of Meridian has been a long time supporter of Idaho chess as well as a fantastic artist. Looney is well known for his paintings depicting many familiar places in Idaho and the Northwest. He and his wife Julie (who found time in her busy schedule to send wonderful treats...YUM) also run the Dan Looney Art Studio in Boise. In addition, Dan has recently been recognized in Who's Who in American Art, Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World. He informed me that I have to call him "Mr Loonzovitch" from now on. So, imagine our delight when he produced art prints (which he signed) to hand out to all participants in the tournament! VERY GENEROUS INDEED! CONGRATULATIONS Mr Loonzovitch on all your accomplishments and the Idaho chess community wants to thank you for all your support these many years!

Respectfully
Barry Eacker
Tournament Director

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2009 North American Open 

Las Vegas NV

Dec 26-29

Idaho players in Vegas

Luke Harmon-Vellotti          OPEN     3.5/7

Michael Yan Ye                 U1300    3.5/7

Dan Mayers                    U2100    2.5/7

Carl Harmon-Vellotti          U2100     2.0/7

Fred Bartell                    U1900    1.5/7

Official Site:www.chesstournamentservices.com/cca/

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Jeff Roland of Boise wins
2009 Wood River Weekend Swiss

Former Idaho State Champion Morrow

wins Eastern Idaho Open

Sep 26 - 27, 2009

Pocatello ID

Hans Morrow wins Open by tiebreak

over Jershon Laimana

Adam Porth grabs Reserve by full point

COMPLETE RESULTS - www.idahochessassociation.org

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Wood River vs Idaho Champ Reynolds

Reynolds pulls 26-2-1 score

Bellevue ID

August 14, 2009

By Adam Porth

www.wix.com/aporth/chessnut

                               
      Chess players are tough!  Garrett Reynolds, twice  and current State Champion, braved a normal work-day, a 2 1/2 hr. drive, and immediately faced 29 challengers, 2 expert chess players, picnic distractions, 49 degree temperatures, and lantern light .  Wood River threw everything we had at Garrett and he came out on top beating 26 people, drawing one, and only losing 2 games. 
     By 9 p.m., Garrett successfully eliminated 14 challengers, however, Dan Mayers, Senior Champion of England in 1996, and Norman Friedman, Manhattan Chess Club and founder of the Right Move, soon met Garrett with success.  Norman drew and Dan Mayers won.
     Pictured above is the first winner Jeff Sagget.  He commented that he surely earned his medal in one of the toughest games he has played.  Other victor, Dan Mayers hoped that he could participate in more  local chess events.  However, he decided they will be indoors and with better lighting!  I guess I underestimated Wood River's chess abilities and anticipated the event finishing sooner than expected as the last player, Larry Haelzo, fought on until 12am, nearly 40 degrees cooler and  4 1/2 hrs. after we started.  This was truly a one-of-a-kind event.
    I wanted locals to feast their eyes on a simultaneous chess exhibition, in addition to their hamburgers and picnic foods at the Bellevue Memorial Park's "ribbon cutting" ceremony.  There were at least 50 people watching the exhibition in awe and snapping photos as the event began and this proved to be an educational and inspiring event for many people.
     Thank you Irwin Kett for delivering Dan Mayers, and the Bellevue Community Church and Tad Walton for supplying emergency stage lighting.  Thank you the City of Bellevue for letting us tag along on the ribbon cutting party.  A special thanks to my wife for supplying lattes, hot cocoa, blankets, and coats for participants while playing Garrett herself.

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Idaho Expert Luke Harmon-Vellotti recipient of Schein-Friedman scholarship

     USCF announces that Luke Harmon-Vellotti was recently awarded the third place scholarship by the Schein-Friedman Scholastic Recognition Project. Ten year old Harmon-Vellotti is a two time national scholastic champion and is currently ranked number two in the nation for his age group.  Luke has been active in tournaments around the US, but has been noticeably absent from Idaho events for the last seventeen months, missing even the prestigious Idaho State Championship.

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Reynolds shines in Twin Falls Simul

     Idaho State Chess Champion Garrett Reynolds of Boise won 19 games, lost one and drew two at the simultaneous chess exhibition held Saturday August 1 in Twin Falls ID. The sole winner was Armando Arambula of Twin Falls while Chris Viveros (Twin Falls) and Andrew Christ (Filer) nicked the champion for draws.
 
     Many thanks to Obenchain Insurance and Barnes & Noble Booksellers for  their support of Magic Valley Chess. Thank you to Magic Valley Bank for supplying the excellent playing site and Mayor Lance Clow for his logistical skills. Thanks also to Garrett Reynolds for conducting the simul as well as all Magic Valley and Wood River Valley chess players who helped at the event.

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Barkell, Abderhalden, Patterson compete
in the 2009 Susan Polgar National Invitational for girls
at Texas Tech University 

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Idaho State Champion
Garrett Reynolds wins
2009 ICA President's Cup

July 18-19, 2009 
Twin Falls ID

Complete Results

By Barry Eacker

     Southern Idaho Open - Idaho Closed - MVCC Championship - and now the 2009 version of the ICA President's Cup has been won by Idaho State Champion Garrett Reynolds. Even with his second place finish at the recent Idaho Open, Reynolds is setting a blistering pace by winning virtually every event he has played in for the last nine months. 

      Reynolds lost two games in the first set of qualifying games, but turned up the heat when it counted, finishing undefeated in the Eliminator and Final Four. The hard luck player in the event had to be long time gentleman chess player Hans Morrow from Utah, who breezed through the Qualifying round with four wins, only to lose the first round in the Eliminator. Morrow won his second game, but missed the Final Four on tie break. 

      Janos Fucsko of Boise showed up in his moving van and breezed into the Eliminator round, taking time between rounds to move furniture in the 100 degree heat while bemoaning the evils of chess addiction by quoting text from the famous article in the 1959 Scientific American called "Descent into Chess". Quite a joy to have around, as you may guess. Fucsko was 1.5/2 in the Eliminator and finished second in the Final Four, losing only to Reynolds.

     Daniel Pocol came all the way from Washington to participate in our little event and hung on by his fingernails to reach the Final Four and finish third. Fred Bartell of Twin Falls made the Final Four, but fell on hard times and ended up fourth.

     The Blitz section of the event was won by Barry Eacker of Twin Falls, somehow achieving a 7.0/8 tally. Hans Morrow came in at 5.0/8 while Hugh Myers along with Louis "haven't seen him for awhile" Felice tied for third with 4.0/8.

     The President's Cup has the distinction of incorporating four different time controls in the format; G/29, G/60, G/90 and G/5. Kevin "can't play enough chess" Patterson thought that was OK, but thought there should be more than seven rounds a day........Don't know if any of you were paying attention, but we invented this format LONG before FIDE borrowed it for their "World Cup"....but I digress...

     The winner of the Final Four will have their name inscribed on the perpetual trophy which will spend it's time with the ICA president until the following year. THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to travel and participate....hope you all had a great time. I know I did and it was an interesting event, although I was very disappointed at the attendance.    

     Many thanks go out to the Best Western Twin Falls Hotel for the great playing site and to ICA Prez Jay Simonson for overcoming logistics to get all the administrative stuff taken care of. Congrats to all the winners of the event!

Final Four

Garrett Reynolds (Nampa, 1904)       3.0/3

Janos Fucsko (Boise, 1711)             2.0/3

Daniel Pocol (WA, 1668)                1.0/3

Fred Bartell (Twin Falls, 1750)         0.0/3

Blitz

Barry Eacker (Twin Falls, 1585)        7.0/8

Hans Morrow (UT, 2003)                5.0/8

Hugh Myers (Boise, 1641)               4.0/8

Louis Felice (Boise, 1378)                4.0/8 

www.idahochessassociation.org 

www.idahochessunion.net/tournaments.php

GM Sergey Kudrin wins
2009 Far West Open in Reno, NV

GARRETT REYNOLDS WINS
2009 IDAHO CLOSED

Twin Falls ID
February 14 - 16, 2009

by Jay Simonson, ICA President

rooknjay@yahoo.com 
http://www.idahochessassociation.org

COMPLETE RESULTS

  The 2009 Idaho State Closed Chess Championships were held over Valentines Day and President’s Day weekend, February 14-16, 2009,at the Shilo Inn in Twin Falls, Idaho.  The Shilo did not charge the Idaho Chess Association (ICA) for the very nice, comfortable playing room big enough for 26 games to be played simultaneously.  In return, we encouraged everyone who needed a motel room to stay at the Shilo.  The Lady in charge said that 10 or more rooms were rented for 2 nights, giving a boost to their business. 

  Twenty-eight players rated from 226 to 2015 came to Twin Falls to play their best chess for a chance at 15 minutes of fame.  Notable participants were: Glen Buckendorf, 10 time winner, playing in his 51st consecutive Idaho State Chess Championships; Larry Parsons, 15 time winner; your chief Tournament Director (TD) and ICA President, Jay Simonson, who has never won the Championship Title;  Garrett Reynolds, ICA Vice President and 2006 Co-Champion; and Barry Eacker, ICA Secretary / Treasurer, also seeking his first Championship trophy.

  Everyone reported that they had really tough games and had to play their very best chess ever, just to stay in the mix. In Round four, Garrett played Larry to a draw to take clear lead.  Young Desmond Porth played about 500 rating points above his current rating, crushing the TD in Jay’s first game for the tournament in round 3.  Desmond’s rating will no longer be below 300.

  After a loss to Kati Abderhalden in round 5, Boise State University student Phil Weyland announced he was withdrawing from the tournament, despite getting encouragement to stay and play.  He later changed his mind and asked to be paired in round six.  About then, Larry Parsons announced he would probably leave early and withdraw from the tournament.  When he discovered that the top contenders (besides Garrett) all had draws, he decided that he too would stick it out and play in round six, forcing Jay to play (in what turned out Kevin Patterson in round six).

  And so it happened that every class prize came down to round six.  Garrett won against Glen to take clear first overall with 5.5 out of 6 points, Larry won against Katie to take the number 2 trophy, with 4.5 points, and tie breaks propelled Kurt Douglas to 3rd Place, with 4 points.  Chong Jin Ong claimed a draw against Mark Anderson due to repetition of Position 16 moves into the game.   Mark was quite upset at this since he thought he had a good chance at winning the game and a tie for First Place (if Garret lost to Glen). A re-creation of the position revealed that the position did repeat itself three times, with Mark on move, and Mark’s queen on the original square.

  Another rising star, formerly unrated Caleb Abernathy scored wins over Emily Patterson (1513) and Tom Booth (1500) as well as draws with George Lundy (1481) and Ricky Abderhalden (1440) to score 3 points and take the prize for Top Unrated (of course, he was the only unrated player).  He is not unrated anymore.

  Jay and Kevin fought out the longest lasting game in round six, with Kevin exacting the win while every other player, parent, friend, and passer-by looked on.  Mostly, they didn’t care who won, they just wanted us to be done so we could award the prizes and let everyone go home.

  When the dust settled, Glen Buckendorf lost to his young former student and the New State Champion to take the Top Senior Plaque.  Katie and Ricky Abderhalden swept the Top Junior Prizes.

  The Overall trophies were distinguished four column wood trophies from 30 inches high to 22 inches high.  The Class prizes were handsome real wood plaques with the ICA Logo emblazoned at the top, 8” by 13” for 1st Place and 7” by 10” for 2nd Place. They are wonderful trophies, very nice and very classy.

  It was a great Idaho Championship tournament!! Congratulations to all the winners and attendees!!  See you next year. 

Complete list of winners follows.

New Idaho State Chess Champion is………… Garret Reynolds
             Second Place Overall…………………...Larry Parsons
             Third Place Overall……………………...Kurt Douglas

2nd Annual ICU Treasure Valley Chess Championship

FIRST IDAHO SERVER MATCH ENDS IN DRAW

DAVE EACKER 2008 WINTER SOLSTICE RR VICTOR

December 27, 2008
Twin Falls ID
10 Rounds G/20
Invitation only!
Rated by Rocky Mountain Chess

David Eacker wins with 6.0/7, Bartell - 4.0/7, Bloomquist Jr - 3.0/4

    The small event known as the Winter Solstice Round Robin has been held annually for the last two years in Twin Falls, Idaho in the dead of winter as the axis of the earth leans away from the sun. David Eacker of Davis, California is this years winner as he notched a 6.0/7 tally to win the event by two points over Fred Bartell of Twin Falls. Eacker did not lose a game and gave up only two draws on his way to the victory. Eacker also won the 2007 tourney.

      Making the trip for the tournament all the way from Iowa, as he does every year, was Don Bloomquist Jr who finished 3.0/4 during the first half of the competition before having to depart, summoned by more pressing matters. Barry Eacker and Aleksandr Vereshchagin both of Twin Falls rounded out the field. Vereshchagin was not himself, struggling throughout the event.

     Thanks once again to Obenchain Insurance in Twin Falls for supplying the excellent site. Thanks to the players who took time to attend.

NAME                     PRE-RATE    POST-RATE    RESULT    TPR    

David Eacker              1635           1664            6.0/7     1858

Fred Bartell               1693           1683            4.0/7     1613

Don Bloomquist Jr         1775           1779            3.0/4     1763

Barry Eacker              1585           1577            3.0/7     1530

Aleksandr Vereshchagin  1339            1324            0.0/7     1243

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REYNOLDS WINS 2008 SOUTHERN IDAHO OPEN

November 22 & 23, 2008

Twin Falls ID

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