St. Charles Chess Club News
that over the last ten to fourteen years, the adult chess playing experience has been less enjoyable than before the increase in kid activity. What we have here is age discrimination. The adults have been inadvertently discriminated against while the kids have been coddled.
My solution is a simple one. We should do away with the age qualifiers for membership types and entry fees. We could re-structure the system to be reflective of the playing ability. Beginners of all ages could have their“ Beginner” memberships in the USCF and the ICA as well as reduced entry fees into tournaments. Of course they will be limited as to which tournaments they can play in and / or which prizes they can win. If the individual wants to“ pay up” and“ play up” they most certainly can. If they want to play with the“ big boys” they will need to pay the“ big boy” price. The present scholastic system would qualify at this“ Beginner” level. The“ Advanced” or“ Titled Tournament” level would be what is now our normal adult membership level. This would entitle the individual to play in regular USCF sanctioned events for the normal prizes. There will be no age discrimination in either direction at any level. Of course these levels could be named differently and even added to with more levels of membership available. If someone like Bill Goichberg wants to put on a big tournament for everyone he can. He would need to insure that the lower level players would not be playing for the same prizes as the higher level ones without upgrading their USCF and ICA memberships and paying the same entry fee.
Behavior at any event should be expected to be consistent and professional of all participants regardless of their age. Those that misbehave need to be disciplined no matter what their age. Proper behavior should be expected of all.
I know that I have been brief and not highly detailed in my describing the correct system of operation. I think that I have given enough of a description to get things started though. Please feel free to email me at suarez @ bwsys. net with any thoughts you might have on this. Also feel free to speak with the chess politico near and dear to you to convince them to do the right thing and see it my way, the Middle way. Well, enjoy, play chess and learn life.
Chess Club
St. Charles Chess Club News
by Dan Pradt
Mar. 28 Marcus Stinson( 1840) upset Jeff Wiewel( 2041) for the second straight time in a rated game, this time in the fourth round of our six round Club Championship. Stinson was upended in the fifth round by Charles Jennings( 1809). Jennings, who took a first round bye, then beat Tim Ailes( 1460) to grab first place with 5.5-0.5. Wiewel and Paul Friedel( 1720) came in second with 5-1.
Ailes finished with 4.5. At four points were Marcus Stinson, Trevor Stinson( 1208), Roger Allison( 1799), Jesse Freidel( 1429), Steffen Klug( 2186), Charles Giertz( 1563), and Rudy Padilla( 1501). Paul Freidel won the Junior trophy.
Charles Jennings is, I am sure, the lowest rated player ever to win our Championship, and the only non-expert to win it in my memory.
April 11. Our first theme Night of the year was 1. d4.. f5 plenty of leeway here! Most games were positional, and ended in endgames. I was disapointed to see no Staunton Gambits. Dutch thory took it on the chin on the top 10 boards losing 7.5-2.5. even Joe Splinter was held to a draw in his favorite Leningrad Dutch, by Tyler Belding, who shrewdly sidestepped the main lines. Black did better on the lower boards, winning 6-3.
May 9 Our 10 minute championship attracted 25 players. The clock ran out on Mariano Acosta ' s( QR 2108) impressive quick chess winning streak, as he overstepped the time limit in an equal position against Paul Freidel( 1401). Paul took the trophy, 5-0. Acosta, Mike Aaron( 1910) and Ralph McGraw( 1608) were second with 4-1. Fifth throurh eight were Roy Satterlee( 1876), Charles Jennings( 1818), Bo Miessen( 1619), and Matt Pirovitz( UNR)
Illinois Chess Bulletin 33