01.16.24 Thirty-three players came out for the MLK Day Chess Tournament at the Cobscook Institute in Trescott on Monday, January 15, 2024. Rafi Hopkins won the Open section with a perfect score of 3.0 points in three games. Michael Taylor, playing in his first US Chess rated tournament, swept the field in the U800 section with an unbeaten and untied performance of 4.0 points. Here's the illustrated tournament report with US Chess crosstables.

Thanks to the Cobscook Institute especially Beana Hopkins and Bonnie Lyons, and the kitchen crew Nancy Briggs and Emily Lowell for supporting this tournament. Thanks also to Daniel Monahan who served as the tournament's assistant director and as always, thanks to the players, parents, volunteers, and drivers who made this event a great success.

>> US Chess Crosstable of this event <<

Players came from as far as Yarmouth, Maine and the Netherlands (via Machiasport) to compete in the MLK Day Chess Tournament at the Cobscook Institute on Monday, January 15, 2024. All agreed that this venue has been a hidden gem lost on the landscape of the Maine chess tournament calendar. The secret's now out and we look forward to organizing many more tournaments at this wonderfully welcoming space. The next one being the Cobscook Institute Winter Classic scheduled for Saturday, February 10, 2024. We hope to see you there!

In the thirteen-player Open section, Trescott resident and Lubec Chess Club stalwart Rafi Hopkins won his first game and never looked back as he blanked one opponent after another to finish with a perfect three-for-three and sole first place. Just off the leader's pace were a logjam of five players who finished equal second with 2.0 points including (in tiebreak order): Anthony Freudig, Nicolaas Luuring, Tobias Coffey, Hoty Briggs, and Michael Dudley. Chris Crittenden was the sole 1.5-point getter followed by Nicolozi Narsidze, Dimitri Smalley, Marcus Teran, and David Glidden. Alba Briggs rounded out the crosstable scoreless.

Michael Taylor put up an impressive four straight wins in his first-ever US Chess rated tournament. That was enough for clear first place at the top of the twenty-player U800-section crosstable. Five players finished tied for second with 3.0 points: Noah Dean, James Freudig, Myles Birchacek, William Good, and Benjamin Freudig. Assistant tournament director Daniel Monahan topped the two-point scoring group in the U800 section followed by Cedric Ge, Finn Monahan, Quentin Fine, Jason Yang, Samuel Davidson, and Aiden Espling. Julia Wiley and Sadie Monahan who each scored half a point were the top U400 section players.

We hope to see you (and other players) back at the Cobscook Institute on Saturday February 10, 2024 for the Cobscook Institute Winter Classic Chess Tournament.

Dawn breaks over the easternmost point in the United States as the Cobscook Institute MLK Day Chess Tournament gets underway.

Open section winner Rafi Hopkins (right) takes a long view of the board as his opponent's clock ticks.

Nicolaas Jan Luuring of the Netherlands via Machiasport regaled us with stories of playing in the Open section of the International Super Tournament in the Dutch village of Wijk aan Zee and besting a chess grandmaster!

Finishing the Open section tied for second place Tony Freudig records his move.

The Lubec Chess Club was well represented by Alba Briggs (left) and Pastor David Glidden among others.

The tension was thick in the tournament hall.

This handshake began the game that would determine the winner of the U800 section. Benjamin Freudig (left) plays U800 champion Michael Taylor in the final round.

Machias Memorial High School student Aiden Espling contemplates the board in the U800 section.

Winners all in the U800 section!

Sadie Monahan (left) and Julia Wiley show off their U400 section prizes.

The U800 section tournament room.

Huge props to the kitchen crew! Nancy Briggs (left) and Emily Lowell.

As they say in Maine, "Only a fool would let those scones cool!"

Onono Middle School chess coach Ryan Tripp (left) looks at a game with one of his students in the Skittles Room.

Farwell until next time from Downeast Maine courtesy of artist Mark Wren's beautiful stained glass work entitled Lighthouse.