Author: Dennis Mays

 

SPRING SWISS STARTS ON APRIL 26!

On April 26 we will start with a USCF-rated Swiss of 4-5 rounds. Rated games of G/60 + 30 will be played in person, one game per week on Tuesday evenings. Games begin at 6:30 PM. Alternative dates and times can be negotiated if both players agree and they inform me ahead of time. Register before noon on Monday, April 25 to be paired in the first round. Half-point byes are permitted. Registration is free.

Prizes will be awarded to the top finishers: $40, 30, 20 in the Swiss. Site: Mayo Clinic Harwick Building, South Cafeteria, 201 3rd Avenue SW, Rochester, MN. Park for free on the street after 5 PM weekdays/all day on weekends or in a nearby parking ramp. Participants must be free of COVID symptoms. Regarding Mayo Clinic COVID regulations, attendees must wear a surgical, (K)N95, or other approved mask. These regulations are subject to change. If you have not already done so, please get vaccinated and boosted for the safety of all.

The club will not be meeting on April 19. Resting after filing taxes 😉

REMINDER: NATIONAL CHESS MASTER MATT JENSEN WILL BE GIVING A FREE SIMULTANEOUS EXHIBITION ON TUESDAY, APRIL 12 IN THE MAYO CLINIC HARWICK CAFETERIA.

National Chess Master Matt Jensen is known for his strong play in over the board chess tournaments. He recently finished in sole first place in the 2021 Rochester Masters Invitational Tournament. He is famous for his chess improvement program ChessGoals https://chessgoals.com/. Club member and the March Swiss winner Jesse Buss is a co organizer of ChessGoals. I recommend strongly that you check out the great content on the ChessGoals YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFJfr5LYYt8. ChessGoals emphasizes improvement for club players like us. Their opening recommendations are based on what we can expect in games against other club players (1600 – 2200) (not necessarily what the top grandmasters are playing).

If you want to play in the simul, please arrive and register by 6:30 PM. The simul begins at 6:45 PM. No late entries will be permitted. The time control is G/45 + 30. Participants must record their moves. Let me know if you have any questions.

RESULTS OF THE MARCH 2022 SLOW SWISS.

Rochester Chess hosted a 5-round Swiss Chess Tournament on March 8 – April 5. Twenty-five individuals played 1 game per week at a time control of G/60 + 30. New member Erik Flynn and Jesse Buss were tied for first place with 3.5 points each and were paired in the last round. Their game was a hard fought but when the dust settled, Jesse won to finish in first place with a score of 4.5 points. This is Jesse’s second consecutive win of a Rochester Swiss. Congratulations Jesse on your fine play! Are your results due to the ChessGoals courses?

Isaac Sellon and Tim Schimke played great chess and tied for second and third places with 4 points. The crosstable has been posted on the USCF site: http://www.uschess.org/msa/XtblMain.php?202204054082-16917452