College Chess Scholarships and Recruiting

I had an interesting conversation with IM Matyas Marek, the Lyndonville Institute senior who played and won the Danville Open. He is planning to apply to colleges/universities here in the US that offer chess scholarships.I asked him which schools he was considering---UT Dallas and Texas Tech. He has considered Webster University, ex-US Chess member Susan Polgar giving WU visibility, but said that academically WU is not up to the academic standards of other universities like TTU and UTD. I mentioned U Maryland Baltimore and he agreed that was another for him to consider.

One has to think that big time college chess may have moved closer to other college sports when the big name coach attracts the student players, but the academics of the university a) may be lower and b) the easier academics make the sports program a bigger draw. I'd be curious to see the retention/graduation rates for all colleges giving full chess scholarships.

The Next Big One In Vermont

US Chess Junior Grand Prix!

A State Championship Event!

OCT. 28-29   2017 Vermont Open

US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS: 6

4SS, 40/90, SD/45 d5. Contois Auditorium, Burlington City Hall, 149 Church St., Burlington, VT 05401. Three sections. Championship: EF: $44 if rec'd by 10/26. $$G: 250-160, U2110 155, U1910 150. State champion title to top-scoring Vermont resident. Under 1810: EF: $39 if rec'd by 10/26. $$ b/16: 200-135, U1610 130-100. Under 1410: EF if rec'd by 10/26: $34 if rated 800-1409, $24 if U800/Unr. $$ b/16: 150-100, U1210 90, U1010 80. All sections: EF $6 more if paid at site. No Unr may win more than $90 in Under 1810, $45 in Under 1410. Reg.: Sat. 9-10:05 a.m., Rds.: 10:30-3:45, 10-3:15. Half-point bye OK except for Champ round 4. Ent: Parker "Monty" Montgomery, PO Box 831, Middlebury, VT 05753-0831; vermonty64@earthlink.net, mobile 802-349-7739.

Vermonters vs. IM Matyas Marek at the Danville Open Last Weekend

[Event "Danville Open"]
[Site "Danville, VT"]
[Date "2017.09.24"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Marek, Matyas"]
[Black "Carter, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C18"]
[WhiteElo "2425"]
[BlackElo "2259"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2017.09.23"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.23"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qc7 7. Nf3 b6 8. Bb5+
Bd7 9. Bd3 Ne7 10. h4 Nbc6 11. h5 cxd4 12. cxd4 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Qc3+ 14. Bd2 Qxd4
15. O-O Qxe5 16. h6 Nc6 17. Qg4 f5 18. Qh4 g6 19. Rfe1 Qd6 20. Bb5 O-O 21. Bxc6
Bxc6 22. Bb4 Qd8 23. Be7 Qd7 24. Bxf8 Rxf8 25. Qd4 Re8 26. Re3 Qf7 27. Rae1 Bd7
28. Rc3 Rc8 29. Ree3 Rc4 30. Rxc4 dxc4 31. Qxc4 e5 32. Qxf7+ Kxf7 33. Rxe5 b5
34. f4 1-0

[Event "Danville Open"]
[Site "Danville, VT"]
[Date "2017.09.23"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Dudley, Ian"]
[Black "Marek, Matyas"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2006"]
[BlackElo "2425"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2017.09.23"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.23"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 a6 6. Bxd7+ Bxd7 7. Nc3 Nf6
8. O-O e5 9. Nde2 h6 10. f4 Be7 11. fxe5 dxe5 12. Qe1 Qb6+ 13. Kh1 Qe6 14. Be3
Bc6 15. Ng3 g6 16. Rd1 b5 17. a3 Kf8 18. Qd2 Kg7 19. Nd5 Rad8 20. Nc7 Qg4 21.
Qe2 Qxe2 22. Nxe2 Bxe4 23. Nxa6 Bxc2 24. Rc1 Bd3 25. Rfe1 Nd5 26. Bc5 Bg5 27.
Rcd1 Bc2 28. Ra1 Bd2 29. Rf1 Ra8 30. Nb4 Nxb4 31. axb4 Bd3 32. Rxa8 Rxa8 33.
Rd1 Bxe2 34. Rxd2 Ra1+ 35. Bg1 Bc4 36. h3 f5 37. Kh2 f4 38. Rd7+ Kf6 39. Bc5
Rb1 40. Rd6+ Kf5 41. g4+ Ke4 42. Rxg6 Rxb2+ 43. Kg1 Kf3 44. Rxh6 Kg3 45. Kh1
Rb1+ 46. Bg1 Bd5# 0-1

Danville Open Won by IM Matyas Marek of the Czech Republic, a Lyndon Institute Student

International Chess Master Matyas Marek of the Czech Republic, a senior at Lyndon Institute, won the internationally sanctioned Danville Open Chess Tournament today ahead of Vermont National Master David Carter of Burlington. 

Twenty competitors from Vermont, New Hampshire and Quebec competed in the multi-section tournament based on ability level. 

Pictured, National Chess Master David Carter of Burlington (l) and International Master Matyas Marek (r) of the Czech Republic, a senior at Lyndon Institute. 

IM Matyas Marek pondering a move early in hs game against National Master David Carter of Burlington.

Rebranding US Chess

US Chess operates online user forums for it's member's use. Our club, an affiliated non-profit, is running its FIDE rated tournament this weekend to which we just added an U1250 section in an effort to encourage lower rated and new competitors to come out and play rated chess. We posted an update on one of the US Chess forums, just as we did on Chess.com. The moderators/censors at US Chess pulled the post alleging that it contained advertising. I can understand not allowing commercial advertising posts on the forums, but an informational post by a non-profit US Chess affiliated club is not commercial advertising. The US Chess policy is small minded and does nothing to aid our club in promoting and growing chess in our community.

In an effort to assist US Chess in accurately representing its unwillingness to help affiliated chess clubs, the following new logo is proposed. 

*Composite logo is parody and thus protected speech not violative of copyright or trademark law.

REMINDER--The Danville Open (FIDE Rated) Is This Weekend, 9/23 and 9/24

We are expecting to International Masters to play in the Open section. One is a student from the Czech Republic attending Lyndon Institute in Lyndon, VT.  We have also added an U1250 section to encourage participation by new players and lower rated player. Join us for a fun two days of chess!

Have YOU Found Jesus Yet??!!

I just won a second round G-60 tournament game on ICC. My opponent was apparently a Christian Israeli. After he resigned he asked me if I had found "Jesus, my Lord." I told him no, but that I had found mate in 2 if he hadn't resigned.

Caledonian-Record Coverage of VT vs NH Chess Match

This is from the online edition this evening. If there is an article in the print edition tomorrow morning, I will post it here. 

Vermont Defeats New Hampshire In First Annual Chess Match 40.5 to 7.5

The match was held yesterday in Lebanon, NH at the Marriott Hotel. Vermont and New Hampshire fielded A, B and C teams. Vermont's A team was lead by National Master David Carter of Burlington and Expert Ian Dudley. The team was captained by Brian Lafferty of Lyndonville. Vermont keeps the traveling trophy until the 2018 match.

Lastly, a major thank you to everyone who came out and played or helped out. We hope for an even larger turnout next year which will allow for additional four person teams in the lower rating categories.

An Old , But Interesting, Interview With Leonid Yudasin

An interesting interview with Grandmaster Leonid Yudasin. Yudasin was born in St. Petersburg and was one of the top Soviet players of the late 1980's. He finished tied for first place with three others in the 1990 Soviet Chess Championship, but lost on a tiebreak. He lived in Israel for a number of years and has recently been living in Brooklyn where he teaches chess and plays chess in many tournaments. I've seen him at the Continental Open in Sturbridge deep in conversation with Sergi Kudrin. Here's the podcast link.
http://lewisfrumkes.com/radioshow/?powerpress_pinw=511-podcast 

Vermont vs. New Hampshire Match this Saturday, September 9th in Lebanon, NH

Players needed and welcome. Pleas join us for an inexpensive, fun day of chess with state bragging rights attached.

Vermont versus New Hampshire Match
Courtyard by Marriott, Hanover/Lebanon
Saturday, 9 September 2017

Four (4) round Scheveningen System

- All players must be residents of Vermont or New Hampshire or students attending school in either of these states
- Teams will be broken into three groups of four and each member will play al members of the other team’s group.
- Extra players will play a four round Swiss with minimal prizes

TIME CONTROL
  - Game/65; Delay/5

PRIZE FUND
  - Traveling Trophy to winning team

LOCATION
  - Courtyard by Marriott, Hanover/Lebanon
  - 10 Morgan Road, Lebanon, NH 03766

Entry Fee:  
  - $5
  - onsite entry only
  - Free to players rated 2200 and above

REGISTRATION
  - 8:45 to 9:15 AM

ROUNDS
  - 9:30AM – 12:30PM – 3:00PM – 5:30PM
  - NO byes or withdraws allowed
  - All players agree to play all rounds

MORE INFORMATION:
  - NH players contact Gene Tappen (etappen@aol.com) 
  - VT players contact Brian Lafferty (KingdomChessAssociation@gmail.com)
  - Alex Relyea; relyea@operamail.com;  http://www.relyeachess.com

Danville Open (FIDE Rated) Tournament is Almost Here

Please join us for our club's premier event of the year! We have added an U1250 section to encourage participation. There are expected to be cash prizes totalling at least $150 in the U1250 section.