It has now been several years since I first reported on the three California chess prodigies that I had the pleasure of coaching during the 2010 school year. My first article, “On The Eve of Greatness: Three California Chess Prodiogies Competing in their First National Chess Championship” shined the national spotlight onto Milind Maiti, Chenyi ZhaoContinue reading “On the Eve of Greatness: Part Three”
Tag Archives: Ben Rood chess
Eight Year Old Wins Big in Las Vegas
Torres Chess & Music Academy, Inc. 16691 Colonial TrailLathrop, CAPhone (661) 699-8348 Chesslessons@aol.com Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 31, 2012 Eight Year Old Wins Big in Las Vegas (Las Vegas, Nevada, December 26-30, 2012)When Ben Rood walks through a casino in Las Vegas it isn’t to win money on the Craps Tables but insteadContinue reading “Eight Year Old Wins Big in Las Vegas”
On the Eve of Greatness: Part Two
Tomorrow two of my favorite young chess players will begin play at the World Youth Chess Championship in Maribor, Slovenia. 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 from California and can comfortably state that the two players describedContinue reading “On the Eve of Greatness: Part Two”
Its Deja Vu Mr. Petroff
In French the phrase Deja Vu means “already seen.” Not only have I already posted an article on my clever new system against the Nimzowitsch Attack in the Petroff Defense, I did so in my last post. However, the real reason for a sense of Deja Vu is that I played this game following a chess lessonContinue reading “Its Deja Vu Mr. Petroff”
Teaching Chess Improves Chess Creativity
Last night after a long day teaching chess which culminated with a private lesson for chess prodigy Ben Rood, I came home and decided to relax by playing a couple blitz games on FICS. As usual, I won a couple and lost a couple. In the past I have noticed that I have more creative ways of handling routineContinue reading “Teaching Chess Improves Chess Creativity”
Help Send Ben Rood to Slovenia
To the Supporters of Northern California Chess, On November 2, 2012 California chess super-star Ben Rood will leave for Maribor, Slovenia in order to compete in the FIDE World Youth Chess Championships. Ben Rood asked his family to attend for support as he battles the best eight-year-olds from around the globe. A family trip toContinue reading “Help Send Ben Rood to Slovenia”
2012 U.S.C.F. National Elementary (K-6) Chess Championship
Beginning May 11, Nashville Tennessee will host the 2012 U.S.C.F National Elementary Chess Championship. This is the paramount annual chess event for children ages 4-12. Below is a highly biased preview for this year’s event. The competitors listed in this article are all kids I have the pleasure of playing chess with on a weeklyContinue reading “2012 U.S.C.F. National Elementary (K-6) Chess Championship”
World Youth Chess Championship 2011: Round 1
Play got underway today at the 2011 World Youth Chess Championship in the resort town of Caldas Novas, Brazil. Over a thousand of the world’s best young chess players took to the playing hall before 4:00 p.m. to make the first move toward winning a World Championship. For many of these young prodigies, this isContinue reading “World Youth Chess Championship 2011: Round 1”
World Youth Chess Championship 2011
This November the world’s most talented players who are eighteen years and younger will converge upon Caldas Novas, Brazil in order to compete in the 2011 World Youth Chess Championship. These extraordinary chess talents will do battle for nine rounds in hopes of placing in the top three for their age group. Those fortunate enoughContinue reading “World Youth Chess Championship 2011”
Ben is the Best at Chess
On 10/30/2011 Ben Rood again proved that he is the best chess player under the age of eight by producing a perfect score at the 2011 U.S. National Junior Chess Congress in Santa Clara, California. Ben was the overwhelming favorite in the 2011 U.S. Junior Chess Congress and he did not disappoint his fans. InContinue reading “Ben is the Best at Chess”
Send Ben Rood to Brazil
This November local super star Ben Rood will be representing the United States in the World Youth Chess Championship to be held in Caldas Novas, Brazil. Seven year old Ben would like to have his family there to support him as he battles the best eight year olds in the world for the title. AllContinue reading “Send Ben Rood to Brazil”
Ben Rood’s Chess Accomplishments are the Talk of the Town in Walnut Creek
The Walnut Creek Patch just ran a wonderful article detailing Ben Rood’s rise to chess fame. The Walnut Creek Patch is Ben Rood’s hometown newspaper so I know this will help raise community awareness of his incredible chess accomplishments. Below is an exerpt from the article by Jonathan Hawthorne of the Walnut Creek Patch: TheContinue reading “Ben Rood’s Chess Accomplishments are the Talk of the Town in Walnut Creek”
Ben Rood Becomes National Chess Champion
Torres Chess & Music Academy, Inc. 16691 Colonial Trail Lathrop, CA 95330 Phone (661) 699-8348 Chesslessons@aol.com Press Release Contact: Chris Torres Phone: (661) 699-8348 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 13, 2011 FIRST GRADER BEN ROOD BECOMES NATIONAL CHESS CHAMPION WALNUT CREEK, CA, May 6-8, 2011: Walnut Creek seven year old Ben Rood was awarded the titleContinue reading “Ben Rood Becomes National Chess Champion”
King of the Rood
Northern California’s top first grade chess player achieved a perfect seven wins out of seven games at the 2011 USCF National Elementary Chess Championship in Dallas, Texas. Ben Rood proved that his 1600 rating is “for real” by defeating Dylan Flores, Dominic Vielot, Liam Selendy, Nikolai Rhodes, Praveer Sharan, Zarek Azam and Diego Costa. TheContinue reading “King of the Rood”
National Elementary Chess Championship: Round 4 Update
California’s Ben Rood and Milind Maiti remain undefeated after four rounds of competition at the 2011 National Elementary Chess Championships. First grader Ben Rood is the highest rated player in the k-1 section with a rating above 1600! Kindergartener Milind Maiti, who is likely the best player his age in the United States, easily defeatedContinue reading “National Elementary Chess Championship: Round 4 Update”
California’s Top Chess Children Make a Splash at the 2011 USCF National Elementary Chess Championship
The United States Chess Federation ran a very nice article featuring many of the top kindergarten and first graders who are competing in the 2011 National Elementary Chess Championships in Dallas, Texas. As is always the case, California is very well represented by several super talented chess kids. Below is an exerpt from the articleContinue reading “California’s Top Chess Children Make a Splash at the 2011 USCF National Elementary Chess Championship”
2011 Calchess Scholastic State Championships: Ben Rood
Ben Rood scored a perfect 6/6 in the k-3 championship section at the 2011 Calchess Scholastic State Championships. For many at the tournament, Ben’s remarkable performance was the most memorable aspect of the 2011 Calchess Scholastic State Championships. For his coach, the most memorable moment came after Ben’s fifth round win over Josiah Stearman (1712).Continue reading “2011 Calchess Scholastic State Championships: Ben Rood”
2011 Calchess Scholastic State Championship: Round Four
First Grader Ben Rood continues his impressive streak by defeating current grade three State Champion Joanna Liu (1540). Ben’s play at the 2011 Calchess Scholastic State Championship is entirely consistent with the brilliant chess I see from him every week during our lessons. Anthony Zhou, another one of my favorite students, is also 4/4.Continue reading “2011 Calchess Scholastic State Championship: Round Four”
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”
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”