Club Championship Round 3 Wall Chart & Round One Bulletin

I wanted to post a quick update reminding people that we’ll be playing round 3 of our club championship this Thursday at 7pm, per the attached wall chart image. Please feel free to join us for Frisco’s 6:30pm lecture and to spectate the tournament games thereafter but we won’t be holding the typical free, unrated blitz tournament this week. We will have a skittles room available for those who wish to pick up a game or two and that room becomes reasonably active as the tournament games finish round 8pm.

Frisco is also creating an excellent tournament bulletin for each round and that for the first may be viewed here.

Please let me know if you have any questions about the club championship or about club events for the remainder of the year (https://menloparkchess.club/events/) and I hope to see you at the Arrillaga Center soon! Regards,

Mark Drury

Fourth Menlo Park Chess Club Championship, Round Five

The Menlo Park Chess Club will hold our fourth annual club championship beginning Thursday, November 6th, at 7pm, a five-round USCF-rated Swiss system event using the dual-rated G/45;d5 time control over five weeks (there will be no round on November 27th, Thanksgiving). Our championship is aimed at players with at least some tournament experience (one or two rated events, say) and may not be suitable for children under the age of 10, given games could last until almost 9pm on a school night. Details follow:

  • Format: Five-round Swiss-system tournament in one section, one game per evening
  • Rounds: November 6th, 13th, 20th and December 4th and 11th (there is no round November 27th, Thanksgiving)—games begin promptly at 7:00pm
  • Control: G/45;d5 (dual-rated game of 45 minutes for each player plus a 5-second delay per move)
  • Entry Fee: $20 (the entire entry fee will be returned in prizes)
  • Payment: PayPal: mark@drury.com; Venmo: @Mark-Drury-12, Zelle: 6504006393
  • Prizes:  Four prize groups based upon November US Chess regular ratings with roughly 8 players per prize group (Group 1: $120, $60, $40; Group 2: $100, $60, $40; Group 3: $80, $40, $20; Group 4: $80, $40, $20, with adjustments as needed based on tournament/group size)
  • Byes: One half-point bye is available for any round save the last, but the bye must be requested at least two days in advance of the day of play
  • Boards, sets, clocks, score sheets and pens will be provided by the Menlo Park Chess Club (bring a clock if you prefer your own)
  • All tournament participants must be current US Chess members
  • Our tournament chess rules summary is worth perusing if you’re new to tournament play
  • For more information please send email to info@menloparkchess.club
  • Join our Facebook group to stay abreast of future club tournaments and events

Fourth Menlo Park Chess Club Championship, Round Four

The Menlo Park Chess Club will hold our fourth annual club championship beginning Thursday, November 6th, at 7pm, a five-round USCF-rated Swiss system event using the dual-rated G/45;d5 time control over five weeks (there will be no round on November 27th, Thanksgiving). Our championship is aimed at players with at least some tournament experience (one or two rated events, say) and may not be suitable for children under the age of 10, given games could last until almost 9pm on a school night. Details follow:

  • Format: Five-round Swiss-system tournament in one section, one game per evening
  • Rounds: November 6th, 13th, 20th and December 4th and 11th (there is no round November 27th, Thanksgiving)—games begin promptly at 7:00pm
  • Control: G/45;d5 (dual-rated game of 45 minutes for each player plus a 5-second delay per move)
  • Entry Fee: $20 (the entire entry fee will be returned in prizes)
  • Payment: PayPal: mark@drury.com; Venmo: @Mark-Drury-12, Zelle: 6504006393
  • Prizes:  Four prize groups based upon November US Chess regular ratings with roughly 8 players per prize group (Group 1: $120, $60, $40; Group 2: $100, $60, $40; Group 3: $80, $40, $20; Group 4: $80, $40, $20, with adjustments as needed based on tournament/group size)
  • Byes: One half-point bye is available for any round save the last, but the bye must be requested at least two days in advance of the day of play
  • Boards, sets, clocks, score sheets and pens will be provided by the Menlo Park Chess Club (bring a clock if you prefer your own)
  • All tournament participants must be current US Chess members
  • Our tournament chess rules summary is worth perusing if you’re new to tournament play
  • For more information please send email to info@menloparkchess.club
  • Join our Facebook group to stay abreast of future club tournaments and events

Fourth Menlo Park Chess Club Championship, Round Three

The Menlo Park Chess Club will hold our fourth annual club championship beginning Thursday, November 6th, at 7pm, a five-round USCF-rated Swiss system event using the dual-rated G/45;d5 time control over five weeks (there will be no round on November 27th, Thanksgiving). Our championship is aimed at players with at least some tournament experience (one or two rated events, say) and may not be suitable for children under the age of 10, given games could last until almost 9pm on a school night. Details follow:

  • Format: Five-round Swiss-system tournament in one section, one game per evening
  • Rounds: November 6th, 13th, 20th and December 4th and 11th (there is no round November 27th, Thanksgiving)—games begin promptly at 7:00pm
  • Control: G/45;d5 (dual-rated game of 45 minutes for each player plus a 5-second delay per move)
  • Entry Fee: $20 (the entire entry fee will be returned in prizes)
  • Payment: PayPal: mark@drury.com; Venmo: @Mark-Drury-12, Zelle: 6504006393
  • Prizes:  Four prize groups based upon November US Chess regular ratings with roughly 8 players per prize group (Group 1: $120, $60, $40; Group 2: $100, $60, $40; Group 3: $80, $40, $20; Group 4: $80, $40, $20, with adjustments as needed based on tournament/group size)
  • Byes: One half-point bye is available for any round save the last, but the bye must be requested at least two days in advance of the day of play
  • Boards, sets, clocks, score sheets and pens will be provided by the Menlo Park Chess Club (bring a clock if you prefer your own)
  • All tournament participants must be current US Chess members
  • Our tournament chess rules summary is worth perusing if you’re new to tournament play
  • For more information please send email to info@menloparkchess.club
  • Join our Facebook group to stay abreast of future club tournaments and events

Fourth Menlo Park Chess Club Championship, Round Two

The Menlo Park Chess Club will hold our fourth annual club championship beginning Thursday, November 6th, at 7pm, a five-round USCF-rated Swiss system event using the dual-rated G/45;d5 time control over five weeks (there will be no round on November 27th, Thanksgiving). Our championship is aimed at players with at least some tournament experience (one or two rated events, say) and may not be suitable for children under the age of 10, given games could last until almost 9pm on a school night. Details follow:

  • Format: Five-round Swiss-system tournament in one section, one game per evening
  • Rounds: November 6th, 13th, 20th and December 4th and 11th (there is no round November 27th, Thanksgiving)—games begin promptly at 7:00pm
  • Control: G/45;d5 (dual-rated game of 45 minutes for each player plus a 5-second delay per move)
  • Entry Fee: $20 (the entire entry fee will be returned in prizes)
  • Payment: PayPal: mark@drury.com; Venmo: @Mark-Drury-12, Zelle: 6504006393
  • Prizes:  Four prize groups based upon November US Chess regular ratings with roughly 8 players per prize group (Group 1: $120, $60, $40; Group 2: $100, $60, $40; Group 3: $80, $40, $20; Group 4: $80, $40, $20, with adjustments as needed based on tournament/group size)
  • Byes: One half-point bye is available for any round save the last, but the bye must be requested at least two days in advance of the day of play
  • Boards, sets, clocks, score sheets and pens will be provided by the Menlo Park Chess Club (bring a clock if you prefer your own)
  • All tournament participants must be current US Chess members
  • Our tournament chess rules summary is worth perusing if you’re new to tournament play
  • For more information please send email to info@menloparkchess.club
  • Join our Facebook group to stay abreast of future club tournaments and events

October 16th Happenings & Club Championship

I wanted to share a quick update that the club’s Autumn Quads wrapped up last week, save for a few makeup games which will occur on the 23rd or 30th of this month, so tomorrow, October 16th, will include Frisco’s excellent lecture and a casual evening with a possible free, unrated blitz tournament to round out the night for those who are interested. One difference will be that I won’t attend tomorrow, given I’ll be out of town, but Hayden Brongersma, Jeff McGinnis and Hugo Pu have graciously offered to run the club in my stead. They will begin setting up round 6pm and if you are able to help them I’m sure it would be much appreciated. Casual, blitz, bughouse and hand-and-brain competition may complement any blitz tournament, I’m sure, so please plan to attend for some or all of the three hours, and thank you again, Hayden, Jeff and Hugo, for helping out!

I also wanted to send another reminder to register for our 4th annual club championship which begins November 6th, a 5-round G/45;d5 affair in one section over six weeks (no chess Thanksgiving week) that includes three or four different prize groups. This is our premier event and may very well be the most prestigious tournament north of Palo Alto and south of Atherton on the peninsula during the latter two months of the year. Details and a registration link may be found here: https://menloparkchess.club/event/fourth-menlo-park-chess-club-championship-round-one/. Regards,

Mark Drury

Quads Continue & Club Championship Registration Opens

Just a quick reminder that tonight we continue our quick-rated quads after Frisco’s 6:30pm lecture so there will be no blitz tournament this evening, while the final quad games will occur next Thursday, October 9th, to wrap up this event (the Events tab on the club website is up-to-date through early November, when our five-round club championship begins).

Speaking of our club championship, it begins November 6th and includes five rounds of dual-rated G/45;d5 chess, one game per evening over six weeks with a break during the Thanksgiving Holiday. Details about this fun event and a registration link may be found here:

As always, please let me know if you have any questions, comments or suggestions about club activities and I hope to see many of you at the club soon. Regards,

Mark Drury

Fourth Menlo Park Chess Club Championship, Round One

The Menlo Park Chess Club will hold our fourth annual club championship beginning Thursday, November 6th, at 7pm, a five-round USCF-rated Swiss system event using the dual-rated G/45;d5 time control over five weeks (there will be no round on November 27th, Thanksgiving). Our championship is aimed at players with at least some tournament experience (one or two rated events, say) and may not be suitable for children under the age of 10, given games could last until almost 9pm on a school night. Details follow:

  • Format: Five-round Swiss-system tournament in one section, one game per evening
  • Rounds: November 6th, 13th, 20th and December 4th and 11th (there is no round November 27th, Thanksgiving)—games begin promptly at 7:00pm
  • Control: G/45;d5 (dual-rated game of 45 minutes for each player plus a 5-second delay per move)
  • Entry Fee: $20 (the entire entry fee will be returned in prizes)
  • Payment: PayPal: mark@drury.com; Venmo: @Mark-Drury-12, Zelle: 6504006393
  • Prizes:  Four prize groups based upon November US Chess regular ratings with roughly 8 players per prize group (Group 1: $120, $60, $40; Group 2: $100, $60, $40; Group 3: $80, $40, $20; Group 4: $80, $40, $20, with adjustments as needed based on tournament/group size)
  • Byes: One half-point bye is available for any round save the last, but the bye must be requested at least two days in advance of the day of play
  • Register: Please sign up in advance using the ‘Register’ button, above
  • Boards, sets, clocks, score sheets and pens will be provided by the Menlo Park Chess Club (bring a clock if you prefer your own)
  • All tournament participants must be current US Chess members
  • Our tournament chess rules summary is worth perusing if you’re new to tournament play
  • For more information please send email to info@menloparkchess.club
  • Join our Facebook group to stay abreast of future club tournaments and events

Autumn Double-Round Quick-Rated Quads

Below are the complete wall charts and pairings for our Autumn Double-Round Quick-Rated Quads, which begin Thursday, September 25th. As a reminder, participants will play two games against the same opponent each evening, one as white and one as black. Players should arrive at the club no later than 6:50pm to be ready to start their first game at 7pm sharp. Chess boards, chess sets, chess clocks, score sheets and pens will be provided by the club but feel free to bring your own clock of you prefer. Our tournament rules summary is worthwhile reading if you are new to rated chess or need a refresher.

Quad One

#Name/Rating/IDRd 1Rd 2Rd 3Rd 4Rd 5Rd 6TotalPrize
1Yoyo HeW 4B 4B 3W 3B 2W 2
1917 1517449100½1012.5$15
2Adam FerrellW 3B 3B 4W 4W 1B 1
1879 12644884100½102.5$15
3Jason WrightB 2W 2W 1B 1B 4W 4
1844 1270714701½0001.5
4Hayden BrongersmaB 1W 1W 2B 2W 3B 3
1838 31240441111½115.5$50

Quad Two

#Name/Rating/IDRd 1Rd 2Rd 3Rd 4Rd 5Rd 6TotalPrize
1Breakwell LoyalkaW 4B 4B 3W 3W 2B 21st
1728 315695211111116.0$50
2Yaniv VinishW 3B 3B 4W 4B 1W 1
1705p 32105653110½002.5
3Mark DruryB 2W 2W 1B 1W 4B 4
1700 124593130000½00.5
4Hugo PuB 1W 1W 2B 2B 3W 3
1679 31093860001½½13.0$30

Quad Three

#Name/Rating/IDRd 1Rd 2Rd 3Rd 4Rd 5Rd 6TotalPrize
1Austin ChenW 4B 4B 3W 3B 2W 2
1641 312932491111015.0$50
2Di LinW 3B 3B 4W 4W 1B 1
1555p 324023561½01103.5$30
3Kaio DeeterB 2W 2W 1B 1B 4W 4
1440 319519860½000F0F0.5
4Jeffrey McGinnisB 1W 1W 2B 2W 3B 3
1400 1319583000101F1F3.0

Quad Four

#Name/Rating/IDRd 1Rd 2Rd 3Rd 4Rd 5Rd 6TotalPrize
1Steven SwickW 4B 4B 3W 3W 2B 2
unr. 325874961000001.0
2Caleb LeongW 3B 3B 4W 4B 1W 1
1284 3020784910½1114.5$50
3Cameron TroyB 2W 2W 1B 1B 4W 4
1233 306326210111014.0$30
4Vinayak VikramB 1W 1W 2B 2W 3B 3
1081 3100766301½0102.5

Quad Five

#Name/Rating/IDRd 1Rd 2Rd 3Rd 4Rd 5Rd 6TotalPrize
1Lua LoyalkaW 4B 4B 3W 3B 2W 2
1043 315695310011103.0$30
2Alan ChenW 3B 3B 4W 4W 1B 1
502 312932650000011.0
3Alfred DavisB 2W 2W 1B 1B 4W 4
438p 319392411100002.0
4Saveen SahniB 1W 1W 2B 2W 3B 3
unr. 325157441111116.0$50