'14 IL Senior Open Champ Michael Penway Passes Away

 

The ICA has received word of the passing of Michael Penway from cancer at the age of 54. 

Penway was the 2014 Illinois Senior Open Champion, winning three matches and drawing two. Michael raised his rating to a peak of 1869 at that event, a hefty increase from his 1200-provisional rating in 2003.

He was a frequent participant in the Illinois Open (including 2007-2012 consecutively), the (Tim Just) Winter Open/Reserve, the Chicago Open and Chicago Class, and Wisconsin's Greg Knutson Memorial and Wisconsin Memorial.

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IL IM Angelo Young Wins 2016 Iowa Quick Championships

 

Despite a final-round draw to Iowa youth Joseph Wan, IM Angelo Young posted the high score at the 2016 Iowa Quick Championships.

The six-round event was held Friday, August 27, the day before the Iowa Open began (along with the Iowa Reserve and RBO).

Angelo's 5.5/6 was a half-point better than the scores of co-runners up James Neal and Arshaq Saleem.

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Just Law Published as Electronic Book and Paperback; Tackles Hundreds of Tournament-Related Questions


Former ICA President and current US Chess Rulebook (6th Edition) Editor Tim Just has written a new book: Just Law. Tim informed the ICA that the title is available as an e-book and paperback on Amazon. It's hoped that a small supply might arrive in time for the Illinois Open Labor Day Weekend.

The book promises to answer the most frequently asked questions of players, tournament directors and organizers in a Q & A format: "notation, draws, byes, clocks, prizes, prize funds, ratings, making claims, playing sites, time controls, pairings, tournament management, tournament creation, scholastic chess mysteries" among other topics.

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Matura Doubles US Chess Rating From mid-June to mid-July! Andrew Byrnes, Srihas Rao and Linda Pham All Up 300+!

 

With solid performances at four tournaments in June and July, Max Matura boosted his official US Chess rating a remarkable 632 points from July to August!

With a published rating in the 600's, Max won four of his five games at the 9th Chicago Class (in Class D competition). He also competed admirably at the 127th Knight's Quest (two wins, two draws), the June Elite Open and a Chicago Chess Center Pre-Opening RBO.

Others showing strong advances in their August ratings include Andrew Byrnes, Srihas Rao and Linda Pham (all 300+ changes). A larger table is listed below.

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47 Compete At Aurora Fundraiser Fighting Blindness In India

 

When Sriram Ashokkumar mentioned to his uncle that he thought a chess tournament could be more than just about chess, it sparked a chain of events leading to a wonderful outing August 20 in Aurora.

47 competed in a four-round, non-rated chess with all proceeds going to the Sankara Nethralaya Ophthalmic Mission. The Mission aims to eradicate blindness which it deems "the most painful human handicap".

Four players tied with 3.0 points in the adult / high school section with Indian Creek high schoolers Sean and Austin Insley, Alwyn Pang and Joe Zemgulys all in that score group.

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