News
Sam Schmakel Takes 2015 Illinois Blitz State Championship
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- Written by Carl Dolson Carl Dolson
- Created: 10 September 2015 10 September 2015
19 players ventured out to the Crowne Plaza in Northbrook on Saturday evening, September 5, to compete for the Illinois Blitz State Chess Championship title.
After five rounds of double Swiss action (10 games), our congratulations go to Sam Schmakel, who took the Illinois Blitz state champion's title with a score of 8.0 points. USCF Crosstables here.
Schmakel was followed by Dritan Zekaj and Vadim Ruzell, each with 7.5 points.
Schmakel, Zekaj, Ruzell, and Jonathan Hrach were tied at the top after three rounds with 5.0/6.0, with Nicholas Bartochowski a half point behind. Schmakel's separation from the pack came in round four, when he took both games from Hrach, while Zekaj gave up a half point to Ruzell. In the final round, Schmakel took the first game from Zekaj, cementing his Illinois Blitz state champion's title.
Three Illinoisans Share 2015 Iowa Open Championship
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Created: 31 August 2015 31 August 2015
Inducing the fifth-round resignation of WGM Camilla Baginskaite with seconds left on her clock brought Illinois IM Angelo Young into a four-way tie for the championship of the 2015 Iowa Open. With the best tiebreaks amid the 4.5 score group, Young received the first place plaque in the shape of Iowa.
Young tied Illinois Masters Gopal Menon and Pete Karagianis along with Missouri IM Michael Brooks. Brooks had won (or tied for first in) the last three Iowa Opens; Karagianis has been a multi-time winner of the event.
Karagianis and Brooks had agreed to an early draw in the fifth round, before Menon and Young joined the fun with last round victories.
10-year old Patrick Rao created a lot of buzz at the Open with his second-round upset over a 1900 and a fourth-round upset over a 2100.
Out of Staters Sweep US Junior and US Senior Opens
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- Written by Bill Feldman Bill Feldman
- Created: 15 June 2015 15 June 2015
Wisconsin youth won three of the four sections at the 2015 US Junior Open completed June 14 in Schaumburg. Massachusetts GM Alexander Ivanov won the 2015 US Senior Open.
Both events were organized by Sevan Muradian of ChessIQ and Glenn Panner of Chess Weekend and were hosted at the Hyatt Regency of Schaumburg. Crosstables are viewable for the Junior Open and the Senior Open.
12-year old Awonder Liang of Wisconsin was perfect in the U18 section defeating Atulya Shetty of Michigan in the final round.
Eric Rosen Maps Path to IM Status
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- Written by ICA Staff ICA Staff
- Created: 22 April 2015 22 April 2015
For the benefit of USCF readers, Illinois' Eric Rosen outlined his roadmap to becoming an International Master. Rosen achieved his third and final IM norm at the recent Philadelphia Open.
The Niles North graduate and University of Illinois Computer Science student offers hints applicable to every chess player including "set goals that have nothing to do with rating" and "get off to a good start".
My personal favorite is #7: "Grow Facial Hair". This may serve as an impediment to some juniors, but happens to be the one key I have mastered personally.
One down, six to go for me!
2015 USAT North Held in Schaumburg
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- Written by ICA Staff ICA Staff
- Created: 22 February 2015 22 February 2015
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Crosstables published here.