07.26.19 The 2019 US Blind Chess Championship was held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on July 20 and 21, 2019. The lead tournament directors, Alex Relyea and Nita Patel, invited Maine Chess Association President Michael Dudley to serve as an assistant TD. The four-round tournament saw Jessica Lauser, the 2018 Champion, defending her title with nine other competitors from across the country.

Thanks to Alex Relyea, Nita Patel, and Michael Dudley for contributing to this report.

USChess Crosstable of this event

Games from this event

The 2019 US Blind Chess Championship was held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on July 20 and 21, 2019. The lead tournament directors, Alex Relyea and Nita Patel, invited Maine Chess Association President Michael Dudley to serve as an assistant TD. The four-round tournament saw Jessica Lauser, the 2018 Champion, defending her title with nine other competitors from across the country. Three of the competitors, Jim Homme, Evan Reese, and Jim Thoune, are members of the board of the US Blind Chess Association, and the tournament welcomed two newcomers: Stephen Brumagin of California and Nathaniel Figueroa of Florida. To begin the tournament, Jim Thoune presented a gift for Nathaniel, age 10, of four tactile chess sets for Nathaniel and his school for the blind in Florida.

In this particular tournament, several adaptations are in force. First, all players play over their own set, and at least one aide is designated to the game in order to take note of moves, inform players of the time on the clock, and provide other points of assistance. The set at many boards in the tournament were tactile sets for the blind or visually impaired. These boards feature chess pieces with pegs for placement into squares with apertures in the center. Half of the sets (usually black) contain a nail or a spire coming out of the top of the piece to distinguish white pieces from black pieces, and the dark squares are raised above light squares. These adaptations to the chessboard allow players to examine the position with their hands. At times, the players appeared to absorb the entire position with just a few seconds of contact, running their hands through the set on the board as though it was a forest.

Another adaptation in force is constant communication. Players are required to call out their moves to each other, and confirm the move by "copying" it back to them verbally. Many players took notation on a Braille slate, punching holes into thick cardstock with a stylus to represent the notation. Other players used electronic Braille writers. Many also used a tactile clock, which a competitor is allowed to touch in order to get a sense of how much time might be left on their clock. Finally, a piece is considered "touched" when it is fully removed from its aperture. These adaptations allow for the players to fully sense the game.

The chief TD, Alex Relyea, said that the tournament "feels like a family reunion." Indeed, several of the players knew each other well, and had seen each other at previous tournaments or played games over Skype. The warm welcome given to Nathaniel Figueroa and his parents further gave the feeling that the people in the room regarded one another as a family. Two of the competitors traded Braille writers in a sort of "test drive." In many ways, the gathering was less about chess and more of a celebration about what this group of amazing people can do.

In the end, Jessica Lauser defended her title, winning her second US Blind Chess Championship with 3.5/4. Jim Thoune came in second with 3.0/4, narrowly losing on time to the champion. Michael Davis of New York placed third with 2.5/4.

Michael Dudley wishes to express his gratitude to Alex Relyea and Nita Patel for the opportunity to serve as the TD for this wonderful event. For further information about chess for the blind and visually impaired, visit www.americanblindchess.org.

2019 U.S. Blind Champion Jessica Lauser

The Champion receives her award and congratulations from Chief Tournament Director Alex Relyea.

2019 U.S. Blind Runner-Up Jim Thoune was just half a point off the lead.

Michael Davis finished in clear third with 2.5 points.

A smiling Mike Davis with TD Alex Relyea.

Previously unrated Evan Reese tied for fourth with 2.0 points.

Al Pietrolungo in focus mode commanding the Black pieces.

David Rosenkoetter with TD Alex Relyea.

Virginia Alverson plays Stephen Brumagin while an assistant looks on.

Stephen Brumagin strikes a familiar pose as he contemplates his position.

The tournament's youngest player ten-year-old Nathaniel Figueroa and TD Alex Relyea.

A portable Braille writer with game notation. (image: Mike Dudley)

The tournament hall

Tournament Directors Alex Relyea (left) and Michael Dudley confer during the 2019 U.S. Blind Chess Championship.