The “Scholastic” chess season is largely over, so I guess that means we have absolutely nothing to talk about these next several months, how shall we pass the time?  I have managed to come up with a list of talking points for the summer:

Battlestar Galatica
Antiquing
Tulip Mania
String Theory
Bituminous Coal

Folks, chess does not end in May, imagine if professional athletes stopped lifting weights, conditioning, and eating healthy when the season is over.  Being a lifelong Minnesotan, yes, the summer is great, and making the most of beautiful weather is something to look forward to.  There is also room for chess! Is it raining? Launch a pawn storm on your opponent and stop into the Castle.  Out of sunscreen?  Come down to the Castle!  Out of patience?  Drop the kids off at the Castle!

As far as this weekend is concerned, some of the top juniors will take on challengers at the Art-A-Whirl on Saturday from 12-4 in the back parking lot on a giant chess set.  On Sunday, there will be a Blitz event where State and Scholastic MN champions Sean Nagle and Andrew have committed to play in as well as many others.

The success of the Minneapolis Open in March has prompted another big event next month.  On June 11-12th, the Minnesota Blizzard of the US Chess League will host the Inaugural FIDE Open.  This will be held at the Castle, and space again is limited so sign up before we reach capacity.  More information can be found at the Chess Castle website.

June will also feature the annual Rochester Open, and MSCA Blitz championship, a Summer Classic event will take place in July, and the Duluth Twin Ports is slated for early August.  More on these in future emails.  This has been your Blind Chess Copy for July 2016, thank you for your time.

 

We are approaching 200 entrants!

Sign up before the pre-registration deadline, or sign up at the door between 8-8:45am on Saturday.  Here are some quick bits about the weekend

10.  We want to know what you have to say!  A feedback meeting will be done on Sunday.
9.  There are individual and team awards for all sections.
8.  There will be BOGO coupons from Noodles again.  The St. Kates Dining Hall will be open from 8am-2pm Saturday and Sunday.
7.  Will. Shock. You.
6.  IM John Bartholomew will demo his latest project, Chessable, at 1pm on Saturday.
5.  Top 10 player in the World, Wesley So will be handing out awards late on Sunday.
4.  For those practicing, St. Kates holds an open service on Palm Sunday in the morning.
3.  Yes, I will reprise “Leaving for a Chess Thing” in tomorrow’s email.
2.  Don’t forget to sign up for the Blitz after the tournament!
1.  HAVE FUN!  More to come this weekend, Check the MSCA site or MSCA Facebook for updates

 

They say work productivity plummets this week due to all this obsession over the top seeds and how they will do.  Corn, Soy, Sugarbeets, Sorghum…in these xeric soil conditions with a lack of snow melt?  Kansas, Oregon, Virginia, UNC…in a year where there was no one truly asserted themselves?  Andrew Tang, Jackson Wahl, Andrew Titus, Sammy Narayanan…you are all great, you will do just fine.

This weekend is the official State Scholastic for K-3, K-6, K-9, and K-12.  As it stands right now, the K-3 and K-6 sections have a tendency to be a little smaller than the other two sections.  One reason being is that a number of kids play up in a higher section.  There are other reasons too, but there are efforts that can be made to help clarify and not confuse you all.  Naturally, I would love to see a boost in the K-3 and K-6 sections, and hope to do so in future years.  Not all is lost on this year, and there is still time for everyone to sign up online.

For any questions about the MSCA State Scholastic, feel free to reach me.  This has been your Blind Chess Copy for March 2016.  Thank you for your time.

MSCA Vice President and Scholastic Coordinator.

Yes, we like to wait until the last minute but we’re already going to be missing an hour this weekend, so sign up for State while you still have the chance.  This is a team tournament, so the sooner you sign up, the sooner errors can be caught.  For any updates, please check the MSCA site.

Congrats to all those that competed at the Mpls Open, and champion Kevin Wasiluk this past weekend.  About half the field had a rating of 1600 or below, and about half the field was also under 18, which was impressive.  No events at the Castle this weekend except for those playing in the Invitational MN Closed Championships.  The top finishers in the top sections from the MN Open last month will be competing against each other, and more than half of this field are also people that have not reached adulthood yet.

Those looking for some chess to play this weekend, the SCA hosts its own Jr High Team Championships.  While there is a K-3 and K-6 section,  there is a strong tendency for many to play up in the K-9 (Jr. High) section for the competition and the ability for an elementary school to compete as a united team.

For questions regarding the State Scholastic on March 19-20, please let me know.  Thank you for your time

Jiten Patel
MSCA Vice President and Scholastic Coordinator

Many of the brightest and captivating celebrated over the weekend.  No, the favorite does not always win, and those who gather could watch it unfold themselves.  A fair amount of time spent dedicated to perfecting a craft.  Often there is one star in the lead role, but also crucial to take the overall top spot is an exceptional supporting or ensemble cast focused on one goal.  Did I mention red-carpet treatment as well?  Yes, all the chessboards a stage and all the kings and queens are merely pieces.  Save the Date for State, March 19-20.  Yes, there will be red-carpet treatment, but I have said too much already.

Yes, the focus for March is the State Scholastic, but here are some tournaments along the way:  This weekend is the Mpls Open at the Chess Castle.  Sign up soon as space is limited to the first 60 signed up, and we are past the halfway point already.

The Chess Castle will not have a tournament the following weekend because selected top finishers from the MN Open will be playing in the MN Closed Championships.  Spectators are allowed, and the field will also include some of the top Scholastic players in the State.  Congrats to all competing!

So with no tournament at the Castle that weekend, how is one supposed to get their chess fix and final tune up for State?  Might I suggest the SCA Twin City Jr. High Championships on that Saturday, March 12^th The Jr High section is a team tournament as well, so I encourage elementary schools to submit a team into this section.  Also if you are a top K-6 player, play up and get some experience against the top players!  There is no rating on the line, so this is great for some to want to test something out or just take a tiny break from rated chess and let loose a bit.

Casual Nights at the Castle on Tuesdays have been well attended as of late, anyone looking for a game or analysis, the door is always open (6-10pm).  Get ready for State, and also Nationals for those planning to make the trip.  This has been your “A Look Into” for  March, 2016.  Thank you for attention. Thank you for your time.  Thank You.

Congrats to all of those who competed in the MN Open last weekend.  Congrats to all of those who realized this one very thing:  There is still work to do before the State Scholastic.  The Red Queen from Alice, Through the Looking Glass reminds us that we have to run as fast as we can just to stay where we are, and an evaluation of a tournament like this one reminds us that there is some work to do before March 19-20.  Don’t be late [be late], for this very important date.

Online registration and information will be up by the end of this weekend.  Bear in mind that this is the one true State K-3, K-6, K-9, and K-12 Tournament.  There is a lot of chess to be played until then.  As I have always told my students, make your mistakes now–get ready for State.

Tomorrow will be the SCA’s second biggest tournament, the Grade Level Championship at Metcalf.  This is one of the largest scholastic chess events in the State, with team trophies as well.  Those looking for rated play, the Chess Castle has an offering on the docket.  Being billed as the Triple Threat, there is a round of long chess, some  rounds of quick chess, followed by some more rounds of blitz.  I am calling it a Triathlon, and those interested can go to the Chess Castle site for more info.

The Chess Castle is also holding a big tournament with a generous prize fund—$1200!  This is the Minneapolis Open, and it will be March 5-6.  Entries are limited to the first 60 people and we are getting close to a quarter of the way there already.

As noted, emails will be coming a little more frequently between now and the State Scholastic.  This has been your Save the Date for State, for February, 2016.  Thank you for your time.

Some called it a dull and boring game. For those who have played themselves, or knowledgeable of the unheralded nuances of the game, it was enjoyable.  The man at the helm, an all time great vs a future great that was riding an unbelievable wave of success up until this point.  Worldwide interest, and the pressure ramped up.  The old man was calm and collected, bolstered with a prophylactic suffocating defense, and a fierce attack that made the young man look very amateurish while the living legend comes out on top.

Am I referring to Peyton Manning vs the 15-1 Panthers and Cam Newton in the Super Bowl, or Tigran Petrosian vs the 20 game winning streak and Bobby Fischer in the 1971 Candidates Match, Game 2?  While you think about that, it is no question that the term “chess match” is used routinely in athletic competitions; I cannot help but grin a little whenever I hear it said.

This weekend is the Minnesota Open, the biggest tournament in the State.  With the MSCA State Scholastic coming up in just over a month, do expect the emails being sent a little more frequently than usual.  With regards to the State Scholastic and Nationals, the MN Open is a tournament I find critical to getting ready for these tourneys.  Since my tenure on the board, a number of you know this is a tournament I push, especially for those that are starting to get a feel for the game, and want to realize their potential.  The experience gained is unparalleled, and the atmosphere is rife with opportunities to become a better player and grow as a person.

The Crown Northstar is across the Wells Fargo Building, and a brisk walk to Gavidae Commons.  Connected to the Skyway system, one is nearly a short mile away from the Golf Show at the Convention Center that weekend, and the RV/Camping Show as well.  Games may finish early and if there is a lot of time between the next round, the Walker is always a fun place for the kids to go to.  The hotel has a no-outside food policy, so we need to be respectful of it.

Tonight is the last night to register for the early entry rate, so make sure to take advantage of that.  If there are time conflicts, don’t be afraid to request a bye so you can make your other engagements.  Pay online on the MSCA website, or come in person at the Chess Castle tonight after 6pm for more information and pay there.  While you are there, stick around and play a game or two.  The address for the Castle is 1121 NE Jackson St Suite 134  Minneapolis, MN  55413.

Any questions?  Do not hesitate to ask.  This has been your Blind Chess Copy, February 2016.  Thank you for your time.

Jiten Patel
MSCA Scholastic Coordinator

Lincoln, in politically charged wordplay, asked how a House is expected to stand when it is divided.  I ask, how a Board is expected to bear weight when there is no electorate.  This weekend is the MSCA Winter Open, and ballots for the MSCA Board will be made available.  You need to be an MSCA member to play in the 2-day section, and you need be an MSCA member to cast a vote.  There are other ways to be able to cast a ballot, but this weekend is possibly the most convenient.

There are about 300 eligible MSCA voters, and there are about 3 million eligible voters in Minnesota.  Roughly, your MSCA vote is about 10,000 times more powerful than a Minnesota electoral vote for 2016.  If you think that is shocking, consider the last few years the number of average votes is about 10!  Your vote matters!

The MN Open will be held Feb 12-14 at the Crowne Plaza Northstar in downtown Mpls.  There are some time control changes for all sections, so please be aware of that.
The State Scholastic Championships will also undergo some changes in the Jr. High and Sr. High sections.  The date and location has not changed, March 19-20 at St. Kate’s University in Saint Paul.

More on the MN Open and State Scholastic in the “A Look into February 2016 email.  Please go to the MSCA website for more details about this weekend’s Winter Open, the MN Open, and the official State Scholastic Tournament.  As always, you may reply to me as well.  This has been your Blind Chess Copy for January, 2016.  Thank you for your time.

A Board without an electorate cannot bear weight!

MSCA Scholastic Coordinator [and proud voter]
Jiten Patel