The CalChess Super States (a.k.a. the CalChess Scholastic State Championship) is the annual chess tournament where a large number of Northern California’s youth chess players compete for the title of State Champion. As a chess coach, I have been attending this Northern California tournament every year for well over a quarter century. My commitment toContinueContinue reading “Why I Keep Coming to the CalChess Super States Championships”
Tag Archives: calchess scholastic
Chess Tournament at the Mechanics’ Institute in San Francisco
https://youtu.be/Q4oyWkA47tI Greetings Chess Players! My name is Chris Torres and this is my Daily Chess Musing for Friday, February 16th, 2024. A good coach is said to put players in positions where they can succeed. As the CalChess Scholastic Coordinator, I use Daily Chess Musings as a platform to coach all of our youth chessContinueContinue reading “Chess Tournament at the Mechanics’ Institute in San Francisco “
2023 CalChess K-8 Scholastic State Championship
The CalChess K-8 Scholastic Championship is truly one of the most special and memorable events on the Bay Area Chess tournament calendar. I took a stroll around the 2022-23 CalChess K-8 Scholastic State Championship and was quickly reminded why this tournament is commonly referred to as the “Super States!” Enjoy the photos below and lookContinueContinue reading “2023 CalChess K-8 Scholastic State Championship”
Photos from the 2023 CalChess K-5 Scholastic State Championship
This past weekend I was in attendance for the historic 2022-23 CalChess Scholastic State Championship and there was no place I rather be! Bay Area Chess put on a great tournament and as the CalChess Scholastic Coordinator I had the pleasure to review dozens of chess games and saying “hi” to hundreds of friends. BeingContinueContinue reading “Photos from the 2023 CalChess K-5 Scholastic State Championship”
Photos from the 2023 US Amateur Team West Championship Scholastic Chess Tournament
The US Amateur Team West Championship is one of the most enjoyable California chess traditions. A team event, the US Amateur Team West attracts all the usual faces and their friends to compete in a weekend long celebration of chess. Each year there is also a USATW Scholastic Tournament. As a chess coach, Editor forContinueContinue reading “Photos from the 2023 US Amateur Team West Championship Scholastic Chess Tournament “
Winning Chess Moves: Caruana vs. Lenderman, 2018
The 2018 US Championship was an action packed event. The San Francisco Bay Area’s own Grandmaster Sam Shankland stole the spotlight by taking first place over such pre-tournament favorites such as Fabiano Caruana, Wesley So and Hikaru Nakamura. Norcal chess enthusiasts weren’t exactly shocked by GM Shankland’s championship run as we have long since grownContinueContinue reading “Winning Chess Moves: Caruana vs. Lenderman, 2018”
More Opportunities for young chess players in Northern California
https://youtu.be/JzIx3nXNDQ4 Greetings! I’m Chris Torres, the Scholastic Coordinator for CalChess and I have some exciting news for Northern California’s scholastic chess community. Perhaps you’ve seen some of the Super State coverage on DailyChessMusings.com and thought it looked like a fun event. Maybe you attended the tournament but did not quite place high enough for aContinueContinue reading “More Opportunities for young chess players in Northern California “
2022 CalChess Super State Championships Day 1
Sat, March 19 – Sun, March 20 K-5 On March 19th and 20th, hundreds of talented children between kindergarten and the fifth grade are competing in Santa Clara, California at the 47th annual CalChess Scholastic Championship (aka The CalChess Super States) for the title of Northern California State Champion. In the coming days I willContinueContinue reading “2022 CalChess Super State Championships Day 1”
2022 CalChess Super State Championships Day 2
Sat, March 19 – Sun, March 20 K-5 Day 2 of the 2022 CalChess K-5 Super State Championship was a special day for California chess. The drama of the final round battles were spectacular and I will be posting plenty of these well played chess games during the next several days. For now, please enjoyContinueContinue reading “2022 CalChess Super State Championships Day 2”
Coach Joe’s Report on the 2019 Calchess Spring States
The 2019 Northern California Scholastic Chess Championships were held the weekend of March 9th & 10th at the Santa Clara convention center. Over 1200 students and more the 50 schools competed in these championships. Mission San Jose Elementary school (MSJE) of Fremont was the big winner in the Elementary School Division. The MSJE team wonContinueContinue reading “Coach Joe’s Report on the 2019 Calchess Spring States”
Mission San Jose Elementary School Shines at the Calchess Scholastic Chess Championships
Coach Joe’ Report on the 2018 Calchess Scholastic State Championships (Photography by Hui Wang): The 2018 Northern California Scholastic Chess Championships were held the weekend of April 7th & 8th at the Santa Clara convention center. Over 1200 students and more the 50 schools competed in these championships. Mission San Jose Elementary school (MSJE) ofContinueContinue reading “Mission San Jose Elementary School Shines at the Calchess Scholastic Chess Championships”
Calchess Scholastic Super State Championship: Preview 1
Without a doubt, the best scholastic chess tournament in Northern California for the past six years has been the Calchess Scholastic State Championship. Every Spring, nearly one thousand school aged chess players compete in a single weekend of matches to determine who the best chess players and school chess teams are in Northern California. InContinueContinue reading “Calchess Scholastic Super State Championship: Preview 1”
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 toContinueContinue reading “Help Send Ben Rood to Slovenia”
Mission San Jose Elementary Dominates the Calchess Scholastic State Championship
The Mission San Jose Elementary School chess dynasty was extended another year at the 2012 Calchess State Scholastic Championship. MSJE, again, swept all the championship sections for elementary school aged children. Several of the Mission San Jose Elementary players also won individual State Championship titles or finished in the top ten of their section. TheContinueContinue reading “Mission San Jose Elementary Dominates the Calchess Scholastic State Championship”
Eight Year Old Wins Grade 4-5 Chess Championship in California
Chess history was made on April 22, 2012. Ben Rood, while still only eight years old, won first place in the grade 4-5 section at the Calchess Scholastic State Chess Championship. California has been home to many youthful chess prodigies since I started attending the Calchess Scholastic State Chess Championship. A few that comeContinueContinue reading “Eight Year Old Wins Grade 4-5 Chess Championship in California”
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).ContinueContinue reading “2011 Calchess Scholastic State Championships: Ben Rood”
2011 Calchess Scholastic State Championship: Opening Trap
[Event “Calchess Scholastic State Championship”] [Site “Santa Clara, California”] [Date “2011.04.03”] [Round “6”] [White “Canafe, Abraham”] [Black “Li, Steven”] [Result “0-1”] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. d4 Bg4 5. Bxc6+ bxc6 6. dxe5 dxe5 7. Qxd8+ Rxd8 8. Nxe5 Rd1# 0-1 Steven Li teaches a valuable lesson to his opponent.ContinueContinue reading “2011 Calchess Scholastic State Championship: Opening Trap”
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.ContinueContinue reading “2011 Calchess Scholastic State Championship: Round Four”
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”]ContinueContinue 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 dayContinueContinue reading “2011 Calchess Scolastic State Championships: Day 1”