G/29 Tournament Announcement, and a Farewell Note to All

Tuesday, July 11, 2017 @ 7 p.m.

Arrive by 6:45 please! (this helps keep Ray and Dave sane)

Monthly G/29 Chess Tournament

With International Master Michael Brooks

{Oh, and it is time to officially say farewell, as I have moved away from the Kansas City area. It has been fun sending out tournament reminders, but since my partner and I have moved away, it just makes sense for someone else to nag you to come to the club, and forget about all of your other troubles for a few hours each week! I certainly regret that I was unable to attend more chess nights in recent years, but always hoped that life would calm down sufficiently to make that a reality. This is a really great group of humans, and I wish you all the best for now, and in the future! Cheers to all of you! -- Richard Franklin, sending low-key, semi-literate, low-tech reminders, since September 2012; and now it is someone else's turn!}

Now, on with the reminder to ditch all boring routines and drudgery, and show up at the Westport Flea Market this Tuesday!


Every 2nd-Tuesday of the month, our club hosts a rated Game-29 round-robin chess tournament. You have to be a member of the USCF to participate. Each player will have 29 minutes to make their moves. You will play 3 rounds in a round-robin system, and there will be 4 players per section. Sections will be created according to your USCF quick rating (You will only play people near your current rating.) The entry fee is $5, and the winner of each section will win $15. Since this is G/29, only your quick rating will be affected.
IF you have a functional CHESS CLOCK, please bring it to the club for the tournament! 🕦🕦 If not, then no worries. There always seem to be enough to go around, thanks to those who consistently bring one to the club.
Registration begins at 6:30. Please try to arrive by 6:45 to help our Tournament Director get the pairings done in a timely manner
We hope to see YOU at the Westport Flea Market!!
http://westportfleamarket.com/

🍔🍺 Please don't drink and drive!
There are always other players available for non-tournament, casual play, so feel free to come to the club, even if you do not plan to play in the tournament.

Virus-free. www.avast.com

IM Michael Brooks TONIGHT at the Westport Flea Market

I have just been informed that IM Michael Brooks WILL be playing in the G/29 Chess tournament tonight at the Westport Flea Market!

If you have any desire to improve your game, Michael is always more than generous with recommendations. Just don't talk his ear off, okay?

One of the biggest mistakes a chess beginner can make, is to skip steps on the path to improvement. IM Brooks once answered my question as to how to get better at chess, by giving me a short reading list. I read one of the books from cover to cover, played through every game, every variation and read every word of it.

It was the book I had seen a few months earlier in a New York City Chess center. It was the only book they had for sale! Probably 20 or so copies on the shelf.

It was My System, by Aron Nimzowitsch, 21st Century Edition.

My game improved dramatically in about 6 weeks (from crap to respectable), but not so much as it would of if I had read the other books books Michael had recommended:

The Game of Chess, By Siegbert Tarrasch

Chess Fundamentals, by Jose Raul Capablanca

Lasker's Manual of Chess, by Emanuel Lasker

THEN pick up a to collection of Grandmaster games, such as

My Best Games of Chess 1908-1937, by Alexander Alekhine

(okay, I read most of that one ... it helped considerably!)

These books are regarded as having stood the test of time. Don't be like me. Read them, or find a teacher and develop your own study plan. 📚

But whatever you do, don't drink and drive, and we hope to see you tonight at the Westport Flea market!  http://westportfleamarket.com/

Will be back at the club in the near future. I'll get my butt kicked after this much chess-brain atrophy! Looking forward to seeing you all! -- Richard Franklin

In case you missed the last notice:
Every 2nd-Tuesday of the month, our club hosts a rated Game-29 round-robin chess tournament. You have to be a member of the USCF to participate. Each player will have 29 minutes to make their moves. You will play 3 rounds in a round-robin system, and there will be 4 players per section. Sections will be created according to your USCF quick rating (You will only play people near your current rating.) The entry fee is $5, and the winner of each section will win $15. Since this is G/29, only your quick rating will be affected.
Registration begins at 6:30. Please try to arrive by 6:45 to help our Tournament Director get the pairings done in a timely manner

If you have a functional CHESS CLOCK, please bring it to the club for the tournament! 🕦🕦

There are always other players available for non-tournament, casual play, so feel free to come to the club, even if you do not plan to play in the tournament. That includes beloved kibitzers, who will whisper very quietly to themselves to avoid interfering with the tournament

An Announcement, a Correction, and a BIG Thank You!

Tomorrow May 12, 2015

7 p.m. @ the Westport Flea Market!

http://westportfleamarket.com/

You are cordially invited to participate in:

The Westport Chess Club's 2^nd Tuesday G/29 Chess Tournament

With IM Michael Brooks

2nd Tuesday of the month G/29 chess tournament @ 7 PM
Every 2nd-Tuesday of the month our club hosts a rated Game-29 round-robin chess tournament. You have to be a member of the USCF to participate. Each player will have 29 minutes to make their moves. You will play 3 rounds in a round-robin system, and there will be 4 players per section. Sections will be created according to your USCF quick rating (You will only play people near your current rating.) The entry fee is $5, and the winner of each section will win $15. Since this is G/29, only your quick rating will be affected. Registration begins at 6:30.

CORRECTION to the last club notice: It has been brought to my attention that NM Ron Luther is the 10-time Missouri State Chess Champion. I stated that the current count was 11. 

Ron has informed me that the Missouri Chess Association has approved $300.00 for chess clocks to be sent to Afghanistan. A terrific gesture on the part of the M.C.A.!

Many thanks again for all the enthusiasm and support for sending chess supplies to our service members in Afghanistan. Best wishes to them for some successful tournaments! 

We hope to see you tomorrow night! Remember, even if you are not in the tournament, there are always casual games if you would like to attend! 

Yours truly,

Richard Franklin

IM Michael Brooks at the Westport Chess Club

This Tuesday, May 12, 2015, IM Michael Brooks will join the Westport Chess Club for our monthly G/29 Chess Tournament!! 

2nd Tuesday of the month G/29 chess tournament @ 7 PM
Every 2nd-Tuesday of the month our club hosts a rated Game-29 round-robin chess tournament. You have to be a member of the USCF to participate. Each player will have 29 minutes to make their moves. You will play 3 rounds in a round-robin system, and there will be 4 players per section. Sections will be created according to your USCF quick rating (You will only play people near your current rating.) The entry fee is $5, and the winner of each section will win $15. Since this is G/29, only your quick rating will be affected. Registration begins at 6:30.

Many thanks to all the members of the Westport Chess Club who have generously supported our efforts to send new chess supplies, including pieces, roll-up boards, piece bags and chess clocks, to the intelligence unit stationed in Kabul, Afghanistan. To date, we have received cash and pledges of support totalling $620.00.

16 complete sets were sent this last Tuesday (USPS APO Priority Mail!), from the Chess House in Washington State. We are close to having enough to send chess clocks, and I will have an exact quote on that amount by tournament time this next Tuesday evening at the Westport Flea Market. A few more donations will certainly enable us to complete the order.

I have also heard from 11 time Missouri Chess Champion Ron Luther, who has informed me that chess clocks will be discussed today at a meeting of the Missouri Chess Association. Fantastic!

Our friends in Afghanistan will soon be in great shape to have some very successful tournaments!

A special thanks goes out to Dave Kearns for his enthusiastic support, and to Ben Clayton, who also reached out to individuals in the Kansas City tech community, who were VERY generous in their support!! Many thanks to all!!

Yours truly,

Richard Franklin

IM Michael Brooks, Tonight at the Westport Chess Club

TONIGHT! July 30, 2013 @ 7:30 p.m. at the Westport Chess Club.

IM Michael Brooks will be playing in our last Tuesday of the month G/10 chess tournament.

Come join the fun!

Every last Tuesday of the month, we host a rated Game-10 chess tournament in the Swiss format. However, you do NOT have to be a member of the USCF to participate. You will play four ten-minute games. The entry fee is $5. A draw will net you $1, and a win will get you $2.

There are always other players available for non-tournament, casual play, so feel free to come to the club even if you do not plan to play in the tournament. Registration begins at 6:30. Please be signed in by 7:15. Thanks!!

We hope to see you at the Westport Flea Market!


http://www.westportfleamarket.com/

Watch the chess action in St. Louis

The St. Louis 2012 Invitational has started, and IM Michael Brooks is there competing. You can see the moves played--live--here: http://saintlouischessclub.org/2012-saint-louis-invitational-live-games

And you can watch live streaming video here: http://saintlouischessclub.org/2012-saint-louis-invitational-live-video

IM Michael Brooks to play in St. Louis Invitational next week

IM Michael Brooks will play in the St. Louis Invitational next week, April 9 - 13. It is a strong field of 10 (GMs and IMs), and there is an opportunity for Mike to earn a GM norm. How exciting! Good luck, Mike. The Westport Chess Club wishes you the best!!

For more information, click on the following link: St. Louis Chess Club 2012 Invitational

March 2012 G/29 Tournament Results

We had our monthly G/29 chess tournament last night. IM Michael Brooks won his section with a score of 2.5, drawing NM Ron Luther in the final round. Congratulations, Mike.

Zoe Lemon won her section with a perfect score. Congratulations, Zoe! :)

''2011's Bitter End'' G/10 Tournament Results

Our last-Tuesday-of-the-month G/10 tournament, held Dec. 27th, was fun and decisive. There was only one draw. IM Michael Brooks walked away with a perfect 4/4 and was the sole winner. Congratulations, Mike!

"Ansar Made Expert" G/29 Tournament Results

We had another great turnout for our G/29 round robin quads tonight. It was called the "Ansar Made Expert" G/29 Tournament. Congratulations to IM Michael Brooks for winning Group A, Tony Dutiel for winning Group B, and Jack Pearce and Darrin Allen for tying for first in Group C. And congratulations to Ansar for making Expert!

November G/29 tournament results

We held a G/29 tournament on November 22nd, and the winners were:

Section A: IM Michael Brooks

Section B: Dan Holmes and Spencer Conklin

Section C: Zoe Lemon

Congratulations to all the winners.

And Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

November G/15 Chess Tournament Results

Congratulations to IM Michael Brooks and NM Ron Luther for tying for first place in our G/15 tournament last night. The field of chess players (12 people) was quite strong. Mike and Ron each scored 3.5/4. I have to give Andrew Simmons kudos for the upset of the night. He beat someone almost 600 points above him!! (Notice the double exclamation point.) :-)

Books and Brooks

Richard F. will be bringing many chess books from his large collection to chess club Tuesday, November 15th. This is a great opportunity for you to get some terrific deals, in my opinion. This is *not* a guarantee, but he generally has books priced well below the lowest price on Amazon. And did I mention he has over 1,300 of them?

Get 'em before they're gone!

Also, IM Michael Brooks will be there playing in our rated, 4-round, G/15 tournament that starts at 7:30. Come get a cheap lesson--in losing--from an IM. ;-)

November G/10 Tournament Results

Congratulations to IM Michael Brooks, who won our G/10 tournament with a perfect score: 4/4. Congratulations, also, to Ansar Lemon and Nathan Swinger, who tied for 2nd with a score of 3/4.

August, 2011 - G/29 Chess Tournament Results

The August 9th G/29 chess tournament was a strong one--again. There were 10 people over 1700 who played. Congratulations to IM Michael Brooks on winning the top section with a perfect score. Steven Rand and Andrew Latham tied for first in group B. There was also a 4-way tie in group C: Ken Crumpler, Dave Kearns, Darrin Allen, and Fred Smith were all winners. :-) Congratulations, fellas!

June G/29 Tournament Results

Well, I did my best to "run" this tournament while Ray was gone. Things seemed to go smoothly for the most part. Thankfully I didn't have to play (Playing and "running" a tournament would be too much.) I'd like to thank Mike Brooks for helping do the pairings.

Anyway, the "A" group was strong and included six people this time. Congratulations to IM Michael Brooks for winning it with a perfect score. In group "B" there was an upset, however. After being down four pawns in game 3, Shawn Nelson ended up slipping in a mate, winning that group by a 1/2 point. Congrats on your first tournament win, Shawn.

May G/10 Tournament Results

Congratulations to IM Michael Brooks and Alex Esposito for tying for 1st place. Each scored 3.5/4.

Ben's Bash G/60 Tournament Results

Yesterday's Ben's Birthday Bash G/60 tournament was quite strong. The top section had 8 players, which compromised of 2 Masters, 2 Experts, and 4 A-players. IM Michael Brooks won that section w/ a score of 3.5-.5, drawing only to Tim Steiner. Congrats to Dan Holmes on his impressive 4-0 finish.

Click here to view the crosstable

Four new games added, including IM Michael Brooks' win over GM Becerra

Games 17, 21, 22, and 23 are all new. Click here to go to our 'Games' page.

St. Louis Invitational: Final day, Final Update

The St. Louis Invitational officially ended today. The winner of the event was GM Gregory Kaidanov w/ a score of 6 points. Second place, which determined who got the final invite to the US Championship in April, was fought for by GMs Robson and Ramirez today. They drew their first game, but GM Robson won the second. (Here is the deciding game.)

IM Michael Brooks ended up losing in round eight to GM Jesse Kraai in a French Advance (Mike had White.) And he got a draw in round nine with GM Khachiyan; he had the Black pieces, and it was a Sicilian. Mike ended up with 4/9 points. Here are the standings. Even though Mike didn't finish in the top two, I think he did a damn good job. He was in a very tough field of super-strong players, almost all of whom were rated higher than him. His win against GM Julio Becerra was particularly impressive. He made it look so easy! Anyway, it's back to regular life for Mike and the rest of us.

Congratulations on your impressive performance in St. Louis, Mike; and thanks for making the past five days so interesting. I, and many other Westport members, thoroughly enjoyed watching your games "live" online. See you at the club.