• Stephen Christopher Memoiral
• Pierce County Championship
• Northwest Open
• Daffodil Open
• Tacoma City Championship
• TCC Open & Novice #1
• TCC Open & Novice #2
• Evergreen Empire Open
• Pierce County Action Championship
• Fire Cracker Swiss
• Pierce County Open
• TCC Summer Championship
• Tacoma Chess Club Championship
• Puget Sound Open
• TCC G/60 #3
• Christmas Congress

Stephen Christopher Memorial

January 29-30, 2005

Tournament Report

Fourteen players competed in the Stephen Christopher Memorial, which was held at the Matrix, a game store and club on South Tacoma Way. Since most players paid the economy entry fee ($10), they were not eligible for prize money. Stephen Buck was one such economy player who could have won had he not paid the economy fee. Paul Barton bested Mike MacGregor in the final round to take first prize, $60, and was undefeated with 4.5 points. Mark Ryan and Eric Holcomb tied in Group 1 and split the prize money, $24.50 each, and each had three points. Lisa Still won Group 2 with three points and took home a check for $45. Because of the low turn out--only six players paid to compete for prize money--there was no Group 3.

A few of these games are available for viewing thanks to the completed and returned scoresheets.

Pierce County Championship

February 4, 11, 18, 25; March 4, 2005

Tournament Report

The Pierce County Championship was held at the Tacoma Chess Club. Mike MacGregor won first overall with five points. Eric Holcomb won first place for players rated under 1700. David Wight and Bill Rogers split first place for players rated under 1500. Entry fee was $5 and $20 was paid to each place category. Interestingly there was only one draw in the tournament. A number of these games are available for viewing.

Northwest Open

March 5-6, 2005

Tournament Report

The Northwest Open was held at the Seattle Chess Club because Table Top Games of Tacoma cancelled their agreement to host, which was negotiated last year, and cancelled on the same day as the Stephen Christopher Memorial. Enough thanks cannot be given to the Seattle Chess Club for providing an economical solution for hosting this tournament.

Twenty-three players competed in the tournament, a noticeable number of them from the Seattle area. Moreover, a significant number of them were minors who played and won more experienced opponents. Megan Lee, paired number 22, beat opponents paired numbers 23, 14, and 10. Michael Wang, paired number 21, bested number 8, who thereafter withdrew from the tournament. There were many more upsets which can be noted from analyzing the crosstable. Paul Bartron won the third round game against Michael MacGregor, drew round four, and finished with a win in round five to be the only undefeated player, scoring 4.5 points and winning the tournament. He earned a check for $102.50. Geoffrey Gale and H.G. Pitre tied for first in Group One, scoring 3.5 points, and each received a check for $30.75. Stephen Buck and Kamran Hughes tied for first in Group Two, scored 3.0 points, and each received a check for $28.70. Lastly Alex Guo won clear first in Group Three, scored 2.5 points, and received a check for $53.30.

The tournament was a success because of the competition, decided and excited games, the youth turnout, and number of upsets. The Tacoma Chess Club needs now only to ensure future tournament events are advertised with a fixed site in advance.

Daffodil Open

April 16, 2005

Tournament Report

The Daffodil Open was held at Freighthouse Square near the Tacoma Dome. Although the location is ideal for action chess, the Pierce County Action Championship last year only had eight players. This year the Daffodil drew 17 players. Michael MacGregor won the tournament with a perfect score, winning all five games, a check for $60 and a $25 gift certificate to Freighthouse Square. Geoffrey Gale won first place for Under 2000 and a check for $50. Blake Salisbury won first place for Under 1700 and a check for $50. Peter Meisner, Samuel Meisner, and Christian Rawlings split the Under 1500 prize, each receiving a check for $13.33.

The ratings listed are Action ratings for games of 30 minutes or less. This tournament had a time control of 30 minutes per player per game. Bill McGeary was paired in good faith in round one, but did not show and was therefore subsequently withdrawn from the tournament.

Tacoma City Championship

April 1,8,22,29; May 6, 2005

Tournament Report

Mike MacGregor was undefeated and won the tournament with 4.5 points. Eric Holcomb won the Under 1700 category with 2.5 points and he was the only player in that category. Carl Nighswonger won the Under 1500 category with 3.0 points. Ratings used are those of the club.

You may view some of the games played in this event.

TCC Open & Novice #1

May 21, 2005

Tournament Report

Mike MacGregor was undefeated and won the tournament with 4.0 points and was paid $50. Kyle McCormick, active duty officer stationed at Fort Lewis, won the bottom half of the section with 2.0 points for $40. Collin Wisdom, the tenth player, played by request of the Tournament Director, Gary Dorfner, so that there would be an even number of participants. Collin did not pay to play and so was not eligible for prize money. Collin and Kyle are both new members of the Tacoma Chess Club and will be a welcome addition.

Although this tournament was originally planned for two sections, Open and Novice, with time controls of G/60 and G/30, respectively, there were not enough players for two sections. The library again proved to be an ideal place for chess because of its location, quiet surroundings, and cleanliness. Unfortunately, not enough players benefited from this fine format and location. Since the club plans on having three more such tournaments this year, hopefully more players will take advantage of the future events.

You may view most of the games played in this event.

TCC Open & Novice #2

June 11, 2005

Tournament Report

Mike MacGregor and Steve Buck were undefeated and won the tournament with 3.5 points and were paid $25 each. Kyle McCormick, active duty officer stationed at Fort Lewis, won the Under 1500 section, which consisted of two players, and received a check for $20, which was the amount of the entry fee.

This event was the debut tournament at the club's new location. Although only six participants competed, the room proved ideal for chess. And with each week the club continues to improve the club ambiance for chess. Hopefully, in the next few months the club can invite more to play in their chess tournaments.

Evergreen Empire Open

July 2-3, 2005

Tournament Report

The Evergreen Empire had 23 entrants although one never appeared and a few others withdrew after suffering upsets. Brian Esler was most successful. At a rating of 1704 he only lost to Nick Raptis, rated 2340, and therefore was the sole winner of Group 2 with 3.5 points, and received a check for $50. Nick Raptis was undefeated, winning all five games, for first place overall and a check of $90. Geoffrey Gale won the Economy Group with 3.5 points and qualified for $45. Joshua Sinanan and Vlajko Lakic tied for first in Group 1, 3.5 points each, and each got a check for $25. Alex Guo, much like Brian Esler, only lost one game and delivered upsets to his remaining opponents. He scored 3.0 points and received a check for $50.

The Tacoma Chess Club thanks all for participating. Although the site is ideally accessible in downtown Tacoma, it is a few hundred yards from a train route and concentration is periodically disrupted by train horns as they approach railroad crossings. We hope that all may find a way to forbear with this inconvenience when it occurs. Thanks.

Pierce County Action Championship

July 16, 2005

Tournament Report

The Pierce County Action Championship as advertised was cancelled due to a lack of participation. It was advertised for five rounds, but there simply were not enough players to make it work. Paul was present but sick. To avoid a complete waste of time by those who made the trip, Paul graciously accepted to participate in a rated Quad. The winners of the tournament, Mike MacGregor and Stephen Buck, were returned their entry fee.

Action-rated chess is so called because there is one time control. Each player has 30 minutes to win or draw by force or forfeit on time. Ratings used are Action ratings.

Firecracker Swiss

July 8, 15, 22, 2005

Tournament Report

The Fire Cracker Swiss was a three-round event held at the Tacoma Chess Club on Friday nights. Eric Holcomb won the event with a perfect score, three points. Michael MacGregor and Paul Bartron came in second with 2.5 points. No prize money was issued. Again, congratulations to Eric for his perfect score.

Pierce County Open

August 20-21, 2005

Tournament Report

Paul Bartron drew both of his higher seeded opponents and won his remaining games to finish undefeated with four points, and won the tournament. Because only nine players competed, the prize fund for first place was only $70. Geoffrey Gale won the prize fund, $45, for Group 1, with 3.5 points. Constantine Etingher won $42, Group 2, with 2.5 points. Although only nine players competed, this was the first tournament I can remember where more than half of the field were above rating 2000. Because of other commitments, Joshua Sinanan did not play on the second day. Congratulations to Paul for playing a good tournament.

Since the United States Chess Federation is now updating and maintaing cross tables for tournaments within a week or so after the tournaments are played, USCF-rated tournament cross tables may be obtained by clicking on the tournament name link, which is above the tournament report and opens a separate browser window. For tournament cross tables of club-rated events, the cross table will appear as before.

TCC Summer Championship

August 5, 12, 19, 26, 2005

Tournament Report

Mike MacGregor and Paul Bartron tied for first overall with the undefeated score of 3.5/4. Stephen Buck won first place for Under 1800, and David Wight won first for the Under 1500 Class.

The story of the tournament was the appearance of two unrated and new members of the club, Tony Grier and Logan MacGregor. Tony Grier upset Larry Anderson, seeded number four, in the second round when Larry succumbed to a daring sacrificial attack. Tony will definitely have a good rating shortly. Tony also had a good game against Stephen Buck but captured a poisoned pawn in a major piece endgame, losing his queen to a rook, and eventually lost. He was paired agianst Paul Bartron in the third round, but didn't appear and was forfeited, which is unfortunate because that would have been a good game to see. On the other hand, Logan MacGregor, also unrated, played his first game in round three, defeating Carl Nighswonger, a seasoned Class C player. Most of these games may be viewed.

Tacoma Chess Club Championship

September 23, 30; October 7, 14, 21, 28, 2005

Tournament Report

Mike MacGregor won all six games to become the 2005 Tacoma Chess Club Champion. Paul Bartron finished with 4.5 points, his only defeat coming against the champion. H.G. Pitre won Class A. Larry Anderson won Class B. John Hornickle won Class C. Bill Rogers won Class D. Each of the Class Champions finished with 4.0 points.

Most of the games may be viewed.

Puget Sound Open

October 22-23, 2005

Tournament Report

Geoffrey Gale capitalized on the mistakes of both Pupols and M. MacGregor, his top-seeded opponents, to finish undefeated with a decisive 5-0 score. Another notable upset was gained by Gregory Prentice over Paul Bartron in the fourth round. Prentice was up a piece as Black, and White's king was stuck on d1. Gregory finished with 4.0 points, as did Viktors Pupols. Gale won first overall, and received a check for $86. Prentice won Group 1, and received a check for $52. Raleigh Foster won Group 2 and $48. John Hornickle won Group 3 and $45. A total of 17 players participated, which consisted of one Master, two Experts, two Class A players, six Class B players, four Class C players, one Class D player, and one unrated player.

Please see Games for the scores and analysis.

TCC G/60 #3

November 12, 2005

Tournament Report

Although the three top seeded players finished undefeated, it was Geoffrey Gale, once again, who came out on top with only one draw for a final score of 3.5 points out of a possible four, and $50 for first place. Michael MacGregor and Paul Bartron each had two draws to tie for second place with 3.0 points, and a check for $20, the equivalent of their entry fee. Constantine Etingher finished with 3.0 points, his only loss came against Paul, to win the U1700 Section and a check for $30. John Rosell won $30 for finishing with 2.5 points in the U2000 Section.

Christmas Congress

December 10-11, 2005

Tournament Report

Considering there were two other northwest tournaments scheduled for the same day--the Slugfest on Bainbridge Island and the Intermatch with British Columbia--11 players showed up in Tacoma for this year's Christmas Congress. With only one Master and one Expert in attendance, it was expected that their match would determine the overall winner of the tournament. However, Fred Kleist upset Michael MacGregor in the third round and put himself in a position to win the tournament if he could gain 1.5 points in the final two rounds. Stephen Buck upset Fred in the fourth round, however. They then both won their fifth round games, and shared 1st place overall, and each received $47. In addition, Clint Ballard donated $100 to the overall winner as a token of good faith because his tournament was scheduled in conflict with this one. The extra $100, however, was conditional: it could not be split. The players and the T.D. agreed to use the tie-break system to determine who would qualify for this extra $100, and Fred Kleist won by half a point, 12.5 to 12.0 over Steve, although the latter was lower rated and had won their fourth-round game. John Hornickle won 1st place in Group 2, and a check for $32.

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
N = House player doesn't play

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