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British International School of New York Chess Tournament

Support — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:57:26 +0000

Coming Up!

The British International School of New York Hosts Chess Tournament (Sunday, May 20, 2012)

15 Waterside Plaza New York, NY 10010-2612 (BISNY Dining Hall)

Open to All Players from Kindergarten – Eighth Grade
Trophies for All Players

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:

On-site registrations: From 9am – 9:30 am. Rounds begin at 10 am. Pre-registration rates end at Noon on the day before the event.

Pre-K – K Section: From 10 – 1 ; Awards at 1:15 PM
Novice Open: 1-8 Section: From 10 – 1 ; Awards at 1:15 PM
Open Under 799 Section: GAME 45 PER PLAYER ; Awards at 4:30 PM
Open Under 1199 Section: GAME 45 PER PLAYER ; Award Ceremony 4:30 PM
Championship Over 1200 Section: GAME 45 PER PLAYER ; Award Ceremony 4:30 PM

ENTRY FEES:

Entry fee $30 if received by May 14, 2012
$35 if received between May 15-19, 2012
$40 for Walk-ins

Please note that our space is limited. Please visit us at www.ChessEducators.com for tournament House Rules and complete information.

Registration & Payment:

CLICK HERE TO MAKE YOUR ONLINE PAYMENT
CLICK HERE for ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM
2011-2012 BISNY Chess Tournaments Flyer and Registration Form
By Mail: Make Check Payable to Chess Educators and mail with your registration form to Chess Educators P.O. Box 160 New York, NY 10028.
Note: Note: Pre-registration rates deadlines apply. Please allow plenty of time for mailed entries.

For More Information Contact: Beatriz Marinello (917)553-4522 or Beatriz@Chesseducators.com

For more information about British International School of New York please visit www.bis-ny.org.

How to Get There

Directions to 15 Waterside Plaza:

By Car and approaching from south of 23rd Street: FDR Drive to the 20th-23rd Street exit, then onto the FDR Drive Service Road (along the East River) to 25th Street. Enter the Waterside Plaza complex go past the marina & UNIS. Parking is available for a fee at both the Marina at 23rd Street and at Waterside Plaza. Building 15 is on the Plaza level. To access the Plaza level take the main staircase just north of the parking garage entrance and walk South across the Plaza to Bldg 15.

By Car and approaching from north of 23rd Street: FDR Drive to the 23rd Street Exit; make a left at the 23rd Street traffic light and go underneath the FDR Drive; make a second left (bearing to the right) at the next traffic light onto the FDR Drive Service Road (along the East River) to 25th Street. Enter the Waterside Plaza complex go past the marina & UNIS. Parking is available for a fee at both the Marina at 23rd Street and at Waterside Plaza. Building 15 is on the Plaza level. To access the Plaza level take the main staircase just north of the parking garage entrance and walk South across the Plaza to Bldg 15.

By Taxi: If coming by taxi, ask the driver to take you to “Waterside Plaza”, when he pulls in, ask him to go straight just past the parking garage you will see a staircase with waterfall & glass elevator. Building 15 is on the Plaza level. To access the Plaza level take the main staircase just north of the parking garage entrance and walk South across the Plaza to Bldg 15.

By subway: Trains 1, 6, E, F, Q, 63 St/6 Ave Shuttle, or W to the 23rd Street station; then take the 23rd Street crosstown bus east (M23) to FDR Drive. Walk under the FDR drive, turn left at the Marina, and walk north two blocks along the East River. Enter Waterside complex, walk straight just past the parking garage you will see a staircase with waterfall & glass elevator. Building 15 is on the Plaza level. To access the Plaza level take the main staircase just north of the parking garage entrance and walk South across the Plaza to Bldg 15.

By bus: Any north or southbound bus to 23rd Street; transfer to the 23rd Street crosstown bus (M23) to the FDR Drive. Walk under the FDR drive, turn left at the Marina, and walk north two blocks along the East River. Or take the 34th Street crosstown bus (M-16 Waterside) east to Waterside Plaza (last stop). Enter Waterside complex, walk straight just past the parking garage you will see a staircase with waterfall & glass elevator. Building 15 is on the Plaza level. To access the Plaza level take the main staircase just north of the parking garage entrance and walk South across the Plaza to Bldg 15.

By foot: Take the pedestrian footbridge at the end of East 25th Street over the FDR Drive and follow the ramp to the left. Walk past water feature & roof access staircase and Bldg 15 will be on your right side.

BISNY Chess Tournament Report and Photo Gallery (Nov. 13, 2011)

Support — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:22:08 +0000

The 2011 British International Chess Tournament was a great experience for young, talented and motivated chess players from schools all across the New York area.

BISNY CHESS Tournament Nov. 13, 2011, Photo Credit – Dora Leticia ©

Students from schools in New York City and Queens participated, these included: The Hewitt School, All Souls, Anderson, Hunter College High School, P.S. 116, Dalton, Garden School, P.S. I.S. 499.

It was a great opportunity for these young players to play chess and socialize with students outside their school’s circle. Congratulations to all of the chess players!

BISNY CHESS Tournament Nov. 13, 2011, Photo Credit – Dora Leticia ©

Tournament Results

Pre-K – K Section

1st Place: Kieran Mann (BISNY)
2nd Place: Ema Kobayashi (BISNY)
3rd Place: Nikash Das (BISNY)
4th Place: Hyatt Hicks (BISNY)
5th Place: Stella Liebeskind (SOULS)
6th Place: Talin Schlachet (BISNY)

Novice Section

1st Place: Joelle Garcia (GARDEN SCHOOL)
2nd Place: Jason Milch (BISNY)
3rd Place: Olivia Pichardo (GARDEN SCHOOL)
4th Place: Charles Simmons (BISNY)
5th Place: Noah Schwartz (BISNY)
6th Place: Armen Setrakian (BISNY)

Challenge Section

1st Place: Gregory Llewellyn (PS859)
2nd Place: Jessee Roonprapunt (ANDERSON)
3rd Place: Taran Pandya (BISNY)
4th Place: Kayla Liebeskind (HEWITT)
5th Place: Nathaniel Tay Fox (DALTON)
6th Place: Rebecca Kovarcik (HEWITT)
7th Place: Rachel D Kovarcik (HEWITT)
8th Place: Sloane Wachs (HEWITT)
9th Place: Logan Rebe Oscher (FRIEND)
10th Place: Carter Lee-Millstein (DALTON)
11th Place: Nancy Lindsey (HEWITT)
12th Place: Able Adams (PS499)

Photo Gallery

BISNY CHESS Tournament Nov. 13, 2011, Photo Credit – Dora Leticia ©

Playing a game between rounds Nov. 13, 2011, Photo Credit – Dora Leticia ©

BISNY CHESS Tournament Nov. 13, 2011, Photo Credit – Dora Leticia ©

Tension builds as chessplayers anxiously wait for results Nov. 13, 2011, Photo Credit – Dora Leticia ©

BISNY CHESS Tournament Nov. 13, 2011, Photo Credit – Dora Leticia ©

Taking home his first chess trophy Nov. 13, 2011, Photo Credit – Dora Leticia ©

Just Get Your Game On! (Chess and Basketball)

Support — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:36:02 +0000

Article by WIM Beatriz Marinello

When I first saw this amazing video (check out the new NBA promo video in sidebar), I immediately remembered, a program at the Yonkers Housing Authority in New York State called “Smart Basketball”.

The young players were required to play chess prior to starting their basketball practice.

This program was instituted by Mr. Peter Smith, Executive Director of the YHA at the time.

So, how is basketball like a game of chess?

In James Case’s book, Competition – The Birth of a New Science, this question is asked:

“What do chess-playing, computer programs, biological evolution, competitive sports, gambling, alternative voting systems, public auctions, corporate globalization, and class warfare have in common?

The answer inevitably comes…

“All are manifestations of a new paradigm in scientific thinking, which James Case calls “the emerging science of competition.”

“…Case explores the common game-theoretic strands that tie these seemingly unrelated fields together, showing how each can be better understood in the shared light of the others.”

Another, recently published book, Spark! by Dr. John Ratey says:

“…excercise provides an unparelled stimulus creating an environment in which the brain is ready, willing and able to learn.”

“…physical exercise unleashes certain chemicals in the bloodstream, which leads to direct, positive changes in the brain. One of these chemicals is the protein called BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), known for the impact it has on brain development.”

In other words, exercise makes us smarter…

So, what do you think?

If this is the case, shouldn’t chess be played after a strenuous game of basketball to improve your game, or, should you play chess before basketball to improve your slam dunk abilities?

I say, Peter Smith had it right, stretch the chess muscles, so in the case that you lose, perhaps letting off a little steam with a game of ball will cool you off.

JUST GET YOUR GAME ON!

2009 U.S. Championships: Fischer Memorial Prize

Support — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 02:30:33 +0000

Fischer Memorial Prize, Jackpot Bonus Added for 2009 U.S. Championships to be Held in St. Louis

By Mark Bretz
February 19, 2009

For more information contact:

Mark Bretz, Slay & Associates

314-838-9371 or mbretz@slayandassociates.com

For Immediate Release:

FISCHER MEMORIAL PRIZE, JACKPOT BONUS ADDED TO PRIZES

FOR 2009 U.S. CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP BEING HELD IN ST. LOUIS

ST. LOUIS, February 19, 2009 — A $64,000 bonus in memory of late chess champion Bobby Fischer and a jackpot bonus for a “clear” first-place winner have been added to the prizes being awarded at the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship. The tournament, which will be held May 7-17, 2009 at the new Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, will offer a purse of more than $130,000 in prize money.

Any player who scores a 9-0 sweep will be awarded the Fischer Memorial Prize, a $64,000 bonus in addition to the first-place award. The prize is in remembrance of the late American world champion Bobby Fischer, who died in 2008 at age 64. Fischer scored an 11-0 victory in the 1963-64 U.S. championship, the only perfect score in the event’s history.

Additionally, a jackpot bonus of $5,000 will be awarded to the first-place winner. If there is a tie for first, the jackpot will be awarded in a playoff for the title of U.S. champion, to be contested on May 17, after the final round and before the closing ceremony. Up to four players will contest a series of one-game rapid matches designed to guarantee a decisive result (”draw odds games”).

Two dozen of the nation’s best players will be invited to participate in the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship. The 24 players include:

* the top 12 American players by rating, using the April rating supplement;
* the top two female players by rating, using the April rating supplement;
* the 2008 U.S. Junior Closed Champion;
* the 2008 U.S. Open Champion;
* the 2009 U.S. State Champion of Champions;
* the 2008 defending U.S. Chess Champion;
* a total of six wild card spots, to be determined later.

The winner will receive $35,000, with additional cash prizes awarded to all participants, including $2,000 to the last-place entrant. Cash prizes will be divided equally among tied competitors. Additionally, top youths from throughout America will be invited to compete. Spectators will be welcome at the event.

The championship will be a 9-round event, using the Swiss system with one round per day and a rest day on Friday, May 15 between rounds 7 and 8. Time controls will be the classical 40 moves in two hours, with one hour allowed for all remaining moves. There also will be a five-second “increment” added to each player’s clock after every move. Guest commentary will be provided by two world-class Grandmasters throughout the event.

“We are excited to be able to provide these extra bonuses to the top-tier contestants who will be participating at the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship,” said Tony Rich, executive director of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. “It is fitting to honor the fiercely competitive late chess legend Bobby Fischer in such an environment.”

The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis is a not-for-profit, 501(c)3 organization that opened in July 2008. Founded by retired investment fund manager Rex Sinquefield, it already has nearly 500 members, surpassing its original goal of 300 for its first year of operation by 67 percent. The club, which Steve Goldberg of United States Chess Federation (USCF) Online calls “certainly one of the most impressive chess centers” in the country, offers free classes for beginners, discounted tournament entry fees and discounted merchandise for club members. For more information, please visit www.saintlouischessclub.org or call 314-361-CHESS.

The United States Chess Federation is the official, not-for-profit U.S. membership organization for chess players and chess supporters of all ages and strengths, from beginners to grand masters. Founded in 1939 with the merger of the American Chess Federation and the National Chess Federation, USCF has grown to more than 80,000 members and nearly 1,200 affiliated chess clubs and organizations. USCF sanctions 25 national championship award titles to both amateurs and professionals, ranging from elementary school students to senior citizens. For more information, visit www.uschess.org.

Alexandra Kosteniuk Interview by WIM Beatriz Marinello

Support — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 18:29:26 +0000

Note: Interview written for the U.S. Chess Trust by Beatriz Marinello

Grandmaster Alexandra Kosteniuk: Woman World Champion, Mother and Wife…Aspiring Fashion Model and a Role Model for our chess community.

Women’s World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk lives part of the year in Miami, USA and is planning to help promote chess in the USA in a positive way. I would like to thank her for allowing me to interview her.

I would also like to take this opportunity to announce a U.S. Chess Trust Fund raising Event in New York City with Alexandra Kosteniuk! As many of you may know, I am also the web editor for the U.S. Chess Trust’s website and am working closely with the Trust as I organize this fantastic fund-raising event.

Alexandra has been very generous to offer to donate her time to the U.S. Chess Trust by giving a 20-Board Simultaneous Exhibition. This event will be held in NYC on March 21, 2009 at the British International School of New York. This Invitational Event will exclusively benefit the U.S. Chess Trust. The U.S. Chess Trust is a charitable 501(c)(3) organization devoted to supporting the educational, cultural, and recreational value of the game of chess.

You can check the U.S. Chess Trust’s website at www.USChessTrust.org or stay tuned for more details!

An Interview with Alexandra Kosteniuk by WIM Beatriz Marinello

BEATRIZ: Hello Alexandra, it is a pleasure to have the opportunity to do this interview with you! You were crowned the 12th Women’s World Champion in chess history a little over four months ago. How does it feel to achieve such an accomplishment? This is chess history in the making, one that comes with a lot of responsibility. How has this affected your outlook? Do you feel a need to give back to the community and live up to a certain legacy, so to speak?

ALEXANDRA: Victory in the World Championship made me very happy and I felt so proud. It was definitely the happiest moment in my chess career. But, at the same time I had a hard time realizing that I had become the World Champion and entered all chess history books. But then little by little it sank in and I understood that life needs to go on. Even though it was the goal of my life, I needed to find more goals and more motivation for the game I love so much. I now feel very strongly that I have to do much more to promote and popularize chess in the world and attract both the media and as many kids as possible to our wonderful game.

BEATRIZ: Considering that you already achieved the World Championship title, how do you re-focus your goals as a chess player and in which direction do you see yourself going? Have you had an opportunity to reflect and determine which course to take next?

ALEXANDRA: After winning the World Championship I had a very tough schedule, I was playing non-stop almost all of the second part of 2008 and only now, after settling down in Miami, I have some time to rest and to think about my plans and goals for the future. I still enjoy playing in tournaments and, especially, studying chess with my coaches, since there is no limit to progress in chess and I love the constant search of perfection that chess allows. I’ll also definitely try to do a lot of promotional events for chess, such as giving lectures, simuls, interviews and also promote chess as an educator. I also want to spend more time with my family and especially with my daughter, since I was away from her for quite a long time while I was preparing and playing in the World Championship and being so far away from her, I missed her very much.

BEATRIZ: What are your thoughts about the future of women in chess? How do you feel we could attract more girls to the game?

ALEXANDRA: More and more girls are starting to play chess. I think in the last decade we’ve seen a constant increase in the number of girls playing chess. That’s why it’s important to speak not only about men Grandmasters and Male Champions but also about women who play chess successfully. Girls who are just starting to play chess have to have female role models they can relate to in order to see that they might also one day become a champion.

BEATRIZ: As you gain a broader audience and fan club, do you feel that being a fashion model, in a sense breaks the misconception that beauty and brains aren’t always the norm? Do you think this message has a positive impact in promoting chess to a much broader audience?

ALEXANDRA: Chess is a very ancient game and I believe it deserves much more attention than it has right now. Unfortunately, the modern world is more interested in nice-looking faces than in intellectual values. Role-models of today’s kids are mostly TV and movie stars, they follow their lives and try to look like them. Chess has now, unfairly in my opinion, a rather dull image that makes it hard to attract media and spectators and therefore sponsors. That’s why I feel I have to try to find ways to show the world that chess is a very cool game, it’s very useful for kids and what’s more if girls will play chess they will still be normal girls and at the same time they will have better chances to succeed in life.

BEATRIZ: You started playing chess at the age of 5. Tell us about your experience as a young chess player. Are there any specific events that led up to your passion for chess?

ALEXANDRA: My father was a hero to me. I valued his words very much and when he said that he would teach me how to play chess I was very excited and happy to start studying chess with him. After a while my father’s passion passed on to me and from that moment I started to study chess even more assiduously and with true passion.

BEATRIZ: Your father was an army officer who gave up his career to support you as a young chess player. Now, that you are a mother yourself what are your thoughts about parenting young, gifted and talented children?

ALEXANDRA: Actually, now I understand what a tremendous job my parents have done in order to educate their two daugthers. Now, being a mom, of course, I think all the time about my daughter’s education and I hope that she will be a happy child. I believe that every child is talented and the most important thing is to help these talents to develop. Childhood years, in my opinion, are the most important ones in life so I’ll try to do my best in educating my daughter. It’s quite a difficult task and I look forward to giving it all my heart.

BEATRIZ: How has motherhood affected you’re training? Are you still able to maintain the five hours per day training?

ALEXANDRA: I was very fortunate when my husband and my mom agreed to support me fully when I told them I wanted to try to prepare and play in the Women’s World Championship, last year in Nalchik, when my baby was not even 1 year old. Having a baby changes everything and it was very difficult for me to get back into shape and to start again after a break of close to a year. Now I’m very happy that all my efforts paid off. I still train now, but on a different schedule.

BEATRIZ: What do you feel are the positives and negatives as you work your life around a passion for chess, family, and a sometimes hectic schedule. Has traveling been more difficult considering the changes in your life? Is your family a part of your travel schedule?

ALEXANDRA: When you have a baby traveling is much harder. So now we try to travel not as often as we used to. I’m not so flexible as I was before and am planning all my future tournaments and events more carefully in order not to be far from my baby for too long. I prefer to take my baby with me to regular tournaments or to most events but of course she stays with my husband or my mom if I go to very important tournaments such the World Championship.

BEATRIZ: GM Xu Yuhua of China became the Women’s World Champion while she was four months pregnant, and you became a Women’s World Champion with a young child. It has become increasingly apparent that women can have it all – including a successful career in chess. You are a great example of this. Do you feel that biologically speaking , given that chess is a very competitive sport, men have an advantage over women?

ALEXANDRA: Technically, I believe men and women’s minds are equal. It’s men’s physical additional strength that gives them an edge in long games. In speed games the difference is less, as I have shown, by beating many male Grandmasters at Blitz. Also, chess requires a lot of studying, and men have an easier time to devote all their time to studying chess, without thinking of anything else, while women have many more responsibilities, such as taking care of the home and founding a family. I read recently a study, in which it was argued that the relatively lower results by women were due principally to the many fewer girls who start to play chess. If we had an equal number of boys and girls who started to play chess and continued til’ their 20′s, the difference in levels at the top would be almost insignificant.

BEATRIZ: What are your goals for the future? Are your planning to spend more time in the United States? Any plans to write more books?

ALEXANDRA: My first goal, is to give back to chess all that I can since it is chess that has given me all that I have. I will promote chess all over the world, and I will do so both on the web with my upcoming online academy, with my DVD’s, and personally in my chess academy. I am on the way to becoming a permanent U.S. Resident and plan to make Miami my home. I feel Florida is the best place for my daughter to grow up and for me to have my base.

BEATRIZ: In Russia chess is being taught as part of the school curriculum. I personally believe that the future of chess lies in integrating chess as part of our culture, the best way to approach this is through chess in the schools. What are your comments and thoughts about chess in the schools? Do you plan on teaching your own children at an early age?

ALEXANDRA: You are absolutely right, chess in schools is the best way to go. The educational value of chess is totally clear, it helps kids succeed in life. I will definitely teach my daughter to play chess, she’s not even two yet, and she knows what pawns are, as well as knights, chess pieces are pretty much her favorite toys, she sees her mom playing with them all day, so it must be really fun! I’m looking forward to when she’s 3 or 4 so I can start showing her the beauty of our wonderful game.

BEATRIZ: That is wonderful. It is great to see such a well-rounded, intelligent young woman with such a postive outlook, such a passion for chess and a desire to promote and do positive things with the game we all love!

Well, Alexandra, let’s wrap this interview up. It has been a great pleasure talking with you. Thank you for taking the time. We look forward to seeing much more of you and wish you and your family the very best.

For more information about World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk – Please visit Alexandra’s website.

Website: www.Kosteniuk.com
Her podcast: www.ChessisCool.com
Video podcast at www.ChessKillerTips.com
You can also find more on her YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/chessqueen

Don’t forget to check the U.S. Chess Trust’s website for more information on the U.S. Chess Trust’s Fundraising Event with Alexandra Kosteniuk!

About the U.S. Chess Trust

The U.S. Chess Trust is an independent 501(c)(3), non-profit organization.

Created in 1967, the Trust was organized to promote, stimulate and encourage the study and play of the game of chess as a means of intellectual development. The Trust uses its resources for charitable purposes, including social, educational, scientific, historical endeavors. Our Trustees act without compensation, and are dedicated to the U.S. Chess Trust’s mission.

The U.S. Chess Trust’s focus is an outgrowth of similar activities formerly carried out by the U.S. Chess Federation . We promote and support chess in the community through our programs, and by providing resources that help support our mission.

In addition, we also actively support charities conducted by the USCF and other chess organizations.

To learn more about how we are helping make a difference in the chess community, please visit our Programs/Resources section.

It is no wonder, that more and more scientific studies have confirmed that children who are taught chess, in addition to their regular courses, do better in school. Studies report that chess helps develop valuable reading and decision-making skills, and improves students’ ability to concentrate.

These are only a few reasons why the U.S. Chess Trust takes an active role in supporting chess education programs across the nation. And your donations help make that possible!

Visit their website at www.USChessTrust.org.

Chess Players: 2008 Pan American Continental Championship

Support — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:30:40 +0000

As of Nov. 1, 2008, the following players will be participating in the 2008 Pan American Continental Championship.

Registrations are still open and ongoing so check back for player updates!

Note: A Player’s Profile page for the participants will also be posted on the website soon.

CHESS PLAYERS: (Title, Name, Country, FIDE and/or USCF Rating)

GM Julio Becerra (USA) Rating 2602
GM Alexander Shabalov (USA) Rating 2585
GM Jaan Ehlvest (USA) Rating 2581
GM Alexandr Stripunsky (USA) Rating 2553
GM Alexander Ivanov (USA) Rating 2546
GM Manuel Leon Hoyos (Mexico) Rating 2535
GM Alonso Zapata (Colombia) Rating 2501
IM Josh Ed Friedel (USA) Rating 2498
IM Vinay Bhat (USA) Rating 2497
GM Darcy Lima (Brazil) Rating 2488
IM Alder Escobar (Colombia) Rating 2482
IM Everaldo Matsuura (Brazil) Rating 2469
IM Ray Robson (USA) Rating 2466
IM Justin Sarkar (USA) Rating 2451
IM Sergio Barrientos (Colombia) Rating 2450
IM Mauricio A Uribe (Colombia) Rating 2414
GM Gildardo Garcia (Colombia) Rating 2410
IM Blas Lugo (USA) Rating 2403
IM Nelson Gamboa (Colombia) Rating 2378
IM Alfonso Almeida (Mexico) Rating 2378
FM Daniel M Rensch (USA) Rating 2354
FM Renato Terry (Peru) Rating 2349
FM Mauricio Rios Parra (Colombia) Rating 2334
IM David Arenas (Colombia) Rating 2323
FM Ilye Figler (USA) Rating 2322
Raymond Kaufman (USA) Rating 2320
FM Alan Borda (Bolivia) Rating 2320
FM Alex Betaneli (USA) Rating 2318
FM Jake Kleiman (USA) Rating 2315
FM Alfredo Peña (Colombia) Rating 2309
WFM ALISA MELEKHIN (USA) Rating 2299
Yevgeni Margulis (USA) Rating 2274
Eric Rodriguez (USA) Rating 2270
FM Fabio La Rota (USA) Rating 2252
FM Lincoln Lucena (Brazil) Rating 2239
Manuel Robledo Gonzales (Peru) Rating 2223
Erik F Santarius (USA) Rating 2213
Smith Dolorier (Peru) Rating 2210
FM Wilson Estuardo Lorenzana (Guatemala) Rating 2202
Jerald W Times (USA) Rating 2202
Jose Luis Fonseca Gonzalez (Nicaragua) Rating 2200
Andres Hortillosa (USA) Rating 2199
MF Alvaro Garcia (Colombia) Rating 2198
Constantine Xanthos (USA) Rating 2196
Eric N Cooke (USA) Rating 2191
Ashish Vaja (USA) Rating 2184
CM Boris Ariel Ferrufino (Bolivia) Rating 2182
FM Carlos Reyes Najera (Guatemala) Rating 2150
Dr. Joaquim Soares (Brazil) Rating 2149
WFM Chouchanik Airapetian (USA) Rating 2117
Jorge Reynaldo (Cuba) Rating 2112
FM Victor Sarat (Guatemala) Rating 2109
Andres Santalla (USA) Rating 2108
Jeffrey Haskel (USA) Rating 2096
Eduardo Bermudez (Colombia) Rating 2095
Neal Goldberg (USA) Rating 2074
Gregory J Kimmel (USA) Rating 2057
Dr. Carlos Pique (Nicaragua) Rating 2048
Raul Barros (Colombia) Rating 2044
Bill Hall (USA) Rating 2120
FM Raul Junior Barros (Colombia) Rating 2002
Mike Lucente (USA) Rating 1946
Christopher Heung (USA) Rating 1946
Mel H Goss (USA) Rating 1939
William Miguel Reyes Soco (Guatemala) Unrated
Igor G Baptista (Brazil) Unrated

Marriott Hotel Deadline Extended to Nov. 1st.

Support — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 10:27:59 +0000

Deadline for Marriott Hotel at Boca Center Extended to November 1, 2008 !

2008 Pan American – Continental Championship (Boca Raton, Florida, USA)

Hotel registrations for all players should be made directly with the Hotel. CLICK HERE to MAKE YOUR HOTEL RESERVATION !

Reservations must be made directly with the hotel by November 1, 2008. Room rate $120 per night. Rooms are for up to four people, but only with double beds.

The Marriott at Boca Raton is in an excellent location near Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, FL. Traveling to Europe from Miami is also convenient and should be taken into consideration.

Make Checks Payable to: Checks must be payable to Chess Educators, LLC and mailed to P.O. Box 160 New York, NY 10028.

On-line Registration & Payment: On line registration and payment is available at ChessEducators.com.

Deadline for Registration:

Registration Fee: $175.00 by Sept. 30, 2008, after Sept. 30, 2008 Registration Fee is $200.00.

TITLES and PRIZES!!!!!!!

TITLES:

The GM, IM, WGM, WIM titles norms can be earned in internationally rated tournaments played according to FIDE regulations. Continental Championship’s regulations apply for this event.

PRIZES:

1st Place 4,000.00
2nd Place 3,000.00
3rd Place 2,000.00
4th Place 1,500.00
5th Place 1,000.00
6th Place 900.00
7th Place 800.00
8th Place 700.00
9th Place 600.00
10th Place 500.00
11th Place 200.00
12th Place 200.00
13th Place 200.00
14th Place 200.00
15th Place 200.00

Top player 18 years old or younger (age at the time of registration in the tournament) $300; Top women player $300; Top player over 50 years old or older (age at the time of registration in the tournament) $300. No player can win more than one monetary prize, in the event that a player has the option to win two prizes, she or he will have to choose only one prize.

For more information please contact Beatriz Marinello at Beatchess@aol.com and/or Beatriz@chesseducators.com

We are looking forward to seeing you at this exciting event !

Yours for Chess,

Beatriz Marinello
Tournament Organizer

Click Here to Download the Tournament Invitation - 2008 Pan American Continental Championship Invitation

Voting During the 2008 Pan American Continental Championship

Support — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:04:49 +0000

: Helping You Vote on Election Day Nov. 4th, 2008

Attention Participants of the 2008 Pan American Continental Championship (U.S. Citizens)

As you all know the 2008 Pan American Continental Championship will be in full swing come Election Day November 4th, 2008 !

We are providing the following information in order to make your voting process easier.

Haven’t registered to vote yet? We have included links to the Voter Registration forms in English and Spanish at the end of this post….

Registering to Vote and Voting

Qualifications to Vote by Absentee Ballot

* unavoidably absent from your county on Election Day;

* unable to appear at the polls due to illness or disability;

* a patient in a Veterans’ Administration Hospital;

* detained in jail awaiting Grand Jury action or confined in prison after conviction for an offense other than a felony;

How to Vote by Absentee Ballot

* Applications for Absentee Ballots are available at your county board of elections.

* You may also download a PDF version of the Absentee Ballot Application Form.

*Click here for a list of U.S. States – Absentee Ballot (for Citizens in the United States) , then click your state for additional information and to download the Absentee form for that state.

* Upon completion, applications must be mailed to your county board no later than the seventh day before the election or delivered in person no later than the day before the election.

* You may also request an Absentee Ballot by sending a letter to your county board of elections. The letter must be received by your county board no earlier than 30 days and no later than seven days before the election.

The letter must contain the following information:

o the address where you are registered

o an address where the ballot is to be sent

o the reason for the request, and

o the signature of the voter

An application form will be mailed with your ballot. The application form must be completed and returned with your ballot.

If you cannot pick up your ballot, or will not be able to receive it through the mail, you have the right to designate someone to pick it up for you. Only that person designated on your application may pick up and deliver your ballot.

Informative Links:

Vote & Voting – USA.gov

When to Vote, Polling Hours by State

National Mail Voter Registration Form

Formulario Nacional de Inscripción de Votantes (Spanish Voter Registration Form