2016 Brings New Content to ICA Website

With the new year, brings much newness... not the least of which is the challenge to remember to write the correct year on notation sheets.

The ICA website is at a crossroads and we'd love your feedback. Do you find the articles to be helpful and interesting?  What features would you like to see added? Do you yourself have an idea for an article?  Do you know someone in the chess community who is worthy of a profile?  Or are you aware of a chess organization which we may not know about?

Also, we are looking for skilled and insightful players to annotate games from our major tournaments played by members of our chess community.

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Peruvian Wins Chicago Latino Chess Championship XXIII

The 23rd annual edition of the Chicago Latino Championship saw two South American players competing in it for the first time: Hugo Padilla and Gustavo Berenstein. The non-rated event was hosted November 28 at the Rudy Lozano Branch of the Chicago Public Library in the Pilsen neighborhood.

The event included two sections, one Open (Section I) and one for players aged 14 and younger (Section II). An article regarding Section II was posted previously on the ICA site

Peruvian Master Hugo Padilla won the Open competition with a perfect 5-0 score.

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Think of Chess and the ICA On This Giving Tuesday

December 1 is "Giving Tuesday" -- coming on the tails of Cyber Monday and of course last week's Black Friday.

Chess is not a game (or is it a sport?) that requires much equipment to play, but even those basic materials are tough to come by to some.

Although usually modest, tournament entry fees and US Chess Federation dues can pose an impediment to playing in competitive events. And when it comes to access to chess education, sadly, we do not always live on a level playing field.

The Illinois Chess Association is dedicated to aleviating inequities when it comes to these matters.

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16 IL Registrants Compete at St. Louis Thanksgiving Open

No better way to work off the stuffing and turkey calories than three glorious days at the chessboard. 16 Illinois registered players traveled to the St. Louis Chess Club to compete in two sections of the six-round event concluding November 29. US Chess crosstables have posted.

Playing in his first US Chess-rated event, Hulkar Tohirjonova compiled a 4.0/6 score, losing in the final round to the event winner, Alex Shimanov. Tohirjonova, from Denmark, tied for fourth place in the Open section. 

Expert Anu Bayar compiled a 3.5/6 result, in an eight-way tie for sixth place. Bayar was Tohirjonova's third round victim.

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Six Illinois Players Earn $4400 at '15 Kings Island Open

With an outright winner and two co-champions, Illinois was well-represented at the 24th Annual Kings Island Open. Due to construction at the Kings Island resort, the event was held in Blue Ash, Ohio November 13 - November 15. It was conducted in seven sections attracting 293 players.

David Wallach was the champion of the Under 1700 finishing 4.5. Wallach drew Kentucky's Alan Kindred in the final round to close out the win. Kindred finished at 4.0 in a six-way tie for second. David earned $1450 for his efforts.

In the Under 2100, Ricky Wang's 4.0 was good enough to include him in five-way tie for second place behind Hafez Tari of Ohio who scored 4.5. 

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