SIO: Toitey Tourney

The 2010 Southern Idaho Open

The Southern Idaho Open on Saturday, November 13 was a success for the Wood River contingent.  We arrived, awake, and awaiting the start of the first round.  We all had used the toilet before the trip began at my house.  One of my students, Nick Bruck, my son, Desmond, and one of his friends, Jake Whitlock all looked forward to what the games would offer us.

Once the chess matches started in the morning hours, the mammalian circadian rhythms took over and like clockwork the one-stalled bathroom of the Obenchain Building began to see more activity than the chess room.  As the men try their best to not eat 15-20 minutes of their G/60 time, they rush to void themselves of the ultimate chess distraction.  It sometimes looks like the march of the penguins with heads bowed in thoughts of the next move.

As the low-flush capacity of the facilities could not withstand the onslaught of chess players in very regular intervals, the toilet had had enough by round 2 and regurgitated its last load.  The offender must have had very little time left on his clock as he neglected to tell anyone, and further did not take the moment to stop the flush.  It continued to flush and empty onto the floor.  I was the first on the crime scene and had to rectify the situation.  I stopped the flow but there was already inches of water covering the entire floor and seeping under the wall to the adjacent rooms.

Me and Des paired for Round 1

During Round 1, I was paired with Desmond and decided to open with b4.  The orangutan.  He gave me a look of disgust as I moved, but by move 4 I snaked a bishop because he did not block the check with his knight and used his pawn instead.  After that blunder, he slowed down and was much more of a challenge.  Barry put a sign on the door of the bathroom, "Closed due to stupidity."

Nick Bruck, my protege'

During Round 2, it was my turn to blunder.  In the end game, I offered a rook exchange with Nick which he happily accepted.  He was a pawn up and my king was two files away.  His king began threatening my chain of pawns and all I could do was hope he messed up as many scholastic players do in end game.  Nick would not have anything to do with mistakes today.  I now felt constipated.

Play online chess

Last game with only seconds left on Jay's clock

Round 3 was exciting for me.  Not for my game, but for Desmond's and Nick's.  Desmond played a very solid game against Jay Simonson through the end game.  Black Bishops and equal numbers of pawns.  Jay only had seconds left to Desmond's 15 minutes.  At one point, in a display of great sportsmanship, Desmond reminded Jay to hit the clock.  I don't think most of the players watching would have been so gracious.  Or, maybe they would, as everyone is very friendly?  I was very proud of Desmond playing one of the longest games he ever has, nearly 2 hours.  Nick also made me proud to be his coach and friend.  He beat Jamie Lang in a long but decisive game.  Barry took his sign down and there were sighs of relief.

Kevin, Jay, and I hold an informal ICA meeting

In the last round, I faced off with Scott Featherston.  After losing my game to Nick, I was a bit competitive and decided to go on a queen hunt when Scott snatched one of my offered pawns with her.  I checked him with my knight and forked his queen.  And then rampaged to the end.  I finally got to use the bathroom and then watched Jake offer his rook to Jay in order to remove a guarding bishop.  Jay took the bait and Jake got checkmate.

Play online chess

Jeff Roland and Tom Booth

Nick ended with a perfect tournament and $63 in pocket.  I tied for 2nd place (actually got 3rd due to tie-breakers) with 3.0 pts.  Desmond scored 2.0 pts. and Jake got his first win in an ICA event.  Caleb Kircher wins > 1400 with a perfect score, as well.  To experience more of the games go to the ICA results link.

Caleb Kircher

Open Section
##	Player	ST	Rating	1	2	3	4	Score	Prize
1	Caleb Paul Kircher	ID	1650	W6	W2	W8	W5	4	1st
2	Gene L. Tatom	ID	1600	W9	L1	W7	D4	2½	2nd-3rd (tie)
3	Tom R. Booth	ID	1567	D7	D4	D5	W8	2½	2nd-3rd (tie)
4	Barry D. Eacker	ID	1600	D5	D3	-H-	D2	2	4th
5	Glen Buckendorf, Jr.	ID	1800	D4	D7	D3	L1	1½
6	Hugh S. Myers	ID	1533	L1	L8	W9	D7	1½
7	Jeffrey T. Roland	ID	1724	D3	D5	L2	D6	1½	Book
8	Fred Bartell	ID	1618	-H-	W6	L1	L3	1½
9	Aleksandr Vereshchagin	ID	1296	L2	-B-	L6	-N-	1

U1400 Section
##	Player	ST	Rating	1	2	3	4	Score	Prize
1	Nick Jon Bruck	ID	1097	W9	W3	W5	W2	4	1st
2	Kevin D. Ness	ID	1290	W6	W10	W4	L1	3	2nd-4th (tie)
3	Adam Porth	ID	1255	W7	L1	W8	W6	3	2nd-4th (tie)
4	Kevin R. Patterson	ID	1243	W12	W5	L2	W7	3	2nd-4th (tie)
5	Jamie Lang	ID	1376	W8	L4	L1	W10	2	Book
6	Scott Featherston	ID	803	L2	W11	W10	L3	2
7	Desmond Porth	ID	669	L3	W9	W12	L4	2
8	Katie Rae Patterson	ID	956	L5	W12	L3	W9	2
9	Dan Lee Daggett, II	ID	Unr.	L1	L7	W11	L8	1
10	Carmen Elizabeth Pemsler	ID	1122	W11	L2	L6	L5	1
11	Jake Whitlock	ID	218	L10	L6	L9	W12	1
12	Jay L. Simonson	ID	657	L4	L8	L7	L11	0