August Scholastic Side

  The Iowa State Fair’s Scholastic Chess Tournament will be held on August 15th from 3 to 5 PM at the Fairgrounds. Immediately following will be the State Fair Speed Chess Championship, which is open to all. While you do have to buy a ticket to the Fair, the chess tournament entry fee is minimal. My sons and I have participated for the last 4 years and it is always a great time. I hope to see you there.

  On September 1st, I will be having a Beginner Open in Cedar Rapids at the Best Western Longbranch Hotel & Convention as part of the 53rd Iowa open Chess Championship. This tournament is open to all players rated under 1200. There will be 19 trophies for all rating levels, the top 5 scorers, and the top 2 ladies scores. If you let me know in advance that your school will be bringing 4 or more players, I will have a trophy on hand for your schools top scorer that does not win one of the other prizes.

  Preparations are underway for the 2007-2008 IASCA scholastic chess season. Our first tournament has been scheduled. It is the Iowa Grades championships and will be held in West Des Moines Valley High School on November 10th. This is the tournament where the children play only in their own grade. If you know any chess players, please tell them about this tournament. I will be allowing non USCF members to play and get a rating for a $5 surcharge. The surcharge will be used to purchase a tournament (1-day) membership to allow the player to get a USCF rating.

  My favorite chess playing site, Chess Live has been sold to a new company, which has renamed it World Chess Live. The site itself is more reliable, but they are not offering free memberships for USCF members as they have in the past. Also missing is my favorite part of chess live, the Iowa Channel, where Iowa players can meet and go over games. If you are also missing the Iowa Channel, please write to the World Chess Live people at support@worldchesslive.com

  I am sorry to report from Joe Stull the news that Cassandra Stull was unable to play in the Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls Tournament due an illness in the family which prevented her from travelling to the tournament. I hope everything works out for the Stull’s. Iowa High School champion Dan Brashaw is undefeated after 4 rounds of the Arnold Denker Tournament of High School Champions with 1 win and 3 draws (all the draws are against players 2100+).