Results from the New York State Action and Quick Chess Championships

Deepak Aaron won nine consecutive games over two tournaments on Saturday, November 8 in the New York State Action and Quick Chess Championships, held at the Quality Inn and Suites in Latham, a suburb of Albany. Aaron, a 14-year-old Expert who represented New York and placed third at the 2008 U.S. Cadet Championship in Lindsborg, Kansas this summer, won both championships.

Aaron swept the Action Championship first with a perfect 4-0 score, winning the 10-player Open section by a full point while playing the next four highest placing players. Philip Sells was clear second with a 3-1 score, and there was a four-way tie for third among William Little, tournament director Karl Heck, rising junior Patrick Chi and Heather Har-Zvi. Chi and Har-Zvi, wife of Grandmaster Ronen Har-Zvi, won the class prize.

Joshua Jaffe, a junior player from the Syracuse area, won the eight-player Scholastic section while upsetting top-rated David Antonucci, Jr. in the third round despite a 300-point rating difference. Antonucci was clear second in the section with three points.

In the six-round Quick Championship held later the same day, Aaron continued his magic by winning his first five games. One of the victories was a win over prohibitive favorite GM Ronen Har-Zvi in the third round. Needing only a draw, Aaron got one against local class-A player Peter Henner in the final round, ending the day with two State titles and 9 1/2 points out of 10 for the day. Har-Zvi was clear second in the 14-playeer Open section with a 5-1 score, and Ashok Aaron was clear third with four points. The class prize was won by RPI student Wayne Powers with three points.

David Antonucci won the four-player Scholastic section with a 5-1 score. The event was conducted as a double round robin. Joshua Jaffe was second with a 3-3 score.

Both tournaments were organized and directed by Empire Chess editor and NYSCA Treasurer Karl Heck for the third consecutive year. It is the fifth consecutive year that the Quick Championship has been in the Albany area, and the turnout of 18 players for each event was sufficient to ensure its return for a sixth time in 2009. It is believed that the format for these championships is unique among the states.

Upcoming Tournaments

11TH ANNUAL GREENWICH HOLIDAY OPEN
December 6th
3 Round Swiss System
Round 1 g/75, Rounds 2 and 3 g/90 Greenwich Free Library, Academy and Main St. (NYS Rt. 29), Greenwich, NY. Setions: Open - Entry Fee $20. U1500 - Entry Fee $15; Both sections are $5 less for LIfe and New members who join at the site.
Prizes: based on 16 paid entries, Open: $70, $35. U1750: $50; U1500: $50, $25 U1250: $40.
Registration is from 9 to 9:45am.
Rounds are at 10:00, 1:15, and 5. Contact John Hartnett at truhart2@verizon.net for more information

WILLIAMS COLLEGE OPEN

WHAT: USCF Rated Chess Tournament
(Must be a USCF member or join at the tournament.)
Game/90 minute
WHEN: Saturday, January 10th, 2009
WHERE: Griffin 3 and 4.
REGISTRATION: 9:00AM-9: 45 AM
ROUNDS: 10:00 AM; 1:30 PM; and 5:00 PM
Accelerated pairings will be used.
ENTRY FEE: $15. Free for college students.
Advanced entry fee of $10 if received by January 5th to Trevor Murphy, 23 Meadow Street, Williamstown, MA 01267.

PRIZES (based on 15 paid entries):
Top half
1st $100
2nd $60
3rd $40

Bottom half
1st $80
2nd $50
3rd $30

Top Unrated $25
Top College Student $25
Top High School Student $25
Top Middle School Student $25
DIRECTIONS:
Driving directions to Williamstown, MA 01267 can be found at
http://www.williams.edu/home/visitors/
or by using mapquest.com with 844 Main Street, Williamstown, MA 01267.
A Campus Map depicting Griffin Hall can be found at http://www.williams.edu/home/campusmap/map_f.php
PARKING: Park behind Griffin in the lower lot. Access the parking lot by taking Rt. 2/main street to Southworth and taking the first left. The parking area will be on the left with Griffin Hall being at the top of the hill.
QUESTIONS: Trevor Murphy at tmurphy@williams.edu