This past Tuesday, February 6th, marked the continuation of our exhilarating Winter Warrior Swiss tournament. With the competition heating up, let’s dive into the highlights from a night filled with strategic battles, culinary delights, and the camaraderie that makes our club so special.
A Tightly Contested Race
After two rounds of play, the leaderboard is tightly packed, with four players now sharing the top spot. The promise of some captivating chess is in the air as we head into the third round. Who will emerge victorious in the quest for the Winter Warrior title? Check out the current standings below
A Culinary Triumph: Pizza Night
Our second Pizza Night was a success, featuring an incredible spread from Cedar Creek Catering, including seven of their signature pizzas and some mouth-watering brisket. Special thanks to Jerry and CJ for making this happen. The evening left no leftovers, just a room full of satisfied chess players. If you enjoyed the feast, consider leaving a Google review to show your appreciation for Cedar Creek’s delicious contributions.
Adding to the night’s treats, Sean Pry shared delightful cupcakes from KP Cakes, a local gem run by his mother. Decorated with chess pieces, these creative cupcakes were a hit, even though we missed snapping a photo this time. Be sure to follow KP Cakes on Instagram for a glimpse of their amazing creations.
Featured Match: Tariq vs. Ian
The featured match between Tariq Yue and Ian Millstein was a nail-biter, going deep into time pressure. Ian provides an insightful annotation of the game, highlighting key positions and his thought process throughout this closely contested battle. Ian’s strategic analysis offers a fascinating look into the complexities of chess at the competitive level.
Member Spotlight: Rob McFadden
In the first installment of our Member Spotlight series, we feature Rob McFadden, whose unique journey in chess is both inspiring and humorous. From an early victory over an unsuspecting uncle to his current approach to preparation and his chess idols, Rob’s story is a testament to the diverse backgrounds and personalities that enrich our club. Photo credit to our talented resident photographer, David Difuntorum!
Bughouse Chess: A Club Favorite
As the official matches concluded, the fun didn’t stop there. Seven stayed back to dive into the dynamic world of Bughouse chess, a variant that’s becoming a beloved post-match tradition at our club. Amidst the fast-paced exchanges and strategic partnerships, one team emerged as particularly formidable: Aaron Biscoe and Ed Kline have proven themselves as the duo to beat in our Bughouse sessions. Their tactical prowess set a high bar, inviting all challengers to try and dethrone them next time!
Looking Ahead
As we gear up for round 3 of the Winter Warrior Swiss, excitement continues to build. Additionally, keep an eye out for details on our next blitz tournament to be held in March – it promises to be another fantastic opportunity for competitive play and fun.
Looking forward to seeing everyone next Tuesday for round 3 of the Winter Warrior Swiss. As always, thank you for making our club a fantastic place to enjoy chess!
Upcoming Events
- Tuesday, February 6th – Round 3 of the Winter Warriors Swiss
- Early to Mid March – Blitz Tournament
- Every Thursday – West Chester Chess Club meets at 7pm. If you are looking for more chess in your life, I recommend this club in the borough of West Chester.
Take a look at our event calendar and consider adding it to stay current.
Featured Game
Key moment
Here was a particularly pivotal moment with black (Ian) to play. Enjoy Ian’s detailed thoughts and reflections on the position in his excellent writeup.
Ian’s thoughts at this stage:
When Tariq played 28. Rc1, I started evaluating whether 28…Qxa6 was a safe capture. We both had under 10 minutes left on our clocks, so time was a significant factor here. 28…Qxa6 seemed like a risky capture because of the discovered attack on black’s queen once white’s knight moves. I saw that my queen has several escape squares after 29.Nc4, so I decided to go for it and play 28…Qxa6. After 29.Nc4, however, I realized that both 29…Qb7 and Qc6 allow white to gain a tempo on the queen with 30.Na5, after which he can fork the two rooks with Nc6. 29…Qc8 looked too dangerous because it would walk right into another discovered attack against the queen. What I missed, though, was that after 29…Qc8 30.Na5, black could block both the rook’s attack on the queen and the knight fork with Nc3! This is the only move that retains black’s advantage. Even though I could have survived after 28…Qxa6, it would have been smarter to play more conservatively and avoid grabbing the pawn. If I played the passive but safe 28…Qb6 or Qd7, I would have retained a -1.2 advantage, while 28…Nc3 would have been -2.9! I thought for too long about my options after 29.Nc4 and ended up blundering by giving up the exchange with 29…bxc4. Tariq did a great job converting the material advantage to a win with only 3 minutes left on his clock.
Thank you to Cedar Creek Catering for providing the venue! Check them out at the Media Farmers Market.
Supporting Our Community
As our club grows and hosts rated tournaments and special events like our much-loved pizza nights, we’re inviting members who are able to contribute $20 annually to support these initiatives. Whether or not you choose to contribute financially, your presence and participation in the club are what truly matter and are greatly appreciated by all of us.
We’re also looking for volunteers to help with event organization, game annotation, member spotlights, the newsletter, and tournament directing. If you’re interested in contributing your skills, please reach out.