Season's Greetings, fellow chess players,

2007 is sadly coming to a close. What a great year it has been at the New Britain Chess Club! With only a few weeks remaining in the year, it is time for me to write the annual club newsletter. Since I started writing the club newsletter in 2004, I have made a point not to cover every event detail or mention every winner of tournaments held during the year at the club. Instead, the purpose of these newsletters is to highlight changes to club events, recognize members for achieving noteworthy personal chess goals, and reflect on the social events held by club members throughout the year. With that said, let us begin our journey down memory lane as I share with you the wonderful memories of the past twelve months at the NBCC.

January

• The club starts off the New Year with a monumental change. On January 2, club tournament directors Randall Shane, Marcus Komons, and I direct the first tournament at the club, the 2007 New Britain New Years Open Blitz Tournament, a non-rated event, utilizing SwissSys, one of the most popular chess tournament pairing software packages in the world. Much of the credit for purchasing the software goes to Randall Shane. However, some of our club members have suggested that it is definitely time to make the transition from manual to computerized pairings. There are many benefits of using SwissSys, even at the club level; the most obvious being that pairings can be made in a matter of seconds with great accuracy, thus making a tournament director’s job much easier and less stressful. The days of referring to the rules on color equalization and alternation, transpositions, interchanges, tie-breaks, etc. are finally over! In addition, the software package allows tournament directors to electronically submit tournaments for rating to the United States Chess Federation. Even better, rating fees are 18 cents per game (currently 25 center per game), compared to 40 cents per game when they are manually submitted (currently 60 cents per game). The very low $99 cost of the software has already paid for itself. Incidentally, the first club tournament submitted for rating using SwissSys is the 2007 New Britain Winter Open Quick Chess Tournament held on January 9. SwissSys is a very user-friendly software package and has the capability to run Round Robin and Swiss System tournaments and team matches. If you are a tournament or club director and are considering purchasing pairing software, I would highly recommend buying SwissSys. This is without doubt the best investment the club has ever made.

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February

• Eight club members participate in the 2007 United States Amateur Team East Chess Championships held in Parsippany, New Jersey from February 17 to February 19. Our two club teams are led by captain Douglas Fiske and, after three days of intense competition, our “Just Another NBCC A Team” wins the distinguished title of “Top Connecticut Team”, based on our teams overall performance when compared to other teams in the state. The players on the teams earning the esteemed title are: Team 1: Douglas Fiske, Derek Meredith, Andres Castaneda, and Yogesh Raghunathan, and Team 2: John Nitz, James Nitz, Stephen Sanabria, and Christian Jensen. Our teams proudly bring home a beautifully engraved plaque for winning the title.

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March

• A surprise 60th birthday party is held at the home of Nelson and Nancy Castaneda in New Britain for NBCC President Joseph Mansigian on March 31. About twenty of our club members celebrate Joseph’s milestone birthday with food, refreshments, and of course, chess. It is a spectacular evening. Besides the Castanedas, the club also extends its appreciation to Derek Meredith and Kevin Zimmerman for coordinating this awesome birthday party for ‘El Presidente’.

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May

• The 1st Arkadijs Strazdins Cup chess tournament begins on May 1. Formerly the annual official NBCC Championship, the Strazdins Cup is held in honor of Mr. Arkadijs Strazdins, who served the club for over 50 years. Unfortunately, Mr. Strazdins passed away a few weeks before this special tournament began. After this five week tournament, the winner, FIDE Master Nelson Castaneda, is presented with a rotating engraved trophy by Mr. Strazdins’ son, Andris Strazdins, on June 5. According to the official rules passed by the membership at the 2006 club business meeting, the winner has possession of the trophy for one year, and the trophy will be passed from winner to winner of future Strazdins Cups. Photos of the awarding of the Strazdins Cup to FM Nelson Castaneda are posted on the club website.

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June

• Ladies and gentlemen, as we approach the half-way point of the year, it is apparent that the club is doing quite well. That assessment is further evidenced by the events unfolding at the club in the coming months. The club is just getting into second gear as we approach summer. However, before we cross this junction, it is time to recap another productive business meeting at the club, setting the stage for the club’s future.
  
  
• On June 12 at 7:50 P.M., Joseph Mansigian calls the 2007 club business meeting to order. Many issues are on slate for discussion and after one-hour and thirty-five minutes, amazingly longer than the 2006 stimulating business meeting, the membership votes on the following, after much spirited discussion:
  
  
  1. To purchase 25 “Club Special” chess sets and vinyl boards from the USCF and individual plastic containers for storage of the equipment. Most of the old sets and boards are donated to club member Luis Delgado, who teaches chess to students in the Hartford school system. A few sets are also donated to Borders Music and Bookstore in West Hartford, Connecticut.
     
     
  2. To purchase 6 additional GameTime II digital chess clocks from the USCF.
     
     
  3. To sponsor one team from the club at the 2008 United States Amateur East Chess Championships. The agreement is for the club to pay half the entry fees for the teams. FM Richard Bauer volunteers as team captain and would be responsible for registration.
     
     
  4. To keep the existing time control of 40/85, SD/30 the standard for most major club tournaments.
     
     
  5. To change the start time for all club events from 7:00 P.M. back to 7:30 P.M
     
     
  6. To explore the possibility of holding the following chess events:
     
     
     • A simultaneous chess exhibition and lecture by Grandmaster Ildar Ibragimov.
       
       
     • An international chess match with the Amsterdam Chess Club, which club member Gert Hilhorst is a member of. Plans for a match are contingent on airfares, time of year, etc.
       
       
     • A chess match with the Boylston or Marshall Chess Club.
       
       
  The reason why the club is able to set aside funds to sponsor a team to the 2008 United States Amateur East Chess Championships and acquire new chess equipment is because of an extraordinary increase in net income for 2006-2007 year. According to NBCC Treasurer Andris Strazdins, the club’s cash balance as of June 12, 2007 is $4,050, representing an increase in net income of $1,223 for the year, unprecedented in club history. This remarkable surge in the club treasury is attributed to $335 in additional revenue received from the sale of donated chess equipment in 2006, the success of the 2006 New Britain Summer Open Chess Championship, and an increase in membership. Now that is what I call progress! Finally, after our new business portion of the meeting, the election of officers goes without a hitch as the club members unanimously reelect all the officers to their respective positions to faithfully serve the club another year.

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July

• Our team of club officers and tournament directors, along with assistance from members David Aldi, Roy Beavers, and Kevin Zimmerman, spend weeks planning for the 2007 New Britain Summer Open. Keeping with the theme of the previous year’s tournament, this is an open-air event. Nevertheless, the committee wants to do even more this year to enhance the social element of the one day tournament. So, after weeks of preparation, the NBCC holds its annual Summer Open event under the Quartette Club pavilion on July 22 and, as an added feature, lunch is offered free of charge. Food consists of hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, salads, and watermelon. Grilling and serving the food are the event’s master chefs, Marcus Komons and my uncle, Joseph Kozlowski. During the lunch break, some of the participants play frisbee while others soak up the sun’s rays. The weather conditions are ideal for an outdoor tournament with temperatures in the 70s with partly cloudy skies and a light breeze. The 2007 New Britain Summer Open attracts 37 players from Connecticut. Even though this is not a club record for tournament participation (56 is the record), the club has not seen that large of a turnout in any event since the 2003 New Britain City Chess Championship Qualifying Tournament held in September 2002 with 38 players.
  
  
• Even with efforts to make this tournament flawless, a few minor mistakes are made. The greatest disappointment by far is the USCF’s failure to publish our advertisement in Chess Life magazine. Just imagine if they did; we could have easily attracted over 50 players! Regardless, I am confident that we will learn from the errors and ensure that future New Britain Summer Opens are even better. In all frankness, this tournament has the distinct possibility of soon becoming one of Connecticut’s premier chess events. Photos from this event are posted on the club website.

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August

• Can you believe that another club record is set? This time the record occurs at the 2007 Bradley Open Chess Championship held from August 11 to August 13 in Windsor, Connecticut. As many of you probably remember reading in the 2006 club newsletter, at the 2006 Bradley Open, 21 past or present club members participated, establishing a new record for club membership participation at a non-club tournament. Well, my friends, this year, 23 of our guys played in the Bradley Open. Actually, the club is tied with the previous year’s record at the beginning of the tournament, but thanks to Joseph Mansigian and Kevin Zimmerman, who decided to play as house players at the last minute; this club record is set for a second consecutive year. Members from our club are represented in almost every section. The following past or present club members participate in this annual tournament.
  
  Open Section: FM Richard Bauer, Andres Castaneda, Matthew Davey, Yogesh Raghunathan, and Derek Meredith
  
  U2100 Section: Douglas Fiske and Daniel Rozovsky
  
  U1900 Section: David Aldi, Yuval Shemesh, Kevin Zimmerman, and Joseph Mansigian
  
  U1700 Section: Julio Echevarria, Michael Pascetta, Owen Gomez, Peter Galazan, Hermann Zickfeld, Kevin Berry, and Robert Kozlowski
  
  U1500 Section: Sofia Leja, Miki Shemesh, and Richard Chang
  
  U1200 Section: Daniel Pascetta and Roy Beavers
  

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September

• On September 1, Kevin Zimmerman and his fiancée, Marie Juergens, host the 1st Zimmerman Games Day at their house in East Hartford, Connecticut. Kevin and Marie invite members from the club along with other friends and hold one of the greatest outdoor events of the year. Performing their multiple duties masterfully as chefs, game coordinators, music directors, etc., Kevin and Marie put on a wonderful event. At the party, there are various tournaments held in sporting events from chess to horseshoes to ultimate frisbee to ping-pong. 10 players from the club participate in the 1st Zimmerman Games chess tournament. This Round Robin blitz chess tournament is won by Andres Castaneda. Besides the games, there are a few musicians playing West African and Caribbean music during the late afternoon that puts everyone in a relaxing mood. I even join the musician ensemble and play a spirited drum recital. It is indeed an enjoyable day to end the summer season.
  
  
• Daniel Rozovsky wins his game in a simultaneous chess exhibition given by FM Richard Bauer on September 11. By winning against FM Richard Bauer, Daniel Rozovsky becomes the first player, in recorded club history, to defeat three of our club masters consecutively in simultaneous chess exhibitions. Daniel’s previous wins against our other club masters are noted below.
  
  
  • USCF National Master Edward McHugh – September 11, 2006 • FM Nelson Castaneda – June 5, 2007
    
    
  • FM Nelson Castaneda – June 5, 2007

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October

• One of our newest club members, Dennis Prawira, wins the 2^nd annual Oktoberfest Open Chess Championship with a perfect score. This is an amazing accomplishment. What makes Dennis Prawira’s performance in the tournament particularly impressive is that in order to achieve his 5-0 score, he defeats three of our club’s strongest players, two FMs and a USCF Expert. After the tournament is submitted for rating, Dennis Prawira earns the highest provisional rating the USCF can assign to a player – 2700, a magnificent accomplishment. The tournament ends October 16 and Dennis Prawira receives his prize money on October 23.
  
  
• Keeping with the tradition started last year with the 1^st Oktoberfest Open, Joseph Mansigian arranges a dinner party at the famous German restaurant, the East Side in New Britain, on October 19. 11 club members attend this festive social gathering and enjoy the authentic German cuisine and drink while listening to German songs by an accordionist. Photos from this party are posted on the club website.
  
  
• On October 23, the club officers call a special business meeting to address a few topics not previously discussed at the annual business meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to accomplish the following:
  
  
  1. Finalize the format of the 2008 New Britain City Chess Championship Qualifying Tournament.
     
     
  2. Finalize the venue for the 2007 Connecticut State Open Blitz Championship.
     
     
  3. Finalize the date for the simultaneous chess exhibition and lecture by GM Ildar Ibragimov.
     
     
  In summation, here is the outcome of this short meeting.
  
  
  1. With regard to the 2008 New Britain City Chess Championship Qualifying Tournament:
     
     The format of the event would remain a Round Robin. However, unlike in 2007, the NBCC would make an invitation to the highest four, not six, rated club members. These members have the option to automatically advance to the Finals, thus bypassing the preliminaries. More importantly, these players, unlike the previous year, have the option to play in the Qualifying Tournament with the caveat that if do not score enough points in the preliminaries to advance, they will not be eligible to play in the Finals.
     
     The name of this longest and most prestigious club tournament would be changed from the New Britain City Chess Championship to the official NBCC Championship. Since the club already held the Arkadijs Cup, which used to be the official NBCC Championship prior to 2007, there is absolutely no problem with changing the event name.
     
     
  2. With regard to the 2007 Connecticut State Open Blitz Championship:
     
     The membership nearly unanimously votes to hold this state event at the Church of Christ in Manchester, Connecticut. This event would be scheduled for Saturday, December 15. Traditionally, this event is held on a Tuesday at the club. The NBCC would co-sponsor the event with the South Windsor Chess Club, thanks to its President, Richard Chang, who secured this venue, and the Connecticut State Chess Association. This is the first Connecticut State Open Blitz Championship held since 2004.
     
     
  3. With regard to the simultaneous chess exhibition and lecture by GM Ildar Ibragimov:
     
     Marcus Komons, along with the assistance of Scott Cameron, or the “Milford Morphy” as he often refers himself as, would negotiate with the GM to finalize plans to have him give a lecture and simultaneous chess exhibition at the NBCC, which is scheduled for the first club meeting of 2008, January 8.
     
  After our special business meeting, the club holds the 2007 New Britain Fall Open Quick Chess Tournament. With 16 players and 4 rounds, theoretically it would be possible for two or three players to tie for first place. Amazingly, and it seems like 2007 is the year the club sets a record for setting the most records, six players tie for first place: FM Richard Bauer, USCF NM Edward McHugh, Matthew Davey, Dennis Prawira, Yogesh Raghunathan, and Derek Meredith.

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December

• On December 15, the 2007 Connecticut State Open Blitz Championship is held at the Church of Christ in Manchester, Connecticut. There are two sections, an OPEN and a U1600, in this 10 double round Swiss System tournament. Pizza and antipasto is served to participants for lunch. Turnout for this event is good. The venue is very spacious and the ambience of the facility is perfect for this event. The tournament is directed by Robert Kozlowski with assistance from Marcus Komons, Richard Chang, and CSCA President Jim Celone. Thanks to Kevin Zimmerman and Andris Strazdins, who assisted the event directors with the food arrangements and overall set up. Photos from the event are posted on the club website.
  
  
• On December 18, the last meeting of the year, the club officers invite all players of the chess community to the 3^rd annual NBCC Christmas Party from 6:00 P.M. until Midnight. At this year-end celebration, capping the most successful year in club history by far, the club holds the 2007/2008 New Britain Christmas/New Years Open Blitz Tournament, raffles a few decorative chess sets and a lovely fruit basket, and auctions the remaining chess books in the club library. 50 people attend this year-end party. Much appreciation goes to our club officers and the following members for their contributions to this party: John Nitz, James Nitz, and Kevin Zimmerman. Photos from this event are posted on the club website.

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MEMBER ACHIEVEMENTS

My fellow chess players, 365 days or 52 weeks or 12 months since we began our journey, no matter how you put it, we are back to the present. But, before I leave you with lasting memories of a fantastic year at the NBCC, I take this opportunity to recognize certain club members for their noteworthy personal chess accomplishments in 2007.

NBCC MEMBERS RANKING IN THE TOP 100 LISTS IN THE USCF
AS OF THE DECEMBER 2007 USCF RATING SUPPLEMENT

Please note that only ratings of USCF members whom have been active within the last year are used in compiling the TOP 100 listings.

* Tied with GM Walter Browne and International Master Irina Krush.

OTHER COMMENDABLE ACHIEVEMENTS BY NBCC MEMBERS

USCF Expert Andres Castaneda draws against GM Mark Paragua in the final round of the 2007 Bradley Open. GM Mark Paragua is rated 2478 at the time. Andres’ game against the GM is posted on the club website.

James Nitz, whose USCF rating is only 48 points below Expert level, defeats GM Sergey Kudrin in the first round of the 2007 New Haven Fall Open Chess Championship held November 2. GM Kudrin is rated 2629 at the time and currently ranks 16th overall in the USCF.

In the final round of the 2007 Connecticut State Open Blitz Championship, Emily Pond, who has a current USCF Quick Chess rating of 206, defeats Julio Echevarria, who has a current USCF Quick Chess rating of 1573, a difference of 1,367 rating points! This is a new club record, perhaps even a Connecticut chess or even USCF record.

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THE PASSING OF MR. ARKADIJS STRAZDINS (“STRAZ”)

On April 22, after a long battle with heart failure and related complications, NBCC President Emeritus, Mr. Arkadijs Strazdins, passed away at the age of 84. If you never had the privilege of knowing such a wonderful person, Mr. Strazdins, or “Straz” as many of his beloved friends and family called him, was one of the most altruistic people I was honored to know.

Mr. Strazdins had a very long history with the club, having been a member since 1951, a tournament director since the early 1960s, and club President from 1970 to 2001. This gentleman devoted over half of his life to the club in his numerous capacities and was a steadfast supporter of chess throughout Connecticut. Whether you were a chess master, an amateur, or a beginner, Mr. Strazdins would greet you with his charm and old world gentility. I still remember the day I joined the NBCC in 1987 and being warmly welcomed by Mr. Strazdins. Although Mr. Strazdins had assistance in running the club, it was he who did most of the work behind the scenes. I have never seen someone more loyal to a non-for-profit organization. In all honesty, if Mr. Strazdins did not tirelessly volunteer his time to keep the club thriving, I am almost certain the NBCC would not exist today.

Mr. Strazdins was a chess player of master strength as a young man and, early in his chess career, drew Efim Bogoljubov, a contender in the World Chess Championship matches in 1929 and 1934. Mr. Strazdins was also the winner of countless chess tournaments throughout Connecticut and the NBCC from the 1950s until the late 1990s.

Because of severe pain throughout his body, Mr. Strazdins took a leave of absence from the club in 2003. I visited Mr. Strazdins frequently in the final years of his life. During our visits, we would chat about the club, world issues, or simply life in general. I, as many others would absolutely agree, enjoyed Mr. Strazdins company. It was truly heartbreaking to see Mr. Strazdins’ health slowly fail as he struggled to walk, speak, and, at times, breathe. And albeit Mr. Strazdins endured excruciating pain and prolonged suffering, he always remained cheerful and optimistic about life.

My fellow chess players, on April 22, the NBCC and the Connecticut chess community lost a legendary man. Mr. Strazdins can not be replaced. And although Mr. Strazdins has left this World, his spirit lives on in each and every one of us and the legacy he has left shall never be forgotten.

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BOB'S COMMENTARY

My friends, it was with pleasure that I was able to share with you the wonderful memories of 2007 at the NBCC. So much has happened at the club in the past year, even more than in the last three years, thanks to the efforts of the club leadership. The following is a brief summation on the modifications made to the club’s major tournaments in recent years:

1. New formats for the New Britain City Chess Championship (again, now the official NBCC Championship).
   
   
2. New formats for the New Britain Summer Open.
   
   
3. Formation of the Oktoberfest Open.
   
   
4. Introduction of Quick Chess tournaments.
   
   
5. The renaming of the former official NBCC Championship to the Arkadijs Strazdins Cup (again, now a separate tournament).

Besides the major changes in club activities, the club has ascended to new social heights. Between the parties and the other events held at club members’ homes for birthdays or other social occasions, our membership has formed one of the most impressive social networks; probably non-existent in many other chess clubs in the United States. I want to personally extend my deepest appreciation to the following persons for organizing these social events outside the club over the past few years. The persons deserving the utmost recognition for enhancing our club are Derek Meredith, Joseph Mansigian, Nelson and Nancy Castaneda, Sofia Leja, Kevin Zimmerman, Marie Juergens, Yogesh Raghunathan, Andres and Karin Montiel, Yuval and Miki Shemesh, and myself.

The NBCC has always been a central venue for Connecticut chess. Many might argue that New Britain is the “chess capital” of Connecticut. Because New Britain is centrally located in the state, the club is most fortunate to attract players from Danbury to Stafford Springs to Torrington to New London. Our club has a very long established history in New Britain dating back to the late 1890s. The club should be very thankful, though, that other people in the chess community have been involved in promoting the game in Connecticut over the decades. I was pleased to see that Rob Roy, promoter and director of hundreds of chess events throughout New England in the 70s, 80s, and early 90s, returned to the chess scene this year after a long hiatus. Rob Roy spearheaded a few chess projects in the state this past year. Specifically, Rob Roy formed the Norwich Chess Club and directed the 2007 New London ChessFest on July 28, a very well organized open-air event. Also, I want to thank one of the longest standing tournament directors in Connecticut, University of Connecticut Chess Club President Thomas Hartmeyer, for devoting so much of his time to running his club and for getting college students involved in the game over the years. Thomas Hartmeyer has been directing tournaments at his club at the Storrs campus since the 1970s. Besides Rob Roy and Thomas Hartmeyer, one of the people in the Connecticut chess community that has demonstrated great potential for promoting chess in the state by forming the SWCC and getting involved with the CSCA, is Richard Chang. Lastly, a very special token of appreciation must be sent to CSCA President James Celone, who has been a beacon for Connecticut chess.

Over the last few years at the NBCC, we had seen a rise in the number of scholastic players. Personally, I am glad to see that more of our youth are getting involved in the game. I have distinctly observed that the parents, some of whom are players themselves, have been very supportive of their children’s chess endeavors. Besides the parents, I take this opportunity to recognize the chess coaches who devote their time teaching this intellectual game to the students. One of Connecticut’s prominent chess coaches, as many of you know, is David Aldi. Incidentally, the 1st Manchester Fall Scholastic Chess Tournament on December 8 was the first scholastic tournament that David Aldi directed. David was assisted by Richard Chang and they did an outstanding job co-directing the event.

August 2008 marks the end of my tenth year as a NBCC tournament director. Having directed or co-directed over 60 club tournaments, I can honestly state that club events have undergone major changes in the last decade. In the past few years, the club has seen a slight increase in tournament participation. Like my fellow tournament directors in Connecticut, I strive to get everyone involved in the game. Getting commitment from everyone is not an easy task period. It can be very discouraging to see low turnouts at chess events. Alas, my fellow tournament directors and I have accepted the fact that not everyone can devote the time or make a commitment to the game regardless of how much we try to encourage participation. This problem is not local to our club; tournament directors throughout the state and the across the country are facing this obstacle in their own tournaments.

Regardless of whether or not I get more involved with organizing and directing state-sanctioned chess tournaments, I wholeheartedly promise and assure you that I will never give up my passion for and devotion to the club. If it was not for the NBCC, chess would not be the same in the Constitution State. As I have stated countless times before, it is always a pleasure to be of service to the members of the club. I personally take this opportunity to express my gratitude to my fellow officers and directors, Joseph Mansigian, Andris Strazdins, Marcus Komons, Randall Shane, and Brian Kosnoff for their continued dedication and leadership over the last four years. And lastly, thanks to all whom have supported the NBCC in the past or present. Remember, as Mr. Strazdins often said, “[y]our support for the club shows your support for U.S. chess.”

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The officers and directors of the NBCC wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

President: Joseph Mansigian
Vice President: Robert Kozlowski
Treasurer: Major Andris Strazdins
Secretary: Marcus Komons
Webmaster: Brian Kosnoff
Tournament Directors: Marcus Komons, Randall Shane, and Robert Kozlowski.


Club membership currently stands at 60. If you have not already renewed your club membership, I hope you will in 2008. I look forward to seeing you very soon. Take care.

This officially ends the 2007 NBCC newsletter. I am now ready to fly off to the Caribbean for a long deserved vacation. Yeah, wishful thinking Bob!

Yours in chess