Wachusett Chess Club News

2006 WMCA Champions, 2008 WMCA Co-Champions

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Content: George Mirijanian & Dave Couture

 

July 1st, 2009

Harlow B. Daly Memorial
Round 1 (of 5)

We were blessed by the appearance of two new players who just joined the USCF, and a former club champion whom we haven't seen in nearly eight years. Joining us in our new tournament are Trilok Shahi, who is a senior at St. John's Prep School in Danvers, and Parker Henry, who played some years ago in the Monday night scholastic unrated tournaments held at Crocker Elementary School in Fitchburg. Coming back after an absence is 1967 Wachusett Chess Club champion Paul Godin of Bedford, who is a Fitchburg native as well as a USCF and MACA life member. The last time we saw Paul was in the second round of the Johnny Appleseed Open on September 12, 2001, when the club was meeting at the Unitarian church in Leominster. Welcome all three!

- George Mirijanian

 
Brian Biglow 0-1 Paul Godin
Bruce Felton 0-1 George Miller
Mike Sheridan 0-1 George Mirijanian
Larry Gladding 1-0 Max Sewell
Ernest Fandreyer 0-1 Ken Gurge
Paul Giovino 1-0 Stephan Chromiak
Ken Carabba 0-1 Lenny Arsenault
Eduardo Valadares 1-0 Richard Chromiak
Trilok Shahi 1/2-1/2 Eugene Bedard
Tom Fratturelli 1-0 Parker Henry

Martin Laine and Dave Couture received half-point byes.

CURRENT STANDINGS

Points

 

1.0

Godin, Mirijanian, Gladding, Gurge, Giovino, Arsenault, Valadares, Fratturelli, Miller
0.5 Laine, Couture, Bedard, Shahi

0.0

Felton, Biglow, Sheridan, Sewell, Fandreyer, S. Chromiak, Carabba, R. Chromiak, Henry

Projected Round 2 pairings on July 8 (30th anniversary of the death of Harlow B. Daly):

TBD

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June 17th, 2009
Wachusett CC Championship
Makeup Round

 

Larry Gladding of Leominster is the new club champion!  Congratulations Larry!

 

Larry Gladding of Leominster became a three-time club champion by defeating rival Gary Brassard of Leominster in the final game of the 2009 Wachusett Chess Club championship. Brassard, who had the white pieces and needed only a draw to clinch his first club championship title, faltered in the middlegame and lost a crucial a-pawn that led to his defeat when Gladding queened his own a-pawn that put him a rook ahead and paved the way to victory. In the only other make-up game from the "A" division, Martin Laine of Lunenburg defeated Dave Couture of Westminster and garnered clear fourth place in the process. Tournament winner Gladding had previously been club co-champion in 1998 and 1992.

- George Mirijanian

 

FINAL "A" DIVISION STANDINGS

Player            W   L   D   Pts   Pct

Larry Gladding    5   1   1   5.5  .786

Bruce Felton      3   0   4   5.0  .714

Gary Brassard     4   1   2   5.0  .714

Martin Laine      3   1   3   4.5  .643

Dave Couture      3   3   1   3.5  .500 

Ken Gurge         2   4   1   2.5  .357

Len Arsenault     2   5   0   2.0  .286

Geoff LePoer      0   7   0   0.0  .000

 

Congratulations to the following players whose ratings increased more than 50 points:

 

EDUARDO VALADARES      +120
WAYNE L STEADMAN        +77
LAWRENCE DAVID GLADDING +64
MARK ROBERT NORRIS      +55

horizontal rule

 

June 24th, 2009
Barry Spiegel Quick Chess Memorial Tournament
Four-round Swiss, Game/25, USCF-rated
 
Round-by-round results
 
Round 1
Bruce Felton 0-1 George Miller
Mike Sheridan 0-1 Eugene Bedard
Paul Giovino 1/2-1/2 Eduardo Valadares
Wayne Steadman 1-0 Brian Biglow
Ken Carabba received a full-point bye.
 
Round 2
Bedard 1-0 Steadman
Miller 1-0 Carabba
Biglow 0-1 Giovino
Valadares 0-1 Felton
Sheridan received a full-point bye.
 
Round 3
Miller 0-1 Bedard
Giovino 0-1 Felton
Steadman 1-0 Sheridan
Carabba 0-1 Valadares
Biglow received a full-point bye.
 
Round 4
Felton 1-0 Bedard
Giovino 0-1 Miller
Valadares 1-0 Sheridan
Carabba 1-0 Biglow
Steadman did not play the round.
 
FINAL STANDINGS
POINTS
3.0 - Felton, Bedard, Miller
2.5 - Valadares
2.0 - Steadman, Carabba
1.5 - Giovino
1.0 - Biglow, Sheridan

 

Congratulations to the following players whose Quick Chess ratings increased more than 50 points:

 

GEORGE MILLER  +115

WAYNE STEADMAN +103

KEN CARABBA     +81
GENE BEDARD     +52

 

 

 

Check Out This Year's Stat Leaders

 

June 17th, 2009
Wachusett CC Championship
Round 7 (of 7)

 

"B" Division

 

It's Eduardo In A Runaway!

 

Eduardo Valadares of Marlborough came back from his first loss last week to win this week's final round game and take the "B" division by a full point and a half!  Congratulations also to Mike Sheridan of Petersham and Arthur Barlas of Chelmsford for tying for 2nd place.

 

George Miller
0-1 Eduardo Valadares
Mike Sheridan 1-0 Arthur Barlas
Paul Giovino 1-0 Tom Fratturelli
Eugene Bedard 1-0 Max Sewell
Brian Biglow  1-0 Mark Norris
Wayne Steadman 1-0 Stephan Chromiak
Richard Chromiak 0-1 Ken Carabba
 
 
Ernest Fandreyer received a half-point bye and Jeff Lischer did not play the round.
 

FINAL "B" DIVISION STANDINGS

Points

 

6.0 Valadares (winner)
5.5 -----
5.0 -----
4.5 Sheridan, Barlas
4.0 Giovino, Bedard, Biglow, Miller, Steadman
3.5 Fratturelli, Carabba
3.0 Lischer, Fandreyer
2.5 Sewell, Norris
2.0 S. Chromiak, R. Chromiak

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"A" Division

Gary Brassard Still In The Driver's Seat

In the end, it all comes down to the last game between the 2 friends and leaders - Gary Brassard and Larry Gladding, both of Leominster.  Next week Gary will have white against Larry in a makeup game.  If Gary wins or draws, he will be the club champion for the first time.  If Larry wins, HE will be the club champion.  Larry has shared the club championship title twice in 1992 and 1998, but this would be his first time as the sole club champion.  It promises to be an excellent game.

 

Len Arsenault 
0-1 Gary Brassard
Dave Couture 1/2-1/2 Bruce Felton
Martin Laine 1/2-1/2  Ken Gurge
Geoff LePoer 0F-1F  Larry Gladding
 

CURRENT "A" DIVISION STANDINGS (by Winning %)

Player

W

L

D

PCT

GB

GR

Gary Brassard

4

0

2

.833

-

1

Larry Gladding

4

1

1

.750 ½

1

Bruce Felton

3

0

4

.714 ½

0

Dave Couture

3

2

1

.583

1½

1

Martin Laine

2

1

3

.583

1½

1

Ken Gurge

2

4

1

.357

3

0

Len Arsenault

2

5

0

.286

3½

0

Geoff LePoer

0

7

0

.000

5½

0

 

Final pairings on June 24:
Brassard-Gladding
Laine-Couture
 

 

 

June 10th, 2009
Wachusett CC Championship
Round 6 (of 7)
 

Brassard Moves Into Driver's Seat

Gary Brassard of Leominster defeated Dave Couture of Westminster tonight to move into first place in the club championship (see A Cautionary Tale on the Games page).  Gary has 2 rounds to go and if he wins both he will be the club champion for the first time.

 

Click here to see all of the remaining scenarios.

 

Click here to see the current crosstable.

 

"A" Division

 

Gary Brassard
1-0 Dave Couture
Ken Gurge 0-1 Bruce Felton
Larry Gladding 1-0 Lenny Arsenault
Martin Laine 1F-0F Geoff LePoer
 

CURRENT "A" DIVISION STANDINGS (by Winning %)

Player

W

L

D

PCT

GB

GR

Gary Brassard

3

0

2

.800

-

2

Bruce Felton

3

0

3

.750

-

1

Larry Gladding

4

1

1

.750

-

1

Dave Couture

3

2

0

.600

1

2

Martin Laine

2

1

2

.600

1

2

Ken Gurge

2

4

0

.333

1

Len Arsenault

2

4

0

.333

1

Geoff LePoer

0

7

0

.000

5

0

 

GB - Games Behind

GR - Games Remaining 

 

CURRENT "A" DIVISION STANDINGS (by Point Total)

Points

 

4.5 Felton, Gladding
4.0 Brassard
3.5 -----
3.0 Couture, Laine
2.5 -----
2.0 Gurge, Arsenault
1.5 -----

1.0

-----
0.5 -----

0.0

LePoer (withdrawn)

 

horizontal rule

"B" Division

Eduardo Stopped - But Still In The Lead!

 

Eduardo Valadares 0-1 Arthur Barlas
George Miller 1-0 Brian Biglow
Tom Fratturelli 1-0 Wayne Steadman
Paul Giovino 1/2-1/2 Eugene Bedard
Mark Norris 0-1 Mike Sheridan
Max Sewell 1-0 Ken Carabba
Ernest Fandreyer 1-0 Stephan Chromiak
 
Jeff Lischer received a half-point bye and Richard Chromiak received a full-point bye.
 
 

CURRENT "B" DIVISION STANDINGS

Points

 

5.0 Valadares
4.5 Barlas
4.0 Miller
3.5 Fratturelli, Sheridan
3.0 Giovino, Bedard, Lischer, Biglow, Steadman
2.5 Sewell, Norris, Fandreyer, Carabba
2.0 S. Chromiak, R. Chromiak
 
 

 

 

June 3rd, 2009
Wachusett CC Championship
Round 5 (of 7)
 

The "A" division is becoming more interesting, now that Larry handed Dave his first loss. As Yogi Berra once said: "It ain't over 'til it's over." - George Mirijanian

 

With only 2 rounds left (for most of the players), ALL of the active players are still in the running for 1st place.  It's possible, albeit highly unlikely, for there to be a 7-way tie for 1st place!  Only Gary Brassard and Dave Couture, who play each other next week, completely control their own destinies though.  IF either Gary or Dave win all their remaining games, they will be the club champion.

 

"A" Division

 

Dave Couture
0-1 Larry Gladding
Bruce Felton 1/2-1/2 Gary Brassard
Lenny Arsenault 1-0 Martin Laine
Geoff LePoer 0F-1F Ken Gurge
 

CURRENT "A" DIVISION STANDINGS (by Winning %)

Player

W

L

D

PCT

GB

GR

Dave Couture

3

1

0

.750

-

3

Gary Brassard

2

0

2

.750

-

3

Bruce Felton

2

0

3

.700

-

2

Larry Gladding

3

1

1

.700

-

2

Martin Laine

2

1

2

.600

½

2

Ken Gurge

2

3

0

.400

2

Len Arsenault

2

3

0

.400

2

Geoff LePoer

0

7

0

.000

4½

0

 

GB - Games Behind

GR - Games Remaining 

 

CURRENT "A" DIVISION STANDINGS (by Point Total)

Points

 

3.5 Felton, Gladding
3.0 Couture, Brassard, Laine
2.5 -----
2.0 Gurge, Arsenault
1.5 -----

1.0

-----
0.5 -----

0.0

LePoer (withdrawn)

 

 

horizontal rule

"B" Division

Eduardo STILL Unstoppable!

Congratulations to Eduardo on his 5th consecutive victory!  Eduardo, with a point and a half lead, needs only a draw next week to clinch to clinch the "B" division championship.

Brian Biglow 0-1   Eduardo Valadares
Arthur Barlas 1-0   Tom Fratturelli
Wayne Steadman
1/2-1/2 Paul Giovino
Eugene Bedard 1/2-1/2 Mark Norris
Stephan Chromiak 0-1 George Miller
Ernest Fandreyer 0-1 Jeff Lischer
Max Sewell 0-1 Mike Sheridan
Ken Carabba 1-0 Richard Chromiak
 
 
 
 

CURRENT "B" DIVISION STANDINGS

Points

 

5.0 Valadares
4.5 -----
4.0 -----
3.5 Barlas
3.0 Biglow, Miller, Steadman
2.5 Giovino, Bedard, Lischer, Fratturelli, Sheridan, Norris, Carabba
2.0 S. Chromiak
1.5 Sewell, Fandreyer

1.0

R. Chromiak
 
 

The following link takes you to the Massachusetts top 200 players list.  We have 6 club members listed there - not bad!

http://main.uschess.org/datapage/top-players2.php?state=MA&limit=&players=M&current=C

Ranking                     Rating

111  BRUCE FELTON           1949

129  GEORGE M MIRIJANIAN    1913  

169  GEOFFREY LEPOER        1828  

182  GARY R BRASSARD        1807  

189  MARTIN LAINE           1800  

199  KENNETH W GURGE        1788

 

 

Multi-Time Massachusetts Open Winners

 

                 Total Sole Winner First Win-Last Win
                 ----- ----------- ------------------
John Curdo        17       14           1948-1985
Alexander Ivanov   9        6           1988-2009
Igor Foygel        5        3           1992-2005
Weaver Adams       4        4           1937-1945
James Rizzitano    4        3           1981-1987
Gerhard Katz       3        2           1943-1949
John Peters        3        1           1969-1975
Julian Keilson     2        2           1953-1954
Fred Keller        2        2           1944-1947
Harlow Daly        2        2           1940-1942
William Paschall   2        1           1994-2003
Ilya Gurevich      2        1           1988-1991
 

 

 

May 27th, 2009
Wachusett CC Championship
Round 4 (of 7)
 

 

"A" Division

 

Larry Gladding
1/2-1/2 Bruce Felton
Ken Gurge 0-1 Gary Brassard
Geoff LePoer 0-1 Len Arsenault
Martin Laine postponed Dave Couture

Geoff LePoer has withdrawn from the tournament so his remaining games will be forfeited.  Geoff's remaining games are with Ken Gurge, Martin Laine, and Larry Gladding so these forfeit wins have been credited to those players.  Because of Geoff's withdrawal and a couple of postponed games, the remaining  players have 2, 3, or 4 games left.  The best reflection of the current standings is the table below that lists the players in order of winning %.

CURRENT "A" DIVISION STANDINGS (by Winning %)

Player

W

L

D

PCT

GB

GR

Dave Couture

3

0

0

1.000

-

4

Gary Brassard

2

0

1

.833

½

4

Bruce Felton

2

0

2

.750

½

3

Martin Laine

2

0

2

.750

½

3

Larry Gladding

2

1

1

.625

1

3

Ken Gurge

2

3

0

.400

2

2

Len Arsenault

1

3

0

.250

2½

3

Geoff LePoer

0

7

0

.000

5.0

0

 

GB - Games Behind

GR - Games Remaining 

 

CURRENT "A" DIVISION STANDINGS (by Point Total)

Points

 

3.0 Couture, Felton, Laine
2.5 Brassard, Gladding
2.0 Gurge
1.5 -----

1.0

Arsenault
0.5 -----

0.0

LePoer

 

 

Round 5 pairings on June 3:
Couture vs. Gladding
Felton vs. Brassard
Arsenault vs. Laine
LePoer 0F-1F Gurge

horizontal rule

"B" Division

Eduardo Unstoppable!

Congratulations to Eduardo on his 4th consecutive victory and congratulations to Stephan Chromiak on his first-ever tournament victory!

 

Paul Giovino 0-1 Eduardo Valadares
Eugene Bedard 0-1 Brian Biglow
Mark Norris 0-1 Arthur Barlas
Jeff Lischer 0-1 Tom Fratturelli
Stephan Chromiak 1-0 Ken Carabba
Mike Sheridan 1-0 Richard Chromiak
 
 
 
 

CURRENT "B" DIVISION STANDINGS

Points

 

4.0 Valadares
3.5 -----
3.0 Biglow
2.5 Barlas, Fratturelli, Steadman
2.0 Giovino, Bedard, Miller, Norris, S. Chromiak
1.5 Lischer, Sheridan, Sewell, Fandreyer, Carabba

1.0

R. Chromiak
 
Projected Round 5 pairings on June 3:
 
Biglow-Valadares
Barlas-Fratturelli
Steadman-Giovino
Bedard-Norris
S. Chromiak-Miller
Fandreyer-Lischer
Sewell-Sheridan
Carabba-R. Chromiak
 

 

New England's Top 25 Players As Of May 25, 2009

 

STATE 

TITLE/NAME

RATING

PREV

1

MA 

GM LARRY M CHRISTIANSEN

2681

1

2

CT

GM ILDAR IBRAGIMOV

2628

2

3

CT

GM SERGEY KUDRIN

2626

5

4

RI

   JORGE SAMMOUR HASBUN

2603

9
5 MA GM ROMAN DZINDZICHASHVILI 2598 4
5 MA GM EUGENE PERELSHTEYN 2598 3

7

NH

GM JOSHUA EDWARD FRIEDEL

2591

7

8

MA

IM MIKHAIL SHUR

2565

8

9

MA

GM ALEXANDER IVANOV

2560

6

10

MA

IM IGOR FOYGEL

2493

10

11

MA

   DENYS K SHMELOV

2485

12

12

MA

IM DAVID VIGORITO

2484

15
13 MA IM RICO ZENKLUSEN 2465 -

14

CT

   BOGDAN GABRIEL VIOREANU

2461

13

15

MA

IM JONATHAN YEDIDIA

2448

11
16 MA   MARC R ESSERMAN 2441 -

17

MA

FM CHARLES R RIORDAN

2413

17

18

MA

IM WILLIAM MARK PASCHALL

2408

21

19

CT

IM ROBERT ANDREW HUNGASKI

2385

19

20

MA

FM WILLIAM J KELLEHER

2378

16

21

NH

IM JOSEPH H FANG

2377

22

22

MA

FM JACOB CHUDNOVSKY

2369

18

23

CT

FM ADNAN KOBAS

2368

20

24

NH

FM BRADEN BOURNIVAL

2364

23

25

MA

FM JOHANN C HAKER

2356

14

Notes:

- Rico Zenklusen is a 27-year-old IM from Switzerland.  He us currently attending MIT.

- Jorge Sammour Hasbun made the biggest jump from the previous list, going from #9 to #4 with a rating increase of 40 points.

 

 

 

May 20th, 2009
Wachusett CC Championship
Round 3 (of 7)
 

 

"A" Division

 

Dave Couture
1-0 Geoff LePoer
Bruce Felton 1/2-1/2 Martin Laine
Lenny Arsenault 0-1 Ken Gurge
Gary Brassard postponed Larry Gladding

 

CURRENT "A" DIVISION STANDINGS

Points

 

3.0 Couture
2.5 Felton
2.0 Laine
1.5 Brassard

1.0

Gladding, Gurge
0.5 -----

0.0

LePoer, Arsenault

CURRENT "A" DIVISION STANDINGS (by Winning %)

Player

W

L

D

PCT

GB

GR

Dave Couture

3

0

0

1.000

-

4

Bruce Felton

2

0

1

.833

½

4

Gary Brassard

1

0

1

.750

1

5

Martin Laine

1

0

2

.667

1

4

Larry Gladding

1

1

0

.600

5

Ken Gurge

1

2

0

.333

2

4

Geoff LePoer

0

3

0

.000

3

4

Len Arsenault

0

3

0

.000

3

4

 

GB - Games Behind

GR - Games Remaining 

 

Round 4 pairings on May 27:

Laine-Couture, postponed
Gladding-Felton
Gurge-Brassard
LePoer-Arsenault

horizontal rule

"B" Division

 

Eduardo Valadares
1-0 Eugene Bedard
Arthur Barlas 0-1 Paul Giovino
Tom Fratturelli 1/2-1/2 Brian Biglow
Wayne Steadman 1-0 Ernest Fandreyer
Mark Norris 1-0 Stephan Chromiak
Richard Chromiak 0-1 Jeff Lischer
George Miller 1-0 Max Sewell
 
Mike Sheridan and Ken Carabba received half-point byes.
 
 

CURRENT "B" DIVISION STANDINGS

Points

 

3.0 Valadares
2.5 -----
2.0 Giovino, Bedard, Biglow, Steadman, Norris
1.5 Barlas, Lischer, Fratturelli, Miller, Carabba

1.0

Fandreyer, S. Chromiak, R. Chromiak
0.5 Sheridan, Sewell

0.0

-----
 
Projected Round 4 pairings on May 20:
 
Giovino-Valadares
Bedard-Norris
Biglow-Steadman
Fratturelli-Barlas
Lischer-Miller
S. Chromiak-Carabba
Fandreyer-R. Chromiak
Sheridan-Sewell
 

 

 

May 13th, 2009
Wachusett CC Championship
Round 2 (of 7)
 

 

"A" Division

 

Geoff LePoer
0-1 Bruce Felton
Martin Laine 1/2-1/2 Gary Brassard
Ken Gurge 0-1 Larry Gladding
Lenny Arsenault 0-1 Dave Couture

 

CURRENT "A" DIVISION STANDINGS

Points

 

2.0 Felton, Couture
1.5 Brassard, Laine

1.0

Gladding
0.5 -----

0.0

LePoer, Gurge, Arsenault

Round 3 pairings on May 20:
Felton-Laine
Couture-LePoer
Brassard-Gladding
Arsenault-Gurge

horizontal rule

"B" Division

 

Brian Biglow 1/2-1/2 Arthur Barlas
Eugene Bedard 1-0 Wayne Steadman
Eduardo Valadares 1-0 Mark Norris
Ken Carabba 0-1 Tom Fratturelli
Ernest Fandreyer 1-0 Mike Sheridan
 
 
Paul Giovino, Jeff Lischer, George Miller and Max Sewell received half-point byes.
 

CURRENT "B" DIVISION STANDINGS

Points

 

2.0 Bedard, Valadares
1.5 Barlas, Biglow

1.0

Giovino, Fratturelli, Steadman, Norris, Fandreyer, Carabba
0.5 Lischer, Miller, Sewell

0.0

Sheridan
 
Projected Round 3 pairings on May 20:
 
Valadares-Bedard
Barlas-Giovino
Fratturelli-Biglow
Steadman-Fandreyer
Norris-Carabba
Miller-Lischer
Sheridan-Sewell
 
 

 

 

May 6th, 2009
Wachusett CC Championship
Round 1 (of 7)
 

 

"A" Division

 

Bruce Felton
1-0 Lenny Arsenault
Gary Brassard 1-0 Geoff LePoer
Larry Gladding 0-1 Martin Laine
Dave Couture 1-0 Ken Gurge

 

CURRENT "A" DIVISION STANDINGS

Points

 

1.0

Felton, Brassard, Couture, Laine

0.0

LePoer, Gladding, Gurge, Arsenault

 

horizontal rule

 

Arthur Barlas 1-0 George Miller
Mike Sheridan 0-1 Eugene Bedard
Jeff Lischer 0-1 Wayne Steadman
Max Sewell 0-1 Eduardo Valadares
Tom Fratturelli 0-1 Mark Norris
Ernest Fandreyer  0-1 Brian Biglow
 
 
Ken Carabba received a full-point bye and Paul Giovino received a half-point bye.
 
 

CURRENT "B" DIVISION STANDINGS

Points

 

1.0

 Barlas, Bedard, Valadares, Biglow, Steadman, Norris, Carabba
0.5  Giovino

0.0

 Lischer, Fratturelli, Miller, Sheridan, Sewell, Fandreyer
 
 
 

 

 

April 29th, 2009
Wachusett CC Championship Prelims
Final Round (of 5)
 

The Field Is Set!

Going into tonight the following players had already qualified for the championship

section: Geoff LePoer, Martin Laine, Ken Gurge, Larry Gladding, and Dave Couture.  Tonight Bruce Felton, Gary Brassard, and Len Arsenault qualified to fill out the field.

 

Congratulations also to Mark Norris of Fitchburg who increased his rating by 205 points.  In the last 6 tournaments Mark has raised his rating by an amazing 866 points!  The sky's the limit for Mark!

 

Martin Laine 0-1 Larry Gladding
Ken Gurge
1/2-1/2 Dave Couture
George Mirijanian
1/2-1/2 Bruce Felton
Gary Brassard 1-0 Eugene Bedard
Lenny Arsenault 1-0 Paul Giovino
Wayne Steadman 0-1 George Miller
Jeff Lischer 1/2-1/2 Brian Biglow
Eduardo Valadares 1-0 Tom Fratturelli
Max Sewell 1-0 Ernest Fandreyer
 
Geoff LePoer, Mark Norris, Michael Sheridan, Francis Scanlon, and Ken Carabba did not play the round.
 

FINAL STANDINGS

Points

 

4.0  Gladding
3.5  Gurge, Couture
3.0  Felton, LePoer, Brassard, Laine, Arsenault
2.5  Mirijanian, Miller, Norris
2.0  Giovino, Bedard, Valadares, Sewell
1.5  Lischer, Biglow, Steadman

1.0

 Fratturelli, Sheridan, Scanlon
0.5  -----

0.0

 Fandreyer, Carabba
 
Pairings for the "A" finals:
 
Round 1 - May 6
(5) Felton vs. (3) Arsenault
(6) Brassard vs. (2) LePoer
(7) Gladding vs. (1) Laine
(4) Couture vs. (8) Gurge
 
Round 2 - May 13
(2) LePoer vs. (5) Felton
(1) Laine vs. (6) Brassard
(8) Gurge vs. (7) Gladding
(3) Arsenault vs. (4) Couture
 
Round 3 - May 20
(5) Felton vs. (1) Laine
(4) Couture vs. (2) LePoer
(3) Arsenault vs. (8) Gurge
(6) Brassard vs. (7) Gladding
 
Round 4 - May 27
(7) Gladding vs. (5) Felton
(2) LePoer vs. (3) Arsenault
(8) Gurge vs. (6) Brassard
(1) Laine vs. (4) Couture
 
Round 5 - June 3
(5) Felton vs. (6) Brassard
(2) LePoer vs. (8) Gurge
(3) Arsenault vs. (1) Laine
(4) Couture vs. (7) Gladding
 
Round 6 - June 10
(8) Gurge vs. (5) Felton
(1) Laine vs. (2) LePoer
(6) Brassard vs. (4) Couture
(7) Gladding vs. (3) Arsenault
 
Round 7 (final) - June 17
(4) Couture vs. (5) Felton
(2) LePoer vs. (7) Gladding
(3) Arsenault vs. (6) Brassard
(1) Laine vs. (8) Gurge

 

 

April 22nd, 2009
Wachusett CC Championship Prelims
Round 4 (of 5)
 

Everyone at the club wishes George Mirijanian a speedy recovery.  George was taken to the emergency room Wednesday night after his pacemaker started acting up.  He is currently down in Worcester for observation and more advanced tests.  He will hopefully be home very soon.

 

As I wrote two and a half years ago, George is the one who has made this club possible for many, many years.  Best of luck George!  Do whatever you need to do to get healthy.  We all look forward to seeing you healthy again soon.

 

 
LePoer 1-0 Felton
Gladding 1-0 Brassard
Laine 1-0 Arsenault
Bedard 0-1 Gurge    
Norris 1/2-1/2 Mirijanian
Miller 1/2-1/2 Lischer
Fratturelli 0-1 Giovino
Steadman 1-0 Fandreyer
 

 

CURRENT STANDINGS

Points

 

3.0 LePoer, Laine, Gurge, Gladding, Couture
2.5 Felton, Norris
2.0 Mirijanian, Brassard, Giovino, Bedard, Arsenault
1.5 Miller, Steadman

1.0

Lischer, Fratturelli, Valadares, Biglow, Sheridan, Sewell, Scanlon
0.5 -----

0.0

Fandreyer, Carabba
 

 

April 15th, 2009
Wachusett CC Championship Prelims
Round 3 (of 5)
 
 

Dave Couture

1-0

Martin Laine

Bruce Felton

1-0

Lenny Arsenault

Ken Gurge

1/2-1/2

George Mirijanian

Gary Brassard

1-0

Eduardo Valadares

Larry Gladding 

1-0

Tom Fratturelli

Paul Giovino

0-1 Mark Norris

Eugene Bedard

1-0

Max Sewell

Jeff Lischer

1/2-1/2

Wayne Steadman

Brian Biglow

1-0

Francis Scanlon

Ernest Fandreyer  0-1 George Miller
 

Geoff LePoer, Mike Sheridan, and Ken Carabba did not play the round.

 

CURRENT STANDINGS

Points

 

3.0 Couture
2.5 Felton
2.0

LePoer, Brassard, Laine, Gurge, Gladding, Bedard, Arsenault, Norris

1.5 Mirijanian

1.0

Giovino, Fratturelli, Valadares, Biglow, Miller, Sheridan, Sewell

0.5 Lischer, Steadman

0.0

Fandreyer, Carabba, Scanlon

 
 
 

 

 

April 8th, 2009
Wachusett CC Championship Prelims
Round 2 (of 5)
 
 
 
Bruce Felton 1/2-1/2 Ken Gurge
Dave Couture 1-0 George Mirijanian
Geoff LePoer 1-0 Paul Giovino
Lenny Arsenault 1-0 Gary Brassard
Martin Laine 1-0 Eugene Bedard
Wayne Steadman 0-1 Tom Fratturelli
Eduardo Valadares 1-0 Ernest Fandreyer
Max Sewell 1-0 Brian Biglow
George Miller 0-1 Mark Norris
Ken Carabba 0-1 Mike Sheridan
 

Jeff Lischer and Francis Scanlon did not play the round. Larry Gladding withdrew from the tournament.

CURRENT STANDINGS

Points

 

2.0 LePoer, Laine, Couture. Arsenault
1.5 Felton, Gurge

1.0

Mirijanian, Brassard, (Gladding), Giovino, Bedard, Fratturelli, Valadares, Sheridan, Sewell, Norris
0.5 -----

0.0

Lischer, Biglow, Miller, Steadman, Fandreyer, Carabba. Scanlon
 

 

 

 

April 1st, 2009
Wachusett CC Championship Prelims
Round 1 (of 5)
 
 

A warm welcome to Leonard Arsenault of Leominster, who last played at the club on June 26, 2002. He returned to the club to compete in the club championship preliminaries. Welcome back, Lenny!

- George Mirijanian

 

 

Tom Fratturelli
0-1 Bruce Felton
George Mirijanian 1-0 Eduardo Valadares
Brian Biglow 0-1 Geoffrey LePoer
Gary Brassard 1-0 George Miller
Michael Sheridan 0-1 Martin Laine
Ken Gurge 1-0 Wayne Steadman
Ernest Fandreyer 0-1 Larry Gladding
Paul Giovino 1-0 Max Sewell
Mark Norris 0-1 Dave Couture
Eugene Bedard 1-0 Ken Carabba
Francis Scanlon 0-1 Leonard Arsenault
 

Jeff Lischer did not play the round.

CURRENT STANDINGS

Points

 

1.0

Felton, Mirijanian, LePoer, Brassard, Laine, Gurge, Gladding, Giovino, Couture, Bedard, Arsenault
0.5  -----

0.0

Lischer, Fratturelli, Valadares, Biglow, Miller, Sheridan, Steadman, Fandreyer, Sewell, Norris, Carabba, Scanlon
  
 

 

 

March 25th, 2009
Wachusett CC Quick Chess Championship
Five-round Swiss, Game/20
 
 
 
Felton wins Quick Chess Championship; defeats Billerica CC champion
 

Congratulations to Bruce Felton of Fitchburg, who won the 2009 Wachusett CC Quick Chess Championship. Runner-up was Billerica Chess Club champion Andrew Tichenor, a high-rated expert from Brookline, MA, whom Bruce defeated in the third round. Tied for third were George Mirijanian of Fitchburg, Geoff LePoer of Westford, and Martin Laine of Lunenburg.

 
Round-by-round results

 

Round 1
Brian Biglow 0-1 Andrew Tichenor
George Mirijanian 1-0 Eduardo Valadares
George Miller 0-1 Geoffrey LePoer
Bruce Felton 1-0 Michael Sheridan
Ernest Fandreyer 0-1 Gary Brassard
Martin Laine 1-0 Francis Scanlon
Mark Norris 0-1 Paul Giovino
Ken Gurge 1-0 Ken Carabba
 
Round 2
Tichenor 1-0 Laine
Brassard 0-1 Mirijanian
LePoer 0-1 Gurge
Giovino 0-1 Felton
Scanlon 0-1 Biglow
Valadares 0-1 Fandreyer
Carabba 0-1 Miller
Sheridan 1-0 Norris
 
Round 3

Felton 1-0 Tichenor

Mirijanian 1-0 Gurge

Biglow 0-1 LePoer

Miller 0-1 Brassard

Laine 1-0 Sheridan

Fandreyer 0-1 Giovino

Norris 0-1 Valadares

Carabba 0-1 Scanlon

 
Round 4
Felton 1/2-1/2 Mirijanian
Tichenor 1-0 Giovino
LePoer 1/2-1/2 Laine
Gurge 0-1 Brassard
Sheridan 1-0 Biglow
Valadares 1-0 Scanlon
Fandreyer 0-1 Miller
Norris 1-0 Carabba
 
Round 5
Mirijanian 0-1 Tichenor
Brassard 0-1 Felton
Giovino 0-1 LePoer
Laine 1-0 Gurge
Miller 1-0 Valadares
Sheridan 1-0 Fandreyer
Scanlon 1-0 Norris
Biglow 1-0 Carabba
 
FINAL STANDINGS
4.5 - Felton
4.0 - Tichenor
3.5 - Mirijanian, LePoer, Laine
3.0 - Brassard, Miller, Sheridan
2.5 -  -----
2.0 - Giovino, Gurge, Biglow, Valadares, Scanlon
1.5 -  -----
1.0 - Fandreyer, Norris
0.5 -  -----
0.0 - Carabba

 

 

 

March 18th, 2009
George E. O'Rourke Memorial
Final Round (of 5)

 

Ken Again!

For the second year in a row, Ken Gurge of Leominster has won the George E. O'Rourke Memorial tournament. And he did it by defeating frontrunner Bruce Felton of Fitchburg in the final round!  Bruce, who was leading the 22-player field with a perfect 4-0 score going into the last round, needed only a draw to clinch first place. But Ken saw that that was not going to happen, for he won a rook early on in the game in which Bruce played the Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian Defense and forced the game down to a king and rook vs. king ending that saw Bruce overstep the time limit in a dead-lost position. George Edmund O'Rourke must have been rooting for Ken from above, for Ken was the last person to play a USCF-rated game - a draw - with George on Feb. 21, 2007 before he died on Feb. 26 of that year.

- George M.

Congratulations also to Geoff LePoer of Westford and Gary Brassard of Leominster who tied for 3rd place and Mark Norris of Fitchburg who increased his rating by 95 points.  In the last 5 tournaments Robert has raised his rating by an incredible 661 points!

 
Ken Gurge 1-0 Bruce Felton
Paul Giovino 0-1 Geoff LePoer
Gary Brassard 1-0 Tom Fratturelli
Martin Laine
1-0 Eduardo Valadares
George Miller 1/2-1/2 Dave Couture
Eugene Bedard 1/2-1/2
Mike Sheridan
Brian Biglow
1-0 Max Sewell
Wayne Steadman 0-1 Jeff Lischer
Ernest Fandreyer  1-0