Fremont Summer Chess Camp

Mission San Jose Elementary School Summer Chess Camp Home of the 2009 NATIONAL ELEMENTARY CHESS CHAMPIONS!  This camp will feature chess instruction by: Joe Lonsdale (Head Coach of Mission San Jose Elementary School) Francisco Anchondo (Team Coach for Weibel Elementary School) Tans Hylkema (Team Coach for Collins Elementary School) Chris Torres (President of the TorresContinue reading "Fremont Summer Chess Camp"

2011 Calchess Scholastic State Championship: Brilliancy Prize

Second grader Edward Liu is the winner of the Torres Chess and Music Academy Day One Brilliancy Prize at the 2011 Calchess Scholastic State Championships. Edward (Eddie) Liu attends Mission San Jose Elementary School in Fremont, California. His rating is currently 852. [Event "Calchess Scholastic State Championships"] [Site "Santa Clara, Ca"] [Date "2011.04.02"] [Round "3"]Continue reading "2011 Calchess Scholastic State Championship: Brilliancy Prize"

2011 Calchess Scolastic State Championships: Day 1

Three Northern California chess prodigies performed extremely well during the first day of the 2011 Calchess Scholastic State Championships.  Kindergartener Milind Maiti scored a perfect 5/5 and became the 2011 Calchess Kindergarten State Champion. First Grader Chenyi Zhao scored 2.5/3 in the k-3 championship. Ben Rood, another first grader, scored a perfect 3/3 on dayContinue reading "2011 Calchess Scolastic State Championships: Day 1"

2011 Calchess Scholastic State Championships: Preview 2

Students at Collins Elementary School in Cupertino, California spent Tuesday afternoon preparing for the 2011 Calchess Scholastic State Championships. Coach Chris Torres played competitive games against many members of the Collins chess team. He was very impressed with third grader Sayesha Chaudhary and fourth grader Aryan Dawra. Both of these young players will be playingContinue reading "2011 Calchess Scholastic State Championships: Preview 2"

2011 Calchess Scholastic State Championships: Preview 1

Third grader Anthony Zhou spent Monday afternoon preparing for the 2011 Calchess Scholastic State Championships with Coach Chris Torres. Anthony who attends the Torres Chess and Music Academy program at Pioneer Elementary School is currently ranked at 18 in the country for chess players under the age of eight. Even with such a high ranking,Continue reading "2011 Calchess Scholastic State Championships: Preview 1"

Calchess Scholastic State Championships

The best scholastic chess players from Northern California will be competing in the 2011 Calchess Scholastic State Championship this weekend in Santa Clara, California. For the last 36 years, children from kindergarten through grade 12 have had an opportunity to demonstrate their chess skills, make friends and battle for championship titles at this prestigious event.Continue reading "Calchess Scholastic State Championships"

Check Maiti

   California has a new chess star and his name is Milind Maiti. On 12/4/2010 Milind won five out of five games in the kindergarten section at the Calchess Grade Level Championship  in Stockton, California. The following weekend, young Mr. Maiti finished with a score of 5.5/7 in the kindergarten section at the USCF National K-12 Championship in Lake Buena Vista,Continue reading "Check Maiti"

National K-12 Championship: Day 3

Congratulations are in order for three Torres Chess and Music Academy students from Northern California who attended the 2010 USCF National K-12 Chess Championship in Florida from December 10-12. Milind Maiti, Chenyi Zhao and Ben Rood traveled across the country to this tournament less than one week after competing in the Calchess Grade Level ChessContinue reading "National K-12 Championship: Day 3"

National K-12 Championship: Milind Maiti is Perfect After Two Days

Milind Maiti has a perfect record after two days of intense games at the 2010 United States Chess Federation National K-12  Championship. Thus far,  Milind has defeated all challengers including the impressive Atreya Vaidya and Maggie Ni. Tomorrow morning, in round 6, Milind Maiti will face the only other undefeated kindergartener. Should Milind Maiti defeatContinue reading "National K-12 Championship: Milind Maiti is Perfect After Two Days"

National K-12 Championship: Day One Update

Two talented young chess players from Northern California achieved perfect results on the first day of the 2010 USCF National Grade Level Championship in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Despite playing the best competition the United States has to offer, kindergartener Milind Maiti and first grader Ben Rood outplayed their opposition with the ease one wouldContinue reading "National K-12 Championship: Day One Update"

On the Eve of Greatness: Three California Chess Prodigies Competing in their First National Chess Championship

Tomorrow three of my favorite chess students will begin play at the 2010 National K-12 Chess Championship in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. As the President of the Torres Chess and Music Academy, I have had the distinct pleasure of coaching many of the top ranking scholastic chess players in the United States and can comfortablyContinue reading "On the Eve of Greatness: Three California Chess Prodigies Competing in their First National Chess Championship"

On the Eve of Greatness: Three California Chess Prodigies Competing in their First National Chess Championship

Tomorrow three of my favorite chess students will begin play at the 2010 National K-12 Chess Championship in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. As the President of the Torres Chess and Music Academy, I have had the distinct pleasure of coaching many of the top ranking scholastic chess players in the United States and can comfortablyContinue reading "On the Eve of Greatness: Three California Chess Prodigies Competing in their First National Chess Championship"

Calchess State Grade Level Chess Championship: Justin Shen Creates A Beautiful Example of the Evans Gambit

Justin Shen is sixth grader who resides in Albany, California. Like many of my students he enjoys playing the white side of the Evans Gambit. On December 5, 2010, Justin Shen played a instructive example of this powerful opening at the Calchess State Grade Level Chess Championship. [Event "Calchess State Grade Level Chess Championship"] [SiteContinue reading "Calchess State Grade Level Chess Championship: Justin Shen Creates A Beautiful Example of the Evans Gambit"

Calchess Grade Level Championship: Chess Miniature From Round 5

Here is a fun miniature from round 5. [Event "Calchess State Grade Level Championship"] [Site "Stockton"] [Date "2010.12.05"] [Round "5"] [White "Khalife, Florence"] [Black "Young, Christian"] [Result "0-1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Bc5 4. d4 exd4 5. Ne2 Nf6 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 g5 8. Bg3 Nxe4 9. Rc1 d3Continue reading "Calchess Grade Level Championship: Chess Miniature From Round 5"

Calchess State Grade Level Championship: Steven Li’s Lesson on Destroying The French

Below is Steven Li's wonderful win from round 2 at the 2010 Calchess State Grade Level Championship. [Event "Calchess State Grade Level Championship"] [Site "Stockton"] [Date "2010.12.04"] [Round "2"] [White "Li, Steven"] [Black "Yuan, Steven"] [Result "1-0"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Be3 Nf6 5. Nc3 Be7 6. g3 Be6Continue reading "Calchess State Grade Level Championship: Steven Li’s Lesson on Destroying The French"

Calchess State Grade Level Championship: Day Two Report

The Mission San Jose Elementary School Chess Team continued its dominance of the 2010 Calchess State Grade Level Championship in Stockton, California. By days end,  MSJE had achieved first place finishes in grades 1,2,3,5 and 6. Mission San Jose Elementary's fourth graders also played well and finished in second place. The MSJE Chess Team isContinue reading "Calchess State Grade Level Championship: Day Two Report"

Calchess State Grade Level Championship: Eric Zhu Remains Undefeated

Fifth grader Eric Zhu remains undefeated after nearly conquering Kevin Moy and reaching a draw by agreement. Eric Zhu attends Mission San Jose Elementary and with this draw brings our team ever closer to another championship. [Event "Calchess State Grade Level Championship"] [Site "Stockton"] [Date "2010.12.05"] [Round "3"] [White "Zhu, Eric"] [Black "Moy, Kevin"] [ResultContinue reading "Calchess State Grade Level Championship: Eric Zhu Remains Undefeated"

Calchess State Grade Level Championship: Day 1 Report

Day One of the Calchess State Grade Level Chess Championship has concluded. Once again, students attending Torres Chess and Music Academy classes dominated this prestigious event. On Saturday December 4, 2010, Calchess named the championship teams for grades one, two, and three. All three titles were awarded to the Torres Chess and Music Academy program at Mission SanContinue reading "Calchess State Grade Level Championship: Day 1 Report"

Calchess State Grade Level Championship: Mid-Day Update

Thus far a large contingent of my students remain undefeated. Notable among those are Ben Rood (first grade), Luke Zhao (second grade) and Anthony Zhou (third grade).  All have three wins after three rounds. The 4-6 grades are just finishing round two. At this point, the Torres Chess and Music Academy juggernaut at Mission SanContinue reading "Calchess State Grade Level Championship: Mid-Day Update"

Calchess State Grade Level Championship: Round 1

Early results from round 1 of the Calchess Grade Level Championship are arriving. Most of my students were paired with lower rated opponents and had an easy time of it. Below are two nice wins from my students: [Event "Calchess State Grade Level Championship"] [Site "Stockton"] [Date "2010.12.04"] [Round "1"] [White "Matthew, Kate"] [Black "Liu,Continue reading "Calchess State Grade Level Championship: Round 1"