UPCOMING GREATER BAYSTATE EVENTS
2nd Mayflower Open
St. John's Lutheran Church
60 Broad St
Westfield, MA 01085, MA
PDF TLA MAP
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GREATER BAYSTATE CHESS CLUB
St. John's Lutheran Church
60 Broad St
Westfield, MA

*GBCC WILL BE CLOSED
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17TH, 2025*
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Have a great week chess fans!



UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS

12/07/25 Harry Nelson Pillsbury Memorial TLA MAP
01/02/26 - 01/04/26 14th Annual Boston Chess Congress TLA MAP
05/23/26 - 05/25/26 Massachusetts Open
07/17/26 - 07/19/26 Bradley Open MAP
08/13/26 - 08/16/26 Continental Open MAP
08/23/26 61st Annual NBCC Summer Open MAP

Apr 102025

Congratulations FIDE MASTER Danila Poliannikov: 2025 Massachusetts Chess Champion!

May 272025

Danila was first introduced to chess at the age of 5 by his father. Since then, he has been an avid competitor and a 3-time representative of Massachusetts in the Barber Tournament of Champions and been scholastic state champion multiple times. He is now a coach at Future Masters Chess Academy:

https://futurechessmasters.com/meet-our-team/

In 2021, Danila attained the Fide Master title, and he is working towards becoming an International Master. He just won the Massachusetts Open 2025, coming in at clear 1st place with 5 / 6 points; 4 wins and 2 draws!

 

Youngest 2500 Rated Player In History!

Sep 242025

HE STARTED PLAYING CHESS DURING THE PANDEMIC...

 

FAUSTINO ORO!

 

A global lockdown sparked a chess revolution in one extraordinary child.

Born October 14, 2013, this Argentine wunderkind shattered expectations in online chess, dominating the lightning-fast time controls (1min, 3min).

Then came the earth-shattering moment that broke the internet: defeating World Champion Magnus Carlsen in bullet chess, catapulting Faustino into global stardom. Overnight, he became a household name, collecting nicknames, adoration, and a massive following. Fausti skyrocketed through ONLINE CHESS rankings, crushing legends like Nakamura without mercy. Elite status achieved: top 50 players globally. Out of 220 MILLION users, he consistently outshines 219,999,950 others.

AT JUST 11 YEARS OLD.

Critics wondered: Could this speed demon handle classical chess's psychological warfare? In today's instant-gratification era, would patience be his downfall? Faustino silenced doubters spectacularly, becoming history's youngest International Master. But he was just warming up.

2025 threw brutal challenges at the "Chess Messi," beginning with the cutthroat Tata Steel tournament. Like his namesake on the football pitch, this Argentine prodigy didn't just survive—he thrived. Now, Faustino is demolishing the competition toward his first Grandmaster norm after obliterating GM Alan Pichot of Spain. With a staggering 5.5/6 score, he's shattered another record: the youngest player EVER to reach the mythical 2500 rating—a Grandmaster-level achievement.

We're not just watching chess history—we're witnessing a once-in-a-generation talent rewrite the possibilities of human potential. As Faustino carries Argentina's legacy of brilliance from the football field to the chessboard, he and prodigies storm the gates of chess's elite establishment. One thing is crystal clear:

 

The future isn't coming. It's already here.

First Grandmaster In History Stripped Of Title

Aug 302025

**** HISTORIC CHESS VERDICT! ****

The FIDE Ethics & Disciplinary Commission has delivered its final ruling in the case of GM Kirill Shevchenko.

 What happened ??..

At the 2024 Spanish Team Championship, Shevchenko was caught leaving the board repeatedly. A hidden mobile phone was later found in a toilet cubicle, along with a handwritten note that matched his handwriting. He later admitted hiding the phone and accessing Lichess, but denied using it to influence his games.

* FIDE’s Sanctions:

* Grandmaster title revoked (first time in history!)

* 3-year worldwide ban from all FIDE-rated events (1 year suspended).

Dana Reizniece of FIDE emphasized:  “Ensuring fair play is non-negotiable – it is essential to the credibility and future of our sport.” This is the first-ever case where a GM title was stripped for cheating.

What’s your reaction to this landmark decision?