The newest of events is coming to Main Plaza, CHESS. This all ages game is recognized throughout the world and is shared by many as one of the finest sports of all time. October 15-23, 2011, this event will span 9 days of competition on Main Plaza's East Promenade during the daytime and into the evening. Watch International Masters and and local Masters as they play 7 rounds over 9 days. Four tables featuring the strongest competition field seen in San Antonio since 1972 kick off this intense gaming. A first in San Antonio for decades, you won't want to miss this intriguing and intense competition.
SCHEDULE: Note: Subject to change.
October 15, Saturday: Public Play - Register to play in an unrated event, $6.00 registration at 9:45am, play at 10am.
FEATURED EVENT:
Round #1 begins at 2:00pm. NOTE TIME CHANGE
October 16, Sunday: Public Play - Register to play in an unrated event, $6.00 registration at 9:45am, play at 10am.
FEATURED EVENT:
Round #2 begins at 1:00pm.
October 17, Monday:
Round #3 begins at 4:00pm.
October 18, Tuesday:
Round #4 begins at 4:00pm.
October 19, Wednesday:
Round #5 begins at 4:00pm.
October 20, Thursday:
Make-up day and,
Simultaneous Exhibition of (est.) 150 boards, plays at 6:00pm, $10 registration at 5:45pm
October 21, Friday:
Round #6 begins at 4:00pm.
October 22, Saturday:
Round #7 begins at 4:00pm.
October 23, Sunday:
Make-up day and,
Simultaneous Exhibition of (est. +) 150 boards, plays at 4:00pm, $20 registration at 3:45pm.
Closing ceremony & award presentation at 7:00pm.
Dates, times and events are subject to change without notice. This outdoor venue will provide viewing of all ROUNDS as well as the SIMULTANEOUS EXHIBITION by allowing observers to walk past or sit in select viewing areas. Scoreboards will be maintained throughout the event, San Antonio Chess Club membership sign-up, t-shirts and other memorabilia will be available for sale on all days.
PROJECTED LINE-UP: Mini bios on players, see below.
A USCF National Master and Life Master, with eleven San Antonio city championships to his credit. He started playing tournaments in 1970 during the Fischer boom, becoming an expert rated player in two and a half years. Since 1988 he has been editor of Texas Knights magazine, and he has also been a mainstay of local tournament organizating for the San Antonio Chess Club. In 2008 he was awarded an Outstanding Career Achievement Award by the US Chess Federation. Since 2009 he has been teaching chess as part of the enrichment curriculum at St. Luke's Episcopal School.
Away from chess, his interests include singing, guitar and current events. He has performed in outdoor theater, melodrama and children's theater, and has directed shows here and in Boerne. He sang with the San Antonio Symphony Mastersingers for many years, and enjoys karaoke. He graduated from Trinity University summa cum laude in 1977, with a degree in economics and philosophy.
Raised in San Francisco, Don started playing tournament chess in the mid-1950's. He spent many happy hours at the Mechanic's Institute Chess Club learning to play. The highlight of this period was winning the California State Chess Championship in 1965. Not playing much competitive chess, as studies and service in the Peace Corp took him through the late 1960's. Joining the Air Force in 1971 while serving in Denver, Colorado, he won the Colorado State Championship, and the Armed Forces Chess Championship in 1973.
Competitive chess was moved to the back-burner as his Air Force career as a photographer and aerial qualified photojournalist took hold until he retired in San Antonio in 1991. Since that time he has played in local events on a sporadic basis. Most of his chess playing is now on the Internet Chess Club. Don states, "Chess has been a lifetime companion and has provided me with many wonderful memories."
Gregg won or participated in a number of scholastic Chess Tournaments circa 1974. He became a chess Master in 1981, quit chess for 18 years after winning more money in a pick-up poker game than in his last six months of chess. Took up chess again in 2000 and has since become an Expert and three time San Antonio City Champion or co-Champion. Gregg teaches chess at Winston, St. Mary's Hall and Cambridge Elementary. Expert in game theory and author of "What the Wizards Won't Tell You". Publisher of RexReport.com, a foreclosure listing service covering Central Texas. Gregg is married to Elizabeth, has five children - four of which will casually defeat friends at chess. Self taught at chess and in most skill sets. He is currently developing a new web site.
In February 2011, Andrew was 53rd in the USA under age 13.
Andrew is 13, born in Secaucus, New Jersey in 1997, he now resides in San Antonio since 2004. He started playing chess at age of four when his mother introduced him to the game. As he grew up, he practiced and practiced. Result, he got better and better.
He enjoys going to chess tournaments to improve his level. He attends Church on Sundays with his famiily and is a deacon at St. Antony the Great Coptic Orthodox Church here in San Antonio. He also enjoys playing basketball with friends and his dad. He likes reading comic books, finds pleasure in listening to music and playing the guitar. He even listens to music while playing chess.
Active in chess in the late 1960's throught the 80's when chess was in full boom in the Philippines. PRISAA Chess Champpion in Dumaguete City, Philippines in 1965 and again in Bohol Province in 1966. 3 times Regional Chess Champion 1971-73; 12 times Tacloban City open chess Champion 1974-80; 1972 open chess Champion in Latrinidad Valley, Northern Luzon Philippines; 1980 Regional Chess Champion San Fernando Pampanga, Philippines (Buklod Bayan event) 2nd place in 1982 Dagupan City chess championship attended by many IM's and Masters from all around the world.
Ernesto quit chess just short of becoming a Master when chess encountered a slump while the Philippines was experiencing a Civil War during the Marcos Regime. He enlisted in the Philippine Constabulary in Manila. When Ernesto imigrated to the U.S. in 2007, he came back to chess.
In the championship at Houston in 2008, he tied for first place losing only on tiebreakers to Master de Jesus. His latest achievement was in Las Vegas in the national open blitz tournament where he scored 4.5 out of 6 rounds losing only to Grand Master Kacheisvili, draw with Grand Master De Firmian and winning all games including the last round against International Master Paul Field to get the under 2300 prize.
Mark tied for first place in the 1986 San Antonio city Championship, and then stopped playing in tournaments six months later. After a twenty-four year hiatus, he returned to chess in the summer of 2011. On October 8, 2011 he won clear first place in the Baranoff Chess Tournament in Austin. This chess version of Rip Van Winkle hopes to maintain his Expert rating in battle against the now younger generation!
After a 20 year civil service career, he left to manage his Artchive website, a popular online art history resource. He is a candidate for the diaconate, currently in formation and scheduled to be ordained as a Deacon in the Catholic Church in 2014.
Martin has been a member of the San Antonio Chess Club for 25 years, served as President (2001-2006), and is currently Director At Large. U.S. Chess Federation Sr. Tournament director, and has directed 100's of local tournaments.
Former San Antonio city Co-Champion (2002), San Antonio Chess Club Champion (2004) and Texas Amateur co-Champion. Martin played in 3 U.S. Opens (Pasadena, Boston and Dallas), the World Open (Philadelphia), and the National Open (Las Vegas).
He has taught scholastic chess in San Antonio at St. Matthews, St. Luke's, St. Anthony's, Judson Montessouri, San Antonio Academy, and The Winston School. He currently has USCF rating 2015 (Expert).
AND THE WINNERS ARE....
After 9 days of intense Chess playing the standing is:
SwissSys Standings. 2011 San Antonio Invitational
# Name ID Rtng Rd 1 Rd 2 Rd 3 Rd 4 Rd 5 Rd 6 Rd 7 Tot TBrk[R]
ANNOUNCING THE WINNER OF THE OFFICIAL POSTER CONTEST
ERIK ROMERO for his submission of 'EL BAILE DEL ACCORDION"
Inspiration for this poster: "A boldness and cutting edge; that continues to evolve genuine Latino diversity with an American Latino identity rich in culture and heritage."
This is the official artwork for the 4LMF and will be one of the most recognizable features of the festival.
Bring the whole family, Sunday evenings at 6:00 pm (See dates below)
TWILIGHT TALES - STORYTELLING BY MARY GRACE KETNER
About Mary Grace Ketner:An author with teaching experience in Language, Arts, English, Spanish and Special Education and work as an eductional specialist in a museum of history and culture. Mary Grace has been selected for the Texas Commission of the Arts Touring Artist Roster and the Mid America Arts Alliance since 2008; her CD, "Ghostly Gals and Spirited Women" received a Storytelling World Gold Award.
October 2: Chaucer on the GoSCHEDULE CHANGE
CANCELLED BECAUSE OF FIRE.... TO BE RESCHEDULED AT A LATER DATE.
Weekdays: Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:30pm
Main Plaza's East Promenade at Blue Star Icehouse. Enjoy some of the greatest sounds from San Antonios own incredible bands (see below). Sit back with an ice cold drink; Dos XX's on tap, Red & White Wine or your favorite beverage, grab some Kettlecorn and relax. Let Blue Star's waitstaff serve you up a great "after work" drink in an "Air Conditioned" outdoors. You'll be glad you did!
Oct 4 Cancelled
Oct 5 Adam Zuniga Spanish Influences/Guitar
Oct 6 Laura Marie Comtemp/Pop/Folk/Jazz
Oct 11 Europa Duo Smooth Comtemp Jazz
Oct 12 Mitch Webb & Friends Texicana
Oct 13 Jeff Wood Americana/Pop
Oct 18 N/A Chess Invitational
Oct 19 N/A Chess Invitational
Oct 20 N/A Chess invitational
Oct 25 Glenn Allan & Kim MacKenzie Acoustic/Americana/Folk
