04.25.11 Alan Schalk defeated Jim Dubois in the final round of the Maine State Championship, played in Augusta on April 9-10, 2011, to score 5.0 points and become the 2011 State Champion. Matthew Fishbein, the tournament's youngest player, finished a clear second with 4.0 points. Richard Judy and Ruben Babayan tied for third with 3.5 points - both of which included half-point byes. Finishing with 3.0 were Jim Dubois, Barry Magda, Curt Brock, Don Plummer, and Dan Lavallee.

Thanks to Andy Bryan and Brian Roderick for contributing to this report.

Round One Results

The top two rated players Alan Schalk and Ruben Babayan won their first round games although Schalk needed all his time to defeat Barry Magda in a very tight match. Other first round winners were Matthew Fishbein, Andrey Savov, Aaron Spencer, Maggie Bryan, Kathy Richards, Don Plummer, Phil St. Jean, and Aaron Falzerano. Many draws due to accelerated pairings resulted in six players with 0.5 points: Steve Abrahams, Mark Woida, Curt Brock, Jon Buxton, Jose Lugo, and Dan Lavallee. There are 28 players competing in the two-day event. The playing room at Rooster's is excellent, and there is geniune comraderie among the players.

Key matchups in the second round are Schalk vs. Fishbein and Savov vs. Babayan. Richard Judy who took a bye in the first round is black against Aaron Spencer while Steve Abrahams is playing Kathy Richards. Jon Buxton will be playing Mark Seedner (1/2 point bye first round). Don Plummer will play Jim Dubois, and Maggie Bryan will meet Mark Woida in a battle of Ellsworth Chess Club members.

Round Two and Round Three Results

In the second round at the top board Alan Schalk defeated Matthew Fishbein in what Matthew described as a very strange game that was in the balance for quite some time before Schalk won. Aaron Spencer continued his strong play by defeating Richard Judy. Aaron completes his day with 2.5 points as he has requested a bye for the evening round. Maggie Bryan played Mark Woida to a draw to finish her day with 2.0 points as she also is taking a draw in the third round.

Schalk continued his strong play in the third round defeating Andrey Savov to move to 3.0 points and clear first. Spencer is in second with 2.5, while eight competitors have two points. The other heavyweight battle in the third round pitted Fishbein vs. Abrahams with Fishbein coming out on top. The fourth round begins at 9:30 Sunday morning.

Players with two points include: Savov, Fishbein, M. Bryan, Woida, Dubois, Barry Magda, Don Plummer, and Yuri Riabkov.

Round Four Results

Alan Schalk continues to show why he has the highest rating as he won his fourth consecutive game; this time with a quick victory over Aaron Spencer. Matthew Fishbein and Barry Magda won their games to advance to three points as well as Jim Dubois and Don Plummer. At 2.5 are Ruben Babyan, Richard Judy, and Aaron Spencer.

Key final round match-ups include Dubois vs. Schalk, Magda vs. Fishbein, Judy vs. Plummer, and Babayan vs. Spencer.

Schalk Runs the Table to Win State Championship

Alan Schalk defeated Jim Dubois in the final round to score 5.0 points and become the 2011 State Champion. Matthew Fishbein, the youngest player finished a clear second with 4.0 points. Richard Judy and Ruben Babayan tied for third with 3.5 points - both of which included half-point byes. Finishing with 3.0 were Jim Dubois, Barry Magda, Curt Brock, Don Plummer, and Dan Lavallee.

Barry Magda won the Class B prize with 3.0 points. Top C prize went to Don Plummer and Curt Brock. Dan LaVallee won the U1400 prize.

USCF Crosstable of this Event

Selected games from this event will be posted soon.

The champion at work at the board in round five.

Clear second place went to Matthew Fishbein who scored 4.0 points.

Alan Schalk (right) and Matthew Fishbein receive the adoration of the fans!

Ruben Babayan scored 3.5 points to tie for third with...

Richard Judy.

Five players scored 3.0 points: Jim DuBois

Barry Magda

Donald Plummer

Curt Brock and...

Dan LaVallee.

An even bigger logjam occurred with the 2.5-point getters. Jon Buxton headed the list of players tying for tenth place which included...

Aaron Spencer

Lance Beloungie

Mark Woida

Yuri Riabkov

Kathy Richards

Maggie Bryan

Lee Doucette and...

Dan Fishbein.

Among the two point getters were: Steve Abrahams

Aaron Falzerano

Andy Bryan and Andrey Savov (not pictured).

Nick Parsons

Jose Lugo

Phil St. Jean

Bill Loring

Anna Bryan (standing), who scored 1.5 points, kibbitzes in the tournament room.

Mark Seedner

Praying for divine intervention? Jim DuBois (right) focuses while Alan Schalk combs the board looking for a plan. Tournament director Phil Lowell is reflected in the mirror.

After the game was decided in Schalk's favor the two players engage in a post-mortem of what may have been.

Second-place finisher Matthew Fishbein (right) plays Barry Magda in round five.

Curt Brock, always dangerous, managed to win a four pawn vs four pawn endgame against Class A player Steve Abrahams.

Dan LaVallee (left) receives the U1400 prize and congratulations from TD Phil Lowell.

The tournament was graced with the presence of long-time Maine player George Zimbis.

The players on the top board are reflected in this artistic shot.

Notation a-la Boris Spassky. Yuri Riabkov's scoresheet shows impeccably neat long algebraic notation.

Don Plummer shows TD Phil Lowell his recently-completed game with Richard Judy as Judy looks on.

Matthew Fishbein (left) and Barry Magda discuss ideas in review of their game.

A view of the tournament room

The two-day tournament was held adjacent to Roosters Restaurant in Augusta (just opposite the Augusta Civic Center).

Another Maine winter down, we look forward to summer tournaments.