05.17.25 The 2024 Roger J. Morin Maine Invitational was played on Friday Dec 13th through Sunday Dec 15th, in North Yarmouth. The tournament is an annual invitational event which seeks to pit the top 8 players in the state against each other in a classical round robin event where every player gets to play each other. Here's the illustrated tournament report with US Chess crosstables, and a featured game.

>> US Chess Crosstable of this event <<

Thanks to Will Ravn for contributing to this report.

Players were invited based on rating with an automatic invite also going to the 2 state co-champions (who in this case also would have also qualified by rating). Despite a few players not being able to attend (notably 10-time state champion FM Jarod Bryan, and newcomer FM Alimzhan Amirkul with a 2400+ rating) the field was still very strong, boasting an average rating of 2100.25, with 3 national masters - Ted Belanoff, Matthew Fishbein, and Majur Juac, 4 experts - Charlie Creswell, Wyatt Hendrix, William Ravn, and Aaron Spencer, and one 1950 rated up-and-comer who is now 2000+, Gabe Eaton. After many exciting battles, including several upsets, NM Matthew Fishbein emerged victorious with an impressive undefeated 6/7 score (5 wins, 2 draws), behind him in 2nd was NM Ted Belanoff with 4.5/7, and tied for 3rd with 4/7 were NM Majur Juac and Charlie Creswell. A big thanks to all the players, to the Smalleys for generously letting us play at their beautiful home in North Yarmouth, to Ted Belanoff for generously treating all the players (who were of age) to a post-event dinner at Fore Street in Portland, and to Wyatt Hendrix for organizing and directing the event.

At the post-tournament dinner/celebration (left to right): Wyatt Hendrix, Will Ravn, Ted Belanoff, Aaron Spencer, Majur Jauc, and Matthew Fishbein.

>> Will Ravn vs Ted Belanoff; Roger J. Morin Invitational December 18, 2024 <<