Women's World Champion coming to Tucson

GM Alexandra Kosteniuk is coming to Tucson this Sunday (Dec. 20) as part of her Christmas Goodwill offer. She will be attending the 9 Queens Chess Academy. Because of the addition of GM Kosteniuk, some details of the Chess Academy have been changed.

• The 9 Queens Academy will be now be held at the Parasol Project Arts Space (located at 299 Park Avenue) from 2-4 pm on Sunday Dec 20, 2009.
• Immediately following the Queens Academy, from 4-7 pm at MAST (a new boutique located directly next door to Parasol Projects), 9 Queens will host a reception and simultaneous chess exhibit featuring Ms. Kosteniuk.

All activities will be open to all chess enthusiasts (men and women) of all ages and abilities. For more information, visit the 9 Queens website or contact Jean Hoffman.

International School of Tucson - Jessica Martin Chess Scholarship

The International School of Tucson is offering the Jessica Martin Chess Scholarship. Follow the link to learn more: http://internationalschooloftucson.org/content/scholarships

League Match #3 details

Hello Everyone!

I hope you're all having a wonderful Thanksgiving. We're sorry for the late notice, but League Match 3 details have been finalized. A flyer is available with all the tournament information.

The tournament will be at Old Vail Middle School.

Directions:
13299 E. Colossal Cave Rd., Vail, AZ. 85641-9090 Take I-10 South to the exit past Houghton which is Vail/Wentworth Rd. Turn left and go across I-10 travel 2 miles. School is on the left across the railroad tracks and across from the water tower.

Description:
USCF or SACA Rated. Individual Format with 3 rounds. USCF membership is required if playing in the USCF rated sections. There may also be sections for the “Top 16” Junior High and Elementary players in the USCF rated sections if there are enough players.

♦ Junior High (K-8) A – USCF rated
♦ Elementary (K-6) A – USCF rated
♦ Primary (K-3) A – USCF rated
♦ Junior High (K-8) B – SACA rated
♦ Elementary (K-6) B – SACA rated
♦ Primary (K-3) B – SACA rated

Schedule: (note the different round times!)
Check-in is not required. Please declare player drops by 9:30 am. Pairings will be posted at 9:45 am. Announcements start at 9:55 am and play begins at 10:00 am! Coaches should seat players as soon as the pairings are posted. Round times are 10:00, 11:45, 1:30.

Information:
Phone: 520-975-3946
Email: scholastic@sazchess.org
SACA website: www.sazchess.org

Senior Open this weekend

This is just a reminder that the Arizona Senior Open is this weekend (Nov. 7-8) at the Holiday Inn on Palo Verde. The Arizona Senior Open is open to all USCF members born on or before November 7, 1959. The highest finishing AZ Resident will win the title of Arizona Senior Champion.

The tournament will be 5 rounds. Rounds 1 and 2 will be GAME/90. Rounds 3, 4, and 5 will be 30/90, SD/1. Round times will be Sat: 10-1:30-5, Sun: 9-3. Half-point byes are available for each round, but must be requested prior to the start of Round 2. The entry fee is $40 if received by Nov. 4, $50 after Nov. 4.

A flyer and online registration is available on the SACA Webpage.

Please contact us if you have any questions.

IM Anna Zatonskih wins US Women's Championship

IM Anna Zatonskih has defended her title with an impressive 8.5 points out of 9 game performance at this year's US Women's Chess Champion, hosted by the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis.

Defending U.S. Champion Anna Zatonskih, of Long Island, N.Y., finished off the tournament in style with a positional crush of Yun Fan, of Greencastle, Ind. She won the record $15,000 first place prize fund. Zatonskih ended with eight wins and one draw in nine games, and her 8.5 points were tied for the best result in the championship in more than 20 years. She said the championship was the best performance of her career.

Camilla Baginskaite finished in 2nd place with 6.5/9.0 to earn $12,000. Both players earn automatic qualifiers for the next Women's World Championship to be held in Istanbul, Turkey.

USCF News Release (and video recap)
CCSCSL Press Release
Final Standings
All games (via Chessgames.com)

Energy drinks and chess

I'm not saying energy drinks make you better at chess, but some energy drinks are actually pretty good. Enjoy!

National Chess Day

Many of you may not know it, but today is "National Chess Day".

On October 9, 1976 President Gerald Ford declared a National Chess Day. As we approach that anniversary date, we encourage state and local clubs to commemorate the day in some way, perhaps with a tournament or an educational program about chess in their communities.

National Chess Day began in South Carolina. It was created by the late Bill Dodgen, who was president of the South Carolina Chess Association for a number of years. It was originally a state chess day in South Carolina, but Bill quickly expanded it to a nationwide effort and was appointed National Chess Day chairman.

I would like to thank all on our chess community for your participation in the game that we love. And I encourage (challenge) you to go out this weekend and play some chess! Teach someone how to play or play with someone who hasn't played in a long time. But remember, you don't have to just play chess on National Chess Day!

If you haven't been following along, the US Women's Championship is currently taking place in St. Louis, MO. Ten of the best females in the country are competing for a $64,000 ($15,000 for first) prize fund. Currently, current US Woman's Champion, Anna Zatonskih, leads with 4.5 points out of 5.

Chess in our community:

• October 10 - Arizona Chess in Schools is hosting the Green Fields Open
• October 14 - Arizona Scorpions vs. San Francisco Mechanics in the US Chess League
• October 14 - Eastside Chess Club meets every Wednesday at the Jewish Community Center
  
• October 17 - League Match #1 at St. Cyril School
• October 18 - 9 Queens will host the All Queens Chess Day

SACA Scholastic Schedule

There are still a few sites that need to be determined, but the dates for the 2009-2010 season are pretty set. Flyers will be available on the SACA website soon.

Oct 17 - League Match #1 @ St. Cyril's
Nov 14 - League Match #2 @ Sam Hughes
Dec 5 - League Match #3 @ TBD
Jan 22-24 - Tucson Open @ Holiday Inn - Palo Verde
Feb 6 - League Match #4 @ TBD
Feb 20 - League Championships @ Lineweaver
Mar 13 - Regional Championships (RQ1) @ Sierra MS
Mar 27 - Tucson Scholastic Championships (RQ2) @ Harelson
Apr 23-25 - State Scholastic Championships @ Holiday Inn - Palo Verde

If your school is interested in and able to host either League Match #3 or #4, please contact us.

Don't forget that this weekend is the Scholastic Warm-up! There is still plenty of time to register!

Arizona State Championship this weekend

The Arizona State Championship is this weekend, September 5-7, in Scottsdale, AZ. Twelve of the state's top players are competing in the 6-round event being hosted at the Unity Chess Club.

The players invited include the current state champion (IM Levon Altounian), the winner of the Valley Chess Club Championship, and top rated players in the state. UPDATE: Joel Johnson is ill this week and has withdrawn from the tournament. Robert Tanner will take his place.

IM Levon Altounian (2536)
FM Daniel Rensch (2432)
FM Pedram Atoufi (2322)
Vaishnav Aradhyula (2232)
Spencer Lower (2218)
Leonardo Martinez (2215)
FM Robert Rowley (2200)
Ben Marmont (2126)
Jim Geary (2121)
David Adelberg (2095)
Robert Tanner (2071)
Dipro Chakraborty (2036)

The championship is being organized by Joel Johnson and the Valley Chess Club. The Chief TD is Rick Smouse.

Blindfold Chess wins Best Chess Book of 2009

The USCF, Chess Journalists of America, and US Chess Trust have awarded Blindfold Chess, by Eliot Hearst and John Knott as the Best Chess Book 2009.

"We are pleased that the award committee thought our book qualified despite its rather unusual subject matter." Hearst said.