ChessMaine 1: News

The Lubec Chess Club continues to promote chess by offering opportunities to learn and play in Lubec and Washington County, Maine. A new series of monthly tournaments is being offered on Sundays at the Lubec Memorial Library alternating monthly between 5-round double Swiss G/3+2 and 3-round standard time control (G/45+5) tournaments. This month's edition was the Second Sunday Standard tournament. Nine players turned out despite monsoon-like rains to compete in an intimate tournament with the feel of an international invitational that was both challenging and highly enjoyable. Here's the illustrated tournament report.

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Join local chess instructor Ezra Sassaman for an Intro to Chess Workshop at the Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor on Friday, April 18th, 2025 (a half day for MDI elementary students) from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Drop in/drop out format - stay for as long as you like. Open to all ages and abilities. FMI see Intro to Chess with Ezra Sassaman.

Continue reading "Intro to Chess Workshop with Ezra Sassaman at the Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor, Friday April 18, 2025 from 1-4 p.m." »

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Chess players turned out in droves to compete in MDI Chess' No School Friday Chess Tournament on Saturday, March 14th at Northeast Harbor Library. Across the state, many students had that Friday off for a teacher professional development day. From Portland to Presque Isle and Auburn to Machias - students and adults came from every corner of the state. Here's the illustrated tournament report.

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Twelve players participated in a unique Sunday afternoon 5-Round Double Swiss G/3+2 blitz tournament at the Lubec Memorial Library on Sunday, March 2, 2025, in honor and remembrance of Shandi Hopkins the brother of Lubec Chess Club member Rafi Hopkins. Shandi was a kind, compassionate, curious, and intelligent soul. He was an ardent chess player and blitz chess specialist who played in Harvard Square and Washington Square Park and was a friend of IM Josh Waitzkin the subject of the book and film Searching for Bobby Fischer. Wherever chess is played his memory will always live.

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What are the favorite books of Maine chess players? What do you love/hate studying? What is your favorite chess story? What is one book that every chess player in Maine should read? Please take a minute to chime in on the survey linked below. Afterward, we will compile the results and share them with the community. Thanks!

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Chess competition can be hard to come by Downeast. This year has been especially tough with regional tournaments at All Saints Catholic School and John Bapst High School in Bangor cancelled this year. A more recent tradition, the MLK Day tournament at Cobscook Institute in January, was also cancelled due to a snow storm. So it is safe to say that student chess teams from Washington Academy, Machias Memorial High School and others were anxious to test their skills at this past weekend's Cobscook Institute's Winter Classic Chess Tournament.

Continue reading "How to Redeem MECA-Subsidized US Chess Student Memberships" »

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Chess competition can be hard to come by Downeast. This year has been especially tough with regional tournaments at All Saints Catholic School and John Bapst High School in Bangor cancelled this year. A more recent tradition, the MLK Day tournament at Cobscook Institute in January, was also cancelled due to a snow storm. So it is safe to say that student chess teams from Washington Academy, Machias Memorial High School and others were anxious to test their skills at this past weekend's Cobscook Institute's Winter Classic Chess Tournament.

Continue reading "Cobscook Institute Winter Chess Classic Tournament Report" »

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The Morin Memorial took place on November 23rd, 2024, and was held for the 4th straight year at the University of Maine Orono. This tournament was established to honor the memories of Roger and Lois Morin and as a fund-raising tournament to raise money for the Roger Morin Scholarship which was established by Roger's late wife Lois in 2019 after Roger passed away. The scholarship is awarded each year to a young player in Maine, more information on it is available here.

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The annual Maine Chess Player of the Year competition made a triumphant return in 2024 after a six-year hiatus. The competition is based on a player's 5 best performances in qualifying tournaments over the course of the year. For a tournament to qualify, it must be at least 3 rounds, be open to the public, and be a Swiss or similar format. For more information on the format/rules/qualifying tournaments/prizes, click here:

>> Maine Chess Player of the Year <<

Continue reading "Wyatt Hendrix Wins 2024 Maine Chess Player of the Year" »

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On Saturday, November 9th, 2024, 44 players competed in the 4th Annual SoPo High School Chess Tournament in South Portland, Maine. Here's the illustrated tournament report with US Chess crosstables.

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Second Sunday Standard in Lubec Tournament Report

April 19, 2025

Intro to Chess Workshop with Ezra Sassaman at the Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor, Friday April 18, 2025 from 1-4 p.m.

April 12, 2025

No School Friday Chess Tournament Report

April 12, 2025

The Shandi Hopkins Memorial Tournament Report

March 8, 2025

What are your Favorite Chess Books?

March 8, 2025

How to Redeem MECA-Subsidized US Chess Student Memberships

February 15, 2025

Cobscook Institute Winter Chess Classic Tournament Report

February 13, 2025

Roger and Lois Morin Memorial Tournament Report

February 6, 2025

Wyatt Hendrix Wins 2024 Maine Chess Player of the Year

January 25, 2025

4th Annual SoPo High School Chess Tournament Report

January 25, 2025