We kick off September with a four round Swiss in three sections. It starts September 10 and ends October 2.
Register here.
Standings here.
And don’t forget we will be closed September 3 in observance of Labor Day.
Closed for Labor Day
Just a reminder that SGVCC will be closed September 3 in observance of Labor Day.
A Hogwarts Swiss Starts July 23!
Cast a spell on your opponents! A six-round event in three Wizarding sections. It starts July 23 and ends August 27 with two half point byes available. There is one round each Tuesday night and games start at 6:45 pm. The Club opens at 6:00 pm. Time control is Game/90 min. with 5 second delay. The entry fee is $40 and should be paid online. Total prize fund to be determined based on entries. Advance registration is strongly advised. If you have trouble registering online contact us and we can register you. Registration closes at 6:30 pm. All players must be SGVCC members and have current USCF memberships. You can join or renew your SGVCC dues online at our website or in person. You can renew or join the USCF here. We meet at Altadena Community Church in Heicher Hall, located at 943 East Altadena Drive, Altadena, CA 91101 For more information contact John Wright at (626) 864-5744 or at wright.john82@yahoo.com
Three Wizard sections! Register here
Standings here
Leo Wang Wins Club Championship
Expert Leo Wang went 6-1 to become the 2024 SGVCC Champion. The annual seven round event concluded April 30 and drew 62 players. It all came down to Round 7, when Wang faced top seeded Axel Muller (2141). They were both tied at 5 points and a draw would have resulted in a four way tie. It was a worthy final game and both players showed their competitive spirit. Muller played the Dubov Gambit with White, a sharp line in the Giuoco Piano. Leo’s response was not to be found in the opening books but he’s shown a tenacity for defending tough positions. As the clock became a factor for both players Wang found his way through the complications and earned a hard fought victory.
Leo is now our second Club Champ and has his name engraved on the Club’s Perpetual Trophy, just below last year’s winner NM Karl Tolentino. Second place was shared by Expert Mladen Kolar and Craig Vieregg, who also won the Best Class A plaque. Other Best in Class winners were Gary Tao (Class B), Michael Colangelo (Class C), Garik Yegoryan (Class D), Haoxuan Huang (Class E) and Ethan Kinoshita (Best under 1000).
In addition to the trophy and plaques there was also a $605 cash prize fund, courtesy of the Arcadia Chess Club. Arcadia Chess Club ran rated events for over 40 years, meeting on Monday nights at the Senior Center in Santa Anita Park. Additional cash prize winners were Amin Zoghlami, Davit Bakhtaryan, Leya Daftuar and Lawrence Preciado.
As often occurs with a one Open Section event, upsets are bound to happen and we included an upset prize for best single game rating difference. Veteran players will tell you that lower rated players are much stronger than in the “good old days,” when you just waited for a blunder. And this event proved the point. In Round 1 alone Briana L (1387) beat a 1900 player, Aaron Bosch (780) beat a 1557 player and Paul Longstaffe (837) bested a 1614 opponent. And as if that wasn’t enough, Round 2 saw young Albert Bao (866) beat a 1900 player, a difference of 1034 points! It was widely thought he had the upset prize in the bag. But it didn’t last long as Thomas Pehlivanos (365) beat a player 1249 points higher the very next round and secured the upset prize. Now we know why our higher rated players are relieved when we have a two section event, these lower rated players have no fear!
This year’s Club Championship was certainly a success but it takes a team of people to make that happen. So thanks go to Senior TD Phil Chase, Club VP Axel Muller, Board Member and NTD Randall Hough, Facilities Manager Gary Schenk, Club Webmaster Chris Roberts and Vina Awards of San Gabriel. Thanks as well to all of our players and parents who help each week with set up and take down of all the tables and chairs. It really takes a collective effort and is truly one o the great things about SGVCC.
Take the Mount Wilson Challenge!
We start the Mount Wilson Challenge on May 7, a five round event in two sections that concludes June 4th. Register here:
Making Chess a Family Affair
Making Chess a Family Affair
If you’ve played at San Gabriel Valley Chess Club (SGVCC) it’s very likely you have played a member of the Daftuar family. First, there’s 10 year old Rohan, rated 1867, his eight year old sister Leya, rated 1357, and also dad Sumit, who only started playing last June and has a respectable 1200 rating. Mom Lilyn is part of the team too, helping with much needed transportation and sometimes getting the kids back home early when dad has a long game. It has become quite common to look at the pairings chart and see that all three won their games on a given night. In fact, at the Mount Lowe Swiss in October of 2023 this trio all won prize money. And don’t look now, but little brother Ojas has just started playing rated events.
This ability for everyone in a family to engage in the same activity is truly one of the unique aspects of chess. Unlike other sports or activities, age, gender, or size matter not. You don’t have to be the fastest or the strongest, just play good chess moves! At SGVCC we are pleased to have quite a few chess playing families. Plus, we discount our club membership dues by offering a family membership plan. So as they say, if you’re looking for a night out the whole family can enjoy, SGVCC is your place!
Follow the Club Championship
It all comes down to the final round! After six rounds we have three players tied for first at 5-1 and another group right on their heels at 4 1/2- 1 1/2. It’s been quite a tournament, with upsets every round. In addition to crowning a new Club Champ, there are Best in Class plaques as well. You’ll be able to check out final standings on May 1st. And spectators are welcome if you’d like to drop by!
Register here
Standings here
New Year Swiss Draws a Record 66 Players
New Year Swiss Draws a Record 66 Players
We got 2024 off to a great start with a record number of players at our first event this year! There was some great chess too, with battles in the last round to see who would prevail. Top seed Axel Muller won his first 4 games and then had to concede a draw against the very talented Ararat Bagdasarian, who defended a tough position. Although just ten years old, Bagdasarian is making a strong impression with a rating of 1946. He tied for second with veteran Arturo Armagnac, both scoring 4-1. It was Muller’s second straight clear first place finish. A National Master, he seems to be regaining his old form.
The under 1400 section saw the youngsters having their way. Garik Yegoryan (also 10!) posted an impressive 5-0 to take clear first. There was a log jam for second with four players going 4-1, which included Leya Daftuar and Ryan Lu (both age 8) Evan “Jet” Lew ( the “old guy” at age 13 ) and Patrick Harrigan of the CSU Northridge college team. The total prize fund was $600 and shared by the winners in both sections.
We start the Eaton Canyon Open, another 5 rounder in two sections, on February 13. And stay tuned for our Club Championship, a 7 round tournament with one Open section, starting March 19.
Play in the New Year Swiss
We get 2024 started on January 9 with a five round event that concludes February 6. There are two sections and the time control is G/90 with 5 second delay.
Standings here
Play in the Eaton Canyon Open
Eaton Canyon Open
2/13/24-3/12/24
This is a 5-round event in two sections (over 1400 and under 1400). Most recent “live” US Chess regular ratings used. You must play in the section determined by that rating. There is one round each Tuesday night and games start at 6:45 pm. The Club opens at 6:00 pm. Time control is Game/90 minutes with 5 second delay. Two 1/2-point byes are available. Last round byes must be requested before the start of Round 4. The entry fee is $35 and should be paid online. Advance registration is strongly advised.
Register here
Standings here
We continue our tradition of recognizing local landmarks near SGVCC. Eaton Canyon is a picturesque hiking trail well worth a visit.
