Phillip Does It Again

Perennial Ray School chess star Phillip Parker-Turner is certainly starting off his senior year in grand fashion. Last weekend he defended his 2008 5th-grade title in the Illinois All-Grade Championship by winning this year’s 6th-grade trophy. For that he ventured to downstate Bloomington, a great Illinois chess mecca where the All Grade was held this year. Two weeks earlier Phillip had a great tournament closer to home—right here in Hyde Park at the University of Chicago. Among the high points of that event was Phillip’s victory over Expert Dusan Tutush (his first over a > 2000-rated player?) as well as wins over other higher-rated guys. His rating has skyrocketed of late to 1670. Congratulations, Phillip!

photo: Phillip Turner

Stewart Nails Fox for Fake Rally Footage

Sean Hannity Uses Glenn Beck's Protest Footage

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Chess-centric Restaurant Review

I thought the food, service, and décor were all quite good at the newly renovated Giordano’s pizzeria in Hyde Park, which reopened this week after several months of remodeling. I’ll leave it at that and let people who know about restaurants fill in the details. What struck me about the place was that the tabletops are perfect for chess. Just bring pieces, and the board’s right there. The squares are about two inches and take standard-size chessmen just fine.

Props to Giordano’s, by the way, for preserving the historically significant glazed façade of the building. Hyde Parkers of a certain age will remember that the space was once the site of the Eagle, a classic neighborhood bar that closed in the late 1970s.

photo: Michael Panelas

Iron Man

In a loss to Arizona, we learn that Angelo Young is even more amazing than we thought.

Okay, sure, we lost. To Arizona. For the fourth time in a row. And we’ve never beaten or even drawn them, it’s true. And yes, the loss puts our fading playoff hopes on life support.

All duly noted.

If you’re predisposed to negativity, those might be your impressions from Monday night’s Blaze match against the Scorpions.

But the real news of the night was this:

IM Angelo Young, who we knew was amazing, is even more amazing than we imagined.

He wasn’t even scheduled to play last night, but when a teammate took sick Monday morning he rearranged his schedule and obligingly stepped in to play Board 1, with a huge time penalty (because of the last-minute substitution) against freshly qualified GM-elect Rogelio Barcenilla, whose rating exceeds Angelo's by 258 points.

It didn’t seem to bother Angelo, either, that he was putting his undefeated USCL record on the line under extremely difficult circumstances. And I think I know why: because somehow he must have known that he was going to win.

With no time for dinner, much less to prepare for the game, Angelo played fast, played great, double fianchettoed, won material, and won the game, all while wolfing down appetizers from Tandoor India to keep his blood sugar from crashing.

It was a great game and a superb achievement. It not only extends Angelo’s undefeated streak from the time the Blaze joined the league last year, but it gives him a shot at his second Upset of the Week prize of the season. He has now played every board for the Blaze at least once, and he’s never lost. Congratulations, Angelo, and thanks so much for pinch hitting on such short notice.

True, the rest of the night didn’t go so well for the Blaze. Here are the games:

1. IM Angelo Young (CHC) vs IM Rogelio Barcenilla (ARZ) 1-0
2. IM Dionisio Aldama (ARZ) vs IM Florin Felecan (CHC) 1-0
3. IM Mehmed Pasalic (CHC) vs IM Danny Rensch (ARZ) 1/2-1/2
4. David Adelberg (ARZ) vs NM Eric Rosen (CHC) 1-0

As always, we must give special thanks to our Celebrity Tournament Director for the night, a role played ably and diligently for the second time this season by Mike Cardinale of the Youth Chess Foundation of Chicago.

Next week is Week 9, and we play the reigning champion Dallas Destiny on Monday night. We will have to win (not draw) to have any remaining playoff chances at all. Watch this space for more.

P.S. Though it has been expected for some time, a note of congratulations is in order for our very own Florin Felecan (the 2009 Illinois state co-champion, by the way), who has had his international master title formally approved by the the World Chess Federation. Henceforth, he is IM Felecan. Congratulations, Florin.

Upcoming Events at TMCC

If you haven’t been to the Touch Move Chess Center lately, it’s time to check in. IM Angelo Young has revamped the Web site, giving it a new design and new features, and he’s planning a series of tournaments and lectures. For example:

¶ A G/30 tournament today beginning at 11:00 AM

¶ Friday-night Blitz, every Friday from 7:30 – 10:00 PM.

Angelo is also beginning a series of weekend lectures both for scholastic players and adults. Stay tuned for more information here or watch the TMCC Web site.

The club is located at 5639 North Ashland in Chicago. Call (773) 293-6667 or email them at tmchesscenter@hotmail.com.

Chess Tournament in Hyde Park!

Rated Event at U of C Next Saturday

No, it’s not a typo. There really will be a genuine USCF-rated chess tournament right here in Hyde Park next Saturday, thanks to the University of Chicago Chess Club. Details:

Saturday, October 24, 2009

The Reynolds Club -- 5706 S. University Ave, Chicago, IL

USCF rated only (not FIDE rated).

4-SS G/60+10 Sec increment. $1225 b/60
(An increase of $525 over the last prize fund we offered at this site!).

EF: $30 preentry, $40 at the site. $10 discount to U of C students. IDs will be checked at site and discount given at site. All pre-entries will be put in a drawing for a Chessbase software package of your choice.

Prize Fund: (All class prizes based on 4 per section) 1st $400, 2nd $250, 3rd
$150,Expert/A $125,B $100, C $100, D + below and Unrated $75, Biggest Upset $25.

Registration: 9:00am-9:45am Round Times: 10am-12:30pm-3:00pm-5:30pm.

Info/Preentries: Chris Baumgartner, 9985 Linda Ln Apt 2E, Des Plaines, IL 60016
(please make checks payable to Chris Baumgartner) Phone: 847-609-2987 Email:
mcafide@yahoo.com.

Here's the official listing on the Illinois Chess Association calendar.

Here's a flyer you can tack up on the fridge. And a hat tip to NM Jeremy Kane, team’s captain and also the new Ray School chess coach, for sending me the information.

Blaze Game of the Week

NM Eric Rosen annotates his victory over NM Andrew Ng


Eric’s outstanding chess summer is turning into a great fall, beginning with his thrilling victory with the Closed Sicilian in his first USCL game last Wednesday night.

Go here to see the game with Eric’s annotations.