Virginia Scholastic Chess Association Newsletter

November 19, 2014

This newsletter is sent to families who participate in Virginia Scholastic Chess Association tournaments. The VSCA is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization dedicated to promoting scholastic chess in central and southeastern Virginia. Please email news@vschess.org to subscribe, unsubscribe or change your address.


Eastern Shore Holiday Scholastic and Quads (Grades K-12 and Adults)

Registration is now open for the Eastern Shore Holiday Scholastic and Quads tournament, to be held Saturday, December 6, 2014 at Kiptopeke Elementary School in Northampton County. Advance registration is online only, and closes at 7:00 AM Thursday MORNING, December 4.

This tournament is open to students in kindergarten through 12th grade, and also adult players, and includes both rated and non-rated sections.

The K-5 Not-rated and K-12 Not-rated (grades 6-12) sections are designed for beginning tournament players (first, second or third chess tournament, with exceptions on a case-by-case basis). Games in these sections are NOT RATED by the U.S. Chess Federation (USCF) and players do NOT need to be USCF members.

The K-5 Open and K-12 Open (grades 6-12) sections are USCF-rated sections. All players in these sections must be current USCF members.

The Open Quads sections are USCF-rated sections open to advanced scholastic players (USCF rating 1000+) and adult players. Quad entries will be divided into groups of 4 (quads) by rating. Each quad will play a 3-round round robin with a time control of G/60.

The entry fee for the scholastic sections is $7 for advance (online) registrations, or $14 for onsite registrations. The entry fee for the Open Quads is $20 for all players, whether registered online or onsite. Please read our Tournament Check-in Policy.

Trophies will be awarded to the top 3 individuals in grades K-3 and to the top 3 individuals in grades 4-5 in the K-5 Not-rated section and the K-5 Open section. Trophies will be awarded to the top 3 individuals in grades K-8 and to the top 3 individuals in grades 9-12 in the K-12 Not-rated section and the K-12 Open section. Trophies will also be awarded to the top 3 school teams in each of the scholastic sections. There are cash prizes for the Open Quads, with no trophies or team competition.

Food and drinks will be sold at the tournament.

Please visit the VSCA website at www.vschess.org for more tournament information and to register online.


Hopkins Scholastic at Hopewell (Grades K-12)

Registration is also open for the Hopkins Scholastic at Hopewell tournament, to be held Saturday, December 13, 2014 at Hopewell High School in Hopewell. The tournament is named in memory of VSCA founder and longtime president Peter Hopkins. This will be the 22nd consecutive year of scholastic chess tournaments at Hopewell High School, beginning in 1993. Advance registration is online only, and closes at 7:00 AM Thursday MORNING, December 11.

Players are divided into four sections based on their grade in school: Current membership in the U.S. Chess Federation (USCF) is required for all players. All sections are USCF-rated.

The entry fee is $7 for advance (online) registrations, or $14 for onsite registrations. Please read our Tournament Check-in Policy.

Trophies will be awarded to the the top 5 individuals and to the top 3 school teams in each section.

Please visit the VSCA website at www.vschess.org for more tournament information and to register online.


What If It Snows?

Snow and other winter weather is always a possibility at this time of year. We make every effort to hold our tournaments as scheduled, but occasionally we do have to cancel an event due to safety concerns and school regulations. If we have to cancel a tournament, we will post a notice on the VSCA website www.vschess.org as soon as a decision is made, and we will also email a notice to everyone who has registered. Please be sure your email address is correct when you register in case we need to contact you. If you have already paid your entry fee online, we will refund your payment if the event is canceled, or if you are unable to travel to the event.


Other Upcoming VSCA Tournaments

Two VSCA tournaments are scheduled in January. The Kemps Landing/Old Donation School Winter Scholastic and Quads tournament is January 17, 2015 in Virginia Beach, and the Spratley Gifted Center Scholastic and Quads tournament is January 31 in Hampton. Both of these tournaments include Open (rated) and Not-rated K-5 and K-12 sections, as well as Open Quads for adults and advanced scholastic players. A calendar of VSCA events as well as other scholastic events in Virginia is available at www.vschess.org/chess-calendar.


VSCA Board of Directors Elected

Members of the VSCA Board of Directors were elected at the annual membership meeting on November 15, 2014. Isaac Steincamp (Chesterfield County), a senior at Maggie L. Walker Governor's School, was elected as a new board member. Re-elected board members are Gopal Bhagavatula (Chesterfield County), Mike Callaham (Richmond), Ram Dasari (Chesterfield County), Mike Hoffpauir (York County), Bart Mebane (Middlesex County), Ellen Osborne (Charlottesville), Raj Sambangi (Henrico County) and Christina Schweiss (Virginia Beach).


Rita Mueller

We are very sad to report that Rita Mueller, one of our most dedicated volunteers, passed away on October 27 after a long battle with cancer. Rita and her husband David have volunteered at VSCA tournaments and the state scholastic tournament for many years, and more recently taught chess in several Richmond-area schools through Championship Chess RVA. Rita always had a smile and a word of encouragement for everyone. We will greatly miss her, and we extend our heartfelt sympathy to David and the rest of the family.


Kemps Landing/Old Donation School Tournament Results

92 scholastic and adult players participated in the Kemps Landing/Old Donation School Fall Scholastic and Quads tournament, held in Virginia Beach on November 1, 2014.

The K-5 Not-rated section and the K-5 Open section had awards for the top players in grades K-3 and grades 4-5. The K-12 Not-rated section and the K-12 Open section had awards for the top players in grades K-8 and grades 9-12.

In the K-5 Not-rated section, Ryan Denhof won first place for grades K-3 by tiebreaks over Austin Mao. Ryan and Austin each finished with scores with scores of 4.5 points in 5 rounds. The first-place winner in grades 4-5 was Logan Pausch with a score of 4.0 points in 5 rounds. Grace Academy Home School Co-op of Virginia Beach won the K-5 Not-rated first-place team trophy.

In the K-12 Not-rated section, Tyler Killian won first place for grades K-8 by tiebreaks over Kyle Vo and Dakota Copeland. All three players finished with a score of 4.0 points in 5 rounds. Peyton Mansfield won the first-place trophy for grades 9-12 with a score of 2.5 points in 5 rounds. The first-place team in K-12 Not-rated was Brandon Middle School from Virginia Beach.

In the K-5 Open section, Bryce Phillips won first place for grades K-3 with a perfect score of 5.0 points in 5 rounds. Michael Tu won the first-place trophy for grades 4-5 by tiebreaks over Radomyr Couture. Michael and Radomyr each finished with a score of 4.0 points in 5 rounds. The host school, Kemps Landing/Old Donation School from Virginia Beach, won the K-5 Open first-place team trophy.

In the K-12 Open section, Jordan Digges won the first-place trophy for grades K-8 by tiebreaks over Joseph Cagle. Jordan and Joseph each finished with a score of 3.5 points in 4 rounds. Martin Gryder won the first-place trophy for grades 9-12. Collegiate School from Henrico County won the first-place team trophy in K-12 Open by tiebreaks over Kemps Landing/Old Donation School from Virginia Beach.

Lucas Knoll, a ninth grader, and Mr. Sricharan Pasupulati tied for first place in the adult/advanced scholastic Small Swiss section.

Congratulations to all of these players and to all of our other tournament participants. Complete tournament results are available at www.vschess.org/results.


Maggie L. Walker Tournament Results

79 scholastic players participated in the Maggie L. Walker Fall Scholastic tournament, held at Maggie L. Walker Governor's School in Richmond on November 15, 2014. The players and their families persevered through numerous road closures and heavy traffic due to the Richmond Marathon.

In the K-3 section, Yash Saxena won the first-place trophy by tiebreaks over Andrew Rousseau. Yash and Andrew each finished with 3.5 points in 4 rounds. Tuckahoe Elementary School from Henrico County won the K-3 first-place team trophy.

There was a four-way tie for first place in the K-5 section. Jackson Kennedy won the first-place trophy by tiebreaks over Cade Petrus, Nathan Boguslavsky and Timothy Park. The four players each finished with a score of 3.0 points in 4 rounds. The first-place team in K-5 was St. Edward-Epiphany from Chesterfield County.

In the K-8 section, Cameron Gavaler won first place with a perfect score of 4.0 points in 4 rounds. Moody Middle School from Henrico County won the K-8 first-place team trophy.

In the K-12 section, Matthew Normansell won the first-place trophy by tiebreaks over Jeffrey Song. Matthew and Jeffrey each finished with a perfect score of 4.0 points in 4 rounds. The first-place team trophy in K-12 went to the host team from Maggie L. Walker Governor's School.

Congratulations to all of these players and to all of our other tournament participants. Complete tournament results are available at www.vschess.org/results.


Maggie L. Walker Free Chess Clinics

The Maggie L. Walker Governor's School Chess Club in Richmond holds chess clinics at the school on one Monday evening each month from 5 to 7 pm. The clinics are free to scholastic players of all experience levels, from beginner to advanced. The next clinic is Monday evening, December 1. For more information, visit the chess club's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MLWGSChess.


Hampton Roads Scholastic Chess Club

The Hampton Roads Scholastic Chess Club, organized by VSCA Board Member Christina Schweiss, has merged with the Hampton Roads Chess Club and the Virginia Beach Chess Club, and meets on Tuesday evenings at Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad Station #8. Scholastic players meet from 5:00 to 7:30 pm, and adults and advanced scholastic players meet from 7:00 to 10:30 pm. Meetings feature rated tournament play and/or instruction. The club will be open for casual chess on Tuesday evening, November 25, and the next scheduled meeting is Tuesday evening, December 2. For more information, visit the chess club's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HRScholasticChessClub.


Greater Richmond High School Chess League

The Greater Richmond High School Chess League (GRHSCL) is registering teams for the 2014-2015 season. Participating schools play home-and-away four-player team matches on weekday afternoons January through March. For more information, visit the GRHSCL website at grhscl.org.


It's Your Move!

VSCA secretary and Class A player Mike Callaham has generously offered to analyze and comment on VSCA tournament games which players send him. If you have a game that you're proud of, or a game where you feel you could have played better, and would like Mr. Callaham to take a look at it, all you need to do is send him a copy of your complete and legible scoresheet (game notation). He will respond by email, and games which are especially interesting or instructive will be published on the VSCA website. For complete details, visit the VSCA website at www.vschess.org/chess-resources/games. Mr. Callaham has recently posted an analysis of his own games in the June 2014 Virginia Senior Open.

Mr. Callaham currently coaches chess clubs at Thompson Middle School in Richmond and Tuckahoe Elementary School in Henrico County, and he has visited many other Virginia schools. He would like to visit as many other school chess clubs as possible on behalf of the VSCA. Parents and coaches, if you would like to have Mr. Callaham visit your school club for a free simul, chess clinic or lecture, please contact him at waterman2010kir@aol.com. Be sure to provide contact information for the school chess sponsor/coach. This is a wonderful opportunity for your school to benefit from the help of an experienced chess player and teacher.


Visit Us on Facebook

Check out the VSCA Facebook page at www.facebook.com/vascholasticchess, managed by parent and board member Christina Schweiss.


Tournament Registration and Entry Fees

Advance registration for VSCA tournaments is ONLINE ONLY at www.vschess.org, and closes at 7:00 AM on the Thursday before the tournament. In order to accurately process entries, we cannot accept mail, phone or e-mail registrations. The scholastic advance registration entry fee of $7 may be paid online through PayPal (preferred) or at the tournament. Players who do not register before the 7:00 AM Thursday deadline can register at the tournament between 8:00 and 9:00 am on Saturday, but they will need to pay the late entry fee of $14. Players who register later than 8:30 am on Saturday may or may not be paired for the first round, depending on the number of late registrations.

The entry fee for Open Quads sections is $20 for both advance registrations and on-site registrations.

Please note that the above information applies only to Virginia Scholastic Chess Association tournaments, and does NOT apply to the Virginia Scholastic and Collegiate Championships or other Virginia Chess Federation events.


Tournament Check-in

To help start our tournaments on time, we recently implemented a new check-in policy. Players who pay online do not need to check in at the tournament. Please read the following brief instructions:

All Players: If you are registering and/or paying at the tournament: If you are paying online:

USCF Membership

Current membership in the U.S. Chess Federation (USCF) is REQUIRED in order to play in VSCA tournaments, except for sections specifically designated as non-rated. In order to avoid delays on Saturday, please join or renew directly with USCF at www.uschess.org/webstore. Please do not mail a paper application form or check to USCF, since this may cause delays in processing your membership. If you are unable to join or renew online, please plan to fill out a membership application at the tournament. You can check membership status at www.uschess.org/msa. The U.S. Chess Federation maintains a national database of ratings (relative playing strengths) for adult and scholastic players. In order to update the ratings following each tournament, all players in rated sections of a tournament must be current USCF members.


Please visit our website at www.vschess.org for the latest news and information.