The Wellsburg Open - Part 3

Sunday, May 10, 2015

After my second round game, I enjoyed a 20 minute break as the remaining games finished.  Soon, I was fired up and ready to go for the 3rd round.  Pairings were relatively easy this time, especially with printer problems resolved.  
In the photo above, players review games in the skittles room after the second round.  The only players in the Reserve section with perfect scores at this point were matched against each other for the third round: Ben Darr played Seth Derby, and Steve Jacobs played Daniel Carson.  Ben and Daniel both won their games and would meet for the Reserve championship in round 4.

In the Open section, Gokul Thangavel (1891), who crushed me in the first round, was wreaking havoc.  He scored an upset against James Neal (2148) in the second round, and then went on to draw Seth Koenig (2001) in the third round.  FM Alex Betaneli (2324) won his first two rounds before yielding a draw to Joseph Wan (2105) in round 3. 

And while all this drama unfolded, I found myself playing Clive Power (1675).  I gained some lovely passed pawns, but was unable to queen them, and Clive held a draw in spite of my efforts.
Jerry Slominski surprised me by driving up from Nebraska.  Since he volunteered to play the final round, I had time to relax...and play more bughouse!  Thomas Hesse, philosophy professor and a former IASCA board member, came to show his support and watch a few games.  And...lo and behold!  My dear friend Karen, an accomplished violinist and member of the The Johnson Strings stopped by to see the tournament!
I talked Karen into learning how to play bughouse, so she and I teamed up against sgs and William Polzin.  William (1718) had a fairly well-played tournament himself, drawing against one player 348 points higher rated,  and upsetting another 182 points higher.  

It gave Karen and I extreme satisfaction to win at least 1 (maybe 2) bughouse games against him and FICS bughouse player sgs.  We spent most of the games in deep trouble, but Karen played tremendously well considering that she had never played bughouse before and rarely plays chess.  I think her natural aptitude and dedication (she has been known to practice the violin 8 hours a day) will serve her well if she ever decides to become a professional bughouse player.  

Seth Derby and Nathaniel Arnold joined sgs and I for a few more games, and Gokul, after completing his day of upset victories with a last round win against Joseph Wan (2105), also joined in the fun. 

I headed back upstairs to take note of how many games were still in progress, enter results, and distribute prizes.
L-R: Benjamin Darr, Daniel Carson, Mark Capron, Nathaniel Arnold.


Ben Darr beat Daniel Carson in the last round to complete his reign of terror on reserve board 1 with a perfect score and become the Wellsburg Reserve Champion.  Second place was shared by Daniel Carson, Nathaniel Arnold, and Mark Capron.  Top U1400 was won by Seth Derby, George Hopkins, Tim Carson, and Sarah Faith Carson.

In the Open Section, FM Betaneli held a final round victory against Dan Vasto to clinch first place, which he shared with Gokul Thangavel.  Both players finished the tournament with 3.5/4.  

Second place went to James Neal and Seth Koenig (Also top U2000).  Top U1800 went to Kevin Townsend, Joseph Michael Baker, William Polzin, and Michael Takahashi.
Wellsburg Open Champions:  FM Alex Betaneli and Gokul Thangavel.
  It would be hard to ask for a better group of participants.   Clean-up after the tournament was super easy. I did find one sunflower seed shell on the floor, but perfection is hard to attain.

 My list of things to possibly change for future events is as follows: add online registration, post pairings 8-10 minutes before start time, and have sausage pizza, more water, and less pop and candy bars.

Playing and directing at the same time is something I will have to think about.  I love playing way too much to *want* to give it up while directing, and I'm hoping directing will get easier as I get used to it.

One drawback is I did not have much time to talk.  (For all I know, this could have been a great relief to some--who knows?!  But for me it was slightly frustrating!)  Chess players are an interesting lot, generally well educated and well traveled; so I usually get to learn something new--or at least drill them with questions on new locations to visit and write about for my blog.   

Thanks again to Hank Anzis and to all others who helped with, played in, and/or showed up to watch the tournament.  A database of games from the Wellsburg Open & Reserve, selected based on the availability and readability of score sheets, is available online. You can also visit the  tournament photo album and the crosstables.  

I was satisfied with how the tournament turned out and glad I could organize it.   It was nice to have a tournament near my home, and it was a dream come true in the sense that running a tournament was something I had wanted to do for a long time.

What is the latest project/adventure you've checked off your bucket list (or the next you're planning)?

"The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul."  --Proverbs 13:9
"In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."  --Proverbs 3:6

54 comments:

  1. I've never heard of bughouse chess before, so I Googled it, sounds like fun!

    Good to hear that your tournament went so well.

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  2. Sounds like a lot of fun. I would be lost in this game.

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    1. I'm sure you could get the hang of it with practice.

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  3. My goodness do you have passion! I would hire you in a heartbeat to teach me how to play as I never learned but would love to!!! Sounds like you had a great time!! Happy week to you! Nicole

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    1. You could probably learn by finding an article that explains the basics, and then just practicing at freechess.org or chess.com. :)

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  4. It sounds like a wonderful time you had.
    I understand absolutely nothing of chess.
    Best regards, Irma

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  5. Hello Bethany, I am so happy your event went so well. Congrats to all the top players.. My question is, will it become an annual event? Have a happy day and week ahead!

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    1. I haven't committed to running the event again next year, but I very well might do that. Have a great weekend!

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  6. You had me at pizza! :) Sounds like such a great time. I laughed with the comment of how some people would be relieved that you wouldn't be talking so much. But I don't think so! I believe you're a very interesting person and you're probably fun to talk to.

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    1. I'm sure I'd have a great time talking with you!

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  7. I'm so glad you were able to experience organizing and running the tournament. I'm sure your efforts were much appreciated. Now, if you ever host a Scrabble tourney, I'm in. ;)
    Have a great Monday!

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    1. I'll remember that. I enjoy take-two Scrabble, though not so much regular Scrabble. Take-two can be pretty fast--and fun. :)

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  8. it sounds like you did very well for your first tournament hosting - and while participating, too! laughed at the one sunflower seed. :)

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  9. The tournament sounds fun. I'm glad you had a wonderful time... :)

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  10. I'm impressed that you were able to play as well as direct! You must be super organized!

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    1. I can't say I felt super organized, but with all the wonderful help I had, it worked out!

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  11. Glad to hear everything went well and congrats to all the players!

    Dani from A Vapor in the Wind

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  12. I admire you what a shame I can't play chess

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  13. Catching up with you, Bethany
    Glad that you got to organize the tournament ... Bravo

    I am on a blogging break, see you in a month or so
    Take care

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    1. Thanks for catching up! Will miss your posts, Margie! I'm looking forward to your return to blogging.

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  14. Sounds like you did a wonderful job for your first directing gig. Amazing that you also played! I would've been pulling my hair out. Congrats!

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  15. Congratulations directing your first chess tournament! :D I'm glad you got to check this off your bucket list. It looks like you did a great job.

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    1. Can you believe I've already had a dream/nightmare about not getting the pairings up in time at the next tournament? Ahhh!

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  16. It looks like everything went well, and you were a success at directing! I'm surprised there are so many younger people playing chess. I don't know many who play it, and I think it's great!

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    1. Chess players do come from all ages! I believe there's a scholastic tournament being held in Iowa today with 100+ players (all children)!

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  17. Hi Bethany, Sure enjoyed your report on The Wellsburg Open. Couple of questions: In a tournament, who records the moves? The players themselves or someone watching? And, since players are "rated" how does that effect pairing? For example, I would be intimidated to be a novice and be paired against the strongest player in the first game. Lastly, where could one look online to see a list of tournaments by regions? Thanks in advance for answers!

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    1. Both players are required to write down the moves (take notation) until/unless one of their clocks drops below 5 minutes. The rulebook does provide exceptions at the discretion of the TD for blind and disabled players, players who do not know how to keep score, and players whose religion forbids them from taking notation (that part surprised me!). Once in a while also TDs will take over notating the games when the clocks are under 5 minutes, so that if there are any disagreements, there's written proof of what happened in the game. But for the most part, it's the players' responsibility.

      In Swiss pairings, the players are divided into the top and bottom half of players by rating. Round 1, #1 of the top half plays #1 of the bottom half, #2 of top plays #2 of bottom, etc. Round 2 players with wins are paired against each other, players with draws against each other, and players with losses against each other, and so on for the rest of the rounds with players who have the same tournament score playing each other as possible. Wiki has a page explaining it: here.

      The USCF has a list of tournaments sorted by state here. But not all tournaments in the state are advertised there. Often the best way to find all the tournaments in a state is to Google the state's chess association website.

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    2. Thanks for the answers and links. I have really enjoyed your posts on chess and the tournaments. One thing is for sure ... Your writing abilities are superior. I think you could make just about anything sound interesting! Take care Bethany!

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  18. So interesting! I am terrible at chess, but I am impressed with people who are good at it!

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    1. Some people have remarkable talent in chess. I'm always amazed by the prodigies who reach master-levels of play at young ages.

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  19. It's great to here that everything went well! So neat that you hosted your first chess tournament! Congratulations!

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  20. You must really enjoy Chess. I never could get the hang of it. Everyone here seems to have a serious look on their face. Glad you enjoy this game.

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    1. Yes, everyone is usually very intent and serious while playing.

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  21. Beth, I am so happy to know that tournament went well. Congratulations darling!!! Liuba x

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  22. Great job young Lady! Looks like everything turned out beautifully and now it's something you can cross off your bucket list. Will be nice, I bet, in another tourney when you aren't running things and can enjoy a bit more and talk & visit more with others.

    Thanks for sharing! ;) xoxo

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    1. I appreciate the work TDs do a lot more now! :)

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  23. Bethany, I am so glad that thing went well. I am so proud of you! :)

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  24. My next bucket list item is "go to a Pacific Island' and its organised - but its in November, and I keep the location under wraps!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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    1. That sounds exciting! I'll be looking forward to your posts and pictures from your trip when the time comes!

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  25. My heart stopped at "printer problems" lol!!

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  26. Hi Bethany,
    Nice, detailed report of the match.
    And, great proverbs from The Bible!
    Have a Beautiful Week!
    Peace :)

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