12.10.16 Fifty-five players turned up for the 12th Annual Aurora Winter Solstice Tournament at the Airline Community School in Aurora, Maine on Saturday, December 10, 2016. Winners were: Jarod Bryan and Sam Song (Open), J. Paul Ciarrocchi (U1600), Colin Rich (U1200), Isaac Dinnerstein (U800), and Zoe Dinnerstein (U400). Here's the illustrated tournament report with USCF crosstables.

USCF Crosstables of the event

The Aurora Winter Solstice has become one of the most popular tournaments in Maine. This year it hosted fifty-five players in five sections. Players ranged in skill level from USCF 2342 to unrated novices playing in their first rated tournament. We sincerely thank all players, parents, coaches, and volunteers for continuing to make this tournament a great success. A special thank you to Andy Bryan and the Airline Community School for hosting this event for twelve years straight!

In the Open section, Jarod Bryan (2247) and Sam Song (2342) shared equal first with 3.0 points in three games. Just off the lead in a tie for third was Bill Hartt (1506) who took down both Bob Bridgham (1775) and Roger Morin (2034). Hartt shared third with Aaron Spencer (2066), Chester Young (1889), Curt Brock (1764) and Roger Morin.

J. Paul Ciarrocchi (1191) was clear first in the U1600 section with 2.5 points in three games. Medomak Valley High School's Greg Wadsworth (1166) took second with 1.5 points and Tony Freudig (1271) and Michael Dudley (1357) shared third.

In the U1200 section, Colin Rich (984) was perfect on the day with 4.0 points in four games. Nehemiah Brown (585) put up 3.0 points for clear second and five players tied for third with 2.0 points apiece: Zachary Grindal (1047), Kaleb Pendleton (917), Ben Penfold (830), Brendan Penfold (1108), and Benjamin Mock (931).

Cape Elizabeth's Isaac Dinnerstein (606) rose to the top of the crosstable in the U800 section with 3.5 points. Jakob McPhee (564) and Colby Allen (480) shared second each scoring 3.0 points.

Another Dinnerstein, this time Zoe (335), took the laurels in the U400 section with a perfect 4.0 points in as many games. A pack of four players were close on her heels tying for second with 3.0 points: Sean Adams (389), Gabriel Morrill (unr), Simon Shyka-Brown (unr), and Sol Tyler (261).

Jarod Bryan clinched the 2016 Maine Chess Player of the Year honors with his equal first place finish.

The other half of the equal first was New Brunswick, Canada master Sam Song.

Bill Hartt had a tremendous tournament with two impressive victories in three games for equal second.

Back to his old stomping ground: Aaron Spencer put up 2.0 points to tie Hartt for second along with...

Chester Young

Curt Brock and

Roger Morin.

Brian Hurst was the sole 1.5 point getter.

Nathan Gates shared 9th place with...

Joseph Powell

Tom Sandford

Ramiro Ponce

Bob Bridgham and

Wyatt Hendrix.

MECA Secretary Eric Dinnerstein was able to get half a point in the Open section.

Daniel Robbins rounded out the section scoreless.

J. Paul Ciarrocchi took the U1600 section players to task scoring 2.5 points and finishing in clear first.

Paul was also the lucky winner of this official World Chess Championship 2016 poster.

We know that Greg Wadsworth has made his former coach Jim DuBois happy with this second place finish.

Tony Freudig scored 1.0 point along with

Michael Dudley.

Colin Rich of Mount Desert Island High School topped the U1200 section by blanking his opponents four straight.

Nehemiah Brown was in sole possession of second in the U1200 section with 3.0 points.

Zachary Grindal topped the five-player group tying for third.

Behind Grindal on tie breaks were: Kaleb Pendleton

Ben Penfold (front row right)

Brendan Penfold and

Benjamin Mock.

Cyrus Grindal scored 1.0 point and tied for eighth place with

Linh Nguyen.

Isaac Dinnerstein won the U800 section scoring 3.5 points.

Jakob McPhee scored 3.0 points to tie for second with

Colby Allen (back row right).

Evan Chapman scored 2.0 points for sole fourth place.

Andrew Bubar took fifth with 1.5 points.

Brady Smith topped the 1.0 point getter group that included

Colin Lacasse and

Henry Penfold.

Girl Power! Zoe Dinnerstein won the U400 section with a perfect 4.0 points.

Sean Adams was first among equals in the 3.0 point scoring bracket that included

Gabriel Merill

Simon Shyka-Brown and

Sol Tyler.

Ben Gordon scored 2.0 points and tied for sixth with

Ruby DeLuca Lowell

Jayden Lewis

Tucker Norwood

Sam Page

Madeline Hanson and

Gabriel Hall.

Colby Lacasse scored 1.5 points to tie with

Aiden Espling.

Jacob Van de Sande shared fifteenth place with his classmate

Hannah Wells.

Dylan Richardson notched a draw as did

Leah Wilson.

The U400 contingent

The U800's

And the U1200's