02.26.16 The Bates Bobcat Open was played on the campus of Bates College in Lewiston, Maine on February 13, 2016. The tournament attracted fifteen players in two sections: Open and Reserve. Jarod Bryan won the open section with 3.5 points and Frank Di Renzo and Lee Doucette tied for first in the reserve section scoring 3.0 points apiece. Here's the tournament report with USCF crosstables and a selected game.

USCF Crosstable of this event

Thanks to Phil Lowell and William Ravn for contributing to this report..

Scoring 3.5 points in four round was enough to win first in the open section for Jarod Bryan who was nicked for a draw by the astute play of Darrell Salisbury in round three. Just off the lead with 3.0 points was William Ravn and Rayn Tripp took clear third with 2.5 points.

In he reserve section Frank Di Renzo and Lee Doucette tied for first with 3.0 points. They were followed by three players tied for third with 2.5 points: Bruce Sherwood, Dan La Vallee, and Greg Wadsworth. Di Renzo, who had a half point lead going into the final round, was paired with Greg Wadsworth (2.0). Wadsworth had an extra pawn at the end of the game but it was never threatened to Queen. Lee Doucette was very fortunate Matthew Perrino blundered a rook (it happens) in a won position which allowed Doucette to tie Di Renzo for first in the reserve section.

Prizes were distributed as follows:

Open

First Jarod Bryan
Top U2050 Will Ravn
Top U 1850 Ryan Tripp

Reserve

Equal First and U1500
Frank Direnzo, Lee Doucette

U1350
Greg Wadsworth

U1200 Trophies
First Matthew Parrino, Bates College
Second Kiernan Majerus-Collins, Bates College
Third Jack Dina, Bates College
Forth Benjamin Mock, Holden

Thanks to all who made this tournament possible, to the players, Phil Doucette for organizing and directing, and to Bates College and the Bates College Chess Club for hosting.

Here's an interesting game from the tournament between Nathan Gates and William Ravn.