World Top 10 December, 2024
MEN:
WOMEN:
Unfortunately the Christmas party is canceled. There has not been enough interest this year. It's also projected to be inclimate weather, and we don't have enough money to cover the rent.
We are donation-based , so we'll also be closed for the rest of the month unless we can generate some donations. We're asking you, the nice folks who participate or wish to participate in this Greater Baystate Chess Club, to please send us a donation via PayPal or Venmo to: greater.baystate.chess@gmail.com, so we can continue to provide our services to the community. You can also send us a check made out to:
Greater Baystate Chess
By Post to:
Greater Baystate Chess
C/O Gaetano Bompastore
10 Conner Ave FL 2
Westfield, MA
01085
Anything you can afford is greatly appreciated!
If you can't, that's okay, too. We understand it's the holiday season, and we all have families.
We appreciate the ideas you've given us, and we've looked into many other venues, some suggested by the communities in the past. However, St.John's Lutheran Church offers the best rate, the most flexible hours, the most space, best storage, the best amenities and hospitality than any other location we've looked into. Every other venue we've reached out to offers half the space or less, more limited hours, and less storage options.
Thank you so much for your support!
12/15/24 | Harry Nelson Pillsbury Memorial | TLA | MAP |
01/03/25 - 01/05/25 | Boston Chess Congress | TLA | MAP |
01/11/25 | 33rd Mid-Winter Classic | TLA | MAP |
01/17/25 - 01/20/25 | Liberty Bell Open | TLA | MAP |
02/01/25 - 02/02/25 | UMass Spring Classic - Open Section | TLA | MAP |
02/01/25 - 02/02/25 | UMass Spring Classic - U1800 & U1200 | TLA | MAP |
02/02/25 | UMass Spring Classic - Blitz | TLA | MAP |
07/25/25 - 07/27/25 | Bradley Open | MAP | |
08/29/25 - 09/01/25 | New York State Championship | MAP |
WOMEN:
STAY TUNED...
STAY TUNED...
Solution To Last Puzzle: 1. Qh6 Kb4 2. Qe1 Ka5 3. Qa3#
At 18 years old, GM Gukesh becomes the 18th WORLD Chess Champion, bringing the title back to India!
https://uschesschamps.com/2024-us-championships/press-release-winners
Sigrun Øen Carlsen (1963-2024)
The beautiful mother of the Mozart of Chess has left us to soon. She truly gave her life and love to him so he could become the greatest chess player in the world.
7/12/2024 – It was announced today that Magnus Carlsen’s mother, Sigrun Øen, died on Monday after a long illness surrounded by her family. Sigrun Øen was a chemist, but gave up her profession after the birth of her children, and accompanied her son Magnus Carlsen together with her husband and daughters to numerous chess tournaments. Sigrun Øen was 61 years old.
We're deeply sorry, Magnus, for your loss.
https://www.chess.com/news/view/judit-polgar-abolish-women-titles
https://www.chess.com/news/view/2024-niemann-rises-to-world-no-16
7-year old Devansh Vellanki, of Hopkinton Massachusetts is the 2024 National Elementary School Champion for kindergarten and first grade.
17-year-old Grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju of India, became the youngest man in history to win the prestigious Candidates tournament and earn the right to challenge for the World Champion, GM Ding Liren's crown later this year!
Greetings,
I am very sad to announce that my dear friend and chess mentor, Mr. Richard Zyra has passed away. He was 82 years young. I first met Richard at the Westfield (Mass) Chess Club in 2005. Here was a man of honor, respect, and integrity. He was the one of three US Chess rated players that taught me the fundamentals and rules of the game. (The other two being his brother, Michael Zyra, and my high school history teacher, Mr. Richard Pucko.) Richard Zyra gifted me my very first two chess books that I ever owned, " Basic Chess Openings" & "More Basic Chess Openings" by Hungarian GM Gábor Kállai.
He was a stern enforcer of applying the USCF rules of chess to every game, whether it be casual or rated, yet always the gentleman. Especially the "touch-move" rule! In this way he trained me to treat the game seriously and with respect so that I was prepared for formal competitions. I'm glad that he did. That's a painful rule that costed me several games. Mr. Zyra ingrained in me how to sit on my hands, be patient and think BEFORE I move a piece, which I struggled with because I always moved too fast, ending in many losses. I always looked forward to seeing him each week at the club on Wednesday nights, and later on, Monday nights at the Springfield Chess Club, in anticipation of what lessons he had for me next.
He not only taught me about chess, but also life itself. He put up with my bad attitude many times and adjusted it accordingly. He helped forge me into the chess player and man that I am today. I've now been running the Westfield Chess Club (now Greater Baystate Chess Club) that I met him at for the past 14 years. I've built it upon what he stood for and meant to me; unity and friendship. I will miss his laugh, his smile, our awesome chess games, and our phone conversations. Sometimes, I'd be down, especially after my car accident. Richard would lift me up and encourage to never give up. Now he's my chess angel. I can feel him giving me strength every game. I know it sounds strange, but 2 days after he left us, I swept an online tournament with a performance rating of 2295. I've never done that in my life!
He was a very good man, Richard Zyra. He is loved by many and will be sorely missed. I know he's in Heaven now, and I hope to see him there. And so, I only say Goodbye for now, Mr. Zyra. Rest in peace, sir.
By: Gaetano
Student of Chess