2014 US National Amateur Team West - Scholastic Side Event

Over the holiday weekend, the 2014 US National Amateur Team West tournament was held in Santa Clara.  While the adults played a 3-day event, there was also a youth team tournament at the same site on a single day (Saturday February 15th).

I wish there were more team tournaments available.  Team tournaments have their issues, but I love seeing the kids root for each other.  That's something you wouldn't see as much of in individual tournaments (which most are).

Link to results

Congrats to team Rook And Roll, which was the SIXTH highest rated team out of 10, yet won the event with a score of 4.5/5!

Peninsula Chess League - Inaugural Season

Chess parents and coaches:  We are starting up what we are calling the Peninsula Chess League.  This is a series of team chess matches and tournaments for elementary and middle schools in the San Francisco Peninsula area.

So far, in the 2013 - 2014 season, we've held 2 tournaments and had 8 teams from 5 different schools.  Teams consist of 6 players each.

The results so far (average team ratings in parentheses, followed by win/loss record):

1. Fox Elementary Team 1 (676.8): 2-2
2. Foster City Elementary Team 1 (750.3):  2-2
3. Brewer Island Elementary (632.5):  2-0
4. Brittan Acres Elementary Team 1:  1-1
5. Fox Elementary Team 2:  1-1
6. Foster City Elementary Team 2 (305.7):  0-2
7. Baywood Elementary:  2-0
8. Brittan Acres Elementary Team 2:  0-2

(2-round matches are counted as 2 matches in the above records)

Match results:

• Fox 1 defeated Foster City 1, 6.5 - 5.5
• Foster City 1 defeated Fox 1, 6.5 - 5.5
• Brewer Island defeated Foster City 2, 4 - 2
• Brewer Island defeated Brittan Acres 1, 6 - 0
• Brittan Acres 1 defeated Fox 2, 5 - 1
• Fox 2 defeated Foster City 2, 4 - 2
• Baywood defeated Brittan Acres 2, 9.5 - 4.5 (in this match, each team had 7 players) 

The next tournament will be held on Friday, March 21st, approximately 7:00pm-8:40pm.  There will be 2 rounds, each game being played at a time control of G/20.  If you are a parent or coach of a team and are interested in forming a team for your school, contact us at peninsulachess@gmail.com

The Love for Wood

I saw this interesting documentary from 1989.  Turn on the subtitles unless you speak Dutch.