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”
Tag Archives: California chess
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”
CalChess Scholastic Chess Championships: Part Two
The 2010 CalChess Scholastic Chess Championships got underway this morning. This years Calchess Scholastic State Championship drew around 900 players and was noticeably smaller in size than some previous years. Even with the smaller turn out, it is clear that scholastic chess is alive and well in Northern California. Mission San Jose Elementary School ofContinueContinue reading “CalChess Scholastic Chess Championships: Part Two”
CalChess Scholastic Chess Championships
For the last month I have been neglecting my blog in favor of focusing all my energy toward preparing chess students for the CalChess Scholastic State Chess Championships. Everyone involved in Northern California chess regards the CalChess State Championships as the paramount scholastic chess tournament on the west coast. As a professional chess coach forContinueContinue reading “CalChess Scholastic Chess Championships”
Chess Quads for Children
A children’s chess quad run by the Torres Chess and Music Academy is the ideal way for new chess players to begin playing in tournaments. Children are separated into groups of four based on rating and age so that each quad tournament represents the closest chess experience grouping possible. This structure assures that all threeContinueContinue reading “Chess Quads for Children”
For Immediate Release: Scholastic Chess Tournaments in the Bay Area
For Immediate Release: Torres Chess and Music Academy, Inc. Presents: The SPHDS Quads At the South Peninsula Hebrew Day School – 1030 Astoria Dr., Sunnyvale, CA 94087 Sunday, February 7th, 2010 AND Sunday, March 7th, 2010 Where: South Peninsula Hebrew Day School When: 1:00pm – 4:00pm What: Scholastic (K-12) 3 Round Quad – G/30 Cost:ContinueContinue reading “For Immediate Release: Scholastic Chess Tournaments in the Bay Area”