On July 6-7, the Portland Chess Club is running the 5th Annual Rose City Sectionals tournament. This is a great way for up and coming scholastic players to get some experience with longer time controls and to compete for good cash prizes and trophies by playing in a section with similarly rated players. The tournament is a OSCF State qualifier and is dual rated in US Chess and NWSRS. Find more information about the event at pdxchess.org.
*FREE* Happy Valley Park Open on July 12
by Rebecca Holt •
This tournament is a Qualifier for the 2020 OSCF Tournament. We will use the big shelter at the South end of the park. This chess tournament is open to all and will be submitted for rating to the Northwest Scholastic Rating Service.
TYPE; 4 Round Swiss
TIME CONTROL: Game in 25; 5 second delay
ENTRY FEE: FREE
AWARDS: Chess Book to the top three Finishers
TIE BREAKER: CUMULATIVE, Average Opposition
EQUIPMENT: YOU MUST BRING A CHESS SET AND BOARD. If you do not bring a chess set and board —- I may have to not accept your registration. In other words you may not be able to play if you don’t bring equipment as I only will have a few extra sets and boards. Also bring a chess clock if you have one. Also bring a pen/pencil and scoresheets to record the moves of your games.
REGISTRATION: On-site from 10 AM – 10:15 AM. I will need the following information for registration: Your Name, the school you attended, your grade in school (I actually need what grade you were just in, not the one you will be going to in September), and a contact method (phone/e=mail). You may also pre-register by send an e-mail with the above information to “chessalot@aol.com”. If you pre-register you must still check in by 10:15 AM. Those that register by e-mail will be given preference if I need to reduce those registered due to a lack of equipment and or space.
Inclement weather —- if rainy weather is predicted the tournament will be rescheduled for July 19th.
Location Details
Happy Valley Park
13770 Se Ridgecrest Road
Happy Valley OR 97086 US
For more information, email Ed Addis at chessalot@aol.com
USCF National Master Joshua Grabinsky Wins First Prize and $6000 at National Open Chess Tournament
by Chad Lykins •
USCF National Master Joshua Grabinsky, a fifteen year old from Coquille, Oregon, won first place in the U2300 section of the National Open at the Las Vegas International Chess Festival. The U2300 section had 109 participants, most of whom had the title of master or expert. Grabinsky dominated the field by posting five wins, two draws, and zero losses.
Joshua Grabinsky is not the first chess prodigy from the Oregon Coast. His older brother, Aaron Grabinsky, is seeking the title of International Master as he attends Webster University on a chess scholarship. Webster University has won several collegiate championships and is coached by Susan Polgar, the highest rated female player of all time.
Like his older brother in prior years, perhaps the biggest challenge Grabinsky faces is a lack of local competition. Fortunately, he has the support of a dedicated chess coach in Dr. Nancy Keller, who has driven Coos County students to tournaments all over the Western United States, even as far south as San Diego. Dr. Kyriokas Kypriotakis, a chess coach in Coos Bay, joined this trip to help split the driving on the 16 hour journey to Las Vegas.
Joshua plans on putting his prize money toward his college education.
Photo: Joshua Grabinsky playing in the National Open
Photo Credit: Tim A. Hanks
Chess Camp with Matt Zavortink in Portland June 24-28, 9am – 12pm)
by Rebecca Holt •
SUMMER CHESS CAMP
Taught by USCF National Master and Two-Time Oregon State Chess Champion Matt Zavortink
Sponsored and Hosted by Portland Chess Club
8205 SW 24th Avenue, Portland, OR, 97219
June 24-28
9:00am-12:00pm
Drop-off 8:45am; Pickup by 12:15pm
Cost: $150
Registration: Email Matt Zavortink (zavortink@gmail.com)
USCF National Master Matt Zavortink and Hayhurst Elementary Chess Coach Chad Lykins are offering a full week of chess instruction plus five NWSRS rated games.
Open to students at all experience levels from Grade 2nd to 8th. Students will be grouped based on strength both for instruction and rated games. All groups receive instruction aimed at helping them reach the next rating class.
Schedule Topics
8:45-9:00: Drop-off Monday: Calculating Accurately
9:00-9:30: First group lesson Tuesday: Opening Strategy
9:30-10:15: Supervised play and Game Analysis Wednesday: Attacking the King
10:15-10:45: Second group lesson Thursday: Endgame Techniques
10:45-11:45: Rated game (G25d5) Friday: Famous Games
11:45-12:00: Post-game analysis
12:00-12:15: Pick-up
About Us
Matt Zavortink is a USCF National Master and two-time Oregon State Champion. His students recently won top individual awards at the OSCF Team Championship in both the elementary and middle-school
divisions. He offers private lessons as well as group lessons. He currently coaches at ACCESS Academy,Hayhurst Elementary, and Robert Gray Middle School.
Chad Lykins is a tournament director, coach, and father of three scholastic chess players. He has coached at Hayhurst Elementary for the last three years, during which time the team finished in a tie for first at the OSCF Team Championship and twice finished in a tie for 2nd at the CFS Team Championship.
The Portland Chess Club, located in Southwest Portland, offers both NWSRS and USCF rated tournaments as well as weekly casual chess.
Contact: Matt Zavortink
Email:zavortink@gmail.com
*FREE* Chess4Kids classes and rated games in Portland (June 1, 9, 15, and 22, 7-8:30 pm)
by Rebecca Holt •
Chess4kids will be hosting free summer classes. The class is thirty minutes long, and teachers will teach students chess strategy and tactics. At the very end, kids will be able to play an one hour long rated game with classmates. All teachers have a rating of 1600 or above.
Dates: June 1st, 9th, 15th and 22nd
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Location: 13545 NW Evergreen st , Portland, OR 97229
Contact: info@chess4kids.net
*FREE* Summer is Here Class and Quads in Happy Valley (June 10, 14, 18, 20, 21 from 5:30-9 pm)
by Rebecca Holt •
This event is open to all and is FREE. Participants do need to be familiar with the rules of chess and chess notation. Bring chess set and chess board with you. We will be using the Community Room which is located at the back of this New Seasons store.Each class will be about thirty minutes long where we will analyze and notate a game played by America’s first Great Chess Player – Paul Morphy.After each class, there will be a rated quad (3 chess games). Quad’s will be made up by the TD’s discretion. Time control game in 25 minutes with a 5 second delay. Top five scorers for the five quads and attending the Friday June 21st class will be awarded a chess book. Tie breaks used: Number of games played, lowest rating, and youngest age.
Each NWSRS rated quad will count as one qualifying tournament for the 2020 OSCF State Championship.
Registration: No on-site registration. All must register by e-mail. To register send Ed Addis an e-mail at “chessalot@aol.com”. Include your first and last name, grade in school (the grade you just completed — not the one you will be in after your summer vacation), and school you attend. For adults I need your first and last name and which state you live in. I also need to know which dates each of you plan to attend.
Space is limited so register early.
New Seasons at Happy Valley has a very nice area for those that have brought chess players to enjoy coffee or food and of course you can always shop. No outside food or drink can be brought into the New Seasons Market.
Contact: Edward Addis II
Email: chessalot@aol.com
Phone: 503-467-6242
Location Details
New Season – Happy Valley
15861 SE Happy Valley Town Center Drive
Happy Valley OR 97086 US
2019 Spring All Stars posted!
by Rebecca Holt •
The Spring 2019 All-Stars List has been posted! This list consists of the players in each grade who had the highest ten established ratings, and who played rated games between January 1, 2019 and May 1, 2019. Please carefully read the qualification rules, but if you think that you see something incorrect in the list, let us know, and we’ll check and add you if necessary.
All-Stars lists are published each trimester of the year. Any player on one or more of the winter, spring or summer lists — or on the 2019 Lifetime Achievement list (to be published next fall), or any member of the Order of the Knight who has played a NWSRS rated game between 9/1/18 and 8/31/19 — will be eligible to participate in the 2019 12th Annual Oregon All-Stars Invitational, which we plan to hold in October 2019 (details to come next September). Congratulations to everyone on the list!
USCF Memberships available (at a discount!)
by Rebecca Holt •
OSCF has purchased a large number of memberships “in bulk,” which allows us to offer these to Oregon and Washington scholastic chess players (who will play in Oregon events) at a discount. Normally, a scholastic membership costs $17-26, depending on the age of the player. We are happy to offer individual memberships for just $15 each for any player residing in Oregon or Washington and age 20 or under at the time of redemption.
Simply click here to our purchase page. Fill in the name of the person who is purchasing the membership(s). After purchasing the quantity of memberships you need, you will receive an eVoucher within 2 business days from our treasurer, Renee Chang. Once you receive the eVoucher number, you’re not done yet! Renee will include instructions for you to enter the eVoucher number on the USCF site to complete the membership registration.
Please be patient in this process. We are an ALL VOLUNTEER organization! Questions? Email us at oscf@oscf.org.
2019 Oregon State Girls Championship in Portland on *Saturday May 25* (Date changed!)
by Andrei Botez •
Oregon Chess Federation together with Oregon Scholastic Chess Federation would like to invite all the girls to the 2019 Oregon State Girls Championship on May 25 at the Portland Chess Club.
This event will determine Oregon’s nominees the most prestigious national girls scholastic events:
The SPFGI (Susan Polgar Foundation Girls Invitational) and the NGTOC (National Girls Tournament of Champions).
Time Control:
A 4 round G/55 + 5 seconds increment Swiss for Championship section.
A 4 rounds G/40 + 5 seconds delay Swiss for Reserve section
Eligibility
Championship section open to all junior girls in Oregon State, Reserve section open Oregon residents and out of state players.
Players must be under 19 as of Jun 14, 2019.
Ratings and membership requirment
Championship section: USCF membership required. Dual rated, both USCF and NWSRS.
Reserve section: NWSRS rated (no membership required).
Equipment
Clocks and notation required – clocks and score sheets will be provided.
Round times:
Championship: 9:00am, 11:15pm, 1:30pm, and 3:45pm.
Reserve: 8:45am, 10:30am, 12:45pm, 2:15pm
Prizes
Championship section:
-
Equally divided bursary for the first two places who will represent Oregon State in 2019 US Chess National Girls Tournament of Champions and 2019 Susan Polgar Foundation Girls Invitational.
-
The final amount of those bursaries will result by subtracting the expenses from the total amount of the entrée fees of this tournament.
-
In case of a tie for 1st and/or 2nd a playoff round with G/15 white, G/12 black with draw odds will determine winner.
-
Plaques for 1st-5th Places (3rd to 5th place tiebreak will be used)
-
Champion will have the 1st choice to pick the tournament.
Reserve section:
-
Trophies for 1st-5th Places
-
Reserve Champion will also receive one year USCF Membership (Young adult, Youth or Scholastic – depending on the age of the player). Same tiebreaker as in the top section.
Entry fee: pre-payment $30 before May 20, $35 after or paying at the door.
Online registration at 2019 Oregon State Girls Chess Championship.
Must pre-register. Registration deadline is March 15 at 5:00 PM (no registrations accepted after the deadline).
Questions? Email Andrei at Silver.Knights.Chess.Club@gmail.com
Silver Knights Chess Club Quads in Portland
by Andrei Botez •
Silver Knights Chess Club Quads in Portland on May 25
Format: Players will be divided in 4 player sections (quads) by NWSRS rating;
Rating system: NWSRS and US Chess if all the players in the same quad have up to date US Chess membership will be dual rated by default (just those quads).
Schedule: Check-In: 14:20-14:25; play will start at 14:30. Each quad will operate on its own schedule; games will be started as soon as possible. Quads involving younger players are expected to finish well in advance of those involving older, more experienced players. Awards for each section will be made as soon as that section is completed.
Notation: Players are encouraged to notate; players rated over 1000 are required to notate.
Time Control: G25/5 for time delay clocks. Please bring your clock, if you have one.
Prizes: First place trophy (or chess book), second place medal, third place medal, 4th place – small chess accessories for each section.
Tiebreakers: Ties will be broken in this order: direct encounter, lower starting rating, highest number of games played with black pieces, younger age, coin flip..
Entry fee: $20.00 per player. Two or more siblings $17 per player. .
Eligibility: Open to everyone – scholastic players strongly encouraged!
Contact: Andrei Botez
Email: silver.knights.chess.club@gmail.com
Phone: (503) 995-2888
Location Details
Portland Chess Club
8205 SW 24th Ave
Portland, OR 97219