For the fourth consecutive year, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Southern Maine, Portland has offered Chess for Seniors during the spring semester, a class taught by retired principal, Frank Smith and retired psychiatrist, Jon Malev. The class is geared as an indroduction to the game for new players and as a refresher for those who have played and are now looking to get back over the board.
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SOUTH BERWICK, Maine ’Äî Paul Mehlhorn, principal of Marshwood High School, recently announced the Top 10 and Honor Graduates for the Class of 2007. At the top of the list was Joseph R. Grace III, Valetictorian and member of both the Marshwood High School chess and math teams. Congratulations Joe!
With a last round victory over Sergey Kudrin, GM Alexander Shabalov has won the 2007 US Championship with 7/9. Second place went to Alexander Onischuk who scored 6.5/9. The 2007 US Championship was a nine-round Swiss that took place from May 15 ’Äì 23, 2007, in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Making plans for this summer? There's a new option to consider: USA Chess Camps, the nation's No. 1 organizer of summer scholastic chess camps, has decided to come to Maine for the first time. They will be holding a camp in Cape Elizabeth at the Cape Elizabeth 
The Washington County Chess Federation continues its monthly offering of tournaments with the WCCF May Swiss this Saturday, May 19, 2007 at the Unobski School in Calais. Also on the horizon in the near future is the back by popular demand Friday Night G/35 tournament on Friday, June 1, 2007 in the Bumps Room at the University of Maine, Orono, Memorial Union. Hope to see you at these events!
As promised and thanks to our crack reporter on the scene, Dan Fishbein, we bring you images from the 2007 National Elementary Championship recently concluded in Nashville, Tennessee. Win, lose or draw, it was a great experience for our young Maine players. Does chess have a positive impact on kids? Consider this: A few hundred parents were allowed into a viewing area in the playing hall after the first 30 minutes of each round. At one point, a Tournament Director made the following announcement: (one that may only be possible in the chess world) "The children are complaining 
The results are in! Sam Grindle led his K-6 U1000 Deer Isle - Stonington team to a tied for 14th place finish with 5.5 points and also received the 18th place individual trophy in the K-6 U1000 section. In the K-5 U900 section, Matthew Reale-Hatem of Cape Elizabeth was Maine's high scorer with 4.0 points. The only Maine player in a Championship section, Matthew Fishbein, tied for 13th place in the K-3 Championship and took home the 17th place trophy.
After five rounds of the National Elementary (K-6) Championship in Nashville, Tennessee, Maine players are showing their stuff and holding their own against very strong opposition. With two rounds to go, Hayden Ciomei is leading his K-6 U1000 team with 4.0 points and Matthew Fishbien playing in the K-3 Championship section also has scored 4.0 points with his only loss being to second seed Kyle Shin (1675).
Fifteen elementary students from Cape Elizabeth and Deer Isle - Stonington are in Nashville, Tennessee competing in the National Burt Lerner National Elementary Championship. This group is the largest contingent of players from any one New England state. In all, over 2000 players from 45 states will be playing for national titles in K-6, K-5, K-3 and K-1 divisions.
Roger Morin USCF 2020 and Roger Peterson USCF 1828 were seeded at the top of the ten player field in the Open Section of the Washington County Chess Federation April Swiss played in Pembroke on April 14, 2007. Final standings put Roger Morin in first with 4 points, Lily Ann Briggs in second with 3 points, and Hoty Briggs in third with 2.5 points. Here is an illustrated tournament report including USCF crosstables.
