In a dramatic finish that inspired applause from the onlookers, Lily Briggs, a 12th grade homeschooler from Lubec, Maine, defeated defending Girls Champion Margaret Bryan to become the 2007 Maine Girls Scholastic Chess Champion. Lily's perfect score of four wins without a loss or a draw, earned her the right to represent the State of Maine at the Susan Polgar National Invitational Chess Championship for Girls during the United States Chess Championship held later this year in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Here's the illustrated tournament report with crosstables and the championship game annotated by Fritz 9.
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The 2nd Annual Maine Scholastic Chess Championship for Girls will take place this Saturday, March 3, 2007 in the Bumps Room of the Memorial Union of the University of Maine, Orono. This tournament will determine the Girls State Champion and qualify the winner for an opportunity to represent the State of Maine at the Susan Polgar National Invitational Championship for Girls on July 29 - August 3, 2007 in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. This tournament is NOT cancelled because of snow. It will be held as scheduled: Registration 8:30 - 9:00 a.m., First Round starts at 9:15 a.m. If you will be delayed, or if you have registered and can't make it, please call TD Dan DeLuca at (207) 479-4474 or Assistant TD Andy Bryan at (207) 949-0641.
Chess pieces don't normally talk back to their players.
Yet this was the case on Saturday at the Gray Public Library, when New Hampshire librarian and educator Michael Sullivan led a game of "living chess," with humans standing in for chess pieces on a room-sized board.
It is with deepest sadness that we report the passing of George E. O'Rourke. George enjoyed summers in Surry, Maine and was a member of the Ellsworth Chess Club as well as the Westford, Wachusett and MetroWest clubs in Massachusetts. Always willing to play all comers and share his extensive knowledge of the game he was a special presence at the club and will be sorely missed. Our heartfelt condolences go out to George's family and friends.
The field for this year's All Saints Winter Warm-Up tournament, held at the All Saints School in Bangor on Saturday, February 24, 2007, consisted of thirty-six closely matched players. This was evidenced by multiple two- and three-way ties for first place in the K-12, K-8 and K-6 sections. In the Open section, Ghezai Menelik continued his winning streak finishing just half a point over his second place rival Curt Brock. The K-3 section winner was the tournament's only unbeaten and untied player, Max DeLuca Lowell.
Come to the All Saints Winter Warm-Up tournament in Bangor on Saturday, February 24, 2007. With K-3, K-6, K-8, K-12 and Open sections this tournament has a place for everyone. As its name implies, the Winter Warm-Up is an ideal training ground for the State Scholastic Championships coming up in March. For more information please follow the link below. Hope to see you there.
This tournament marks the six month anniversary of the Washington County Chess Federation (WCCF) swiss tournaments. The WCCF is the brainchild of chess dad and tournament director Alba Briggs and has served to promote chess in Washington County and Eastern Maine in general. In this event, it was Roger Morin scoring an unbeaten and untied 4 points to take first place followed by siblings Hoty and Lily Briggs sharing second with 3 points.
Twenty-four players competed in six quads at the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre Tournament at the University of Maine, Orono on Saturday, February 17, 2007. Here's the illustrated tournament report with crosstables.
Daniel Bourgeois-Capozzi has won the 2006 - 2007 University of Maine Chess Championship, which was open to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled full-time at the University of Maine. The runner-up was Colin Campbell, and third place was taken by Brian Chick.
Come out and shake off the cold this weekend with your choice of two tournaments: The Saint Valentine's Day Quads at the University of Maine, Orono and the Washington County Chess Federation Ferbuary Swiss in Pembroke. Information on the tournaments and the history of Saint Valentines Day courtesy of
