Upcoming Tournaments in Wisconsin

APR. 13   Hales Corners Challenge XXIX

US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS: 10

4SS, G/60 d6. 2 Sections: Open & Reserve (under 1600). Crowne Plaza Milwaukee Airport, 6401 S. 13th St., Milwaukee, WI 53221, 414-764-5300. EF: $50-Open, $40-Reserve, both $10 more after April 11. Comp EF for USCF 2200+. On-line registration at https://onlineregistration.cc/WICA/HCChallengeApril2019 $$GTD: Open: 1st-$325, 2nd-$175, A-$100, B & below-$75; Reserve: 1st $100, 2nd $75, D-$60, E & below $50. Goddesschess prizes for females. Reg.: 8:30-9:30. Rds.: 10-1-3:30-6. Questions to Chris Wainscott (414-839-5232, after 5:30 pm), or e-mail: chris.wainscott13@outlook.com. Entries to: Robin J. Grochowski, 3835 E. Morris Ave., Cudahy, WI 53110, e-mail: rgrochowski@wi.rr.com, (414-861-2745).

US Chess Junior Grand Prix!

MAY 4-5   Arpad Elo Open

5SS, Rd. 1 G/90 d5; Rds. 2-5 30/90, SD/60; d5, Chula Vista Resort, 2501 River Rd., WI Dells, WI 53965. EF: $40 by 4/30; $45 at site. $$b/50: & 3/class. $400-250. A-$150, B-$140, C-$130, D-$120, U1200-$100, Unr- $80. Reg.: 5/4: 9-9:30. Rds.: 10-2-7:30; 10-3:30. ENT: Mike Nietman, 2 Boca Grande Way, Madison, WI 53719 608-467-8510 onlineregistration.cc. INFO: mike.nietman@charter.net. A WI Tour Event. www.wischess.org. HR: $129. Reserve by 4/3. 833-381-4595. Mention H01452. W.

JUNE 9   WI G/60 State Championship

4-SS, G/60 d5.3 sections: Open, Reserve (U1600), Novice (U1000). Howard Johnson’s, 3841 East Washington Ave., Madison, WI 53704, 608-244-2481. EF: $40 Open, $30 Reserve, $20 Novice, all $5 more after June 6. Comp entry for US Chess 2200+ (deducted from any winnings). $$: Open (b/35) 1st $350, 2nd $200 A $150, U1800 $140. Reserve (b25): 1st $125, 2nd $90, U1300 $60. Novice (b10): 1st $50, trophies to 1st, 2nd, U700. Reg: 8:30-9:30. Rds: 10-1-3:30-6. Entries: checks payable to WCA: Guy Hoffman, 1305D Tompkins Dr., Madison, WI 53716-3279. Schachfuhrer@hotmail.com Phone: 920-279-0701. https://onlineregistration.cc/WICA/2019WIG60. 1/2 point bye available in any round. WI Chess Tour Event.

I would also like to mention that the Chicago is at the end of May and that both Green Bay and Milwaukee have quick events very frequently. To see these tournaments, please visit their individual web sites which I have on the side bar on this page. Thanks and please add yourself as a follower of this blog.

WCA Veteran's Open & WCA Junior Open

I know that I posted earlier in the month about this dual tournament, but I really want to see a great turnout for both sections. This doesn't only mean that it will give us leverage for future events, but it means that if you win your section or the entire event, it will mean that much more. I don't know about you, but I hate playing in events where I'm towards to very top of the rating list. When this happens it means that I have to win all of my games just to show that I should be rated where I'm rated. Competition, my friends, is what most of us crave and makes us work a little harder to make sure that "you're" the person who had that awesome upset in the 4th round. There's no excuses about playing younger competitors in the Vets event because you have to be 21 to enter. I personally don't mind playing against younger opponents, but I do know that quite a few of our "Veteran" players do, or would rather play against someone further along in their years. But, if there's a tournament to play in with "Only Adults" stamped on it, this is the one. The room rates are extremely inexpensive, and the atmosphere is excellent as well. You can find the event HERE .

The Junior Open was always one of my favorite tournaments growing up, and it still brings back great memories. I played in my first Junior Open at the very start of my Freshman year at Antigo High School. I knew how all the pieces moved but was absolutely new to competitive play. That year, if I remember correctly, they were still holding 6 rounds in the Junior section. The first five three rounds I received beatings like you'd read about. Then I was paired up against a 5 year old girl. I was able to win this game, but it was a lose lose situation. I proceeded to lose my last games to come out of the event 1 - 5. I felt horrible. But, I certainly didn't feel like giving up. In fact, it made me want to study harder than anyone else in my club. I wanted to study harder than anyone that we would later play against in our district. I waited impatiently for my next issue of "Chess Life" to come to find out what my rating would be. I was initially rated at 676. I will never forget that number as it was a driving force for me to improve. Most of my friends didn't understand why I spent most of my time in chess books, but it didn't matter because I wanted to make sure that I didn't get paired against such a low rated player in the mid rounds because I lost so bad. The point of this story is, is that many kids that go to this tournament will start to experience some sort of drive or will to improve. They will no longer have to be urged to study, they will do it on their own. I will say again, this tournament is one of my favorites, and I really hope that the children and young adults that play in it will bring something more than a trophy back with them. The tournament info can be found HERE .

Searching For TWIC Downloads

Earlier this week I decided to casually search for older TWIC downloads. One might think this task would end up being easy and safe, give the crazy amount of information everyone offers on the net. This wasn't so. I went from casually searching to constantly searching. Still, no results, or no results that I felt safe downloading. So, I did what most people would do these days, I posted my dilemma on facebook. I received quite a few responses, one of them being a gold mine. This response was sent by James Coons, a very consistent player in Wisconsin and, from what he provided, an extremely thorough  and generous man. James provided a link to his site where he keeps all thee TWIC updates (Since the 400s) up-to-date, along with a few other downloads. Everything is zipped, but you can check out the site HERE . Each TWIC download comes in hundreds (Twic4 means all 100 downloads of the 400's). I have downloaded each of them and they are safe and ready to be installed in your database. I hope this will help you out as much as it has me.

Chess Club at UWO

Over this last weekend I was thinking to myself "I really wish there was a chess club located in Oshkosh or any other part of the Fox Cities". Ask and ye shall receive. Since I knew that one of my friends on facebook lived in Oshkosh, I thought he might be interested in starting a club. To my absolute joyful surprise he told me that he already runs a club at the UWO on Mondays and Thursdays. Since the club is run by a student, anyone can attend, which is absolutely perfect for any older players who wish to have a great chess playing experience. The club is held in the Reeve Union in room 207 which is located on the second floor (if you go in the front door and take the stairs that you see immediately when you use this entrance the room is very easy to find). The hours that the club is held are from 6pm - 8pm. It would be awesome to see some new faces and it would give the club more leverage for funding when that time comes around next year. All levels of play are welcome. If you have any questions, please leave a message on this post or contact me directly on here or on facebook. Hope to see you there!

Great Turnout at Reedsburg Chess Open 2013

I was unable to attend this event, but I was able to get one of our great chess friends and bloggers Ivan Wijetunge to forward me some pictures so we could catch a glimpse of what happened at this unrated event. It looked like a very good turnout with some strong players duking it out in the open section. I will include the photos, but would greatly appreciate any sort of information or story about this event for those of you that went or just stopped by to check things out.

WCA Veterans Tournament & 2013-2014 Wisconsin Junior Open

The next big rated event in Wisconsin is a two tournament event! The WCA Veterans Tournament if open to chess players of the age of 21 and over. The playing conditions at this tournament are superb, with plenty of playing room, comfortable tables and chairs, excellent lighting, quiet environment, and excellent staff that has been in the business of tournament chess for many years. If you're a player in Wisconsin that prefers to play against adults, this is certainly the event for you! You can check out all of the tournament details Here. This event is held over November 2-3.

The 2013-2014 Wisconsin Junior Open is always (!) a booming event with kids coming from all over the state to compete for the coveted Junior Open Title. Kids of all ages and all skill levels have a chance to walk away with some hardware (Any one of many trophies for all different playing levels) and some excellent experience that will help them grow in their chess endeavors.  Chess vendors are usually at hand to fulfill whatever your child's chess needs may be. Also, there is usually some sort of chess activity after the first day's games are finished (not always guaranteed). So, if you want to have your child play in an event that is strictly for Juniors, this is the event for you! The event is held at the same time that the Vets tournament is, November 2-3. Anyone interested can check out the full details Here .

If you have any comments, suggestions or questions, please participate in this posts conversation or leave me a message on here or facebook. Good luck in everyone's preparation and studying for these events!

Success at "Hales Corners Challenge XVIII", And Upcoming Tournaments

This last Saturday, October 12th, was Hales Corners Challenge XVIII. The open section was strong, for Wisconsin standards, and consisted of 34 players. I was very surprised to be paired against an expert in the first round, meaning I didn't make the cut to play against a lower rated player (advanced pairings). The top table duked it out with some very exciting and surprising games and wins. I also would like to point out that the female attendance was also present and in-force, meaning that these women knew how to manage the chess pieces in a lethal way. A great thing to see in Wisconsin! The reserve section also saw some of the same things that the open section saw, with some exciting and aggressive games being played and the grace of attendance by strong women chess players. With 36 people in the open and 30 people in the reserve section, it was a great turnout for a one day G60 event!  The open section results can be seen Here. The reserve section results can be seen Here. For results and pictures of the event you can check out this link Here. I hope everyone enjoyed the event as much as I did!

The next stop for Wisconsin tournaments is the Reedsburg Chess Open 2013. This is an unrated event, but still include prizes. I will not be able to attend this event, and since it's not rated I might not be able to get the results as quickly as I would a rated event. But, I will do my best to let everyone know how this event turns out. If you have questions about this event and would like to attend, just drop me a message and I'll get you the info. Best of luck to everyone playing!