GM Ftacnik Lecture and IM Matros Exhibition

If you missed the FM Lubomir Ftacnik lecture and IM Matros vs GM Ftacnik exhibition last week you missed a great night of chess learning and camaraderie. As one club regular said "Tonight was Awesome, like sitting at the feet of prophets."

The lecture featured two games where white underestimated the time factor in the opening and paid the price.
Game 1 featured a 19 move Nimzo Indian Defense from the 2006 Turin Olympiad between GM Ivan Sokolov and GM Levon Aronian.

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The second game is from 1999 with Ivanchuk getting the better of Topolov's English opening in 25 moves. Annotations from GM Ftacnik.

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After the battle lines were drawn and we split into two groups and parted ways. IM Matros had the white pieces and his Phalanx of experts marched to their camp and GM Ftacnik's Death Dealers of Destruction hunkered down and made preparations for the oncoming attack. The following battle ensued:

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Ashland XVI Round 4

Round 4 of Ashland XVI continued with Paul Farb(1917) claiming clear first by outlasting Paul King(1802). Erik Murrah(1657) moved into second place defeating Mike Mayfield(1377) on board 2. "Bullet" Ben Caiello(1438) defeated Cody Kyzer "Sose"(1011). Keith Eubanks(2023) defeated Richard Watts(1198) to stay in the hunt. Ralph Buske(1412) earned upset of the night by defeating Gil Holmes(1805). Steve Boshears(1614) ground out the win vs Birney Blind(1315). Jerry Rothstein(1340) returned to the club to claim a win vs "Fearless" Dan Caiello(1378). Drew Plyler (1207) and Craig Patton(1205) settled peacefully with a draw. Newcomer to the club, David Boyd(1089) defeated Jaime Sanyer(989) and also claimed victory Paul Lowry in and Extra Game.

The tournament concludes, with Round 5 on Thursday Sept 2nd.

The prizes are still undecided so be there for Round 5 to claim your share of the winnings.

1st $40
2nd $30
3rd $20
Top B (1600-1799) $15
Top C (1400-1599) $15
Top D (1200-1399) $15
Top E (1000-1199) $15

Note these are Class prizes and not under prizes. Only players in the rating class can win their class prize.


In some past news, IM Alexander Matros(2449) put on a simul exhibition at the club on August 19th, claiming 7.5 out of 8. Thank You to all who participated and Congratulations to Paul Farb who earned a draw vs the player 650 points higher than him.

Ashland XVI Round 3

We had 20 players compete in Round 3 along with some new faces visiting the club.

On the top two boards the higher rated players remained undefeated with Paul Farb(1917) defending against Ben Caiello's(1438) attack and Paul King(1802) defending against Richard Watts(1198).
George Morton(1680) won with white vs Ralph Buske(1412). Erik Murrah(1657) won, with the black pieces, against Daniel Caiello(1378). Cody Kyzer(1011) pulled the upset of the night against Steve Boshears(1614). Adam Shaw(1578) defended against Birney Blind(1315) and Thomas Sylvia(1038) won vs David Gongre(999). Gilbert Holmes(1805) defended vs Mike Meekins(1124) and Shiva Balasubramanian(1168) outlasted Jaime Sanyer(989). In an extra game, Keith Eubanks(2023) honed his expertise against Daniel Smith(1204).


On Thursday August 19th, IM Alexander Matros will give a presentation and a Simul exhibition.

We will continue Ashland XVI on Thursday the 26th.

The Columbia Open is upon is. I hope to see you there.

Ashland XVI - Round2

Ashland XVI continues with 18 competitors vying for position on the cross table.

On board 1, Fearless Daniel Caiello(1378) fought valiantly vs co-leader Paul Farb(1917) finally succumbing to the higher rated player. The open section forced new faces on board 2 with Ben Caiello(1438) defeating Birney Blind(1315). Joerg Lohse(1790) returned to his winning ways by defeating Thomas Sylvia(1038). Adam Shaw(1578) held the draw vs up and comer Cody Kyzer "Sose" (1011) and his stout Caro-Kann defense. Mike Mayfield(1377) blitzed out the win vs David Gongre(999). Craig "The General" Patton's pawn on the 7th was oh so close but no cigar vs George Morton(1680). The ambassador of chess, Erik Murrah's(1657) English attack arrived before Mike "not so meek" Meekins' Sicilian did, ending with the higher rated player claiming victory. In a hard fought game, Steve Boshears(1614) claimed victoy against Jaime Sanyer(989). In a rook and pawns vs bishop and pawns endgame, Ralph Buske(1412) proved the rook too powerful for Shiva Balasubramanian's(1168) bishop.

Round 3 commences on Thursday Aug 12th. Registration ends at 7:15.

On Aug 19th, we will take a break from the tournament and IM Alexander Matros(2450) will give a presentation and simul exhibition at a $10 entry fee.

Early registration for The Columbia Open ends August 13th, Register Here.