Milind Maiti was Undefeated at the National Chess Championship

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 Kindergartener Milind Maiti Was Undefeated at the NATIONAL CHESS CHAMPIONship Cupertino, CA, May 6-8, 2011: Cupertino five year old Milind Maiti was unbeatable at theContinueContinue reading “Milind Maiti was Undefeated at the National Chess Championship”

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 titleContinueContinue reading “Ben Rood Becomes National Chess Champion”

Mission San Jose Elementary Takes Chess to a New Level

Mission San Jose Elementary School in Fremont, California has, for decades, fielded the most successful chess teams the Golden State has ever produced. Year after year, the relatively small public school’s chess club trains hundreds of students in the art of aggressive chess play. Those who excel at the club are invited to participate in the more exclusive MondayContinueContinue reading “Mission San Jose Elementary Takes Chess to a New Level”

Fremont Summer Chess Camp

Mission San Jose Elementary School Summer Chess Camp Home of the 2009 NATIONAL ELEMENTARY CHESS CHAMPIONS!  This camp will feature chess instruction by: Joe Lonsdale (Head Coach of Mission San Jose Elementary School) Francisco Anchondo (Team Coach for Weibel Elementary School) Tans Hylkema (Team Coach for Collins Elementary School) Chris Torres (President of the TorresContinueContinue reading “Fremont Summer Chess Camp”

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”

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: Milind Maiti is Perfect After Two Days

Milind Maiti has a perfect record after two days of intense games at the 2010 United States Chess Federation National K-12  Championship. Thus far,  Milind has defeated all challengers including the impressive Atreya Vaidya and Maggie Ni. Tomorrow morning, in round 6, Milind Maiti will face the only other undefeated kindergartener. Should Milind Maiti defeatContinueContinue reading “National K-12 Championship: Milind Maiti is Perfect After Two Days”

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”

Fremont Winter Chess Camp

As soon as your child has finished his/her last round at the Calchess State Grade Level Championship be sure to sign them up for The Fremont Achiever Winter Chess Camp.  This popular winter chess camp is brought to you by the talented teachers at the Torres Chess and Music Academy, a non-profit organization. Students of Chris Torres areContinueContinue reading “Fremont Winter Chess Camp”

Chess Disappears from Market Street

Many large cities have a special place for chess enthusiasts to play outdoors. For example in Boston chess players play at Harvard Square. New Yorkers can always find a good chess game at Washington Square Park. For San Francisco, we used to play on Market Street near the Bart Station. Sadly, this San Francisco claim to fame has beenContinueContinue reading “Chess Disappears from Market Street”

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nd4

Below is the infamous Blackburne Shilling Gambit.  The name of this variation in the Italian Game is utter nonsense do to the fact that Blackburne never played this line and it is not a gambit because white cannot take the pawn on e5 without losing material. Despite the terrible nomenclature, every student of chess should know this game.  ContinueContinue reading “1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nd4”

Albany, California Hires Top Chess Teacher to Run Summer Chess Camp

Albany residents should mark their calendars.  August 2-19 nationally renowned chess teacher Chris Torres will be heading a summer chess camp for children ages 6-12.  Attendees will receive the best training available and take part in USCF rated tournaments with awards given at the end of each week. Chris Torres prides himself in running chess camps that areContinueContinue reading “Albany, California Hires Top Chess Teacher to Run Summer Chess Camp”

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”

Top Chess Children to Play Chess Near San Francisco

The Bay Area’s best scholastic chess players are cordially invited to join the World Journal Chess Team in Millbrae. (Millbrae is located just South of San Francisco.) This program is perfect for North Bay chess players who are serious about studying to quickly improve their chess rating. Chris Torres, chess instructor for the 2009 NationalContinueContinue reading “Top Chess Children to Play Chess Near San Francisco”

2009 CalChess Grade Level Championship: Part 2

Wall Chart. 2009 CalChess State Grade Level: Kindergarten (standings) #    Name/Rtng/ID    Rd 1    Rd 2    Rd 3    Rd 4    Rd 5    Tot 1    Jack Chin    B  16    W    6    B    4    B    2    W    5 unr.   14288146           1.0     2.0     3.0     4.0     5.0     5.0 2    Gia Peterson    B  18  ContinueContinue reading “2009 CalChess Grade Level Championship: Part 2”

CalChess Grade Level Championship

This weekend I am enjoying my duties as a coach at the CalChess Grade Level Championship in Stockton. I will be posting tournament crosstables, games and photos both nights of the tournament. This blogger is extremely grateful that Calchess President Tom Langland performed the chief tournament director duties. Below is a very instructional game playedContinueContinue reading “CalChess Grade Level Championship”

Tal Memorial 2009: Round 7

In round 7 Vassily Ivanchuk punishes Boris Gelfand’s small inaccuracies with authority. Now Ivanchuk and Anand are just a half game behind Kramnik.  Below is Ivanchuk’s win followed by a game where the opening line was first played. [Event “Tal Memorial”] [Site “1:06:33-0:46:33”] [Date “2009.11.12”] [EventDate “?”] [Round “7”] [Result “1-0”] [White “Ivanchuk”] [Black “Gelfand”]ContinueContinue reading “Tal Memorial 2009: Round 7”

Tal Memorial: Anand vs. Leko

One of the strongest chess tournaments ever assembled moved to Russia’s Red Square today. Viswanathan Anand demonstrated to the world that he is not satisfied to “rest on his laurels” but is willing to use whatever means necessary to defeat his challengers at the Tal Memorial. The first 21 moves are considered book.  It isContinueContinue reading “Tal Memorial: Anand vs. Leko”

Kramnik vs. Svidler: 2009 Tal Memorial

Below is Kramnik’s win over Svidler in a Gruenfeld Defense: Exchange Variation. A lot could be stated about the opening theory as Kramnik tried a new move successfully with 12. h4. However, I do not believe Kramnik’s courageous new move is to blame for Svidler’s failure. Instead, Svidler seemed to have forgotten that “Knight’s onContinueContinue reading “Kramnik vs. Svidler: 2009 Tal Memorial”