• Tacoma Chess Club Mini Swiss #1
• University Place Library Game 60
• Pierce County Championship
• Tacoma City Championship
• Daffodil Open
• Tacoma-Pierce County Action (G/30) Championship #1
• Evergreen Empire Open
• Pierce County Open
• Puget Sound Open

Tacoma Chess Club Mini Swiss #1

January 9, 16, 23, 2004

Tournament Report

Sixteen participants began the three-round "mini Swiss" tournament, although some did not start until the second round while others withdrew from the tournament. First place went to the undefeated Mike MacGregor. Six players shared second by scoring two points. The chess was fun for all and the club anticipates more club-rated tournaments in the future. The next is the Pierce County Championship, February 6 through March 5, 2004. To qualify for participation in this event, you only need be a resident of Pierce County.

University Place Library Game 60 #1

January 24, 2004

Tournament Report

Seven participants competed in the four-round Game/60 tournament at the University Place Library. Mike MacGregor won all four games and took first place overall. Steven Buck won first for the Under 1800 Category with two points. Michael Terrill drove all the way from Salem, Oregon, to win first place for the Under 1500 Category, with also two points. Although only seven played in the tournament, the library room was open, quiet and spacious and ideal for playing chess of this type. There is no room for analysis after games. The next game at this library is April 24-25, 2004.

Pierce County Championship

February 6, 13, 20, 27; March 5, 2004

Tournament Report

The first place finishers are as follows: Undefeated with five wins was Mike MacGregor, Champion. First place for Under 2000 was Larry Anderson with four points. Eric Woodlief scored 3.5 points for 1st Under 1700, Bill Rogers and David Wight tied for 1st Under 1400, and with 2.5 points, and Robert Trippel scored 2.5 to be the Junior Champion. Please note that this was a club-rated event and therefore ratings used were club ratings.

Tacoma City Championship

April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 2004

Tournament Report

After Paul lost the third round to Larry Anderson, Larry had to draw a couple of games to win on tiebreak, but Steve Buck won the fourth round against Larry and then it was Steve who had to draw his last round game against Paul Bartron, the highest ranked player of the tournament. As history would unfold, both Larry and Stephen lost key games in the final rounds and Paul Bartron, with only one defeat, was the champion. Please note that club-rated events use only club ratings to rank and pair the players.

Daffodil Open

April 24-25, 2004

Tournament Report

Of the 19 participants, nearly half placed for prize money. Michael MacGregor saved a losing position in time pressure to win against Elston Cloy, finished undefeated, scored 4.5 points, and was paid $101 for First Place. Elston Cloy, Ernst Rasmussen, and Steve Buck tied with three points and were paid each $20.33 for Group 1. Jaun LeRoux, Michael Moore, and Jim McAleer each tied with 2.5 points for Group 2, and were each paid $18.66. Lastly, Tad Kendrick and Krishnan Warrier scored 2.5 points in Group 3, and were each paid $26.50.

Tacoma-Pierce County Action Championship #1

May 15, 2004

Tournament Report

Eight players showed up at the first-ever Action Tournament (G/30) at Freighthouse Square in Tacoma, Washington. The event was club-rated. Paul Bartron played decisively and went undefeated with 4.5 points, took first place overall and earned $30 for champion. Both John Ward and Jaun Le-Roux scored 3.0 points and split first place for best under 1700, which gave them back their entry fee of $10.

Evergreen Empire Open 2004

July 17-18, 2004

Tournament Report

Twelve participants competed in the 2004 Evergreen Empire Open. With the exception of Geoffrey Gale, rated 2027 USCF, the remaining 11 players had ratings between 1200 and 1800, which made the tournament appear like a Class Event. Geoffrey Gale was undefeated, winning four games with a half-point bye, took first place overall and was paid $52.50. Ernst Rasmussen lost his only game to Mr. Gale and won Group 1, earning $31.50. Eric Holcomb lost to Ernst and Darren Wu, scoring three points to win Group 2, and was paid $29.40. Gabriel Blumenthal lost his only game to Mr. Gale also, won Group 3 and was paid $27.30. Darren Wu also had three points in Group 3, but decided to pay the Economy Entry Fee, $10, which exempts a player from prize money. Again the site at the University Place Library is spacious and ideal for serious chess. It's only fault is no place for analysis or socializing.

Pierce County Open

August 28-29, 2004

Tournament Report

Master Bobby Ferguson was a welcome participant as he makes his bid to return and qualify for the Washington State Championship. As regards the tournament, there was one Master, two Experts, one Class A, and the remaining 15 players were mostly Class B and Class C. First place overall and a check for $96 went to Michael MacGregor with 4.5 points. First place for Group 1 was split between Randy Walther and Michael Rompogren, 3.5 points and $29 paid to each. Group 2 was won solely by Kevin Binz with 3.5 points, $54. Group 3 was split between Jeremy Jusak and Andrew Alhajri, 2.5 points and $25 per person. The tournament was played in the spacious Lakewood Library, which proved a good location, although somewhat removed, for playing a tournament.

Puget Sound Open

October 23-24, 2004

Tournament Report

The 82nd Puget Sound Open was held at the University Place Library and was won by Mike MacGregor with 4.0 points, which netted him a check for $102.50. Bruce Gregg won Group 1 with 3.5 points and he earned $61.50. Stephen Buck and Dan Gay split first place in Group 2 with 3.5 points, and each received a check for $28.70. Group 3 was won by Alex Ostrow, $53.30, with 3.0.

W = Win = 1 point
B = Full-point Bye = 1.0 point
X = Win by Forfeit = 1 point
D = Draw = 0.5 point
H = Pre-requested Bye = 0.5 point
L = Loss = 0 point
F = Forfeit = 0 point
U = Withdrew from tournament

Scores in bold represent players who placed first in their category and/or won money.