Six Tie at 2009 Maine Chess Championship
09.28.09 A six-way tie for first place was the result at the 2009 Maine Chess Championship held at Southern Maine Community College on September 19-20. The Co-Champions are: David Plotkin (2123), Alan Schalk (2081), Roger Morin (2009), Ruben Babayan (1991), Richard Judy (1919) and Andrey Savov (1851). Here's the richly-illustrated tournament report with USCF crosstables.
Thanks to Phil Lowell and Lee Doucette for contributing to this report.
Thirty-four players competed in the open section of the 2009 Maine Championship and another ten in the Rated Beginners Open section. The tournament was played in five rounds over two days at a time control of 40 moves in 90 minutes followed by a sudden death time control of game in 60 minutes, that means some games had the potential of lasting for up to five hours--a statistic that places this kind of tournament chess on par with some endurance atheletic events.
Pairings for the last round pitted the top four contenders (David Plotkin-Roger Morin and Alan Schalk-Richard Judy) against each other and the results would have been different if both of those games did not end in draws but they did and this fact combined with Ruben Babayan and Andey Savov both winning their final games resulted in the six-way log jam at the top.
John Gaspar (1699) and Matthew Reale-Hatem turned in exceptional results both scoring 3.5 points. Gaspar won the Class B prize and Reale-Hatem took home the U1400 prize. Reale-Hatem, rated 1156 before the tournament, drew his last round game with John Brady to miss the title by the narrowest of margins. We predict great things for this young man in his chess future.
Following these two lead groups were six players scoring 3.0 points, they were: John Brady (1753), Barry Magda (1764), John Buxton (1692), Nathaniel Byrans (1716), Gabe Borland (1553) and Dan DeLuca (1486). Borland and DeLuca shared the Class C prize.
In the Rated Beginners Open Terrence Kirk (unr) and Charles Rotmil (1100) tied for first each scoring 4.0 points. The leaders were followed by William Bonney (unr) and Scott Overlock (1065) with 3.0 points.
Congratulations to our newest state champions and to all who participated in this heritage tournament.
Thanks to Phil Lowell for organizing this event and to Lee Doucette for acting as Chief Tournament Director.
2009 Maine Chess Championship Crosstable
2009 Maine Rated Beginners Open Championship Crosstable
The final round match-ups: David Plotkin (left) and Roger Morin and...
Richard Judy (left) and Alan Schalk. Both of these games ended in draws which allowed all four players to share the title with...
Ruben Babayan and...
Andrey Savov (left).
John Gaspar (left) won the Class B prize scoring 3.5 points. Here he is playing David Plotkin to a draw in round 2.
Matthew Reale-Hatem here pictured with assistant tournament director Phil Lowell also scored 3.5 points to win the U1400 prize.
The group of 3.0 point getters included John Brady...
Barry Magda
Jon Buxton
Nathaniel Bryans
Gabe Borland and
Dan DeLuca.
Phil Lowell scored 2.5 points as well as...
John Phythyon
Aaron Spencer
Rob Shore
Curt Brock (left) and...
Frank DiRenzo.
MECA Vice President Jon Malev
Max Berube
Wesley Parker plays the Orthodox Defense to the Queen's Gambit Declined.
Phil St. Jean (right) plays Zach Grant in round 4.
John Jones (right) faces Brett Parker's 1. b4
Steve Kaluzynski
Brandon Greaton (foreground left) plays John Gaspar while Frank Direnzo (background left) takes on Rob Shore.
Terrance Kirk shared first in the Rated Beginners Open with...
Charles Rotmil.
Scott Overlook scored 3.0 points in the RBO section along with...
William Bonney.
Mitchell Richardson (left) plays Elias Daiute in the last round of the RBO.
Brian Roderick (left) vs Rodney Cunningham (aka David Rice)
Nathaniel Bryans (left) chats with Andrey Savov before the start of round 1.
MECA presidential candidate Andy Bryan (standing left) speaks with Roger Morin.
Thanks to Southern Maine Community College for hosting the championship and...
thanks to Tournament Director Lee Doucette.
Between rounds players could walk to the "158" an eclectic cafe with great sandwitches and coffee.
South Portland is a major shipping port.
A closer look at the tanker Heather Knutsen
South Portland Maine's oldest landmark: The Old Settllers Cemetery 1658
Not the US Open in Hawaii, The 2009 Maine Championship in South Portland, Maine.
We hope to see you at the 2010 Maine State Chess Championship!
Comments
I must point out the fine performance of Jon Buxton, who defeated two class A players and played three of the eventual co-champions -- more than anyone else.
Posted by: John Gaspar | October 4, 2009 12:08 PM
Hi Charles,
Congratulations on your performance at the Maine RBO Championship and thanks for your comments on ChessMaine.net
I should have included the ratings of all players mentioned but it gets to be a time issue. I only have so much of it and I don't want to delay publishing the report any longer than I have to. Because of your request however, I did add the information you suggested.
As for the U1200 players in the Open, any player can "play up", that is, play in a higher rated section. That is their choice and is often recommended by chess coaches in order to have their students experience chess play at a higher level.
Looking forward to seeing you at the next event.
Dan DeLuca
Web Editor
Posted by: Dan
|
September 30, 2009 11:15 AM
Great coverage as usual.Your prose and photography are always so excellent. This was the most friendly Maine Championship I have ever played in. Roger
Posted by: roger morin | September 30, 2009 8:39 AM
Is Max Berube the son of Bernard Berube? If so, I wish someone would have Bernard send me an email at sdthyn@gmail - he was a classmate of mine at the University of Maine at Farmington.
Posted by: Steve Thyng | September 29, 2009 2:42 PM
Thanks for nice report. But why did you not mention ratings of the so called beginner players? I thought they were more the under 1200 group. I noticed some below 1200 played in the upper level. makes no sense...and did well...
charles
look forward to the next event. I thought all the players I played were excellent and the games were very challenging and wonderful.
Posted by: charles rotmil | September 29, 2009 8:38 AM
A group of chess players checked into a hotel and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After an hour, the manager came out and asked them to disperse.
"But why," they asked as they moved off.
"Because," he said, "I can't stand chess-nuts boasting in an open foyer."
Posted by: Fred Irons | September 28, 2009 10:24 PM
One word covers it..STUNNING...The Maine chess community has come to expect no less from you and your people.
Posted by: dave rice | September 28, 2009 8:15 PM