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 playingContinueContinue 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,ContinueContinue 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.ContinueContinue 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,ContinueContinue reading “Check Maiti”

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 wouldContinueContinue 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 comfortablyContinueContinue 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 comfortablyContinueContinue 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”] [SiteContinueContinue reading “Calchess State Grade Level Chess Championship: Justin Shen Creates A Beautiful Example of the Evans Gambit”

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 SanContinueContinue reading “Calchess State Grade Level Championship: Day 1 Report”

Calchess State Grade Level Championship

The 2010 edition of the Calchess State Grade Level Championship is just days away. The tournament will once again be run by master chess organizer John McCumiskey and be held at the University of the Pacific campus in Stockton, California. I believe this is the most enjoyable annual scholastic chess tournament in California. Please returnContinueContinue reading “Calchess State Grade Level Championship”

R.I.P. Mike Goodall

Mike Goodall, my friend and colleague in chess, passed away on October 5, 2010. For 40 years Mike Goodall gave time and money to the cause of improving chess in California. Highlights of his service include directing the United States Chess Championship in 1975, 1984 and 1986. Mr. Goodall also directed the United States Women’sContinueContinue reading “R.I.P. Mike Goodall”

Chess Camps Keep California Kids Busy

A children’s chess camp run by the Torres Chess and Music Academy is the ideal way for chess players to improve during school breaks. Children are separated into groups based on rating and age so that each class represents the closest chess experience grouping possible.  All Torres Chess and Music Academy camps have a group of outstanding master chess teachers onContinueContinue reading “Chess Camps Keep California Kids Busy”

Children’s Chess in the Bay Area

A Parent’s Guide to Chess in the San Francisco Bay Area: Bay Area chess parents have many resources available to help establish their children’s chess calendar. Two of my  favorite Northern California chess websites are listed below. 1) SiliconValleyChess.com This is the web site to visit to get all the latest information on children’s chess events inContinueContinue reading “Children’s Chess in the Bay Area”

San Jose Chess Club at Little Genius Learning Center

 San Jose Chess Club at Little Genius Learning Center 1556 South De Anza Boulevard, San Jose, California The San Jose Little Genius Chess Club meets every Saturday from 4:00pm until 6:30pm, beginning in September 2010.   The San Jose Little Genius Chess Club is a very special chess program designed and taught by nationally renowned chessContinueContinue reading “San Jose Chess Club at Little Genius Learning Center”

TCAMA Chess Class at Little Genius Learning Center

TCAMA Chess Class at Little Genius Learning Center 1556 South De Anza Boulevard, San Jose, California Fall 2010 Friday 4:00-5:00 Cost: $10 per session Course description: The Torres Chess and Music Academy, a 501c (3) non-profit organization, is pleased to be running this very special chess class designed and taught by nationally renowned chess instructorContinueContinue reading “TCAMA Chess Class at Little Genius Learning Center”

Fremont Chess Schools Set New Standard for Success

Have you ever heard of Fremont, California? Chances are, if you follow scholastic chess in the United States, you have. Schools from Fremont have historically used schools from other California cities as punching bags in the local scholastic chess arena. Recently, there has been a major effort made in exposing the rest of the United States to California’s best kept chess secret. InContinueContinue reading “Fremont Chess Schools Set New Standard for Success”

National Elementary Chess Championship: Part 2

Day Two of the 2010 Bert Lerner National Elementary Chess Championship is complete.  California has several chess players who have a good chance to be crowned Nation Champion. In the K-5 Championship section, Allan Beilin is in first place with a perfect score. In the K-3 Championship section, California’s Tanuj Vasudeva  and Aaron Householder  are both 5/5. Finaly, in the K-1 Championship section,ContinueContinue reading “National Elementary Chess Championship: Part 2”

National Elementary Chess Championship

   The 2010 Bert Lerner National Elementary Chess Championship began on 5/7/2010. The best young chess players in the United states have gathered in Atlanta, Georgia to fulfill dreams of becoming a National Chess Champion. Well over 50 of Northern California’s top scholastic chess players have concluded their first day in the 2010  Bert Lerner National Elementary Chess Championship. ContinueContinue reading “National Elementary Chess Championship”

CalChess Scholastic Chess Championship: Part Four

   Tonight I attended the  Monday night chess team meeting at Mission San Jose Elementary School. Head Coach Joe Lonsdale was very pleased with the teams results at the CalChess Scholastic Chess Championship and took time at the beginning of class to congratulate all of our top finishers. Below is a list of Mission San Jose’s best individual scorers.ContinueContinue reading “CalChess Scholastic Chess Championship: Part Four”

CalChess Scholastic Chess Championships: Part Three

Day two of the 2010 CalChess Scholastic Chess Championships began with a rather contentious coaches meeting. As usual, all the colorful personalities and huge egos resulted in a very heated discussion. The use of electronic devices to keep score and the ability to have unrated players play in the junior varsity sections were the mostContinueContinue reading “CalChess Scholastic Chess Championships: Part Three”