2011 ICA Idaho Closed Chess Championship Day 3

Idaho State Champion, Caleb Abernathy

This is certainly a day that many of us will want to forget, and some of us will want to remember, but most certainly a historic day for Idaho chess.  The second (we believe) youngest chess champion in the history of Idaho was crowned at age 16 is Caleb Abernathy (1609) with a great tournament score of 5.0.  The youngest player to snag the championship was Gregory Perryman in 1975.  In a last round battle that endured over 5 hours, it was seemingly going to be a draw between Caleb and Kurt Douglas (1671), and would provide 4 Co-champions, each with 4.5 pts.  But it was not their day either! The deciding game was down to rook and pawn versus rook and 2 pawns.  Caleb began the slow and methodical process of advancing down the board with his two pawns.  Kurt kept Caleb's king at bay and his own pawn began the slow trek to block.  Indeed, a very drawn game that Caleb would not concede.  The dreariness of my own losses of the day vaporized upon seeing Kurt plop his rook down . . . en prise!  Kurt gracefully shook hands and then left, never to return for his award.  Caleb,  happily held his trophy and the confidence of a champion.

Larry Parsons versus John Carr

Larry Parsons (2005) and John Carr (1732) were destined to draw after there was negligible material off the board after 4 hours of play.  It still looked like they were in the opening.  Both played very positionally and passively.  Their game lasted the longest with an agreed draw after the results of Caleb and Kurt were known.

32 move draw

Other notable games included Jay Simonson (565) and Michael Healy (188).  These boys made 32 moves without a piece taken off the board!  Some advice from Dad, "poop or get off the pot,"   They both got off the pot and decided a draw was adequate.

Michael Healy and Jay Simonson

The day was not with out headaches.  After two days of play, long hours of contemplation, and the realization of not being a contender for the big prize, it was difficult to not blunder.  In fact, many of us did including me in my last two rounds.  Katie Abderhalden (1741) was very happy to pin my queen, bishop, and rook with a very simple but elegant attack that I never considered.  The game was not that complicated and it seemed like a large exchange of pieces was inevitable and coming up soon.  I was looking forward and expecting to only be a pawn down but positionally sound enough for a draw.  What a bummer not moving a pawn to secure a critical square could be!

Play chess online

In the second game, I was aggressive and clearly won the opening and middle game against Johnny Seakamp (786) who was struggling, coughing, and even got a bloody nose suddenly.  I was expecting an endgame that would be full of mistakes on his half and I would win with my three to two pawn advantage on the king side.  Chess has subtle moments that can determine the course of a game in unsuspecting ways.  For example,  during the game I had a choice of turning my king toward a lone undefended pawn or two guarded pawns.  I should have turned to the later.  Why?  My king would have been closer where the action was about to be, I would be threatening mate, and I could protect my own pawns.  There were other moments of poor choice, giving up two pawns, sacking my bishop for an advancing pawn, but I still was feeling strong enough to over whelm my opposition.  I shifted from an aggressive game to a defensive game and that ultimately was my loss.  Pressure can mean a lot in long games.

To get out of check Kd6 or Kf6?  (I lost moving Kd6)

Rickie Abderhalden plays Tom Booth

The players in this tournament are super individuals with interesting and unique personalities and ideas.  They are welders, clerks, salesman, artists, students, contractors, teachers, et al.   I have gotten to know many of them over the years and look forward to playing them.   I wish to play my best games out of respect for who they are and all that they have taught me.  Plus there is nothing better than ponning someone you know!  In Desmond's ill-begotten pairing yesterday with Brett Hamiton, Brett shared with me some observations about Desi's games.  He then encouraged Desmond.  Jeff Roland  shared some post-game analysis with me.  Barry Eacker gave me some words of encouragement - and knew right where jibe.  At the ICA business meeting, I proposed that the President shouldn't have to pay entrance fees to ICA tournaments.  Everyone indicated that it would violate ethics and by-laws, but then an un-named member (that voted the idea down) that wished to be anonymous gave me a check for $100 to help defer costs for the President, Jay Simonson.  What a wonderful gesture!  Everyone looks after everyone.

Jeff Baggett plays John Carr (draw)

Jeff wins 3rd place overall

Jeff Baggett (1696) is a masonary man in Ketchum and is a long-time chess player from the Wood River Valley.  He is friend and chess buddy to Norman Friedman of the Manhattan Chess Club.  Jeff started playing in tournaments this last year and is a very strong contender for the Idaho State Championship in the future.  He earned 4.5 pts. and drew many observers during his game with John Carr.  Had Caleb and Kurt drawn, he would have been co-champion with Larry Parsons, Caleb Abernathy, and Kurt Douglas.  The game with John Carr was another very drawn game but Jeff was trying to force a decision on time since he had nearly twice as much as Carr at one point.  In the end, no "whoopsies" and a respectable draw.  It is important to use tactics, but also to have strategies at achieving your objectives.

This chess table was made by Jeff for the Ketchum Town Plaza and was dedicated to Norman Friedman, a teacher of chess and friend of Baggett's (photo:  Idaho Mountain Express)

The ICA Board and Tournament Directors figuring prizes.  Two books were donated by Glen Buckendorf as prizes, and a marble chess board was donated by the late Hosea Bradbury.

Top Junior Desmond

Class D Second Place - Me

Second Place Woman Dylan

After the awards were given out, most people with long drives fled, but many of us helped cleanup and organize the equipment.  It then dawned on me . . .we're done?  Let's stay and play one more day . . . just one more!  The Times-News wrote a nice piece about the championship and more results are pouring out of Jeff's computer each day for the ICA.

The next tournament is this Wednesday starting at 4:00 pm in the DLL of WRHS for the Wood River Valley Elementary School Chess Championship and is run by Nick Bruck for his senior project.  On Saturday, Feb. 26, the ICA Girl's Scholastic Championship will take place at Washington Elementary School in Boise.  See my Calendar for details.

##	Player	Sr./Jr.	USCF	1	2	3	4	5	6	Score	Prize
1	Caleb P. Abernathy	Junior	1609	W20	W3	W4	L2	W9	W6	5	1st Overall
2	Larry R. Parsons		2005	W14	D15	W11	W1	D6	D4	4½	2-3 Overall
3	Jeff M. Baggett		1696	W26	L1	W20	W16	D4	W10	4½	2-3 Overall
4	John Carr	Senior	1732	W25	W13	L1	W8	D3	D2	4	1st B
5	Ricky Abderhalden	Junior	1503	W21	D6	L8	W13	D7	W12	4	1st C
6	Kurt P. Douglas		1671	W28	D5	W23	W15	D2	L1	4	2nd B
7	Tom R. Booth	Senior	1618	W17	L11	W26	D12	D5	W16	4	1st Senior
8	Jim Stark		1595	D9	W22	W5	L4	L10	W21	3½	2nd C
9	Brett B. Hamilton	Senior	1951	D8	D12	D13	W24	L1	W15	3½	1st A
10	Caleb Paul Kircher		1760	D22	L19	W18	W11	W8	L3	3½	1st Book*
11	Michael Ye	Junior	1354	W16	W7	L2	L10	D14	D13	3	1st D
12	Jeffrey T. Roland		1703	D19	D9	W25	D7	D15	L5	3	2nd Book*
13	Hugh S. Myers	Senior	1617	W24	L4	D9	L5	W17	D11	3	2nd Senior
14	Fred Bartell	Senior	1604	L2	W17	L16	W23	D11	D18	3
15	Barry D. Eacker		1609	W27	D2	W19	L6	D12	L9	3
16	Katie Abderhalden	Junior	1741	L11	W28	W14	L3	W19	L7	3	1st Woman
17	John Seekamp III	Junior	786	L7	L14	W24	W26	L13	W19	3	1st F
18	Daniel S. Looney	Senior	1593	-H-	-N-	L10	W28	W23	D14	3
19	Adam Porth		1244	D12	W10	L15	W22	L16	L17	2½	2nd D
20	Michael Healy		188	L1	-B-	L3	L21	W27	D23	2½	2nd F
21	Glen Buckendorf	Senior	1800	L5	L23	-H-	W20	W22	L8	2½	2nd A
22	Chris Pentico		1459	D10	L8	W28	L19	L21	-B-	2½
23	Jay L. Simonson	Senior	565	-H-	W21	L6	L14	L18	D20	2	Top Upset**
24	Desmond Porth	Junior	714	L13	L25	L17	L9	-B-	W27	2	1st Junior
25	Kevin R. Patterson		1247	L4	W24	L12	W27	-U-	-U-	2
26	Kitt D. Connor		1021	L3	W27	L7	L17	-H-	-U-	1½
27	Dylan Porth	Junior	592	L15	L26	-B-	L25	L20	L24	1	2nd Woman
28	Katie Rae Patterson	Junior	947	L6	L16	L22	L18	-U-	-U-	0

2011 ICA Idaho Closed Chess Championship Day 2

Kitt Connor and Tom Booth

After sending the kids over to Perkins with my credit card for breakfast, I hustled over to the ICA Annual Business meeting.  As I am the secretary, I am tasked with recording the minutes, reading the minutes from last year, and providing the voting ballots.  Tonight, after I update this I will also fill out receipts for all the participants.  Our meeting went smoothly and Jay Simonson and Adam Porth were voted in for a second term as President and Secretary, respectively.  Our new members include, Kevin Patterson as the ICA Vice President, Angela Abderhalden as Trustee for Scholastic Development, and Hugh Myers as Trustee for Tournament Development.  Welcome to all the new members, I am sure they will find that our group really works well together to provide Idaho with the best chess opportunities possible.

Barry Eacker

With games starting at 10 am, I should have arrived on time, however, Dylan had a bye so I scooted up the stairs of the hotel to make sure she was secure and able to access Minecraft (her new computer passion).  I was paired with Barry Eacker (1609) and he was very understanding, though.  I settled in for a long game which I was prepared.  I opened with the Ponziani against his French Defense.  I faired reasonably well with numerous tactical threats, which Barry found every time.  I was pleased I made it past the middle game and ended with opposite color bishops and pawns.  I miscalculated, was misguided, or just plain missed that sacking my bishop for two of his pawns would not help me win or draw and I ended up losing after five and half hours of intense play.  Hugh Myers always has something to say after my games and this one was no different.  "What the heck were you going to do about those pawns?"  as he gestured to the board.  I said, "Well at least you didn't have to play with them there!"  They indeed were a problem.  We were the last game of the day, and according to others, the game of the day.

Desmond practices the Caro-Kann with Dylan

Desmond's game was tough and he just could not wiggle out of a pin that prevented castling in his game with Johnny Seakamp (786).  He played a respectable game, however, was very discouraged at how difficult the games were at this level.  He really did not want to continue.  In fact, the Patterson's (Katie and Kevin) decided this was their last day and they withdrew after round 3.

Hugh Myers

I found the kids in the room sleeping when I finished playing Barry and I rousted them up for lunch at the Peking Restaurant.    Desmond is an Ox, I am a Monkey, and Dylan is a Dragon.  I guess it sort of fits!  I like visiting with the other chess players and getting to know them better over lunch during tournaments.  Barry, Jeff Roland, Dan Looney, Fred Bartell, Jay Simonson, and Hugh Myers were already there when the Porth's arrived.  The General Chow chicken lunch included side dishes of analysis, smart-ass remarks about games, and some wonderful stories of past tournaments.  

B rett Hamilton(white) and Desmond(black)

Desmond versus Brett Hamilton

Round 3 was a cluster for Desmond.  He was initially granted a bye, but after play began Jay noticed that another player had a bye that never requested one.  Consequently, Desmond (714 and no points) had to unfairly play Brett Hamilton (1951 with 2 points).  After being so discouraged this morning, I was worried about him ever wanting to play again!  When I glanced at the board, I was amazed that Desmond was hanging in there with layers of complexity that I would have shuttered at.

I feel the same way looking at that board!

Chris Pentico versus me

My opponent in Round 3, Chris Pentico (1459) played an Alekine Defense against the Ponziani.  The Alekine crushed the Ponziani in the opening four moves, for which I was unprepared.  I fell asleep just before round 3 and Desmond woke me, "Don't you have to play?"  I rushed in again, this time, just in time to start.  But I must've been asleep because I made some very poor choices that tied me up for the next 24 moves.  I felt like  I was playing a blitz player.  He moved fast, aggressively, and confidently.  So I moved "disinterestedly" and very slowly, using twice as much time for every move.  He offered easy choices for me- forcing me to make natural defenses and adjust with very little calculation.  Once enough pieces were off the board, I could now counter.  And I did, and patiently won the end game.

Post-mortem

I am amazingly tired and hope to play as well as my first four games tomorrow.  I will post the crosstable tomorrow (if Jeff e-mails it to me).

2011 ICA Idaho Closed Chess Championship Standings

No. Name                         Rate         Pts Rnd1 Rnd2 Rnd3 Rnd4

1 Parsons, Larry R          2005 3.5 W15        D10       W16          W5
2 Douglas, Kurt P         1671   3.5 W27        D12      W23         W10
3 Carr, John                 1732 3.0 W17        W20    L5         W11
4 Baggett, Jeff M                 1696     3.0 W24   L5       W26    W14
5 Abernathy, Caleb P         1609 3.0 W26        W4        W3       L1
6 Hamilton, Brett B         1951    2.5 D11         D8        D20     W28
7 Kircher, Caleb Paul         1760    2.5 D22        L13         W21        W16
8 Roland, Jeffrey T         1703 2.5 D13        D6       W17    D9
9 Booth, Tom R                 1618  2.5 W18        L16      W24    D8
10 Eacker, Barry D         1609 2.5 W25         D1      W13   L2
11 Stark, Jim                         1595  2.5 D6       W22        W12    L3
12 Abderhalden, Richard 1503 2.5 W19          D2          L11        W20
13 Porth, Adam                 1244 2.5 D8         W7         L10    W22
14 Abderhalden, Katherine 1741 2.0   L16         W27   W1 5  L4
15 Bartell, Fred                 1604 2.0 L1         W18   L14    W23
16 Ye, Michael                 1354 2.0  W14          W9          L1      L7
17 Patterson, Kevin R         1247 2.0 L3          W28   L8      W25
18 Seekamp III, John           786 2.0 L9          L15   W28   W24
19 Buckendorf, Glen         1800 1.5 L12 L23     -H-      W26
20 Myers, Hugh S                 1617    1.5 W28     L3     D6 L12
21 Looney, Daniel S         1593 1.5 -H-     -N-     L7 W27
22 Pentico, Chris                 1459 1.5     D7     L11     W27     L13
23 Simonson, Jay L           565 1.5 -H-     W19     L2     L15
24 Connor, Kitt D                 1021 1.5 L4     W25     L9    L18
25 Porth, Dylan                   592 1.0 L10      L24     -B-     L17
26 Healy, Michael                   188 1.0 L5      -B- L4     L19
27 Patterson, Katie Rae            947    0.0 L2      L14     L22      L21
28 Porth, Desmond            714 1.0 L20     L17     L18      L6

2011 ICA Idaho Closed Chess Championship First Day

I have actually been preparing for this tournament for the past few weeks and it seems to be paying off.  After two rounds today, I proudly served up 1.5 pts.  Both of which from 1700 level players.  With such a strong start, I hope the tournament winds don't turn south on me.

2011 Idaho Closed

Defending Champion, Larry Parsons

It is so nice to be around all of these chess players.  Everyone has familiar and friendly faces to me, now and it is a pleasure to goof around, talk smack, and hear stories.   There are twenty-nine very unique individuals here in Twin Falls competing for the State Championship.  Jay Simonson opened the tournament with some encouraging words and then a short tribute to Larry Parsons who is defending champion and waiting to play.  Co-champion, Phil Weyland is a student at Boise State University and could not get away.  Interestingly, the other co-champion, Jason Evers, aka Doitchin Krastev  is in prison for assuming the identity of a murdered three year old, and won't be playing this year.  He certainly seemed like a nice guy when I met him last year.  I remember he gave me some encouraging words before my match with Caleb Kircher at the 2010 Idaho Closed.  

Jeff Roland

Me playing Jeff(on right)

Round 1 played me against Jeff Roland, 1703.  I truly was afraid to play against Jeff in an over-the-board game.  He is sort of a mentor, as he was my first introduction to the Idaho Chess Association, and is now a close friend.  After 20 moves, I offered a draw and it was accepted.  There just was not much happening in the game for either of us and this certainly was a reasonable result, as you can see below.

Also in round 1, Dylan played Barry Eacker and had him eating up enormous amounts of time in a tight situation that Dylan just did not maintain after she moved her Knight to g5 on move 12.  This allowed Barry e5.  She ended with a loss, however, Barry passed me a note while I was playing Jeff, "Dylan played really good!"

Position after 11.  Bf4 . . 

Barry plays Dylan

Kevin(left) and Desmond

Desmond had two tough games against very difficult opponents, Hugh Myers (rnd 1) and Kevin Patterson (rnd 2).  He played long and hard, but succumbed to endgame tactics which he struggles with.

Des playing Hugh Myers

Caleb Kircher

Round 2 pitted me against Caleb Kircher, 1760, in a strange endgame that had many moments where my face felt flush and I would feel the sweat pooling in my armpits.  After I offered a draw on move 43, Caleb scoffed and said, "I should because I played so poorly."  But he didn't and I was now determined to find a perpetual check at this point and spent 5 minutes working it out.  But what I found was an unstoppable checkmate!

Kitt Conner came from the College of Idaho to play.  Kitt is a former student and player from WRHS and I am glad to see him.  My kids grew up in chess with Kitt and Dylan immediately began clinging on his long arms, stretching them even further.  I feel bad that he has to study Imperialism while he plays.  I thought he was going to beat Jeff Baggett but then the dreaded subtleties of the endgame squash any hope for anyone without tremendous endgame experience.

Kitt Conner

Preview

It has been too busy for me to post lately.  Here are my plans for the next couple of weeks:  interview with Sean Manross, interview with Tom Booth (prison chess), new chess class at WRHS for high school credit, standings for the Chess960 Chess Tournament.  But, first I would like to welcome you to the 2011 ICA Idaho Closed Chess Championship!

Still Winter

Please Financially Help Us!

The WRHS Chess Team has won the last three State Scholastics competitions, the last three Ogden Scholastics, and the last three West Jordan Scholastics (Salt Lake City area).  This particular team of five players (Nick Bruck, Andrew Uriarte, Shane Bruess, Miles Hendrix, and Alex Bates) are all seniors and deserve a chance to see how they rank nationally at the National High School Championships held in Nashville, Tennessee April 28 - May 1.

I have created a Paypal donation account for our chess club.  The cost per child is $770 (flight, hotel, registration, and food).  If you could help in anyway . . .please donate.

Please support us

New Calendar

Please go here to see which tournaments we are attending:  http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=aporth1%40cox.net&ctz=America/Denver 

Chess960 or Fischer Random Chess

“Chess960 is healthy and good for your chess. If you get into it and not just move the pieces to achieve known positions it really improves your chess vision.”
-- GM Levon Aronian


Next week Wednesday we will embark on Chess960, a variant of chess that actually helps your chess vision.  Invented in the 70's by Bobby Fischer, Chess960, or Fischer Random Chess as it was known, randomizes the back rank with the following caveat, the king must be placed between the two rooks.  In this way, castling to the a-side or the h-side is possible.  When castling in Chess960, the king and rook end up on the squares that they would normally end up on.  All else is the same.  To learn more about how to play go here:  Chess960.net



On Wednesday Club Nite, we will play one game of Chess960 and then create a mini-tournament for whomever would like to stay and play.  I will supply a trophy to the winner of the tournament.  I have a chess960 application that will be used to randomize the board.  SS G/10.

Thanks Riley!

The chess club wishes to thank Riley Clark for baking chess cakes for Wednesdays club.  It was a welcomed treat and I wish I had a camera to take pictures of the beautiful swirled chocolate cake with chessmen cookies.

Third Year In West Jordan

The journey was a long one.  Nearly five hours on the bus with 8 eager chess players!  Lynnet drove the six middle school boys in our car.  We began our Salt Lake City tournament with a trip to the Clark Planetarium where half of our group watched a laser show in the dome and the other half watched the Green Hornet on a five-story IMAX in 3d.  I designed a very busy schedule to avoid sword purchasing and rock climbing, and any other trouble like our previous trips.  We ended late and went back to the hotel where everyone went immediately to sleep.  My evil plan worked.  Now I hoped that they would get enough sleep to play well on Saturday morning.

We're sleepy already

The Green Hornet

Some of the middle schoolers

Our teams included:

WRHS - Nick Bruck, Andrew Uriarte, Miles Hendrix, Shane Bruess, and Nicole Lichtenberg.  All 12th graders.

WRMS - Desmond Porth, Riley Neel, Hunter Frye, Jake Whitlock, Riley Clark, and Quin Gilman.  All 8th graders.

Elementary - Dylan Porth and Colten Weatherly, 5th graders, and Darwin Porth, Kindergarten.

Douglas Duncan, the tournament organizer and TD, recognized us immediately.  For the past three years our team has fared well in Ogden and in West Jordan, and we were anticipating another successful tournament.  All of my players agreed that this tournament was a bit tougher than the previous ones and the team results demonstrated that - we won by only 1 point in the high school section and the middle school won second place.

I think we were up too late for the first round.  We sleepily scored 3.5 pts. in high school section and 2.0 pts. in middle school section with very little enthusiasm.  It seemed like the round went fast as I didn't even have time to get my latte from down the block.  I took orders for Round 2.  During round 2, I went shopping at the one chess vender and bought 2,500 chess titles on six dvds for $25.  This vender had pdf scans of whole books!  Both teams brought home 4 pts. and I was suspecting a positive ending to the day.

The high school section had 41 players with 14 high schools participating and the middle school/junior high school section had 51 players and 15 schools.  The tournament rival appeared to be Salt Lake City High School.  Dylan and Colten were competing for individual prizes against 60 kids in their section, including 21 5th graders.  This was Colten's first competition after starting with our group only two weeks ago and he was thoroughly enjoying and absorbing everything.

Darwin

Darwin (2.0 pts.) was competing for the kindergarten prize against two other children, but was in the K-3 section.  Many tournament organizers lump the kindergarteners with second and third graders.  There is a huge difference in the games.   Kissy-kings, pawing at pieces, balancing them on top of one another, making bishop aeroplanes (with sound effects), and other creativities.  After I watched an embarrassing first round performance by Darwin, I reminded him as gently as a father could to follow tournament protocols and etiquette, and proceeded to feel badly about it.  Thankfully, Lynnet and Desmond were there to rescue him and to reinforce "what dad said."  Darwin continued his tournament with renewed focus, vigor, and more importantly, seriousness.  He even felt prouder of his win when beating a first grader and exclaimed, "I beat a fiiirrrrst gwader!" .  He ended up winning first place in the Kindergarten section and a trophy for being the youngest player and he was very happy and confident.

Rock Out Buddy!

Quin Gilman

Our other tournament newcomers included Nicole Lichtenberg(0 pts.) and Quin Gilman(1.5 pts).  Quin looked sort of panicked and slightly stressed each round, but gradually relaxed and earned 1.5 pts. in the last two rounds.  I felt bad when the adrenalin of the day produced horrible stomach cramps for him later that evening.  Nothing could get Colten down.  I could see the wheels in his head already preparing for next year.  Riley Clark, despite having participated in the Winter Solstice, is still developing as a chess player.  She is now able to play openings safely and looked developed and solid every time I checked on her.  I think showing the "ideal" opening board helps kids learn the value of the various named openings.  Combinations are still a mystery for her, however.

An Ideal White Position

Riley Clark

Nicole Lichtenberg

Nicole did not win any games, but was learning much from the tactics that kept her pieces (and her suitors) at bay.  She told me that "a guy finally hit on her" during her game in round 4.  Now I know why there are female only tournaments!  "I am losing to all of nature's mutations!" she exclaimed.  Nicole is an outstanding debater and found chess tournaments to be a very different experience.

Alex Bates with the lucky hat

Nick Bruck

Nick(4.0 pts.) was the only student that recorded any games.  I hope to post some tomorrow when he brings the score sheets to school.  He went undefeated with three wins and two draws.  Alex(3.0 pts.) commented that you really need to have the "right spirit" while playing as he snagged his third point in the final round.  Andrew quiped, "or the right skill . . ."  With more practice, Shane Bruess(3.0 pts.) could get over the hump of the end game.  Nick was watching Shane's game and they performed a wonderful post-game show for me of Shane's game that I wish I could share.  Arm's flailing, slammed pieces, voices speedily rising in pitch, and their confidence in analysis, building like a tornado.

Andrew Uriarte

Andrew's (4.0 pts.) fifth round game was the epic event of the day, with Salt Lake City claiming poor sportsmanship and stomping off to pout as teenagers will do.  Andrew continually played his games out to the bitter end on the board and on the clock.  During the last two rounds he ran into time trouble, but played the endgame like a master against his opponents who were a pawn or two up each time.  Under the pressure of time, Andrew capitalized on their mistakes and obtained additional time for illegal moves.  In game 5, Andrew only had seconds left with his opponent having minutes.  They moved into check and Andrew coolly obtained two more minutes.  In a moment, an additional two more minutes during the next move for the same mistake.  Flustered, his opponent botched a pawn move and Andrew ended with another win in a "losing position."

Miles enjoying the competitiveness of chess with me

Miles Hendrix

Andrew Uriarte and the lucky hat

Andrew's win might have secured certain team victory, but Miles(4.5 pts.) was the man to beat after his first round draw - his games only got better.  This was his first tournament outside of our group and he won 1st place overall in the high school section.  He is a debater with Nicole and the captain of the debate team - he frequently misses weekend tournaments with us in lieu of debate tournaments, but has developed into a strong player, like Nick and Andrew.  After one game, he had the pasty mouth of adrenalin as he explained his lousy position and how he got out of it.

Desmond Porth

Dylan Porth

Desmond(4.0 pts.) was going for a perfect tournament score as he entered the last round.  Everyone was routing for him and Desmond was a bit nervous.  As I watched the game progress, I truly thought he had it won - he was a piece up and ready to promote.  But he moved to the wrong side of the rook to avoid perpetual check (which his opponent was desperately trying to obtain) and suddenly a pawn appeared and mated him.  Desmond told me he could not believe it as he never knew that pawn was even there.  He confided in me that he thought the kid dropped the pawn on the board from the graveyard.  I really don't think Desmond is one to create a fantasy like this and I have watched kids cheat in the Ogden and West Jordan tournaments regularly. We will watch closer next time.

Reilly Neel

Reilly Neel (4.0 pts.) learned the Colle-Zuckertort after his first round loss and won every game after that.  My goal for Reilly is to play slower and not make so many pawn moves in the opening.  "Develop and have patience for the game to settle.  Don't attack without adequate support or development (like Miles and me sometimes!)."  I think he finally heeded my words and met with success.  The middle school team ended with second place.

Darwin, Riley, Dylan and the Bellevue Bear

I really noticed the positive aspects of mixed ages at this tournament.  The caring, support, and interest the players had with one another made me proud to be their coach and friend.  And of course, the kids love the trophies:

WRHS, 1st place trophy
WRMS, 2nd place trophy

Darwin Porth(2.0), 1st place and youngest player
Dylan Porth(3.0), trophy
Colten Weatherly(2.0), medal

Desmond Porth(4.0), 2nd place
Reilly Neel(4.0), 3rd place
Jake Whitlock(3.0), 5th place trophy
Riley Clark(2.5), medal
Hunter Frye(2.0), medal
Quin Gilman(1.5), medal

Miles Hendrix(4.5), 1st place
Andrew Uriarte(4.0), 2nd place
Nick Bruck(4.0), 3rd place
Shane Bruess(3.0), trophy
Alex Bates(3.0), trophy
Nicole Lichtenberg(0.0), medal

The WRHS Team