Labor Day Weekend Tournament

I’ll be playing in the New Jersey Championship U1600 section this Labor day weekend. I’ll get some pictures and videos for posting. I’ll start posting some games also.

On The Need To Win

Some time ago, I had read a few sports related articles that stated you should not be outcome focused but should be process focused.

Below is a poem I found that addresses this topic. I feel it applies to chess players.

The Need to Win

When an archer is shooting for nothing
He has all his skill.
If he shoots for a brass buckle
He is already nervous.
If he shoots for a prize of gold
He goes blind
Or sees two targets–
He is out of his mind!

His skill has not changed. But the prize
Divides him. He cares.
He thinks more of winning
Than of shooting–
And the need to win
Drains him of power.

- Chuang Tzu

US Chess League Starts This Week

The US Chess League starts another season this week. The New Jersey plays Baltimore tonight on the ICC.

Baltimore Kingfishers vs New Jersey Knockouts

Starts at 7:15 PM ET Time Control - Game 90 with 30 second increment

Baltimore Kingfishers New Jersey Knockouts
GM Sergey Erenburg: 2592 GM Joel Benjamin: 2651
IM Larry Kaufman: 2392 IM Dean Ippolito: 2426
FM Ray Kaufman: 2327 NM Mackenzie Molner: 2325
FM Ralph Zimmer: 2261 NM Victor Shen: 2246
Avg Rating: 2393 Avg Rating: 2412

Some Chess Celebrities

On Friday I went to play in the Friday Chess League at Dean Ippolito’s Chess Academy. I got there early and saw that GM Benjamin was giving a class to some of the countries top young talents. I recognize some of the faces but I’m not sure of the names. I got to meet Elisabeth Vicary and Greg Shahade too.

Takin’ Out the Trash

In this featured video you can see Elisabeth Vicary and Greg Shahade doing cleanup after GM Joel Benjamin’s chess class.