SACA Board Elections

The annual SACA members meeting will be held on Sunday, July 22 between the 4th and 5th round for the Ye Olde Pueblo Open at the Holiday Inn - Palo Verde. This is an opportunity for all to get information about the affiliate, to offer feedback, and to get involved. We will also be electing the SACA Board for the coming year.

Current individuals running for the SACA Board are as follows:

President
Troy Oberg

Vice President
Paul Mills
John Wright

Secretary
Martha Underwood

Treasurer
Daniel Katzel

Directors-at-Large (4 positions)
Robby Adamson
Levon Altounian
Sumhith Aradhyula
Valerie Cindrich
Ken Larsen
Michelle Martinez
Amanda Mateer

If anyone else wishes be on the SACA Board, please contact Enrique so that your name can be added to the ballot.

Ye Olde Pueblo tournament this weekend

Just a reminder to everyone that the Ye Olde Pueblo Open and Scholastic tournaments are this weekend at the Holiday Inn - Palo Verde. There is still time to register online for the event before the entry fees increase tonight at midnight.

PRIZES: 

Open section ($$G): $500 (and plaque) $400 - $300; Top X, A, B/below $150 each.
Trophy to Top Junior (U20), Top Junior (U14), and Senior (age 50+).

Reserve section (b/38): $250 (and plaque) - $150 (and plaque); Top C and D/below $100 each. Trophy to Top Unrated, Top Junior (U14), and Senior (age 50+)

Booster section: Trophy to 1st (and clock), 2nd - 5th Place, Top E, Top U1000/Unr, Top Junior (U11)

Scholastic I and II: Trophy to 1st - 5th Place (each day).
Top player who plays both days will also receive a digital clock. (Scholastic I and II)

A flier with all the information is available on the SACA website.

Eastside Chess Club Cancelled Today - 5/23

The Eastside Chess Club has been cancelled this week (5/23) due to the televised Congressional debate that will be at the JCC. Sorry for the late notice. John Wright Eastside Chess Club

2012 US Amateur West Championship

The US Amateur West turns 20 years old! This year's tournament marks the 20th Anniversary of the event. US Amateur West May 26-28, at the Holiday Inn - Palo Verde. The tournament is open to all players rated under 2200 (May Suppliment).


The available sections include:

• Championship (U2200)
• Reserve (U1600)
• Booster (U1200)
• Scholastic I (K-6/U1000) *
• Scholastic II (K-6/U600) *

 * The scholastic sections are three 1-day tournaments (Saturday, Sunday and Monday). Players can play one, two or all three days.

 

Registration is available online at the SACA webpage. A flier with all the information is also available.

 

This year's chess celebrity is IM MacKenzie Molner who will be available each round to analyze your games with you. Additionally, he'll give a simul on Sunday for anyone (tournament and non-tournament players welcome!) who wants to challenge him.

 

The chess weekend starts off with a Blitz tournament on Friday night at 7:00pm. Registration for that event is available online or at the site. EF is $10 ($15 for non-tournament players). Prizes are ($b/20) $75-$45 and Top U1600 $30. There are also prizes for Top K-12, K-8 and K-6 players.

Scholastic Clinic May 6 at the Wilmot Library

Attention all involved in Southern Arizona Scholastic Chess

There will be a Scholastic Clinic meeting held at the Wilmot Library on Sunday, May 6. The meeting will start at 1:00 and will last no longer than 4:00. Topics of discussion include: reviewing of league rules, format and setting of the scholastic calendar for the 2012-13 season.

All coaches, school sponsors and those interested in organizing/directing SACA tournaments are encouraged to attend. Perspective SACA Board members for 2012-13 are also encouraged to attend.

2011-2012 SACA All-Stars

The 2011-2012 SACA All-Stars were awarded at Tucson Scholastics South Regional Qualifier #2.

Many thanks to Ken Larsen for taking the time to calculate the awards.

2011-2012 SACA All-Stars:

PRIMARY
1. Robert Young (International School of Tucson)
2. Brian Belakovsky (Ventana Vista)
3. Teja Jetty (Sunrise Drive Academy)
4. Max Coy (Sonoran Science)
5. Eli Cindrich (Manzanita)
6. Ethan Wong (Harelson)
7. Ryan Zou (Canyon View)
8. Crisanto Iniguez (Montessori)
9. Andrew Smith (Harelson)

ELEMENTARY
1. Ryan Thompson (Basis Oro Valley)
2. Denham Carlisle (Sam Hughes)
3. Joseph Kennedy (St. Cyril)
4. Benjamin Hall (St. Joseph)
5. Robert Leenhouts (Sam Hughes)
6. Angela Kinsey (Basis Tucson)
7. Milind Jetty (Basis Tucson)

JUNIOR HIGH
1. Sam Watson (Basis Oro Valley)
2. Dun Jin (Basis Tucson)
3. Ruturaj Patil (Basis Tucson)
4. Ryan Hornby (Basis Oro Valley)
5. Aiya Cancio (Orange Grove)
6. Alan Castillo (Carden Christian Academy)

Honorable Mention
1. Andy Li (Basis Tucson)

9 Queens - Free Chess Seminar

Are you interested in teaching chess? Good news! You don’t need to be Bobby Fischer to be an effective chess teacher or coach. 9 Queens is offering a free training seminar for anyone interested in starting a chess club, working as a chess instructor or developing chess teaching skills.

Date: January 28, 2012

Time: 10 am - 2:30 pm (30 minute lunch break)

Place: Tucson Main Library, 101 N. Stone

Topics to be covered include:

• Planning a lesson
• Teaching strategies for instructors with limited chess experience
• How to keep students engaged
• Teaching the basics of chess
• Hands on exercises
• Making chess fun

9 Queens is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to extending the benefits of chess to under-served and under-represented populations. If you would like to attend this seminar, please send an email to jhoffman@9queens.org. You must pre-register to attend; space is limited.

International School of Tucson Chess Scholarships

The International School of Tucson is offering the Jessica E Martin chess scholarship.


To learn more about the scholarship, visit their webpage at: http://internationalschooloftucson.org/content/scholarships


Click here to view the scholarship form.


The application deadline has been extended to February 28, 2012.

US Amateur West this weekend

Just a reminder to everyone that the US Amateur West is this weekend, May 28-30, at the Holiday Inn - Palo Verde. The tournament is open to all players rated under 2200 (May Suppliment). Today is the last day to register before the $10 late fee goes into effect!!

The available sections include:

Championship (U2200)
Reserve (U1600)
Booster (U1200)
Scholastic I (K-6/U1000) *
Scholastic II (K-6/U600) *

* The scholastic sections are three 1-day tournaments (Saturday, Sunday and Monday). Players can play one, two or all three days.

This year's chess celebrity is IM Levon Altounian who will be available each round to analyze your games with you. Additionally, he'll give a simul on Sunday for anyone (tournament and non-tournament players welcome!) who wants to challenge him.

The chess weekend starts off with a Blitz tournament on Friday night at 7:00pm. Registration for that event starts at 6:00pm. EF is $10 ($15 for non-tournament players). Prizes are ($b/20) $75-$45 and Top U1600 $30. There are also prizes for Top K-12, K-8 and K-6 players.

17th AZ State Grade Championships

The flyer for the 17th Annual AZ State Grade Championships has been posted on the events page. The event is January 8, 2011 in Flagstaff, AZ.

Meal coupons for the Little America Hotel can be downloaded from the following link:

http://sazchess.org/ej_temp/455a.pdf

Enjoy the event!