Idaho Scholastic Chess
2010 Idaho Scholastic Girls Championship
Feb 27, 2010
Boise ID
Katie Abderhalden Undefeated Champion 4.0/4
Emily Patterson Second Place with 3.0/4
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Desi wins a Trophy at Nationals!
Pictures and article
by Adam Porth
Desmond and Dylan Porth traveled to Dallas, Texas for the USCF sponsored National K-12 Scholastic Championships on Dec 10-13, 2009. This event attracted over 1200 children and some of the best players in the country. Desmond won the U1000 section for 7th grade with 3.0 pts. after playing much higher rated players and going into the last round in second place. In the last round, Desmond was focused and battled hard during the opening and the middle game. His opponent, Nathan Yu (797) commented that "I can't believe your 400!" In the end, Nathan and Des were laughing about the moves and combinations that ultimately secured material and a win.
Desmond and Dylan were able to play kids from Texas, Florida, Arkansas, and New York. Ratings were very high at this tournament with 62 out of 164 kids rated under 1000 in the 4th grade section, and only 21 out of 104 in the 7th grade section. In Desmond's first round, I did not tell him that I think his opponent from New York Dalton and probably one of the best in their school (I just read about Dalton in my "Kings of New York" book).Desmond's games were very good with strategies and tactics that deserved a trophy. After one game against a 1300, a simple pawn push would have been a win or a draw. With more experience and a little more study, Desmond will improve even more.
Dylan, on the other hand, had a very difficult time and spent Friday with the flu and Saturday with stomach and head- aches . And it certainly wasn't nerves. Dylan played with heart and struggled to focus with frequent trips to the garbage can or bathroom to throw up. Her games were inconsistent (as expected) and she scored 2 pts. One on Friday night and one on Saturday. I think by Sunday, she just wanted the tournament to end and focused on meeting new friends and playing bughouse, hid-and-seek, tag, and other games with kids.
Desmond and Dylan also were able to play GM Alexandra Kosteniuk in a simultaneous exhibition where Alexandra played 44 children at the same time and only losing 1 game. I am also proud that all of Dylan's games lasted over an hour, Desmonds over 2 1/2 hours, and Desmond recorded every game. These two Idahoans represented their state well and certainly look forward to their next large tournament.
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2010 Idaho Scholastic Championship
March 20, 2010
Boise ID
West Junior High School
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14 compete in 2009 Winter Tournament
Wood River High School
Hailey ID
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US Junior Nationals
July 10 - 12
Milwaukee WI
By Adam Porth
Desmond Porth (336) and Dylan Porth (637) debuted in their first national tournament and embraced the education they received at US Junior National Open Chess tournament in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 10-12. There was a total of 155 competitors with 69 competing in the U-11 section. Desmond was discouraged at first but strongly finished the tournament with 3 pts. out of 5 pts. (27th place), beating players of much higher rating. Dylan took home 1.5 pts. and finished 52nd, however, had strong games on Saturday decisively beating a higher rated player and drawing against another by accidentally promoting without looking for an escape for the king.
Desmond also participated in a side-Blitz event and concluded that he likes playing longer time controls (Dad is happy about that!). Dylan participated in a simul exhibition against Wisconsin State Champion and National Master Erik Santarius(2305). Erik commented about her solid opening and descent control of the center. Both Desmond and Dylan placed in the top 8 for their age categories and are enthusiastic to participate in another national event.
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The Sixth Annual 2009 National All-girls Chess Championships included two Idaho 3rd graders from Bellevue Elementary School this past weekend. Dylan Porth and Alise Barney both competed with the top chess girls in the country at the Hyatt Regency in Dallas, Texas. Both are new participants to the highly competitive games and have never competed in a rated tournament before. This was, in fact, the first tournament for Alise whom bravely took on players with ratings near 700 and had numerous tournament experiences beyond hers.
The tournament was sponsored by the Kasparov Chess Foundation and University of Texas providing a $90,000 scholarship to the winner of the Under 18 section. This was surprisingly won by 12-year old Megan Le, a newcomer from Washington. She was presented her award by Dr. Magaly Spector, a physicist and one of the founders of the internet. IM Anna Zatonskih , 2006 Women’s Champion and 2008 Olympian medalist, gave out the trophies, tips, autographs, and played 20 participants simultaneously - winning every game. Other famous individuals included the Edward Murrow coach, Eliot Weiss and David MacEnulty, The King’s of the Bronx, and their teams from New York. Overall, it was all chess, all weekend, with the girls feeling like celebrities.
Of the 175 girls present, Dylan (2.5 pts.) won 27th place and Alise (1.0 pt.) won 38th place for their sections. In the sixth and final round, Dylan succumbed after a “Touch-move” claim was filed, forcing check-mate in the next move. The “touch-move” rule indicates that you must move the first piece intentionally touched. I was struck by the ‘win-at-all-costs’ competitiveness of some parents and kids, however, the two Bellevuite players were resilient to the end and thoroughly enjoyed the tournament, the activities, and their new friends. To find out more about scholastic chess, contact Adam Porth, 450-9048.
Knights in Nampa Chess Tournament will be held on April 25th at Endeavor Elementary in Nampa.
Check-In / Registration is from 8:30am to 8:50am
Round 1 to start at 9:00am, tournament should be over around 1:00pm
NWSRS rated event
Individual awards to all participants - medals to the top three players of each section, ribbons to all players
4 Rounds of Swiss paired games
This is a scholastic tournament, open to players from elementary school through high school.
Time Control is 25/g (25 minutes per player per game)
This is a FREE tournament
Updated details can always be found at http://www.idahochess.net/ on the events tab.
The tournament organizer can be contacted at wayne@knightsinnampa.com.
Please pre-register online at IdahoChess.net on the registration tab to help with getting the first round pairings set up on time.
The tournament is held in the Endeavor cafeteria, so you are welcome to bring lunch and snacks to eat.
We could use 3 volunteer adults, so let me know if you are interested in helping out a little.
Endeavor is West of Kings Rd on E. Victory Rd. If you would like help on how to get there, email wayne@knightsinnampa.com. Mapquest and Google Maps show the school further East than it is actually located, the address is 2824 E. Victory in Nampa.
Friday Knights in Nampa
Check-In / Registration is from 10:45am to 11:00am
Round 1 to start at 11:15am
NWSRS rated event
Individual awards to all participants, medals to the top player of each section, ribbons to all players
3 Rounds of Swiss paired games
This tournament is open to players of all ages, children and adults
Time Control is 20/g (20 minutes per player per game)
This is a FREE tournament
Updated details can always be found at http://www.idahochess.net/ on the events tab.
The tournament organizer can be contacted at wayne@knightsinnampa.com.
Please pre-register online at Idaho Chess.net on the registration tab to help with getting the first round pairings set up on time.
The tournament is held in the Nampa Library basement, so you are welcome to step outside the library for your lunch or snacks.
Nampa Library is located at 101 11th Ave S, Nampa, ID - (208) 465-2263
Friday Knights in Nampa
Friday Knights in Nampa Chess Tournament will be held on April 10th at
Endeavor Elementary School in Nampa.
Round 1 to start at 6:30pm
NWSRS rated event
Individual awards to all participants, medals to the top 3 of each section, ribbons to all players
3 Rounds of Swiss paired games
Scholastic (Grades K-12)
This is a FREE tournament
Katie Abderhalden of Boise wins
Idaho State Scholastic Championship
Abderhalden and Boise's Emily Patterson are co-champions but Abderhalden wins the first place trophy by one half point in the modified median tiebreak.
Place Name/Team Rate Score MMed Solk SBx2 Cum
1.) Abderhalden, Katie (1) 1543 4.5 14.5 16.5 28.5 14.0
2.) Patterson, Emily (3) 1513 4.5 14.0 16.0 27.5 14.0
3.) Barkell, Erica (5) 1245 4.0 12.0 13.5 21.0 13.0
Complete results posted at http://www.idahochessassociation.org
DANNY MILLS WINS BLAINE COUNTY
SCHOOL DISTRICT CHESS RAGE
Spring Warm-up Tournament
Saturday March 7, 2009
by Adam Porth
It was indeed a warm-up last Saturday, March 7. Twenty-eight children competed and brought their best games as a pre-tournament for the up-coming State Scholastic Chess Tournament this next Saturday, March 14. The tournament divided players into two divisions K-5th grade and 6-12th grade, however, players were awarded 1st – 3rd place for K-3rd, 4-5th, 6-8th, and 9-12th grade sections.
Danny Mills(5.0) ran the tournament as a Senior Project and was also able to compete and win 1st place with his second perfect tournament. It is common for tournament directors to also play in the hosted events. Nick Bruck (4.0) and Andrew Uriarte (4.0) won 2nd and 3rd respectively for the 9 – 12th grade section. In the junior high section, Chase Hutchinson (3.0), Reilly Neel (3.0), and Desmond Porth (3.0) won 1-3rd places. It was a tough field for the junior high aged students as they were playing experienced high school competitors.
In the combined elementary sections, Dylan Porth (5.0) scored a perfect tournament for 1st place K-3rd grade. Dylan additionally tied for 3rd place at the recent All-girls State Scholastic tournament in February. Rory Olsen (4.0), from Jerome, won 1st place for the 4-5th grade section. Anthony Corrales(2.0) and Spencer Neel(1.0) won 2nd and third in K-3rd, respectively, while tournament new-comers, Wesley Brimstein (3.0) and Jake Whitlock(3.0) won 2nd and 3rd place in the 4-5th place section.
Chess did not end on Saturday with those five one hour long games. Danny Mills, Kitt Conner, and Adam Porth then traveled to Twin Falls to compete in the Magic Valley Chess Club Championship in 6 hour long games! Tournament Director Barry Eacker granted first round byes to each competitor so they could compete with the best players in the Magic Valley. After two days of long time-controlled games, Kitt Conner won 3rd place in the Challenger Section.
The up-coming State Scholastic tournament will be in Boise and will draw nearly 500 K-12th grade students from around the state! Twenty-three Blaine County School District students are expected to compete for grade level prizes and titles, and the WRHS chess team is hoping to win the first place team prize for the second year in a row.
To participate in these or other chess activities in the Wood River Valley, contact Adam Porth, WRHS Teacher, 578-5020 ext 2239 or e-mail, aporth@blaineschools.org
Friday Knights in Nampa Chess Tournament
March 6th, 2009
Endeavor Elementary School in Nampa
Results:
Results: www.whsca.org/Idaho5.html
February 21 - Idaho State Girls Championship
Apparently, one of the participants is unhappy with the results of the tournament
and has politically charged it by submitting a complaint to USCF trying to get the results overturned...... we'll keep you tuned in as another episode unfolds......
Boise, Idaho at Washington Elementary.
This tournament is open to all girls in grades K-12. http://www.idahochessassociation.org
Friday Knights Tournament
Results: www.whsca.org/Idaho5.html
More details can be found at http://www.idahochess.net/ on the events tab. The tournament organizer can be contacted at wayne@knightsinnampa.com
TWIN FALLS SCHOLASTIC OPEN INVITATIONAL
It was all for fun and for chess! Twenty-five students from Wood River and Twin Falls competed Thursday, February 12 for prizes at Twin Falls High School. Wood River High School students lost only two games of 125 total against Twin Falls High School. This is the 5th year that Wood River High School and Twin Falls High School have arranged to compete with one another in chess. The goal is to informally introduce students to tournament games and to inspire enthusiasm for the sport. Target Gift Cards were awarded to the top 3 players in the High School and Middle School sections and were donated by Carl VanValkenberg, Twin Falls High School Math Teacher.
Kitt Conner, 5.0 pts. had a perfect tournament score and won first place. Chris Ellis, 4.0 pts. and Danny Mills, 4.0 pts. won second and third, respectively via tie-breaker points. Tie breaks are determined by comparing the placement of your opponents - with more points awarded for tougher opponents.
Also competing were 4 middle school students that were lumped into the one high-schooler dominated section. Desmond Porth, 3.5 pts., (Wood River) won first place, Riley Neel, 2.5 pts. (Wood River) won second place.
For more information about chess, tournaments, or how to get involved, contact Adam Porth, Wood River High School Science Teacher at (208)450-9048.
1.) Kitt Conner 1134 W5 W15 W8 W3 W2 5.0
2.) Chris Ellis 780 W19 W4 W13 W15 L1 4.0
3.) Danny Mills 1090 W22 W16 W9 L1 W15 4.0Northern Idaho Novice Championship
Trophies were presented to individual winners in each grade level and also to winning teams in each section. First Grade and Seventh Thru Twelfth Grade Sections were run as Double Round Robin due to the small number of participants.
Huge THANK YOU to Dan Page, Principal of Rimrock Elementary, in Ammon, and Charlene Babb, Teacher at Winton Elementary, in Coeur D' Alene. Both tournaments were a big success because of your efforts in rounding up people to volunteer and to play.
See complete results at the Idaho Chess Association website:
Idaho Novice Championship
SUMMARY, 2009 ICA SOUTHWEST NOVICE CHAMPIONSHIP
By Dick Vandenburg, ICA Scholastic Director
See complete results at the Idaho Chess Association website:
Huge THANK YOU to Dan Page, Principal of Rimrock Elementary, in Ammon, and Charlene Babb, Teacher at Winton Elementary, in Coeur D' Alene. Both tournaments were a big success because of your efforts in rounding up people to volunteer and to play.
See complete results at the Idaho Chess Association website:
