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President's Day Weekend: Four Amateur Team Championships

January 13, 2009 By Chess Press Leave a Comment

Four (North, South, East & West) Amateur Team Championships Kick Off! (Feb.13-16)

February 14-16, 2009

Open to teams of four players plus optional alternate.
Average rating of four highest rated players must be under 2200. Difference beween boards 3 and 4 may not exceed 1000 points. December rating list used.

Prizes: Trophy and four chess clocks to: Top 3 teams; Top teams rated Under 2100, Under 2000, Under 1800, Under 1600, Under 1400/unrated.
Trophies (1 large, 4 small) to top College, Industrial, and Junior (under age 18), Senior (over age 55), U1200 teams.
Clocks to top scorers on each board (1-4 and Alternate), plus any perfect score.
Gift certificates for Best Team Name (1st and 2nd).

February 14-16, 2009

39th Annual – Celebrate the 60′s! 6SS, 40/2, SD/1.
Parsippany Hilton, 1 Hilton Ct., Parsippany,N.J. 07054. Chess Rate valid until 1/16. Reserve early 973-267-7373 or 1- 800-HILTONS. Morris/Essex train to Morris Plains 1.5 miles.

Open to 4- player teams with one optional alternate.

February 13-15 or 14-15, 2009

Orlando International Airport Hotel & Conference Center
3835 McCoy Road, Orlando FL 328125 Rounds at G/120 (2-day option: Sat Rd1 G/60)
2 sections: 4-player teams (plus optional lower rated alternate)
Open: Team average rating under 2200 (Yr-end)
(Winning Open Team plays in National Playoffs on March 21st.)

Scholastic Team average rating under 1200 (Yr-end) G/60
(Players need not be from the same school. Teams can be formed on-site.)

EF per player: OPEN $30 mailed by February 6, $40 later
SCHOLASTIC $20 mailed by February 6, $25 later

(SPECIAL EF $140 for 5-player team by Feb 6, $180 later.)

PRIZES: Plaques/Trophies to top 3 teams in each section plus:
OPEN: (four per teams indicated)
1st & 2nd: Excalibur chess clock; 3rd: Plaque
TOP U2000, U1800, U1600, U1400: Trophy

***FCA members are eligible for FL GP Points.***

SCHOLASTIC: (four per teams indicated)
1st & 2nd: Excalibur chess clock
3rd, & TOP U1000, U800: Trophy
BOARDS 1-4 in each section: Excalibur chess clock

Prizes for best team name in each section and all 5-0 scores.

SCHEDULE: Registration ends ½-hour before 1st round.
OPEN 3-day: rounds 8, 1-7, 9-3; 2-day: rounds 10-1-7, 9-3;
SCHOLASTIC (Sat & Sun): rounds 10-1-4, 9-12, Awards 2:30.

HR: $85 (Interior), (407)859-2711,
$69 (Exterior), (407)367-4225, call in afternoon.

Mention “Chess”. Reserve by Feb 1st.
(Note: RESERVE EARLY! All Hotels in area fill up USATS weekend)

Info: call (407)629-6WIN or visit www.centralflchess.org
Send Registration and Check payable to:
CFCC, 921 N. Thistle Lane, Maitland, FL 32751 or online usats2009.eventbrite.com

February 13-15 or 14-15 , 2009

Two sections: Open and Scholastic (Saturday only) 5SS, 30/90, SD/60 (rounds 1-2 for 2-day schedule G/60; scholastic section G/60 all four rounds).

Milwaukee Marriott West, W231N1600 Corporate CT, Waukesha, WI 53186. Chess Rate of $85.99 is valid until Feb. 1st. Reserve early (262) 574-0888.

OPEN: Open to 4 player teams with one optional alternate (individuals can enter and be assigned teammates). Team average (4 highest ratings-2008 Annual Rating list) must be under 2200.
EF: $140 ($141 if 2-day schedule) postmarked by 2/5/09; $180 after or at door.
Prizes: 4 clocks to top two teams, 4 clocks to top teams with average rating u1900, u1600, and u1300. Prizes to best team composed of juniors (high school and younger). Special prizes to top score on each board. Best game prize.
Schedule: 3-day: Late Registration: 6-7pm on 02/13. Rounds: 7:30pm; 10:00am-4:00pm; 10:00am-4:00pm. 2-day: Late Registration: 9-10:30am on 02/14.
Rounds: 11:00am-1:30pm-4:00pm; 10:00am-4:00pm. Saturday Night Special: dessert + blitz tournament with $$ prizes.
SCHOLASTIC: Open to 4 player team with one optional alternate (all players must be High School age or younger; individuals can enter and be assigned teammates). Team average (4 highest ratings-2008 Annual Rating list) must be under 1200.
EF: $120 postmarked by 2/5/09; $150 after or at door.
Prizes: Prizes to top team overall, top three High School Teams, top three Middle School Teams, top three Elementary School Teams. Special prizes to top score on each board.
Schedule: Late Registration: 8:30-9:30am on 02/14. Rounds: 10:15am-1:00pm-3:30pm-6pm. Saturday Night Special: dessert + blitz tournament with $$ prizes.

Information/Help with Teams: ashish@vajachess.com, 414-234-1005 or abetaneli@wichessacademy.com.

Make Checks Payable to and Send Entries to: VICA, 6822 North Crestwood Dr, Glendale, WI 53209 or enter online at: www.wscachess.org. Please include captain’s email and phone number.

WCL JGP (Open Section). 2009 USAT Playoff is scheduled for March 21, 2009 on ICC. More details will be posted soon.

Filed Under: Tournaments/Events

Broadway 'Chess' Checked

January 12, 2009 By Chess Press Leave a Comment

By Roger Catlin on January 10, 2009 9:40 AM
From the Hartford Courant at www.Courant.com

Lyricist Tim Rice is excited that his recently staged concert performance of “Chess” in London is getting a showcase on PBS this year.

That’s partly because the version of the musical he wrote with two members of Abba may be only known to Americans from a failed bygone Broadway production that he admitted “was not good.”

At an evening session at press tour featuring the man who also helped write shows from “Jesus Christ Superstar” to “The Lion King” — and a later performance by Idina Menzel, who starred in the British concert version of “Chess” that also featured Josh Grobin and Adam Pascal — Rice said of the 1979 Broadway version, “I’m afraid we got it wrong. We changed it too much.”

But the British concert version PBS will present is the one he hopes people will continue to adopt, especially in an era when the music of Abba has been rediscoverd largely through the success of the show “Mamma Mia.”

“This is the version I would like to be adopted,” Rice said.

“Chess in Concert” will run on PBS‘ “Great Performances” airs this summer.

For more information – Please Click Here for the ChessinConcert.com Website.

Filed Under: News

In Memory of Mark C Diesen (1957-2008)

January 11, 2009 By Chess Press Leave a Comment

Farewell to a chess friend…

Mark C Diesen was born September 16, 1957 in Buffalo, New York.  He was an American chessplayer who died on Dec. 9, 2008 in Conroe, Texas.

He leaves three daughters, Amy Diesen, 19. Sarah Diesen, 16 , a recently married step-daughter Gina Perkins, 24, wife, Melinda Diesen, sister Laura Butler and mother Marjorie Diesen.

He earned the International Master title in 1976 by winning the World Junior Championship.

Other achievements included Louisiana State Champion in 1986, 1987 and 1988, 1973-74 1st Hastings Challengers , several GM norms Karlovac 77′ , Polaniza Zdroj ’78 , etc , and Texas State Champ 2001 & 2003.

A graduate of the University of Tennessee, he had a degree in Chemical Engineering. After dropping out of mainstream chess, he worked as a reservoir engineer for Shell Oil, Pennzoil and Noble Energy. He won many state championships and the Southwest open too.

Click Here for Chess Games of Mark C Diesen

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the U.S. Chess Trust, PO Box 838, Wallkill, NY 12589, 800-388-5464 or online.  Click Here for Online Donations.

Information courtesy of Melinda Diesen.

Obituary Knoxville News Sentinel

Mark Carl Diesen

DIESEN, MARK CARL – age 51 of Conroe, Texas native of Buffalo New York, passed away suddenly December 9, 2008 in Conroe, Texas.

He was a graduate of the University of Tennessee with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He worked as a reservoir engineer for Shell Oil, Pennzoil and Noble Energy.

Mark was a World Junior Chess Champion in 1976, the US Junior Co-Champion, the Louisiana State Champion in 1986, 1987, 1988, Texas State Champion, Southwestern Open Champion, and an active chess coach in Houston, Texas and online.

He is survived by his wife, Melinda Diesen of Conroe, Texas; daughters and sons-in-law, Gina and Travis Perkins of Knoxville, Amy and Daniel Smith of Houston, TX, and Sarah Diesen of Conroe, TX; mother, Marjorie Diesen; sister and brother-in-law, Laura and J.C Butler all of Bristow, VA; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Paul and Joyce McGlothin of Knoxville; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Paul and Meredith Averill-McGlothin of Ossining, NY; several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held at The Episcopal Church of the Ascension with Rev. Dr. Howard J. Hess officiating. Interment followed at Highland Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the U.S. Chess Trust, PO Box 838, Wallkill, NY 12589, 800-388-5464 or online.  Click Here for Online Donations.

Filed Under: News
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