Monday, December 22, 2008
Eastside Chess Club - Holiday Closure
The Eastside Chess Club will be closed on December 24 & 31 due to holidays. The club will resume meetings beginning January 7.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
New National Tournament Director (NTD)
Congratulations to Enrique Huerta, the newest USCF National Tournament Director.
Enrique is the Vice President of SACA and has been directing tournaments for numerous years. He recently passed the rigorous National TD exam, and received the news at the National K12 Grade Championship tournament.
The NTD requirements include:
38. Experience Requirements.
a. Satisfactory performance as chief TD of 15 Category B tournaments, three of which awarded $1,000+ in prizes (the following may be substituted for five Category B tournaments: any combination of five Category B1 or B2 tournaments or any combination of ten Quick Chess Category B, B1, or B2 tournaments), and
b. Satisfactory performance as chief TD of a Category R tournament or satisfactory performance as chief TD at two Quick Chess Category R tournaments, and
c. Satisfactory performance as chief TD or Chief Assistant to a national or associate national TD at a Category T tournament of at least four rounds or satisfactory performance as chief TD or Chief Assistant to a national associate national TD at two Quick Chess Category T tournaments of at least four rounds, and
d. Satisfactory performance as Chief Assistant to a national TD at a Category N1 tournament (the following may be substituted for one Category N1 tournament: Both a Category N3 AND a Category N4 tournament), and
e. Satisfactory performance as chief TD or Chief Assistant to a national TD at an additional Category N1, N2, N3, N4, A, A1, or A2 or satisfactory performance as chief TD or Chief Assistant to a national TD at any combination of two additional Quick Chess Category N1, N2, N3, N4, A, A1, or A2 tournaments, but
f. Allowable substitution for Requirement A is a satisfactory performance as chief TD of ten Category B tournaments (the following may be substituted for three Category B tournaments: any combination of three Category B1 or B2 tournaments or any combination of six Category B, B1, or B2 tournaments) plus 20 Category C tournaments (he following may be substituted for six Category C tournaments any combination of six Category C1 or C2 tournaments or any combination of 12 Quick Chess Category C, C1 or C2 tournaments), three of which awarded $1,000+ in prizes.
39. Testing Requirement.
A rigorous essay examination designed to measure the applicant's understanding of the philosophies behind the rules. An experienced national TD grades the examination. The same form of the same examination may not be taken more than once by any applicant. If the NTD gives the exam a failing grade, the applicant may request that the exam be regraded by two additional experienced NTDs. A regrade will automatically occur if the applicant scored between 70%-79%. The final result of the grading process will then be the result given by at least two of the three graders. The same form of the same examination may not be taken more than once by any applicant.
40. Limitations.
None.
41. Expiration.
Life.
Congratulations Enrique!
View a list of other Southern Arizona tournament directors at http://sazchess.org/footer_links/contacts.html
Enrique is the Vice President of SACA and has been directing tournaments for numerous years. He recently passed the rigorous National TD exam, and received the news at the National K12 Grade Championship tournament.
The NTD requirements include:
38. Experience Requirements.
a. Satisfactory performance as chief TD of 15 Category B tournaments, three of which awarded $1,000+ in prizes (the following may be substituted for five Category B tournaments: any combination of five Category B1 or B2 tournaments or any combination of ten Quick Chess Category B, B1, or B2 tournaments), and
b. Satisfactory performance as chief TD of a Category R tournament or satisfactory performance as chief TD at two Quick Chess Category R tournaments, and
c. Satisfactory performance as chief TD or Chief Assistant to a national or associate national TD at a Category T tournament of at least four rounds or satisfactory performance as chief TD or Chief Assistant to a national associate national TD at two Quick Chess Category T tournaments of at least four rounds, and
d. Satisfactory performance as Chief Assistant to a national TD at a Category N1 tournament (the following may be substituted for one Category N1 tournament: Both a Category N3 AND a Category N4 tournament), and
e. Satisfactory performance as chief TD or Chief Assistant to a national TD at an additional Category N1, N2, N3, N4, A, A1, or A2 or satisfactory performance as chief TD or Chief Assistant to a national TD at any combination of two additional Quick Chess Category N1, N2, N3, N4, A, A1, or A2 tournaments, but
f. Allowable substitution for Requirement A is a satisfactory performance as chief TD of ten Category B tournaments (the following may be substituted for three Category B tournaments: any combination of three Category B1 or B2 tournaments or any combination of six Category B, B1, or B2 tournaments) plus 20 Category C tournaments (he following may be substituted for six Category C tournaments any combination of six Category C1 or C2 tournaments or any combination of 12 Quick Chess Category C, C1 or C2 tournaments), three of which awarded $1,000+ in prizes.
39. Testing Requirement.
A rigorous essay examination designed to measure the applicant's understanding of the philosophies behind the rules. An experienced national TD grades the examination. The same form of the same examination may not be taken more than once by any applicant. If the NTD gives the exam a failing grade, the applicant may request that the exam be regraded by two additional experienced NTDs. A regrade will automatically occur if the applicant scored between 70%-79%. The final result of the grading process will then be the result given by at least two of the three graders. The same form of the same examination may not be taken more than once by any applicant.
40. Limitations.
None.
41. Expiration.
Life.
Congratulations Enrique!
View a list of other Southern Arizona tournament directors at http://sazchess.org/footer_links/contacts.html
Friday, December 5, 2008
Jean Hoffman featured in newspaper article.
Jean Hoffman, co-founder of the 9 Queens organization was featured in an article in today's paper for "Gifts of Tucson". The article focuses on her returning to Tucson after earning degrees at BOTH Yale and Harvard (Ed. note: I know... I haven't heard of those schools either.) to teach chess to those that could normally not afford to be involved.Each day in December, we (Arizona Daily Star) are writing about a Gift of Tucson. These are people who quietly make our town what it is — volunteers, parents, neighbors, people who commit random acts of kindness. Go to go.azstarnet.com/giftsoftucson to read about other gifts of Tucson.In continues...
But after graduating from Yale, she took some time off from school and went to New York City to teach chess in low-income schools.Jean is hosting an informal chess gathering Dec. 8 at the Hotel Congress at 5:00 pm for anyone that is interested.
"I thought it would be part-time," said Hoffman. "But it was there that I became a believer in the power of chess as a teaching tool."
So she went on to get her master's in education from Harvard, and headed back to her Tucson home, where she launched the nonprofit 9 Queens.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
CORRECTION: Fliers for League Match #3 corrected
I wish to apologize in advance for any trouble or extra work I may have caused. The original flier for League Match #3 had two errors on it. Updated fliers are already available on the SACA website.
Again, I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause players, parents or coaches. Please pass along the corrected dates and time. Thank you.
- The registration dates for League Match #3 is Dec. 4 (and Dec. 5 for Friday chess clubs), not the dates that were originally listed.
- The start time for the tournament is 9:00 am, not 10:00 am. All other times should be adjusted accordingly to 1 hour earlier than was originally listed.
Again, I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause players, parents or coaches. Please pass along the corrected dates and time. Thank you.
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