TABLE OF CONTENTS: November 2006 - January, 2007

• 01.11 - 2007 TWIN FallS NEW YEAR INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT
• 01.11 - 2006 TWIN FallS CITY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 7 RESULTS
• 01.03 - ICU CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER-FINALS
• 01.03 - ICU BOISE WINTER INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT
• 01.03 - 2006 TWIN FallS CITY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND SEVEN PAIRINGS
• 01.01 - 2006 TWIN FallS CITY CHAMPIONSHIP NOVICE SECTION
• 12.12 - 2006 TWIN FallS CITY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 6 RESULTS AND GAMES
• 11.27 - 2006 TWIN FallS CITY CHAMPIONSHIP PAUSES FOR HOLIDAY BREAK
• 11.14 - 2006 TWIN FallS CITY CHAMPIONSHIP CONTINUES (UPDATE)
• 11.14 - ZUMBRUNNEN WINS UTAH CLOSED

01.11 - 2007 TWIN FallS NEW YEAR INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT ROUND ONE

Posted: 2007.01.11

By: Barry Eacker

TWIN FallS -- Round one of the inaugural Twin Falls New Year Invitational chess tournament kicked off January 8, 2007 at Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Twin Falls.

Chris Viveros vs. Caleb Marshall was the first game done with Viveros gaining the quick victory. Niamh Kelly vs. Jennifer Stevens was an unbalanced struggle with chances for both sides until Stevens pulled out the victory. Kendall Jorgensen vs. Carlos Arenz found Jorgensen constantly pressing his advantage to victory.

We are excited to see new players delving into the tournament arena and will watch this event unfold with great interest. Welcome to all!

01.11 - 2006 TWIN FallS CITY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 7 RESULTS

Posted: 2007.01.11

By: Barry Eacker

TWIN FallS --Round seven saw all wins and one draw by white. Dan Looney continued his winning streak by virtue of his nice victory over Fred Bartell and now stands at 6./6! Bartell has stumbled, losing four of the last five since starting the event with two wins as black.

Jeff Roland is now 5/7 and in second place behind Looney. Roland has knocked out four wins and two draws in the last six rounds, albeit one win coming on a forfeit by Steven Olson. Roland's only loss was in round one to Dan Looney.

Idaho State Champion Garrett Reynolds stands at 4/6, two games behind the leader with five to play. Reynolds is still showing a little rust, getting nicked for a loss by Don Shouse in round one and giving up draws to Roland and Eacker.

Quay Marshall has quietly crept up the leader board and is now 4/7 after beginning the tournament with two losses.

Hugh Myers and Don Shouse both come in at 3/5 and are in good position to move up the ranks in the last half of the event.

Several make-up games still need to be played:

• Myers vs. Shouse (round 5)
• Bortz vs. Myers (round 6)
• Reynolds vs Looney (round 6)
• Shouse vs. Dugger (round 7)

Click the chessboard or here to play through Twin Falls City Championships Games

01.03 - ICU CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER-FINALS

Posted: 2007.01.03

By: Jeff Roland

BOISE -- The Round of 16 leg of the ICU Championship is complete and it’s time to move to the Quarter-Final stage! For this stage, we are going to try something new and exciting. We want to finish the four game match in one weekend! The scheduled date for the Quarter-Final matches is set for January 27-28, 2007.

The site will be at Daniel Vellotti’s chess studio located at 2913 North 36th Street, Boise, ID 83703. Daniel has a separate building in the back of his very large property (from the street you can’t hardly see that it’s there but go down the drive way and through the steel gates, and everything opens up!)

The thinking to this new approach is to try to prevent the matches from going on for what seems like an eternity. Playing all 4 games in one weekend (2 games on Saturday and 2 games on Sunday) will really help move this along while still preserving the quality of the games. There is plenty of time for all of all participants to prepare for the games and that they will all take place over the weekend.

If there is a scheduling conflict, please let Jeff Roland and Barry Eacker know and we can still play the games by arrangement, but if it is at all possible, we would like you to try to play the games on the January 27-28, 2007 weekend at Daniel Vellotti’s chess studio (and along side the 2007 ICU Boise Winter Invitational tournament).

Pairings are as follows (WHITE for game 1 listed first):

• Dugger vs. Hinton (to be played in Twin Falls
• Roland vs. Douglas
• Myers vs. Reynolds
• Fucsko vs. Henderson

The format will be a four round match between paired opponents. Time controls will be 30/120 G/60 for each game. First player to 2.5/4 advances to the next round. If the match is tied after 4 rounds, single games will continue at a specified site and time until one candidate advances. Round Times: Saturday 1-27-07 9:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m. Sunday 1-28-07 8:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m. (Sunday’s games will be one hour earlier so as to allow for travel - also these round times are the same as the Invitational Tournament round times). Scheduling problems will be handled by the TD. PLEASE make sure the TD gets copies of BOTH game score sheets. This tournament will be rated by Rocky Mountain Chess.

Please e-mail Jeff Roland and Barry Eacker that you can make it to the event to play the Quarter-Final games over that weekend. Or, let us know if you cannot make it. Either way, we must hear from you! Thank you.

An exciting side-feature is that we will be having an ICU 4-round Swiss System tournament played along side this one, ‘2007 ICU Boise Winter Invitational’. That event is a 4 round Swiss System Tournament to be played along side these ICU Championship Quarter-Final Matches!

As always, entry is free! But donations are encouraged to help defray tournament expenses.

Jeff Roland’s e-mail address is: jroland@cableone.net

Barry Eacker’s e-mail address is: mol@isp.com

Sincerely and respectfully,

Jeff Roland

Tournament Director

01.03 - ICU BOISE WINTER INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT

Posted: 2007.01.03

By: Jeff Roland

BOISE -- Invitations have been sent out for the 2007 ICU Boise Winter Invitational Chess Tournament, to be held in Boise, Idaho on January 27-28, 2007.

The event will be played along side the 2006/7 ICU Championship Matches (currently in the Quarter-Final Stage).

The format will be a 4-round Swiss System tournament. Time Control: 30/120 SD/60. Analog is the preferred clock!

The site will be at Daniel Vellotti’s chess studio located at 2913 North 36th Street, Boise, ID 83703. Daniel has a separate building in the back of his very large property (from the street you can’t hardly see that it’s there but go down the drive way and through the steel gates, and everything opens up!)

Round Times: Saturday 1-27-07 9:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m. Sunday 1-28-07 8:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m. (note rounds start 1 hour earlier on Sunday so as to allow for travel).

Entry is FREE and by invitation only! The following players are invited:

• Daniel Vellotti
• Luke Harmon
• Patrick Flynn
• Paul Johnson
• Dan Looney
• Barry Eacker
• Don Shouse
• John Watson
• Jim McGarvey
• Tom Booth
• Chip Ruberry
• Ricky Weathers
• Aleksander Veryschagin
• ...and others if needed

Donations are encouraged to help defray tournament expenses.

Please be sure to turn in both score sheets to one of the Tournament Directors. The event is to be rated by Rocky Mountain Chess.

Tournament Directors: Jeff Roland and Barry Eacker.

Please e-mail Jeff Roland jroland@cableone.net or call me at (208) 424-9847 confirming entry.

Sincerely and Respectfully,

Jeff Roland

01.03 - 2006 TWIN FallS CITY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND SEVEN PAIRINGS

Posted: 2007.01.03

By: Barry Eacker

TWIN FallS -- The Magic Valley Chess Club will meet Monday January 8, 2007 at Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Twin Falls from 6pm until 9:30pm for OPEN PLAY.

Play continues for those participating in the 2006 Twin Falls City Championship tournament with Round Six.

These are the parings for round 7 and previously rescheduled games

• Myers vs. Veryschagin
• Roland vs. Bortz (01/06/2007)
• Shouse vs. Dugger
• Looney vs. Bartell
• Eacker vs. Reynolds
• Reynolds vs. Looney (to be played at a later date)
• Myers vs. Shouse (to be played at a later date)
• Bortz vs. Myers (to be played at a later date)

Thanks

01.01 - 2006 TWIN FallS CITY CHAMPIONSHIP NOVICE SECTION

Posted: 2007.01.01

By: Barry Eacker

TWIN FallS -- Invitations have been extended for players interested in participating in a five round round robin event (six players) which is intended for novice players who are interested in navigating the rocky waters of tournament chess. The event will commence on January 8, 2007 at Barnes & Noble in Twin Falls beginning at 6pm. Play will consist of one tournament game per night and will continue for five rounds.

The first two rounds are scheduled for Jan 8 and Jan 22. The event will be sponsored by the Idaho Chess Union, Twin Falls Chess Club and rated by Rocky Mountain Chess. Only specific players received this invitation so please respond by email or phone ASAP so that I can set up the event. There is no entry fee.

WE still need TWO players to complete the field of six...... CONFIRMED players listed below:

• Chris Viveros
• Jennifer Stevens
• Kendall Jorgensen
• Carlos Arenz

Thanks

12.12 - 2006 TWIN FallS CITY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 6 RESULTS AND GAMES

Posted: 2006.12.12

By: Barry Eacker

TWIN FallS -- This was the LAST scheduled Magic Valley Chess Club meeting until January 2007. The City Championship tournament will finish during the second half of the event in January 2007.

Alongside this tourney, I want to hold a Five Round round robin event (six players) for players not participating in the TFCC. The event will be sponsored by the Idaho Chess Union and rated by Rocky Mountain Chess. Contact me if you are interested. Invitations for this additional event will go out in December.

Thanks

Click the chessboard or here to play through Twin Falls City Championships Games

11.27 - 2006 TWIN FallS CITY CHAMPIONSHIP PAUSES FOR HOLIDAY BREAK

Posted: 2006.11.27

By: Barry Eacker

TWIN FallS -- The Magic Valley Chess Club will meet Monday November 27, 2006 at Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Twin Falls from 6pm until 9:30pm for OPEN PLAY.

Play continues for those participating in the 2006 Twin Falls City Championship tournament with Round Six.

These are the parings for round 6

• Bortz vs. Myers
• Veryschagin vs. Shouse
• Bartell vs. Roland
• Dugger vs. Marshall
• Reynolds vs. Looney (to be played 2006/12/04)
• Olson vs. Eacker 0-1 (played 2006/11/26)

I understand that there may be weather related obstacles for those players coming from Boise. I will try to stay advised on it. Gary Dugger will be the Tournament Director for 2006/11/27 games. Please make sure everyone gives him a completed score sheet

This will be the LAST scheduled Magic Valley Chess Club meeting until January 2007. The City Championship tournament will finish during the second half of the event in January 2007.

Alongside this tourney, I want to hold a Five Round round robin event (six players) for players not participating in the TFCC. The event will be sponsored by the Idaho Chess Union and rated by Rocky Mountain Chess. Contact me if you are interested. Invitations for this additional event will go out in December.

Thanks

11.14 - 2006 TWIN FallS CITY CHAMPIONSHIP CONTINUES (UPDATE)

Posted: 2006.11.14

By: Nomen Nescio

TWIN FallS -- Dan Looney continues to stand on top of the leader board in the 2006 edition of the Twin Falls City Championship. Looney defeated newcomer Steve Olson to improve to an undefeated 5-0 score.

State champion Garrett Reynolds stands is second place with a 3½-1½ score.

Fred Bartell and Jeffrey Roland are tied for third and fourth places with scores of 3-2;

Round 5 pairings and results:

• Myers vs. Shouse (postponed)
• Bortz vs. Bartell 0-1
• Marshall vs. Veryschagin ½-½
• Roland vs. Reynolds ½-½
• Eacker vs. Dugger 0-1
• Looney vs. Steve Olson 1-0

The last round for the year will be held on November 27 and at that point the tournament will be suspended for the holidays and resume again in January, 2007.

Click the chessboard or here to play through Twin Falls City Championships Games

11.14 - ZUMBRUNNEN WINS UTAH CLOSED

Posted: 2006.11.14

By: Nomen Nescio

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- Randy D Zumbrunnen, an often times visitor to Idaho, won the 2006 Utah Closed Championship with a 3½-½ score.

This was a rather strong tournament with one master, three experts and eight class-A players attending.

This event was a four-round Swiss System with one game on Friday night and the subsequent three rounds on Saturday. The first two rounds were Game/90 (which seems to be too fast for Idaho players) and the last two rounds were Game/120. Unlike usual practice in Idaho, players were allowed to use either the USCF 5-second time delay option or the less usual 5-second Fischer time increment option.

Interestingly enough, the Utah Open is restricted to players rated over 1800 or the winners of the Utah Amateur championship or the Utah women state champion(s). The Idaho Chess Association might consider running a tournament using these restrictions in an attempt to raise the rather anemic attendance among Idaho’s higher rated players; however, this would probably be shot down to the ususal cries of eleteism that arise when doing anything to promote a higher level of chess in this state.

The tournament was held at the Science and Industry Building Campus of Salt Lake Community College. Grant Hodson was tournament director.