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 SanContinueContinue reading “Calchess State Grade Level Championship: Mid-Day Update”
Tag Archives: chess
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,ContinueContinue reading “Calchess State Grade Level Championship: Round 1”
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”
Team Zambia Stuns the Chess World at the 2010 Chess Olympiad
The 2010 Chess Olympiad took place from September 21st until October 3rd in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. 148 countries sent their best chess players to battle for national pride and personal glory. In the end, Team Ukraine placed first just ahead of the super power Russian Team. This was Ukraine’s second championship since splitting from the SovietContinueContinue reading “Team Zambia Stuns the Chess World at the 2010 Chess Olympiad”
Justus Williams is a Chess Master
Congratulations to Justus Williams on achieving a master rating in the United States Chess Federation. Justus Williams is now the youngest African-American chess player to receive the master title. Read more about this amazing twelve year old in the Wall Street Journal.
Chess for Android Phones
There are three chess applications that Android users should install on their phones. Droidfish Chess is a free program that allows users to analyze chess positions with a Stockfish clone. This is definately the strongest chess engine available for Android devices and works extremely well on my 1ghz Droid 2. In addition to analysis,ContinueContinue reading “Chess for Android Phones”
Bent Larsen is Dead
The great Danish Grandmaster Bent Larsen died on September 9, 2010. Larsen was the Danish chess champion six times and a candidate for the world chess championship four times. Larsen was the riskiest of his contemporaries rarely leaving an unclear sacrifice unplayed. During his career Bent Larsen defeated Mikhail Botvinnik, Vasily Smyslov, Mikhail Tal, Tigran Petrosian,ContinueContinue reading “Bent Larsen is Dead”
Chess Teaching Jobs in California
The Torres Chess and Music Academy is hiring teachers for after school programs in the Bay Area. Applicants should have experience in teaching chess or music. A strong background in education is a must. Compensation is very competitive and based on experience. Apply by sending your resume in the body of an email to chesslessons@aol.com
Tans Hylkema: Steps of Granada
Chess teacher Tans Hylkema can be regularly heard playing complicated Tangos on his flamenco guitar throughout Northern California. Maestro Hylkema’s style is a cross between Melchor de Marchena and Paco de Lucia and is featured on a new album titled “Steps of Granada.” The releases five tracks are original compositions that features compelling melodies with magnificently complicated rhythms. With all the ‘Neuvo Flamenco’ContinueContinue reading “Tans Hylkema: Steps of Granada”
Fremont Chess Camp Miniature
Below is a fun example of the exciting chess played in Fremont, California. [Event “Fremont Summer Chess Camp”] [Site “Mission San Jose Elementary School”] [Date “2010.06.30”] [Round “?”] [White “Zhao, Luke”] [Black “Zhang, Joseph”] [Result “0-1”] [ECO “C57”] [Opening “Two Knights”] [Variation “Fritz Variation, Main Line”] [Comment “An example of the exciting chess played inContinueContinue reading “Fremont Chess Camp Miniature”
Chess in Albany, California
Below is an exciting chess battle between two brothers at the 2010 Albany Chess Summer Camp. [Event “Albany Chess Camp”] [Site “Albany”] [Date “2010.08.11”] [Round “?”] [White “Xu, William Young”] [Black “Xu, Thomas (Taotao)”] [Result “1-0”] [ECO “C55”] [Opening “Two Knights”] [Variation “4.d3 Be7 5.Bb3 O-O”] [Comment “Battle of the Brothers”] 1. e4 {Notes byContinueContinue reading “Chess in Albany, California”
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”
2006 Golden Knights Results
Today I received a resignation notice from David Drevinsky in the 2006 USCF Golden Knights Semifinal. This means that I will be advancing to the Finals of this prestigious event. Below are the crosstables for my section in the 2006 Golden Knights Preliminary and Semifinal rounds. Perhaps at a future date I will post theContinueContinue reading “2006 Golden Knights Results”
A Tale of Two Cities
Charles Dickens penned “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” as his opening line in his masterpiece A Tale of Two Cities. I found myself pondering Dickens work and applying the opening line to the plight of the poor chess players in two Bay Area cities. As many of my readerContinueContinue reading “A Tale of Two Cities”
Fremont Summer Chess Camp: Day Two
Jeffrey Wei was the star of our chess camp on day two. During the school year I had the pleasure of watching Jeffrey play every week at Mission San Jose Elementary School. His chess abilities have quickly established him as one of the top players for his age in the country. Below is a fine example of Jeffrey’sContinueContinue reading “Fremont Summer Chess Camp: Day Two”
Fremont Summer Chess Camp 2010: Day One
Forty children signed up for the first week of our annual chess camp in Fremont. Participants were attracted by the affordable price, world-class chess instruction and comfortable location. Ojas Arun had a particularly good first day at the Mission San Jose Elementary Chess Camp. Ojas managed to beat his coach (Chris Torres) while Chris was eating lunch. After lunch Ojas went onContinueContinue reading “Fremont Summer Chess Camp 2010: Day One”
San Francisco’s Chess Blunder Continues to Receive Negative Press
I was very pleased to find that NBC Bay Area has run a story on San Francisco’s decision to close down the famous chess games on Market Street. Here is the link to the article entitled “Chess Games a Pawn in San Francisco Redevelopment. Perhaps with more attention being focused on this issue from main stream newsContinueContinue reading “San Francisco’s Chess Blunder Continues to Receive Negative Press”
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 Francisco Chess Players No Longer Welcome on Market Street
Since my initial letter to Gavin Newsom expressing concern over San Francisco’s Market Street chess ban, a web-based movement has quickly developed and caused growing concern among chess players internationally. It is our belief that San Francisco’s anti-chess stance was made without regard for the scores of individuals who have benefited from the chess games on Market Street over the lastContinueContinue reading “San Francisco Chess Players No Longer Welcome on Market Street”