Chess Does not end in May!

The Scholastic chess season has concluded for many, so we need something to get us by through the summer.  Allow me to come up with some talking points:

Taconite Iron Ore
Dot Matrix Printing
Boston Baked Beans
Cadbury Creme Eggs
Charles In Charge

Need I remind you that 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,

Hey Chess Parents!! Are you looking for something to do while your better half speaks volumes about their monthly book club, but the taste for fine literature evolves into a taste for fine Pinot instead… Those that know the rules, and want to sharpen your skills, how does Tuesday night sound?  Expert Eric Bell and Women’s International Master Aura Salazar have teamed up together to start up some chess classes at the Black Forest Inn.  The first one is on June 6th at 8pm.  Here is the link for details.

Next weekend will be the Blizzard FIDE Open, and there are spots still open, so click here to sign up.

June will also feature the Rochester Open, helping kick the summer off as well.  The Rochester Open is a favorite for many.

Also, the early deadline for the US Junior Open is coming up soon.  This National tournament is in Northfield, MN will be sorted by age group instead of rating  Club and school teams are allowed to compete, as there will be awards for that.  The US Junior Open will be July 21-23 alongside the US Senior Open.

Two longtime chess players will be playing for the 300th time, and a tournament will be done to commemorate the meeting.  Dan Voje and Jeff Chandler will be the guests of honor, and all are welcome to compete as well on Saturday June 17.  There is much more to come this summer.  This has been your Look into June, 2017.  Thank you for your time

**The following content is void of links or attachments, due to ongoing attacks by the WannaCry virus.  However, any ongoing content of what I will continue to provide, and the various use of wordplay may make you…wanna cry**

Minnesota took in quite a haul this past weekend at SuperNationals.  Out of the 25 sections, 5 of them individually took home 1st place or a share of it.  That’s right–Minnesota produced 5 Scholastic National Champions.  Most others had significant rating jumps, proving themselves among a record turnout of over 5500 players!  Congrats to all those who competed.

A huge thank you to the people that contribute to the MSCA Facebook page and were present in Nashville providing various updates throughout the weekend.

For those who missed out on SuperNationals and competing at a National tournament, I have some wonderful news for you.  For those who went to SuperNationals having the itch to compete in another National tournament, I have some equally wonderful news for you.  The US Amateur North will be held at the Plymouth Crowne Plaza this weekend.  The Minnesota Masters will also be run alongside this tournament for people who are above 2200.

The next MSCA Board Meeting will take place Wednesday, May 24th at the Chess Castle.  This will soon be posted on the MSCA and Chess Castle websites.

While May marks the conclusion of the scholastic year, there is plenty of chess going on in the summer. Congrats to those concluding their senior year of high school.  Some of you may set chess aside as a memory, and some of you will continue to play.  Good luck to all of you in your future endeavors.  This has been your Blind Chess Copy, May 2017. Thank you for your time.

*Original post date, May 2, 2017

It was High School when I took Chemistry, but I didn’t realize I missed out on mastering it many years prior by spending my schoolboy summers watching Live! With Regis and Kathy Lee.  However, I did spend summers in front of tube helping control the pet population by not having any.  Regis and Kelly had a good run, so did Kelly and Michael.  The new pairing of Kelly and Ryan Seacrest is another stellar combination, but pales in comparison of matching Nashville, Tennessee and SuperNationals in less than two weeks.

Numbers, officially, are almost at 5,000 with projections of at least another 500 more.  Minnesota represents and performs well at these events, good luck to all those that are going.

Upcoming this week will be the TCCL Party and there will be a Blitz afterward Friday night at the Castle.  Awards will also be given out that that time.  All are welcome to swing by, especially if you are sticking around for the Blitz.  The following days will feature a Whiz Blitz (G30+5del, Saturday) and a Blitz (G5, Sunday).  May 13th will feature a Exerciser Quad, but don’t forget to pick up a dozen roses that weekend as well.

Another National event will be taking place in MN, the US Amateur North at the Plymouth Crowne Plaza on May 20-21.  This event is for people under 2200.  Those who are over 2200, The Minnesota Masters will also take place alongside it.  This has been another tournament brought forth be Patrick Tang and the Minnesota Blizzard.  Patrick Tang and the Blizzard…now that is a combination that could rival Peanut Butter and Jelly!  This has been your Look Into May, 2017.  Thank you for time.

*Update, April 8th and 9th 2017
By now you have realized this is not the SCA website, but results will be posted here in a timely fashion, I hope.  Please, feel free to browse the other content on http://www.mnchess.org with some of it still a work in progress.  This is a personal webpage run by Jiten Patel, not the Minnesota State Chess Association.  Feedback is appreciated email me g10patel85@gmail.com, thank you.

Jiten Patel
Play On!

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Pairings for the SCA Statewide Elem/Prim Championship

Primary K3

Alpha	Team	Game	Individual	Team
Pairings	Pairings	Results	Standings	Standings
Round 1	Round 1	Round 1	Round 1	Round 1
Round 2	Round 2	Round 2	Round 2	Round 2
Round 3	Round 3	Round 3	Round 3	Round 3
Round 4	Round 4	Round 4	Round 4	Round 4
Round 5	Round 5	Round 5	Round 5	Round 5
Round 6	Round 6	Round 6	Round 6	Round 6
Round 7	Round 7	Round 7	Round 7	Round 7

Elementary K6

Alpha	Team	Game	Individual	Team
Pairings	Pairings	Results	Standings	Standings
Round 1	Round 1	Round 1	Round 1	Round 1
Round 2	Round 2	Round 2	Round 2	Round 2
Round 3	Round 3	Round 3	Round 3	Round 3
Round 4	Round 4	Round 4	Round 4	Round 4
Round 5	Round 5	Round 5	Round 5	Round 5
Round 6	Round 6	Round 6	Round 6	Round 6
Round 7	Round 7	Round 7	Round 7	Round 7

Lawrence Lampert Memorial
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4           Standings
Round 5           Standings

http://www.schoolchess.org/

About
Schedule
Contact

I will admit it feels a little strange being a month in with this new title.  Being named President and I didn’t have to kiss a baby…did I truly earn it without this important and vital [at least I thought] prerequisite?

The largest scholastic chess tournament in MN will take place this weekend, by the SCA with their Statewide K-3 and K-6 Championships.  While the State Tournament drew over 260 kids from grades K-12, the tournament this weekend will host over 300 in grades K-6 alone.  The way the School Chess Association continues to provide an arena for young minds to grow and prosper is impressive.  Much is owed to the SCA for keeping chess a fixture in MN.

The last round of the Twin Cities Chess League will take place this Friday.  It has been quite a season, thank you for your time and commitment to the largest chess league in the nation!

There will be an Easter Blitz on the 16th.  Registration will be start at 12:30, so there will be plenty of time for brunch…or anything else because almost everything else will be closed unless you plan to watch a movie.

The MSCA will hold the All Girls Championship April 22-23. it is open to all females in 12th grade and under.  The winner of the tournament will be named the MN Representative for the National Girls Invitational Tournament in Norfolk, VA in late July.  Full details will be made soon.

There will be a Spring Think at the Chess Castle the following weekend to wrap up the month.  Please check the Castle site for info.  SuperNationals is close to a month away for those going, plenty of time to make your way to a tournament for prep.  This has been your Look Into April, 2017.  Thank you for your time.

 

In life, it is always your move.  Play on.

Over 250 entrants were vying for One Shining Moment, Thank you to all who attended 2017 MSCA State Scholastic.  Thank you to the staff and volunteers who came through in making all this possible.  Thank you parents, coaches, and well wishers for the guidance you provide in shaping tomorrow’s future.  Thank you to those who competed and making this a truly unique event.

If this was your first tournament, I am glad you were able to make it, and hope you can for years to come.  If this was your last tournament, then I hope the game has served you well.  If you are a graduating Senior, I hope chess stays with you, and you are always welcome at the MSCA.  Best of luck to your future endeavors.  Play on.

Chess is a game of squares—if you control the right squares, you control the game; just like life

The Minnesota State Chess Association awards the State titles for chess, I hope that is made clear.  That said, congratulations to the State Champions.  Individual results can be found here, with expanded standings to be published later.  K3    K5    K8    K12

K3 State Champion: Ethan Benjamin
K3 State Team Champion: Seward

K5 State Champion: Uri Moon-Rosha
K3 State Team Champion: Seward

K8 State Champion:  Nastassja Matus
K8 State Team Champion: Wayzata Central Middle

K12 State Champion: Andrew Tang
K12 State Team Champion: Wayzata High School

 

Original date sent: March 31, 2016

 

…I wanna be checkmated

The Ramones had a humble and unique embracing when it came to losses, that’s the only way we can learn and grow.  Other musicians taught us valuable lessons about chess.

Simon and Garfunkel were serious chess players…The Sound of Silence…need I explain more?

Cut It Out…Uncle Joey was not the subject of You Outta Know by Alanis…it was about her losing a student to another coach. “Are you thinking of me when you checkmate her”  “And I’m here, to remind you of chess you played when you went away”

My opponents will attest that I have a tendency to get into time pressure, I get into bouts of “analysis paralysis”.  I am certain band members from 21 Pilots also over analyze a position, as sing “I’ve been thinking too much, I’ve been thinking too much, I’ve been thinking too much”

Seven years running, but some hearing this for the first time.  A few players, coaches, and parents have admitted to me that they have sung this in the shower the morning before the State Scholastic.  Well, I do too.  Without further ado, I present to you John Denver with some final advice to you for this weekend.

[Chess] bags are packed and ready to go
And notation, and pencil, chess clock, ect.

I’m standin’ here outside your door, I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
Did you preregister?  Get some extra rest then.

But the dawn is breakin’ it’s early morn’   The taxi’s waitin’ he’s blowin’ his horn
Probably feels like being a cab driver at times, eh?  Just remind them who keeps a roof over their head. 

Already I’m so lonesome I could die
Chess is not a spectator sport for most people, many find time chatting with fellow parents and really getting to know one another.

So kiss me and smile for me, Tell me that you’ll wait for me
Flattered, but I don’t know all of you that well.  I won’t whisper sweet nothings into your ear.   Maybe, I will ever so softly squeeze your shoulder, but nothing more!

Hold me like you’ll never let me go
They sure grow up fast, don’t they?

Cause I’m leavin’ for a [chess thing]; Don’t know when I’ll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go,
Congrats Seniors, and to all of you embarking on a new chapter in your lives. 

There’s so many times I’ve let you down; So many times I’ve played around
Countless games have been decided because of moves played too fast, will it happen to you?

I tell you now, they don’t mean a thing;  Every place I go, I’ll think of you
Every song I sing, I’ll sing for you; When I come back, I’ll bring your wedding ring
Your Scholastic Coordinator would much rather  accept a dark roast, no cream no sugar

Cause I’m leavin’ for a [chess thing];  Don’t know when I’ll be back again
Awards will take time to figure out Sunday, your patience will be rewarded!

Oh babe, I hate to go
See you all this weekend!  Good luck to all

Original date sent:  March 24 2017

Original date sent: March 24, 2017

Requests regarding the State Scholastic this weekend, title it “2017 MSCA Scholastic” in the Subject line, please and thank you.  For any updates, check the registration page, as that will be the main form of communication.

All this week my Pandora has been tuned to a station I’ve labeled Loggins and Messina…because tomorrow…I wanna write you a chess song.  While I strive to plan ahead as MSCA President, I appreciate the past.  If you will, I like to call myself a forward thinking nostalgic.  Others, some people call me the Space Cowboy

A few have responded, but we are still looking for volunteers.  That said,anyone I manage to make eye contact with this weekend, you will be deemed a volunteer.  I suggest you put on some dark shades to avoid this possibility.  And yes, wear those sunglasses at night.

More information regarding this weekend:

I am unable to procure BOGO coupons for this weekend, said establishment no longer gives them out in mass quantities.  A pity, they weren’t using their noodle on that one.

The dining hours for St Kates are 10:30-2 pm and 4pm-6:30pm for both days.

Chess equipment will be for sale,by the chess club of Metcalf Jr. High…I mean Middle School…sorry, force of habit.

There will be a Coaches and Feedback meeting after the Sunday round begins in the cafeteria starting around 10:30am.

The Cell Phone and Electric Device Policy will be consistent with the rules US Chess observes for Scholastic Play.

Good Luck to everyone this weekend!

Original date sent:  March 22, 2017

March Madness and Scholasti-cology

Are you doing okay, have you recovered. Yeah, I know your bracket is busted.  Louisville, Duke, and the Wildcats were caught beneath a landslide of a champagne Villa-nova.
At Least There Is Chess At St. Kates this weekend.  Slowly walking down that playing hall, faster than a cannonball. Where are your kids as you turn and sigh…

No, this is not a prelude to the 7th running of the John Denver email, that content will arrive in a few days.  Patience.  There is still time to sign up,  Online registration is still open, and those that need a paper form for onsite registration click here.

At events like these, volunteers are always welcome, and probably needed this year.  If interested, please let me know

As a reminder this year, the K-3 and K-5 Championships will be a 1-day five round event. The K-8 Championship is a 2-day six round event.  The K-12 Championship will be seven rounds.  There is a Friday night option at the Chess Castle for the first round.  There is also another option where you can play the first two rounds at a quicker time control at St. Kates.  The last option is to take a half point bye for Round 1, and play the remaining six rounds at St. Kates under the established time controls.

I am likely to send out more information this week, leading up to the weekend.  Thank you for your time.