News
Chicago-native Emory Tate Passes Away at CA Tournament
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Created: 22 October 2015 22 October 2015
International Master Emory Tate, Jr. has passed away at the age of 56.
Tate was born on Chicago's westside but grew up in northern Indiana where years later the Emory Tate Extravaganza was being held in his honor. Still, the Chicago-area was home to many of Tate's amazing chess accomplishments.
Tributes are pouring in for the much-admired Tate who claimed more than 70 victories over grandmasters despite never achieving that status himself. His US Chess ratings peak was 2504 after the 1997 US Masters in Oak Brook when he tied for ninth place with authors Larry Kaufman and Josh Waitzkin, as well as Illinois' own Andrew Karklins, among others.
Morton Chess Instructor Saves 16 Children From Attacker
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- Written by Carl Dolson Carl Dolson
- Created: 16 October 2015 16 October 2015
76-year old chess instructor James Vernon is recovering from surgery after a Columbus Day knife attack at the Morton Public Library.
Vernon, a Caterpillar retiree, was holding a chess club at the Peoria-area library when a 19-year old knife-wielding intruder entered the room threatening to kill someone.
The quick-thinking coach calmed the intruder, and maneuvered between him and the room's door, allowing 16 children and three of their mothers to escape.
Just and Clark Publish Tell-All Book On Competitive Chess
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Created: 08 October 2015 08 October 2015
Illinois chess stalwarts Tim Just and Wayne Clark have published a hilarious and insightful look at the world of tournament chess.
The e-book is entitled My Opponent Is Eating a Doughnut (what else would you call such a book?) and it is available for a don't-think-twice-about-it price at Amazon.com as of October 2015.
The long-awaited easy-read chronicles dozens of amusing anecdotes from the hundreds of events organized or directed by the two US Chess National Tournament Directors (NTD's).
Besides the entertainment value, the book offers extremely valuable insights on the challenging art of directing -- and the science of playing in -- formal tournaments.
Sam Schmakel Takes 2015 Illinois Blitz State Championship
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- Written by Carl Dolson Carl Dolson
- Created: 10 September 2015 10 September 2015
19 players ventured out to the Crowne Plaza in Northbrook on Saturday evening, September 5, to compete for the Illinois Blitz State Chess Championship title.
After five rounds of double Swiss action (10 games), our congratulations go to Sam Schmakel, who took the Illinois Blitz state champion's title with a score of 8.0 points. USCF Crosstables here.
Schmakel was followed by Dritan Zekaj and Vadim Ruzell, each with 7.5 points.
Schmakel, Zekaj, Ruzell, and Jonathan Hrach were tied at the top after three rounds with 5.0/6.0, with Nicholas Bartochowski a half point behind. Schmakel's separation from the pack came in round four, when he took both games from Hrach, while Zekaj gave up a half point to Ruzell. In the final round, Schmakel took the first game from Zekaj, cementing his Illinois Blitz state champion's title.
Three Illinoisans Share 2015 Iowa Open Championship
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Created: 31 August 2015 31 August 2015
Inducing the fifth-round resignation of WGM Camilla Baginskaite with seconds left on her clock brought Illinois IM Angelo Young into a four-way tie for the championship of the 2015 Iowa Open. With the best tiebreaks amid the 4.5 score group, Young received the first place plaque in the shape of Iowa.
Young tied Illinois Masters Gopal Menon and Pete Karagianis along with Missouri IM Michael Brooks. Brooks had won (or tied for first in) the last three Iowa Opens; Karagianis has been a multi-time winner of the event.
Karagianis and Brooks had agreed to an early draw in the fifth round, before Menon and Young joined the fun with last round victories.
10-year old Patrick Rao created a lot of buzz at the Open with his second-round upset over a 1900 and a fourth-round upset over a 2100.