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World News: Chess In the Media: Chess Stories Across the USA and Around the World
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National NewsUMBC Edges Rival U. T. Dallas In ‘Final Four’ of College ChessThis news release can also be found on the USCF website. The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) retained the title of “best team in U.S. intercollegiate chess” with a narrow win over its archrival, The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), and two other challengers this weekend at the “Final Four” of Chess tournament in Dallas. Coming into Sunday’s final round, UTD needed a win, 2 ½ to 1 ½, against UMBC to capture the championship. UMBC, on the other hand, only needed to split the match, 2 to 2, with UTD to win the title. In the final seconds of the last game, with UTD ahead 2 to 1, UMBC’s Bruci Lopez, in a difficult position, pulled out a win against UTD’s Dmitri Shneider, ensuring victory for the Maryland team. UMBC bested UTD, 9 points to 8, to take home the President’s Cup, a trophy that has come to be emblematic of college chess supremacy. Miami Dade College finished third with 5 points and Duke University was fourth with 2 points at the event, held April 1-2 at the Marriott Quorum Hotel. The teams earned the right to compete in this year’s Final Four competition by finishing among the top four U.S. teams in December at the 2005 Pan American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship, the most prestigious college chess competition held each year in the Western Hemisphere. UMBC won that tournament by the narrowest of margins, with 5 ½ points to UTD’s 5. UTD had won the Pan-Am in both 2004 and 2003 and had tied for first – with UMBC – in both 2001 and 2000. No team other than UTD and UMBC ever has won the Final Four of Chess in the six-year history of the tournament. UTD won the event the first two years, but UMBC has won the last four years in a row. “It should come as no surprise that the U.S. college chess title again came down to a battle between UTD and UMBC,” said Jim Stallings, UTD’s associate chess director. “We congratulate UMBC on a hard-fought victory and look forward to renewing our rivalry next season.” Dr. Tim Redman, a professor of literary studies at UTD and founder and director of the UTD chess program, praised the showing of the Miami Dade team, noting that “Miami Dade has joined the ranks of the nation’s best college chess programs with a string of impressive accomplishments in recent years, including being named Chess College of the Year in 2004 by the U.S. Chess Federation.” UTD coach Rade Milovanovic singled out the play of UTD freshman Davorin Kuljasevic, who had a perfect performance over the past two days – three wins, with no losses and no draws. “Davorin was the standout among all players in the tournament,” Milovanovic said. “Had there been a most valuable player award, he would have won it hands down. He’s also an MVP in the classroom, where he earned a 4.0 grade point average during the fall semester.” 2006 National Scholastic Chess Championships Set to Begin!The U.S. Chess Federation (USCF) announces three 2006 National Scholastic Chess Championships: "These tournaments provide students the opportunity to compete against some of the best scholastic chess players from across the country," said Jerry Nash, Scholastic Director for the U.S. Chess Federation. "With individual and team trophies on the line, the excitement builds round by round over the three days. If you have never been to one of these tournaments - don't hesitate to make this year your first!" USCF will begin accepting online entries January 2, 2006. Five national scholastic championships are scheduled each year. In addition to the above three, two more occur in the fall - the National Youth Action and the National K-12/Collegiate Championships. The 2005 championships attracted over 8,000 young chess enthusiasts to the five events. 2006 Amateur Chess Team East - My G-8 Predecessors Prevails in Cyberspace!The playoff between the winners from the four 2006 Amateur Team Chess Championships held on Presidents Day weekend in February 2006, met their chess opponents on April 2 in cyberspace on the Internet Chess Club website. In Round 1 Team East beat Team South with 3 points and Team West scored 2.5 against Team Midwest's 1.5. In Round 2 Team East scored 2.5 to beat Team West who scored 1.5 which gave them claim to the title. The 16 players were: TEAM SOUTH—Excaliber Electronics TEAM MIDWEST—2 FMs and 2 Losers TEAM WEST—CalTech In addition to Team East - My G-8 Predecessors winning the title of 2006 Amateur Team Playoff Champions, each member of the team will receive a wrist watch engraved with their title commemorating their outstanding achievement. The USCF would like to recognize Chief Tournament Director and International Arbiter Carol Jarecki and Internet Chess Clubs Technical Director Duncan Oxley for their director and technical expertise which helped make this years event sensational. New - Online Tournament Life Announcement (TLA) AreaThe USCF is pleased to announce a new service to members and affiliates, one that we hope will increase attendance at chess tournaments throughout the USA: a new online Tournament Life Announcement (TLA) area. Chess players will be able to search for chess tournaments based on the month in which the tournament begins and the state where the tournament will be held. The listings can be further restricted by the distance in miles from the member's home to the tournament, based on ZIP codes. Players can also search for specific types of events, such the amount of cash prizes offered, whether the tournament is open or restricted by rating or by age, what rating systems the event will be rated under (including FIDE rated events), and even the maximum entry fee. For each event matching the search request, players will be able to bring up an online flyer describing the event in full detail, including an entry form that can be printed and filled out, then mailed to the organizer. The New Online TLA Area. Affiliates can enter TLAs for their upcoming events up to a year in advance using the online TLA form available to affiliates in the USCF's TD/Affiliate Support Area. USCF Seeks Endorsements, Sponsorships and Strategic PartnershipsIf you have chess related products or services, please contact us with your proposal. The USCF is seeking endorsements, sponsorships and strategic partnerships from the chess community. Over the next few weeks please email, Joan DuBois, at the USCF office in Crossville, TN. Membership Appreciation ProgramThe USCF is happy to unveil it's Membership Appreciation Program for 2006. The program awards affiliates and individuals who bring new members to the USCF, maintain large, active clubs, and stay active by playing the most rated games during the year. For complete details on the program, click here. USCF's Affiliate Booster ProgramThe USCF is pleased to announce a special affiliate commission on regular adult USCF memberships available to affiliates through the TD/Affiliate Support Area. From March 1st, 2006, through the end of June 2006, one year regular adult memberships (e.g., $49 rate) submitted through the TD/Affiliate Support will cost affiliates just $41. (These memberships will have an $8 affiliate commission and no online discount.) Affiliate can choose to keep the $8 commission or share all or part of the lowered rated with members. Remember, this special affiliate commission is available only for memberships submitted through the TD/Affiliate Support Area and cannot be obtain through memberships submitted by mail, email, fax or phone. Other promotional membership offers, such as the $38 rate for new members and those whose membership lapsed on or before 12/31/2004, are not affected by the Affiliate Booster Program. Now Available: 2005 Chess Life Annual! |
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