Sunday, March 31, 2013

Checkmate for Charity - April 3 - UPDATED

Klaus played eleven games posting a score of 9-0-2! The event was covered by local media also! Thanks to everyone that came out to help make this a success! 

ABC 25
FOX 57



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On Wednesday April 3 at the St Andrews Regional Library club member Klaus Johnson will be playing chess for Harvest Hope. For a $5 donation/board you can play Klaus in a simul. Klaus will be playing up to 12 players at once and it's free for spectators.

You can arrive as early as 5:00pm and play will begin when 10 players are seated or 6:00, whichever comes first. Sets will be provided.

Klaus has been an active member of the club since moving here in 2010 to attend Law School. While his availability to play has been limited because of his studies he has still been very active in the club providing input into promotional ideas and tournament formats to help move chess forward in this area. He has served as TD in some of the area's largest events and organized what we believe to be the first SC Class tournament in 2011. He also managed to gain his Senior TD Certification making him SC's only Sr Director!

Please come out and support Klaus! He has done a lot of work behind the scenes for SC Chess and is a valuable member of the chess community!!

This is sponsored by the Pro Bono Program, Richland Library St Andrews & the Columbia Chess Club.

Rabulan wins Ashland Quick XXXVI!!

A light turnout of ten competitors battled in Ashland Quick XXXVI. In what turned out to be one Open Section, Leo Rabulan (2001) posted a perfect 3-0 score to finish in clear first ahead of  Philipp Lamby (2102), Ben Caeillo (1783) & Chris Labrecque (1539), all with 2 points.

Next week is Casual Night, April 4. Possible Rated Blitz Tournament if there is enough interest! If you missed it, the USCF now has official Blitz Ratings.

There will be no Monday meeting at the Library, it is closed. There will be a meeting on Wednesday, April with a Simul given by Klaus Johnson. Full details will be posted shortly.

The first Award Standings are now available.

Upcoming Tournaments:

Apr 13 - Knights Templar II , Charlotte, NC
Apr 13 - Yadkin Valley Senior Quads I, Dobson, NC
Apr 20-21 - 5th Senior Open, Travelers Rest, SC
Apr 27 - Lowry Grand Prix, Evans, GA
May 11- Queen City Saturdays - Charlotte, NC
May 24-26 - South Carolina Open, Greenville, SC

Be sure to check the SC Calendar , NC Calendar & Charlotte Chess  for a full list of weekend events.

Friday, March 22, 2013

MacDougall wins the 2013 Club Championship!!

James MacDougall (2027) outlasted Randal Gingerich (1726) in a sharp position with time running low for both players to finish in clear first with 4.5 points and win the 2013 Columbia Chess Club Championship!! The Runner Up in 2009 & 2010 took a first round bye, then reeled off four straight wins to claim his first club title in a field of twenty seven!

Ben Caiello (2023) won over Adam Shaw (1817) as Philipp Lamby (2225) defeated Chris Labrecque (1632) and really put the pressure on Board 1 as a draw would have created a four way tie for first! Ben takes home the Runner Up Trophy on tie breaks over Philipp.

Josh Lewer (1411) took the point from Christian Dunlap (1066) to finish with 3.5 points and win the U1605 Trophy on tie breaks over Randall. Christian took home the U1205 Trophy beating out five other eligible players.

Andrew Manion (1340) found the win over Jordan Anderson (1245) and claimed the Top Jr. Trophy finishing with 3.5 points.

Leo Rabulan (2112) finished with a win over Ralph Buske (1341), Birney Blind (1242) claimed the point as Shaun McCoy (1414) snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Paul Potylicki (1509) outlasted Dan Quigley (1801) and Jared Whiting (780) took the point from Guna Yarramareddy (803)

Congratulations to all the 2013 Trophy Winners! Rated results are HERE.

Next week is Ashland Quick XXXVI.

The State Scholastic Championship is this Saturday here in Columbia! Good Luck to our Jr players that are competing!

Upcoming Tournaments:

Apr 13 - Yadkin Valley Senior Quads I, Dobson, NC
Apr 20-21 - 5th Senior Open, Travelers Rest, SC
Apr 27 - Lowry Grand Prix, Evans, GA
May 24-26 - South Carolina Open, Greenville, SC

Be sure to check the SC Calendar & NC Calendar  for a full list of weekend events.


Saturday, March 16, 2013

MacDougall & Gingerich to play for the Big Trophy!!

Sixteen players continued their quest through round 4 in search of the hardware. James MacDougall (2027) kept his cool as Ben Caiello (2031) pushed for the win and eventually over pushed handing the point and a share of the lead to James. Randall Gingerich (1525) continued his solid play and defeated Adam Shaw (1818) to position himself for a shot at the Club Title when he meets James on Board 1 in the Final Round.

Philipp Lamby (2222) bounced back with a win over Leo Rabulan (2085) as Mike Mayfield (1367) continued his run of success with a  win over Gil Holmes (1832). Philipp, Ben & Mike all sit on 3 points, just a .5 point off the leaders heading in the final round so a draw on the top board could open doors.

Jordan Anderson (1245) continued climbing up the crosstable winning a wild shootout with Shaun McCoy (1414). Josh Lewer (1389) outlasted Daniel Smith (1476), Andrew Manion (1326) won over James Price (1246) and Dan Quigley (1807) broke into the win column taking the point from Birney Blind (1242).

The Final Round is Thursday, March 21.

There will be an U1400, three round tournament at the Library in April & May. Full details will be posted later.

Upcoming Tournaments:

Apr 13 - Yadkin Valley Senior Quads I, Dobson, NC
Apr 20-21 - 5th Senior Open, Travelers Rest, SC
Apr 27 - Lowry Grand Prix, Evans, GA
May 24-26 - South Carolina Open, Greenville, SC

Be sure to check the SC Calendar & NC Calendar  for a full list of weekend events.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Round 3, A Night of Upsets!!

Eighteen players battled in the Third Round of the Club Championship and ratings didn't mean much as there were three upsets and a draw.

Ben Caiello (2032) took control of Board 1 and stands alone at the top moving a step closer to his first Club Championship with an upset win over Two Time Club Champion Philipp Lamby (2222). James MacDougall (2027) took care of business on Board 2 with a win over Mike Mayfield (1367) and will try to capture Board 1 from Ben in the penultimate round next week. Adam Shaw (1818) won over Christian Dunlap (1047) and will face Randall Gingerich (1525) on Board 2 next week after Randall scored the upset win over Leo Rabulan (2085) in the evening's longest fight.

Gil Holmes (1832) wore down a stubborn James Price (1246) and Chris Labrecque (1667) outlasted Birney Blind (1242). Shaun McCoy (1414) scored the win over Mark Woodman (1026), Josh Lewer (1389) settled peacefully with Jordan Anderson (1245) and Andrew Manion (1326) upset Dan Quigley (1807).

The Penultimate Round is Thursday, March 14.

Upcoming Tournaments:

Apr 20-21 - 5th Senior Open, Travelers Rest, SC
Apr 27 - Lowry Grand Prix, Evans, GA
May 24-26 - South Carolina Open, Greenville, SC

Be sure to check the SC Calendar & NC Calendar  for a full list of weekend events.

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Three lead after two Rounds of The Championship!

Twenty players competed in Round 2 of the Club Championship. Philipp Lamby (2222) successfully defended Board 1 from Gil Holmes (1832) as Ben Caiello (2032) wore down a stubborn Josh Lewer (1389) to keep pace at the top of the crosstable.

Leo Rabulan (2085) saved the half point in a wild game with Adam Shaw (1818), James MacDougall (2027) picked up the point over Jordan Anderson (1245), Randall Gingerich (1525) took the point from Ralph Buske (1430) and Christian Dunlap (1047) secured the point from Julie Sheil (1058) to round out five players tied at 1.5 points.

Chris Labrecque (1667) broke into the win column with a victory over James Price (1246). Daniel Smith (1476) scored over Andrew Manion (1326), Birney Blind (1242) won over Guna Yarramareddy (780) and James Doyle (1136) settled peacefully with Mark Woodman (1026).

Round 3 is Thursday, March 7.

Upcoming Tournaments:

Apr 20-21 - 5th Senior Open, Travelers Rest, SC
Apr 27 - Lowry Grand Prix, Augusta, GA
May 24-26 - South Carolina Open, Greenville, SC

Be sure to check the SC Calendar & NC Calendar  for a full list of weekend events.