Let the record state that these 20 members made our club extremely proud with their outstanding performances in the tournament. They all placed in our club on a national spotlight. This is without doubt the best news the history of the NBCC. I plan to submit, with Rick's permission of course, his message to the Executive Editor of the New Britain Herald, a local newspaper, so people throughout the community and across this great state can hear about the club's recent successes at the national chess team tournament. Of course, this will be the major highlight in the 2008 NBCC newsletter.
On behalf of officers of the club, great job guys for a fantastic tournament and overall turnout.
Perhaps Robert could just forward this thread to the entire membership. Please include past members, since Dave Aldi and Sofia played a big part in our success. This event has alway been a way for me to reconnect with past chess associates. This year, it helped the club to reconnect with some past members, and hopefully add some new members for the future. (71 is the current membership!!! RK).
The most notable achievement was the turnout. I think this was a tribute to last years participants, who all immediately signed up and started spreading their enthusiasm around the club. We seemed to be the only club there to field 5 teams! Three of the five teams were competitive at the highest level of the tournament, which was made obvious by their playing inside the elite, roped off area. It was fitting that the team that most closely resembled one of last year's team, the Bad Bishops, was the top finisher, despite having the third highest team rating of our participants. Had they won their last game, they would have finished in a tie for second place outright!
I would also like to note that our most productive board, by far, was fourth board: James Nitz 5.5, John Nitz 5, Mike Pascetta 5, Mac Gnomes 6-0!. Emily Pond secured the largest upset (999 points!) of the whole tournament in round 1. Every round it seemed that Mike Pascetta was locked in a close endgame that would determine the fate of his team. He prevailed every time (til the last round). By contrast, first boards all struggled. Still, some notable results were recorded on board one: Dennis Prawira defeated veteran Master and noted chess trainer Sunil Weremantry. I managed a draw with top GM LeonidYudasin (2662) (who can be seen on the first page of the NJ website: http://www.njscf.org/home.php ).
The best individual result of the tournament belongs to Yogesh: 6-0 on board 2, including wins against two masters and two experts.
The team of James Nitz and Steve Sanabria finished third overall in the Sunday Night Bughouse tournament, facing the likes of Hikira Nakamura!
Finally, I would also like to thank the four other team captains: Doug Fiske, John Nitz, Steve Sanabria and Brian Kosnoff for managing their individual teams; Gloria Nussbaum for providing the t-shirts that made our impact on the tournament hall so striking; and Derek Meredith and Nelson Casteneda for hosting pre-tournament preperation parties.
Is it too early to start planning for Valentine's Day in NJ next year??
First place—GGG(g)
Second Place-- 1.d4
Third Place—No Money for my Chess Honey
Fourth Place—We Own the Knight
Fifth- No Longer Searching for Bobby Fischer
U2100—Searching For Bobby Fischer
U2000—New Britain Bad Bishops
U1900—Hopkins Chess Club
U1800—CIS Royals
U1700—We Suggest you Resign
U1600 –4NCS
U1500—CIS Falcons
U1400—Vick Endorses Horse Fighting
U1300--CIS Hedge Hogs
U1200—Chessaholics 2
U1000-CIS Eagles
Top NY — DA Dynasty
Top PA — Push and We’ll Topalov
Top VA — Seapower 2008
Top Canada — Sinclair Laird Prometheans
Top CT — New Britain Bad Bishops
Top MD- Four Playing Knights
Top Mass- There Will Be Bloodgood
Top NC The I Pawns
Top NJ Michael Khodarkovsky Tycoons
Top Delaware—Dads & Sons
Best Name—No Longer Searching for Bobby Fischer
Best Chess Costume/Gimmick Dark Horses
Individual Upsets
Round 1 Emily Pond 999 points
Round 2 Gordon Burroughs 586 Points
Round 3 Jeremy Chen 765 points
Round4 Elie Kapengut 444 points
Round 5 Tim Low 887 points
Round 6 Ben Lieber 412 points
Top College Team—University Dallas Texas
Top High School -King Krunchers
Top Middle School---IS 318 Queens
Top Elementary Dark Horses
Top Scholastic--- Michael Khodarkovsky Dragons
2nd Scholastic---Real Gentlemen Would resign
Mixed Doubles-- No Sleep Till Brooklyn
Top Senior Team—Alter Clockers
Top Company Team—Boeing
Top Family—Kapengut Family Team
Top Military—Sea Power 2008
Old Timers—Old Chestnuts
Ethel Collins Perseverence==Collins Kids Bank St B
6-0 Scores: Board 1
Mike Zlotnikov
Hikaru Nakamura
Leonid Sokolin
Dave Gertler
Board 2
Eugene Perelshteyn
Joe Fang
Yogesh Raghunathan
Matt Masino
Jason Luchan
Board 3
Roman Dzindhashvilli
Greg Fernandez
Joe Felber
Board 4
Jared Defibbaugh
Jose Esponsoa
Steve Ferrero
Mac Gomes