12.11.18 Wyatt Hendrix turned in an impressive performance by leveling the competition at the Friday Night Blitz tournament in Bangor with ten wins without a single loss or draw. Six players competed in the Game in 5 minute event with no delay or increment hosted by John Bapst Memorial High School on Friday, December 7, 2018. Ben Mock was two points off the break-neck pace of the winner scoring 8.0 points.

US Chess crosstable of this event

Although the average blitz rating of the six players was 1212, well below the top three finishers, anything can happen in blitz games and winning ten straight is an exceptional performance any way you cut it. Hendrix, not the highest blitz rated player in the group (that honor went to Nathan Gates), had to be focused and methodical over nearly a dozen rapid fire games and an estimated 400 moves to take the title with an unbeaten and untied score.

Ben Mock, who finished second with 8.0 points, suffered his only two losses at the hands of the champion.

Nathan Gates, fresh off an Open section win at the Aurora Winter Solstice tournament, put up 5.5 points for clear third.

Tobias Coffey, Tristian Cousineau, and Israel Savage finished fourth through sixth scoring 3.5, 2.5, and 1.0 points respectively.

Thanks to Mike Dudley who directed this tournament and to John Bapst Memorial High School for their continued support of chess (blitz and otherwise) in Maine.

Tournament winner Wyatt Hendrix (middle board on right) on his way to a clean sweep of the Friday Night Blitz tournament.