AZ State Scholastic Championship Results Posted

Results from the 2008 AZ State Scholastic Championship have been posted. A link can be found on the Events page.

CFHS wins Back-to-Back National Championships

For the second year in a row and the third time in four years, Catalina Foothills High School has won the National High School Chess Championship. This last weekend in Atlanta, a record turnout of high schoolers from all over the nation participated in the 3-day long, 7-round tournament.

The team was lead by seniors (both National Masters) Landon Brownell and Vaishnav Aradhyula, who each finished tied for 6th place with 5.5 points. Also on the team were Kevin Zhang (4.5 pts.), Eli Alster and Victor Yee (4 pts. each), Jenelle Wallace (3.5 pts) and Matthew David (2 pts). Only the top 4 scores on a team count for team standings. Catalina Foothills High School finished in clear first with 19.5 points, just .5 points ahead of Thomas Jefferson HS from Alexandria, VA.

In 2005 and 2007, Catalina Foothills finished tied for first place, but with higher tie-breaker points than Edward R. Morrow High School from New York.

Also from Arizona
Team -
Gilbert High School (Tied for 4th Place)

Individual -
Ashu Thakur from University High School (Tied for 23rd Place)
Kaylan Burleigh from Gilbert High School (Tied for 23rd Place)
Jonathan Cox from Salpointe Catholic High School (Tied for 45th Place)
Amanda Mateer (Tied for 45th Place)
Nick Thompson from Gilbert High School (Tied for 45th Place)
Daniel Schucker from Gilbert High School (Tied for 45 Place)

Complete Standings are available at USCF.

US Amateur Team Playoff this weekend! - Update

On Saturday, April 12 the four winning teams from each of the regional Amateur Team Championships will face off against each other on the Internet Chess Club (ICC). Representing the West is an Arizona Team of Robby Adamson, Landon Brownell, Jonathan Cox and Ben Marmont.

The first round is at 10:00am (local time).
South vs. East
West vs. Midwest

The winners of the first round will play against each other at 3:00pm (local time) to determine the title.

Good luck West!!!

Update - The West team won their first round against the Midwest with a score of 3-1. Their likely opponent will be the South at 3:00pm. The finals are viewable on ICC.

Sad conclusion - The West team made it to the finals, but sadly lost to the South with a score of 1-3. Congratulations on a great play-off and for finishing in 2nd Place!!!

National Open Free Entry Rules

As mentioned, the Las Vegas International Chess Festival has donated 2 FREE entries into the National Open to the winners of the Championship and Reserve section (1 entry each) of the US Amateur West Championship. Here are the details regarding those FREE entries:

Free entry to National Open for Winner(s).
Non-transferable unless winner already entered the National Open.
      Must notify SACA of transferee's name within 24 hours.
      Then it is non-transferable again.
Winner (or transferee) must stay at Riviera to claim prize.
      Unless Vegas resident.
      I (the organizer) will hold a room Thu-Mon since the Am West is after the cutoff.
      Must confirm room by 6/3.

Thank you again to the organizers of the Las Vegas International Chess Festival for these prizes!

US Amateur West Championship

Next on SACA's tournament schedule is the US Amateur (West) Championship on May 24-26. The tournament will be held at the Holiday Inn on Palo Verde, just north of I-10. The "Am West" is a 3-day event that traditionally draws players from not only Tucson, but from all over Arizona as well as neighboring states. There will be lots of prizes for everybody.

The Am West is open to all USCF members rated under 2200 (below Master). There are 4 sections to choose from: Championship (U2200), Reserve (U1600), Booster (U1200) and Scholastic (U1000 and K-8). The Scholastic section is three 1-day tournaments, so you can choose to play in 1, 2, or all 3 events.

Once again this year the Las Vegas International Chess Festival has donated 2 free entries into the National Open and the Susan Polgar Foundation has donated DVDs as door prizes. Other features of the tournament include, free game analysis by FM Danny Rensch, a blitz tournament Friday night (May 23) and a Simul against FM Rensch on Sunday (May 25).

Full details of the tournament are available on the flier for the tournament.

2007-2008 All Star Winners Posted

2007-2008 Scholastic League All Star Winners are now posted on the "All Star" page under the "Scholastic" link.

Tucson Scholastics (RQ2) Pictures Posted

Pictures from Tucson Scholastics (RQ2) have been posted. These include pictures of the 2007-2008 Scholastic All-Star Winners.