08.25.09 Thirteen players vied for prizes in the first ever East Millinocket Open on Saturday August 15, 2009. Roger Morin, the highest rated player, showed his dominance by winning all four of his rounds and taking the championship. Other winners were: Steve Abrahams (Class B), Roger Hardison (Class C), Margaret Bryan (Class D), Eli Daiute (under 1200) and David Ngo (under 800).

Thanks to Tournament Director Tom Sandford, Organizer Roger Morin and Andy Bryan for contributing to this report. Also many thanks to Darrell Salisbury for donating numerous chess books used as prizes at this and other chess tournaments in Maine.

After top-rated player and champion Roger Morin there were five Class B players (those with USCF ratings in the1600-1799 range). A new player to the Bangor area from out of state, Steve Abrahams, took the top prize in Class B with a score of 3.0 (losing only to Roger Morin). What are the odds that Steve Abrahams would look around the room in the basement of the East Millinocket town hall and find someone that he had met in Chicago? Steve Abrahams had represented New Hampshire at the 2006 Denker Tournament of High School Champions in Chicago, while Margaret Bryan represented Maine in Chicago at the 2006 Polgar National Invitational for Girls. It can be a small world.

Roger Hardison took the Class C (USCF 1400-1599) prize. Margaret Bryan and Yuri Riabkov tied in points for the Class D (USCF 1200- 1399) prize, but Margaret won the head-to-head encounter with her John Bapst chess coach. Eli Daiute won the under 1200 prize and David Ngo won the under 800 prize.

This year we got a great start in East Millinocket with Roger Morin being the driving force for tournaments north of the Bangor area. But next year we will strive to have two scholastic entrants each from Caribou, Presque Isle, Houlton, Fort Kent, and from the Millinocket area to make the 2nd East Millinocket Open even better.

East Millinocket Open Tournament Crosstable

Tournament winner Roger Morin (left) plays Lance Beloungie in round 2.

Class B winner Steve Abrahams (right) hunkers down during his game with Rob Shore.

Tournament Director Tom Sandford watches last round action between Steve Abrahams (left) and Gregory Shields. Roger Morin plays Magaret Bryan in the background.

Coach and Student: Yuri Riabkov (left) the coach of the John Bapst Memorial High School Chess Team plays his student Margaret Bryan. Margaret came out on top in this game.

Lois Morin, wife of first place finisher Roger Morin, plays Gregory Shields in round 2.

Under 800 winner David Ngo (right) plays Glen Snyder.

Class C winner Roger Hardison (left) and Under 1200 winner Eli Daiute have a go.

Prizes Abound: Margaret Bryan shows off her largess of cash, gift certificates, chess literature and a ribbon she received for claiming the Class D prize.

Downtown East Millinocket, Maine

Hope to see you next year at the 2nd Annual East Millinocket Open!