12/14/25 It all started back in the fall of 2005 with a conversation between then Airline Community School principal Andy Bryan and chess parent Dan DeLuca. Since then, the Aurora Winter Solstice Chess Tournament--now in it's 20th year--has become one of the most popular chess events in Maine. This year, fifty-seven players and their families and coaches made the trek to the small hamlet of Aurora to compete in four sections. Here's the illustrated tournament report with US Chess crosstables.

>> US Chess Crosstable of this event <<

Machiasport resident Niek Luuring won the Open section with an unbeaten and untied 3.0 points in three games. Three players finished the day on 2.0 points including nine-year-old Marin Alexander, Paul Carr, and University of Maine graduate student Thomas Grindle. Brian Hurst and Isaiah Fallon put up 1.5 points to share equal 6th place and Kody McGregor, Tobias Coffey, Michael Dudley, and Dan Monahan rounded out the Open section crosstable.

Mya Brichacek was perfect on the day in the U1200 section scoring 4.0 points for clear 1st place. Mya was trailled by four players sharing equal 2nd plave with 3.0 points including: Michael Lloyd, James Hardy, Noah Dean, and Shaurya Kumar.

The U800 section saw Kevin Gordon put up a perfect 4.0 points to take uncontested 1st place. Corey Alexander, Mindy Dean, Finn Monahan, Oren Nobel Brown, Andreas Roxas, and Connor Folsom tied for 2nd place with 3.0 points apiece.

Robert Granville took 1st on the U400 section with 3.5 points in four games. Grace Oliver and Finn Wilkin shared 2nd place in the U400 section with 3.0 points.

Thanks to all who participated in this tournament and the families, coaches, drivers, and volunteers who supported them. A big thank you to assistant tournament directors Andy Bryan, Jessica Alexander, and Dan Monahan. Thanks also to Janelle Jones and the Airline Community School for continuing to support this great event!

The last game in the final round of the Open section that determined the winner of the event. Niek Luuring (right) managed to win this one over Brian Hurst to take first place.

Niek Luuring in full concentration mode.

Nine-year-old Marin Alexander scored 2.0 points in the Open section. He tied for 2nd place with:

Paul Carr and

Thomas Grindle.

Brian Hurst shared 5th place with

Isaiah Fallon.

Kody McGregor was one of three players scoring 1.0 point in the Open section. The other were:

Tobias Coffey and

former MECA president Michael Dudley.

Dan Monahan was a good sport to "play up" in the Open section to avoid byes.

Mya Brichacek took 1st in the U1200 section with a perfect 4.0 points.

Michael Lloyd finished equal 2nd in the U1200 section with:

James Hardy

Washington Academy's Noah Dean and

Shaurya Kumar.

Tied for 6th place in the U1200 section: Paul Grehl (second from the right)

Olesya Shafirina

former MECA president J. Paul Ciarrocchi and

Tien Vo.

Kevin Gordon scored 4.0 points for 1st place in the U800 section.

Corey Alexander was one of six players to put up 3.0 points in the U800 section. The other were:

Mindy Dean

Finn Monahan

Oren Nobel Brown

Andreas Roxas and

Connor Folsom.

Robert Granville was victorious in the U400 section with 3.5 points in four games.

Grace Oliver and

Finn Wilkin tied for 2nd place in the U400 section with 3.0 points.

Airline Community School's own Grace Cobb took clear 4th in the U400 section.

Victoria Shafirina put up 2.0 points in the U400 section as did:

Calvin Speed

Balin Irving

Max Cobb and

Jayce Gregoire.

Having fun with the big chess set

The U400 players at the award ceremony

The U800 contingent

U1200 players at the prize-giving ceremony

Open players after three rounds of fighting chess

Thanks to Janelle Jones for the awesome food concessions!

A rare sighting of three past Maine Chess Association presidents (left to right): Andy Bryan, Michael Dudley, and J. Paul Ciarrocchi.