12/17/24 Fifty-eight players from across the state participated in the 19th Aurora Winter Solstice Chess Tournament in the tiny hamlet of Aurora, Maine on Saturday, December 14th, 2024. Winners in the four sections were: Paul Carr (Open), Nicholas Pelotte and David Haluska (U1200), Bao Tu and Jason Yang (U800), and Megan Carr (U400). Here's the illustrated tournament report with US Chess crosstables.

>> US Chess Crosstable of this event <<

Approaching "Heritage Event" status, the Aurora Winter Solstice has been a staple on the Maine chess tournament calendar since its inception in December of 2005. This year's event offered four sections of US Chess rated play: Open, U1200, U800, and U400. 

Topping the charts in the Open section was Paul Carr with 3.0 points in three games. The leader was trailed by a pack of four players who put up 2.0 points including: Tobias Coffey, Niek Luuring, Nathan Gates, and Alba (Hoty) Briggs.

In the six-players U1200 section, Nicholas Pelotte (playing in his first US Chess rated tournament) shared equal first with David Haluska scoring 3.0 points. Arianna Pighi finished in sole third place with 2.5 points, Washington Academy's own Noah Dean took fourth with 1.5 points and Alba Briggs and Zachary Grindal rounded out the U1200 crosstable with 1.0 point apiece.

The U800 section, the tournament's largest with 30 players, was won by Bao Tu and Jason Yang who tied for first place with 4.0 points. Tien Vo took clear third with 3.5 points and Finn Monahan, Hieu Tran, James hardy, Kha Phan, and Dan Monahan shared equal fourth with 3.0 points.

Megan Carr took first in the K-8 U400 section with a perfect 4.0 points in as many games. Bennett Beverly and Ashley Carr tied for second with 3.0 points and Garrett Santos and Steven Carr knotched 2.5 points which was good for equal forth place.

Thank you to all who participated in this tournament as well as parents, volunteers and drivers, and all of those who organized, directed, and pitched in to make this event a huge success. Kudos, props, and a super shout-out to Janelle Jones and the Airline Community School for hosting.

Thanks to the kitchen crew who made everything possible!

Paul Carr won the Open section with a perfect 3.0 points..

Tobias Coffey tied for second place in the Open section with...

Niek Luuring.

Airline Community School Alum Nathan Gates.

Lubec Chess Club member and actor extraordinaire, Hoty Briggs.

Maine Chess Association president J. Paul Ciarrocchi.

A resident of the "quiet side" of Mount Desert Island and long-time tournament competitor Tony Freudig.

Brian Hurst of Bangor, Maine.

Also representing the Lubec Chess Club, David Glidden.

Playing in his first US Chess rated tournament, Travis Healey.

Rated tournament newcomer Nicholas Pelotte tied for first in the U1200 section with...

David Haluska.

Arianna Pighi put up 2.5 points in the U1200 section to take sole third place.

Doctor of Mathematics, Noah Dean.

Alba Briggs looks over his position in the U1200 section.

Zachary Grindal put up 1.0 point but...

did not cry over spilled milk!

Bao Tu (foreground) put up a perfect 4.0 points in the U800 section to tie for first with...

Jason Yang (playing the black pieces).

Tien Vo (foreground) took sole third with 3.5 points.

Finn Monahan (left) led a pack of five 3.0 point getters including...

Hieu Tran (foreground)

Kha Phan (left)

and Dan Monahan (right).

Megan Carr won the U400 section with 4.0 points.

Bennett Beverly scored 3.0 points to tie for second place with...

Ashley Carr.

Garrett Santos put up 2.5 points as did...

Steven Carr.

Sole sixth place: Samuel Reddy.

Elam Monahan puts 1...d5 on the board.

Nolan Linders play the white pieces in the U400 section.

Ella Linders contemplates in round 3.

Matilda Haluska

Max Cobb

An inspiring image. When all is said and done, the quiet work of improving one's game continues.