#1186 Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays to all my chess friends, acquaintances and readers.

#1185 Kenilworth CC Business Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the Kenilworth Chess Club's 2015 Business Meeting
(+ addenda/comments by the President-elect in red italics)

Those in attendance included Ziggy Bliznikas, Joseph Dovydaitis, Dan Komunicky, Richard Lewis, Pat Mazzillo, Geoff McAuliffe, Jack McCorkell, John Moldovan, Howard Osterman, Joe Renna, Luis Ruales, Ed Selling, Bob Sherry, Lou Sturniolo, Greg Tomkovich and Jun Tang.


- Officer & Trustee Election Results:
John Moldovan was elected President.
Joe Renna was re-elected as Vice-President.
Geoff McAuliffe was re-elected as both Treasurer and Tournament Director.
Bob Sherry & Paul Gottlieb were elected as Trustees for terms expiring 12/31/2018 & 12/31/2017, respectively.
It was incorrectly stated (by me: John Moldovan) that Pat Mazzillo's term was expiring. It is actually Greg Tomkovich's term that is expiring. In fairness to Pat, Greg, Bob & Paul, I propose that Greg's term be extended for 1 year & that all 4 serve as trustees for 2016.

There were no nominations for Secretary.
The club will fill this vacancy at a future meeting.

Discussion Re: Webmaster was postponed.
The club will vote for Webmaster at a future meeting. See related point below.


- Future of the club's website:

It was revealed that Michael Goeller is the registrant, administrative contact and technical contact of/for the domain kenilworthchessclub.org.
It was reported that the web-hosting payment is due in mid-January.
Members agreed to have a committee (of all the officers and trustees) meet before mid-January to discuss the future of the website.
Addendum: On 12/19/2015, Brinkster will bill the KCC/Michael $534 for the hosting plan. Payment is due 1/18/2016. The club has assets to cover the cost but the amount is significantly higher ($150) than what we paid in January 2014.


- Financial Report & Dues:

Treasurer McAuliffe reported that with inclusion of a donation to the Kenilworth Recreation Department and re-imbursement for the Holiday Party food/supplies, the club operated at a $30 to $35 loss in 2015.
Members voted to increase Regular dues by $5 & add a $10 "Suggested Donation" provision.

Effective immediately, the annual KCC dues are:
Regular (Adults age 18-64) $20 + $10 "Suggested Donation".
Senior (65+) $10 + $10 "Suggested Donation".
Junior (Under 18) $10 + 10 "Suggested Donation".


Visitors attending 2 club meetings will be asked to join the club & pay dues.
My interpretation: The above does not apply to meetings where the individual paid entry/admission fees for KCC tournaments/lectures.

Addendum: The Westfield CC will continue honoring KCC memberships in 2016.


- Club Championship:

After a tedious discussion, the attendees agreed to a 2 section, non-rated tournament with a 6-8 player RR of top-rated entrants & a 5-7 round RR or Swiss with the other entrants.

The event will start sometime in March (Dates TBA). After 3 or 4 rounds of play there will be an off-week to make-up postponed games. After the final 3-4 rounds, there would be an additional week to make-up postponements. The cost to join will be dues (1 full year) + $10 entry fee + a $5 anti-forfeit deposit (=$35 for most players). As in recent years, the time-control will be G/75;d5.

- Other Business:

President-elect Moldovan asked V.P. Renna if the Cranford Community Center would be available for special KCC events. The reply was: Yes.
Addendum: Joe & I will definitely look into this. Not sure if we would run a free/almost free USCF-rated tournament or bring in a GM/IM to do a simul but it could be a wonderful promotional opportunity for our club.

Ziggy Bliznikas mentioned the possibility of the club offering lessons. Moldovan replied that he had been weighing the idea but felt that front room availability would be a problem.

IMO, the lessons would have to be for intermediate-level players or above (absolutely no beginners!) & instructors (such as myself) would, at a minimum, require re-imbursement for class materials. Even if the logistics were not an issue, we'd still have to gauge interest, determine costs, etc. before beginning. If anyone wants to do the leg work, we can proceed. If not, I say: Pass. 

Post updated 12/18/2015 @ 11:10 p.m.

#1184 Boy Scouts' Tourney In Scotch Plains On Saturday

On Saturday, November 7th, the 2nd Annual Watchung Mountain District Boy Scouts' Chess Tournament will be held at the Scotch Plains Baptist Church, 333 Park Ave., Scotch Plains, NJ 07076.

All boys and girls who are Boy Scouts, Adventurers or Explorers and know how to play chess can play in the event. Sign-up is between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. Non-scouts are also welcome.

This non-rated event is sponsored by White Castle, who is supplying equipment, trophies, participation medals and lunch!

For registration details and more info, double-click on the image below.

#1183 Venue Change For August 9th Westfield Quads

The August 9th Westfield Quads will held in the YMCA's Bauer Family Branch

 

 

at 422 East Broad Street, which is between Saint Paul Street and South Euclid Avenue. Click on the map below, for directions.

The Y's main location on Clark Street is undergoing construction and will not be available to the club that day.

 
Aug. 9   Westfield G/45 Quads 

3-RR, G/40 d5, Westfield Y, 220 Clark St. Westfield Area Y: Robert and Virginia Bauer Family Branch, 422 East Broad Street, Westfield, NJ 07090. Prizes: $60 to first in each section. EF: $25, $20 Westfield CC & Kenilworth CC members. Register: 1:15-1:45 p.m. Rounds: 2:00-3:45-5:30 p.m. Information: westfieldchessclub@gmail.com

#1182 Westfield Chess Fest Canceled

The Westfield Chess Fest scheduled for August 16 and all of its events have been canceled.

A dual-rated event, G/45 or G/60 tournament will be run instead. The starting time, exact format & other details will follow.

Updated 7.17.2015 @ 2:36 a.m.

#1181 RIP Ernesto Labate

Long-time Westfield Chess Club member & TD Ernesto Labate passed away on Monday, at the age of 92.

Entombment at Graceland Memorial Park will take place on Friday with guests gathering at the funeral home at 10:30AM.
- See more at: http://www.unionfuneralhome.com/obituary/Leon-Hrebinka/Hillside-NJ/1485834#sthash.SM9xAAfD.dpuf

Entombment at Graceland Memorial Park will take place on Friday with guests gathering at the funeral home at 10:30AM.
- See more at: http://www.unionfuneralhome.com/obituary/Leon-Hrebinka/Hillside-NJ/1485834#sthash.SM9xAAfD.dpuf

Entombment at Graceland Memorial Park will take place on Friday with guests gathering at the funeral home at 10:30AM.
- See more at: http://www.unionfuneralhome.com/obituary/Leon-Hrebinka/Hillside-NJ/1485834#sthash.SM9xAAfD.dpuf

Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 5, 2015 from 3:00-7:00 p.m. at the McCriskin-Gustafson Home For Funerals, 2425 Plainfield Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ 07080. Following the eulogy at 6:00 PM family and friends are invited to share reflections.

Funeral services will begin on Monday July 6 at 11:30 a.m., followed by a funeral mass at Sacred Heart Church at 12:30 PM. Mausoleum entombment will follow at Holy Redeemer Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to JFK Haven Hospice & Palliative Care, Edison, NJ.

#1180 West Orange CC Closed Through August 4th

The West Orange Chess Club will be closed for 6 weeks starting tonight, June 30th.

It will re-open on August 11th. Please check westorangechess.webs.com for updated information on events and schedule changes.

#1179 Westfield CC Legends & Authors To Visit Tomorrow

Former Westfield Chess Club members Wayne Conover, Steve Pozarek and Gene Salomon will be visiting the Westfield CC tomorrow afternoon, prior to its G/45 Quads, to promote their e-book: 40 Years Of Friendship, 100 Games Of Chess.

 

If you'd like to meeting these 3 legends and learn more about Westfield's history, please arrive early. The event begins at 12 noon. Admission is free!!

#1178 Photos From Kenilworth's Win In 45 Moves Tourney

Here are 4 photos from last night's final round of the Win In 45 Moves Or Draw tournament in Kenilworth:

Bob Sherry (b) vs. Paul Gottlieb.

LM Mark Kernighan (b) vs. Greg Tomkovich.

Manuel Yunes vs. Bruce Mason.

Joseph Dovydaitis (b) vs. Joseph Pergalo III.

Sorry. No other info on the event (results, crosstable, games) is available as the current KCC regime perplexingly continues its news blackout.

#1177 Win Within 45 Moves Or Draw Tourney In Kenilworth

Win Within 45 Moves Or Draw Tournament 

at the Kenilworth Chess Club

April 23-May 14

• Non-Rated, 4 round Swiss. Runs April 23 thru May 14.
• Time control: 45 moves in 45 minutes. No delay.
• Any game that takes more than 45 moves will be declared a draw.
• Tournament Director: Robert Sherry
• Register: On site, from 8:00 to 8:20 p.m. on April 23rd. Club members can late-join by e-mail until April 27.
• Byes: 1 bye per player allowed. If taking a bye in round 2, 3 or 4, you must inform the TD at least 48 hours in advance.
• Rounds: 8:30 p.m. on April 23, 30 & May 7, 14.
• Entry fee: Free for club members. $1 for non-members.

#1176 Kernighan Wins Kenilworth Championship

LM Mark Kernighan won the 24th Kenilworth CC Championship, which was held March 26-April 16.

Here are the final crosstable, in tiebreak order, and the prize-winners list:

Crosstable

Rank	Player	USCF	R1	R2	R3	R4	Points
1	LM Mark Kernighan	2200	W8	W3	W2	W6	4.0
2	Paul Gottlieb	1629	W5	W6	L1	D3	2.5
3	Dr. Richard Lewis	1726	W9	L1	W4	D2	2.5
4	Joseph Pergola III	unrated	L7	X8	L3	W9	2.0
5	Bruce Mason	unrated	L2	W9	L6	X8	2.0
6	Manuel Yunes	unrated	-H-	L2	W5	L1	1.5
7	Dr. Geoff McAuliffe	1603	W4	-N-	-N-	-N-	1.0
8	Ted Mann	1400	L1	F4	W9	F5	1.0
9	Luis Ruales	685	L3	L5	L8	L4	0.0

W = Win

L = Loss

D = Draw

H = 1/2 point bye

X = Forfeit win

F = Forfeit loss

N = Not paired

Prize Winners:

1st place -  LM Mark Kernighan
2nd place - Paul Gottlieb
3rd place - Dr. Richard Lewis
U1600 - Joseph Pergola III 

Gottlieb will be listed as the Club's 2015 U1800 Champion when the plaque is updated.

#1175 Kenilworth Championship & Calendar "Update"

Mark Kernighan led the Kenilworth Championship going into last night's final round.

No other information about the tournament or the events schedule for April 23, April 30, May 7, May 14 and May 21 is available.

#1174 Kenilworth Championship: Round 1 Photos

Bob Sherry snapped these photos during Thursday night's opening round of the Kenilworth Championship:

Manuel Yunez (standing) and Joseph Dovydaitis watching the Ted Mann-Mark Kernighan (closest to them) and Richard Lewis-Luis Ruales games.

Geoff McAuliffe vs. Joseph Pergola III (front) and Paul Gottlieb vs. Bruce Mason.

#1173 Kenilworth Ch. Underway, Reduced To 4 Rounds

The 24th Kenilworth Championship began on Thursday, with LM Mark Kernighan (2200), Dr. Richard Lewis (1726) and Paul Gottlieb (1629) heading a unexpectedly small and relatively weak field.

With just 10 players taking part, the event has been reduced to 4 rounds and been made a 1-section swiss. It is now slated to run thru April 16th.

The 1st round pairings, by board were:

1. Ted Mann (1400) vs. Kernighan
2. Lewis vs. Luis Ruales (685)
3. Bruce Mason (unrated) vs. Gottlieb
4. Dr. Geoff McAuliffe (1600, house player) vs. Joseph Pergola III (unrated).

Pat Mazzillo (1323) and Manuel Yunez (unrated) took half-point byes.


Late-joins will be accepted until the start of round 2 on Thursday, April 2nd.

No results or pictures have been received, as yet, but I can tell you that White was clearly winning on boards 2 & 4, after 40 minutes of play.

#1172 Kenilworth Championship Starts On Thursday

The 24th Kenilworth Chess Club Championship will begin on Thursday, March 26th, 2015 and is scheduled to be 5-7 rounds in length.

Here are the details :

24th KCC Championship

• USCF-rated
• 2 Sections. 1800+ and Under 1800
• 5-7 rounds. Depends on the number of players. The 1800+ Section is slated be a RR. The U1800 may be a RR or SS.
• The event starts on March 26th.
• It can end as early as April 23rd or as late as May 14th. Depends on the number of rounds & if the postponement dates are utilized.
• Time Control: G/75+5 second delay.
• Rounds to start at 8:30 p.m. every Thursday, for the duration of the event.
• 1 half-point bye per player allowed.
• Prizes (tentative): Trophies for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Top U2100, Top U1800, Top U1600, Top U1400, Biggest upset.
• Tiebreaks: 1. Head to Head, 2. Modified Median, 3. Solkoff, 4. Cumulative.
• KCC or Westfield CC membership is required. KCC dues for 2015 are $10 for those age 17 or less, $10 for those age 65+, $15 for everyone else.
• EF: $10 entry fee + $10 anti-forfeit deposit + dues (= $35 for most players). Westfield CC members only pay EF & anti-forfeit deposit ($20 total).
• Please register with Geoff McAuliffe before 8:20 p.m. on 3/26 @ Kenilworth Community Center, 575 Boulevard, Kenilworth, N.J. 07033
• Late-joins will be accepted for the U1800 section until round 2 is paired, if it's run as a Swiss.
• If there is a low turnout, the TD may combine sections and run a 5-SS or a 5 to 7 RR.

Past Champions include LM Scott Massey (who has won the title 12x), Rene Ray (1996), FM Steve Stoyko (2005-2007), LM Mark Kernighan (2008), NM Yaacov Norowitz (2009), NM Arthur Macaspac (2010, 2012), NM Ken Chieu (2011), and NM Praveen Balakrishnan (2013, 2014).

18 players took part in last year's event.

#1171 FYI, Re: The Lack Of KCC Info

Regarding the lack of information from the Kenilworth CC:

You'll have to ask the current President why...

1. There has not there been a single post on the Kenilworth Chess Club blog or the KCC Tournaments blog in 2015.

2. There has not been a single message circulated from the KCC's e-mail account since January 8th. (Btw, that one was not sent to me.)

The necessary login ID and password to do the aforementioned was shared. What's the fucking problem?

It's not my place to be sending e-mails out for the club but I can and will blog about the upcoming Club Championship on Kenilworth's blogs, in addition to this one. Somebody has to.

#1170 RIP Leon Hrebinka

Long-time Kenilworth Chess Club member Leon Hrebinka passed away on Sunday, at the age of 80.

Entombment at Graceland Memorial Park will take place on Friday with guests gathering at the funeral home at 10:30AM.
- See more at: http://www.unionfuneralhome.com/obituary/Leon-Hrebinka/Hillside-NJ/1485834#sthash.SM9xAAfD.dpuf

Entombment at Graceland Memorial Park will take place on Friday with guests gathering at the funeral home at 10:30AM.
- See more at: http://www.unionfuneralhome.com/obituary/Leon-Hrebinka/Hillside-NJ/1485834#sthash.SM9xAAfD.dpuf

Entombment at Graceland Memorial Park will take place on Friday with guests gathering at the funeral home at 10:30AM.
- See more at: http://www.unionfuneralhome.com/obituary/Leon-Hrebinka/Hillside-NJ/1485834#sthash.SM9xAAfD.dpuf

He will be entombed tomorrow at Graceland Memorial Park in Kenilworth. Those wishing to say their goodbyes to Leon & pay their respects to his family will gather at the Union Funeral Home, 1600 Stuyvesant Ave., Union, NJ at 10:30 a.m.

#1169 Non-Rated Kenilworth Swiss Starts Tonight

Non-Rated Kenilworth Swiss
January 8-29, 2015

Format: 4-SS, Non-rated.

Time Control: G/60

Register: Until 8:10 p.m. on 1/8 (Tonight!)

Rounds: 8:20 p.m. on January 8, 15, 22, 29

Entry Fee: Free for members, $1 for non-members.

Prizes: None.

Each player is entitled to one full point bye. If you are taking a bye in round 2, 3 or 4, you must notify TD Bob Sherry at least 75 hours in advance. Players can join in week 2 will a full point bye for week one.