12.13.15 With sixty-two USCF members participating, the 11th Annual Aurora Winter Solstice Tournament was the largest tournament, save the spring scholastic championships, that Maine has seen since 2004. Many thanks to all the players, parents, coaches, and volunteers for making this tournament a great success. Jarod Bryan won the open section and clinched the title of Maine Chess Player of the Year. Congratulations Jarod! Here's the richly illustrated tournament report with USCF crosstables.

USCF crosstable of this event

One of the nice things about the Aurora Winter Solstice is the wide variety of skill levels that it accommodates. With five sections, from U400 to Open, the tournament welcomed beginners competing in their first tournament right up through state champions some of whose ratings are nearing the 2300 mark!

The Open section had a strong field of ten players including three current and former state champions: Jarod Bryan, Matthew Fishbein, and Roger Morin, many strong class players, and Cynthia Cui who just returned from Greece where she participated in the World Youth and Cadet Championships in the U12 Girls section.

Bryan scored a perfect three for three with wins over William Ravn, Cynthia Cui, and Roger Morin to take first in the Open section and ice his top spot on the Maine Chess Player of the Year competition. Matthew Fishbein settled in the second place spot and Roger Morin and Sergio Mejia shared third.

Seeded third in the U1600 section, Ben Amar played smart with two wins and a draw to take first. A three-way tie for second ensued between Greg Wadsworth, Dan Fishbein (who scored impressive wins over Ian Youth and Joseph Powell both outrating him in the vicinity of 300 points), and Ian Youth all scoring 2.0 points.

Three players shared first in the U1200 section: Eric Dinnerstein, Colyn Rich, and Aaron Wilson-McFarlane with 3.0 points. Zack Grindal and Kyle Bloom shared fourth place and split the point in their interesting second-round encounter which ended in a bare King v King draw.

Joey DeMarco was perfect in the U800 section scoring 4.0 points. He was trailed by a pack of three players scoring 3.0 points including Nehemiah Brown, Ben Penfold, and Kaleb Pendleton.

In the U400 section, Brady Smith from the Airline School, won all four of his games for the top spot. On his heels were four players scoring 3.0 points: Duncan Howell, Andrew Bubar, Colby Allen, and Tucker Norwood.

A tough man to beat. Current state champion Jarod Bryan took the top spot in the Open section with a perfect score or 3.0 points.

Matthew Fishbein finished clear second with 2.5. He was nicked for a draw in the first round by Chester Young.

Roger Morin shared third with...

Sergio Mejia.

Chester Young came to the tournament a B player and left an A player.

World Youth and Cadet Championship player Cynthia Cui met Bryan in the first round, Fishbein in the second and Wendell in the third.

Now expert-rated Will Ravn

Brian Hurst

Coach of the state champion Blue Hill Consolidated School Cameron Wendell

Former Airline Community School chess champion Nathan Gates.

Nathan's reputation precedes him. The top four plaques in the middle column bear his name.

Ben Amar took first in the U1600.

Greg Wadsworth tied with two others for second:

Dan Fishbein and

Ian Youth.

Anthony Freudig started the tournament with a nice win over Joseph Powell.

Powell himself finished with 1.0 points

Bill Hartt

Wyatt Hendrix

The U1600 section minus one board

Tied for first in the U1200 section were Eric Dinnerstein,

Colyn Rich, and

Aaron Wilson-McFarlane.

Zack Grindle scored 2.5 points and tied for fourth with

Kyle Bloom.

Nathan Shemwell scored 2.0 points along with

Samuel Parrott.

Benjamin Mock

Lois Morin

USCF's newest member John Wingert

Experience and ...

Youth!

The U1200 section over the boards and

in the awards room.

Joey DeMarco won the U800 with 4.0 points.

Nehemiah Brown scored 3.0 points for equal second with

Ben Penfold and

Kaleb Pendleton.

Cyrus Grindle scored 2.5 for equal fifth with

Cam Stewart.

Cody Jones put up 2.0 points as did

Henry Penfold

Evan Chapman

Isaac Dinnerstein

and Sean Neal.

Jakob McPhee

Benjamin Freudig

Matthew Yim

Natalie Sheehan

Andrew Young

The U800 group

Brady Smith went away with first in the U400 section scoring 4.0 points.

Four players tied or second: Duncan Howell

Andrew Bubar

Colby Allen

and Tucker Norwood.

Samuel Page took sole sixth with 2.5.

The two point getters were: Rachel Curtis-Bowden

Brooke Moores

Solomon Tyler and

Griffith Young.

Colin Lacasse scored 1.5 points as did

Augie van Duijn

William Kogut

Haven Smith and

Dylan Richardson.

Sarah Means

Bailor Miller

Abigail Young

The U400 players

The Kitchen Crew! (left to right) Laddy DeLuca Lowell, Janelle Jones, Emily Lowell, Beth Bryan, and Ruby DeLuca Lowell

Homemade scones were just one of the culinary delights offered!

Assistant Tournament Director and Maine Chess Association President Andy Bryan

Players enjoyed unseasonably warm weather.

We hope to see you at the 12th Annual Aurora Winter Solstice on December 10th, 2016. See the ChessMaine.net events page for the details.