01.15.07 Forty-four players turned out over the MLK weekend for three tournaments at Southern Maine Community College in South Portland. The James R. F. Quirk Memorial, the Gertrude Lowell Rated Beginners Open and the Portland Quick Chess Double Round Robin were all part of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend Chess Extravaganza, Maine's first tournaments of the new year.

Clash of Titans: Ruben Babayan (left) plays co-winner of the Quirk Memorial Max Enkin

Before we get into the details of the tournament results here is a rememberance of James R. F. Quirk by Robert A. Leach that appeared in the Winter 1997 edition of Maine Chess Communique, The Maine Chess Association Newsletter.

Downeast Chess founder dies in Louisiana at 50

One of the major forces in Maine Chess, who has been missed since leaving the state in the '80s, died February 23, 1997, in Alexandria, Louisiana at the age of 50.

James Quirk, founder of Downeast Chess, died of a heart-attack while exercising on a stationary bicycle, according to a colleague at Louisiana State University.

Although Jim was a strong player of expert caliber, his greatest contribution to the local chess culture was his organizational skills. He directed a slew of tournaments each year under an organization he created and named Downeast Chess. Most of these events were held in the southern half of the state. And, pioneering the concept of "Maine Chess Player of the Year," Quirk built additional interest in the series of tournaments throughout the year.

Between George Cunningham and Jim, they directed almost every chess tournament held in the State of Maine in the '70s and '80s. Active chessplayers knew Jim and George as the predominate directors.

Only 50 years old at his passing, Jim's accomplishments far exceed his brief time on this planet. In 1964, he became the youngest graduate ever of Colby College at the age of 18. He went on to earn masters degrees from the University of Southern Maine and Middlebury College.

In Maine, he was a computer science professor at the University of Southern Maine. Later, he served as a professor of computer science at Louisiana State University in Alexandria.

He also enjoyed coaching college soccer and hockey. Jim was by no means a one-dimensional person.

Bruce Johnson, a friend an fellow professor at LSUA, said in an email to Jim Dubois, "I knew Jim about as well as anyone at LSUA did. I had the office across from his. We even shared the same phone line. I liked Jim and I miss him. We did a lot of 'punning' together."

I remember Jim's cutting quips. After losing two games in my first USCF tournament at Bowdoin College in 1983, I got an involuntary bye in the third round and wondered if I'd ever win a game. But my first real point came with a win in Round 4. When I reported the result to Jim, his eyes narrowed, then he grinned and said "Miricles do happen!"

Most Maine chess players will remember Jim for his well-run tournaments. They were well organized, his word was law, and he was not afraid to make a decision and stick to it. Sometimes those firm decisions were controversial, but no one questioned his overall capabilities or integrity. Others had more mundane memories. After a long pause, Stuart Laughlin said that Quirk was prone to requiring all clocks to face the same way.

Knowing James R. F. Quirk, I wouldn't be suprised if he organized a tournament in heaven and if he talked God into pushing the first pawn on board one!

Farewell Jim.

James R. F. Quirk Memorial Tournament

A three-way tie for first ensued between master-rated player Max Enkin (2249), state champion Joseph St. Pierre (2018) and co-champion of the 2006 Maine Rating Floor Open, Derrick Crocker (1154). Each player finished with three points albeit in different configurations. Enkin took two wins and a two draws, St. Pierre, two wins a draw and a bye and Crocker, three wins and a single loss. Enkin was nicked for two draws by St. Pierre in round two and Lucas McCain (1518) in round 4. Following the leaders were Ruben Babayan (2044) and Lucas McCain with two and a half points.

In the Under 1600 section it was Joel Penley (1580) scoring a perfect four points to top the twelve player field. Tied for second were Curt Brock (1344) and Matthew Colson (1250) with three points followed by a pack of six players with two points.

The Gertrude Lowell Rated Beginners Open attracted a record number of participants for a RBO, fueled in part by the new Coastal Maine Scholastic Club in Cape Elizabeth. Twelve of the sixteen players, including the winner of the tournament, are club regulars. Max Berube (945) blanked the field with four points. Robert Nixon (1091), Kris Fecteau (824) and Robert Freccero (Unr) tied for second with three points apiece.

Action was the watchword at the Portland Quick Chess (Game in 15) Double Round Robin. Ruben Babayan scored a daunting eight out of ten to take first in sextet one. He was followed by Lucas McCain with six points and tournament director-cum-player Phil Lowell (1803) with five and a half. In the second grouping, Joel Penley continued his winning ways with a blazing eight and a half out of nine well ahead of Robert Nixon and David Rice (1517) who scored five and a half to share second place. Scott Overlock (894) took the top score of the bottom half of the field with five points.

Co-winner Max Enkin

Co-winner Joseph St. Pierre (right) analyzing with Andrey Savov

Co-winner Derrick Crocker

Under 1600 section winner Joel Penley

Rated Beginners Open winner Max Berube with the spoils of victory

Lucas McCain (left) and Andrey Savov look at a position

Scott Overlock (left) plays chess dad, Mark Parker

Tournament Director, Phil Lowell over the board at quick chess

RBO top finishers left to right (other than Max Berube): Bob Nixon, John Soong (South Portland High School and Costal Maine Scholastic Chess Club), Kurt Fecteau (University of Southern Maine), Brett Parker (Cape Elizabeth and CMSCC), Danny Brett (Cape Elizabeth and CMSCC), Jack Demeter (Cape Elizabeth and CMSCC), Peter Campbell (Cape Elizabeth and CMSCC) and Anthony Freccero (Scarborough and CMSCC)

Intergenerational Match: Peter Campbell hits the clock during his game with David Rice

Lee Doucette (right) facing a tough challenge from Sanders Wommack

Back over the board after a three-year hiatus: James Haller

Results Quirk Memorial Tournament Open Section

#	Player	Rtg	Rd1	Rd 2	Rd 3	Rd 4	Total
1	Max Enkin	2249	W9	D2	W4	D5	3.0
2	Joseph St. Pierre	2018	W5	D1	W6	Bye	3.0
3	Derrick Crocker	1154	W7	L4	W9	W8	3.0
4	Ruben Babayan	2044	W8	W3	L1	D6	2.5
5	Lucas McCain	1518	L2	W9	W8	D1	2.5
6	Andrey Savov	1713	Bye	W7	L2	D4	2.0
7	Jon Malev	1600	L3	L6	Bye	D9	1.0
8	S. Kaluzynski	1478	L4	Bye	L5	L3	1.0
9	Daniel DeLuca	1599	L1	L5	L3	D7	0.5

Results Quirk Memorial Tournament Under 1600 Section

#	Player	Rtg	Rd 1	Rd 2	Rd 3	Rd 4	Total
1	Joel Penley	1580	W3	W7	W4	W6	4.0
2	Curt Brock	1344	W8	W11	L6	W4	3.0
3	Matt Colson	1250	L1	W12	W5	W9	3.0
4	Nathan Bryans	1552	W10	W9	L1	L2	2.0
5	David Rice	1517	L7	W8	L3	W11	2.0
6	Lee Doucette	1429	L9	W10	W2	L1	2.0
7	Mark Seedner	1258	W5	L1	L9	W12	2.0
8	G. Teodorescu	Unr	L2	L5	W12	W10	2.0
9	Aaron Spencer	813	W6	L4	W7	L3	2.0
10	Matt Fishbein	1088	L4	L6	W11	L8	1.0
11	Charles Rotmil	Unr	W12	L2	L10	L5	1.0
12	Alan Kinney	Unr	L11	L3	L8	L7	0.0

Results Gertrude Lowell Rated Beginners Open

#	Player	Rtg	Rd 1	Rd 2	Rd 3	Rd 4	Total
1	Max Berube	945	W15	W3	W2	W6	4.0
2	Robert Nixon	1091	W14	W13	L1	W5	3.0
3	Kris Fecteau	824	W12	L1	W13	W9	3.0
4	Rob Freccero	Unr	L13	W14	W11	W7	3.0
5	John Soong	770	W16	W8	D7	L2	2.5
6	Peter Campbell	994	D7	W10	W8	L1	2.0
7	Brett Parker	725	D6	W11	D5	L4	2.0
8	Eric Turgeon	976	W9	L5	L6	W13	2.0
9	Daniel Brett	723	L8	W16	W15	L3	2.0
10	Scott Overlock	894	L11	L6	W12	W14	2.0
11	Jack Demeter	325	W10	L13	L4	D15	1.5
12	Mark Parker	Unr	L3	D15	L10	W16	1.5
13	James Haller	875	W4	L2	L3	L8	1.0
14	Dan Fishbein	752	L2	L4	W16	L10	1.0
15	Jordan Gattine	402	L1	D12	L9	D11	1.0
16	Nicholas Shedd	Unr	L5	L9	L14	L12	0.0

Results Portland Quick Chess Tournament Group 1

#	Player	Rtg	Total
1	Ruben Babayan	2042	8.0
2	Lucas McCain	1416	6.0
3	Phil Lowell	1901	5.5
4	Derrick Crocker	1167	4.5
5	Andrey Savov	1514	4.0
6	Daniel DeLuca	1567	2.0

Results Portland Quick Chess Tournament Group 2

#	Player	Rtg	Total
1	Joel Penley	1289	8.5
2	David Rice	1351	5.5
3	Bob Nixon	1240	5.5
4	Scott Overlock	887	5.0
5	Sanders Wommack	1093	4.5
6	Lee Doucette	1313	4.0
7	Peter Campbell	921	4.0
8	John Soong	Unr	4.0
9	Reed Wommack	376	3.0
10	James Haller	762	1.0