Author: Dennis Mays
ROCHESTER CHESS: FEBRUARY 16-22 + SCHOLASTIC NEWS
Scholastic news: (Contributed by Chuck Handlon) The All RASCL scholastic chess team went undefeated in the 2025-2026 season of the Minnesota State High School Chess League, an online league https://mhscl.net/standings. All RASCL had 8 match wins and one draw. This year there were 33 teams (240 players) from the Twin Cities, Greater Minnesota and Wisconsin. The Wayzata 1 team was second with 7.5 points and Wayzata 2 team third with 7 points.
The All RASCL team is in its third season and consisted mainly of three Century HS players, Cole Lappi, Caulder Nguyen and Johan Myburgh, plus one Mayo HS player, Omar Aly. There were other RASCL players that filled in at times. Cole and Johan participated in every game of the 9-round season. Omar Aly took first place on Board 4 with 7.5 points.
Tuesday, February 17: Casual chess and kids’ chess at the club. Doors open at 6 pm.
Slow quads round 3 (final round). Make up date for games on February 24. Games start at 6:45 PM. TD Matt Markland (mwmarkland@gmail.com) will be playing and directing.
Wednesday, February 18: RASCL meet number 7 (final meet of the regular season) hosted by Byron High School. Games begin at 3:45 pm. Spectators are welcome!
Thursday, February 19: Free casual chess at Novios Cafe, 1 – 3 PM. https://www.novioscafe.com/
ROCHESTER CHESS FEBRUARY 9-15
Monday, February 9: Chess at LTS brewery at 6 PM. https://www.ltsbrewing.com/
Tuesday, February 10: Casual chess and kids’ chess at the club. Doors open at 6 pm.
Slow quads round 2 (G/60+30 s increment). Round 3 on February 17 and make up date for games on February 24. Membership in USCF is required (https://new.uschess.org/join-us-chess). Games start at 6:45 PM. TD Matt Markland (mwmarkland@gmail.com) will be playing and directing.
Wednesday, February 11: RASCL (scholastic) meet number 6 hosted by Lourdes High School. Games begin at 3:45 pm. Enter through the gymnasium entrance (door #3), turn left, and walk down the hall to the cafeteria/commons. Spectators are welcome!
Thursday, February 12: Free casual chess at Novios Cafe, 1 – 3 PM. https://www.novioscafe.com/
ROCHESTER CHESS FEBRUARY 2 – 8.
Tuesday, February 3: Casual chess and kids chess at the club. Doors open at 6 pm.
Slow quads. Three rounds of Game/60+30s increment in a Quads format (4-player round robin) will be played beginning on Tuesday, February 3 through Tuesday February 17, with February 24 as a make up date for games. If the number of players does not break out evenly, a small Swiss section will be added. Membership in USCF is required (https://new.uschess.org/join-us-chess). Games start at 6:45 PM. No byes are available in quad play. TD Matt Markland (mwmarkland@gmail.com) will be playing and directing.
Wednesday, February 4: RASCL (scholastic) meet number 5 hosted by Byron High School. Games begin at 3:45 pm. Enter through the main entrance where there is a circular drop-off point, this entrance will put you into the commons/lunch area. Turn left and walk a few steps to the chess room (labelled MPR, multi purpose room). Spectators are welcome!
Thursday, February 5: Free casual chess at Novios Cafe, 1 – 3 PM. Note we are returning to Novios.