Southern California Chess Federation

 

News & Notes

Out of the past

Al Pena has provided us with a PDF of the November 1935 issue of the "Western Chess Chronicle," published by the Southern California Chess League. This is but one of many lost chess publications, many (like this one) of high quality with interesting articles and hard-to-find games. Can anyone offer information about the publication or the organization which produced it? 

Later: IM John Donaldson sends us the following:

A 25-player squad from the U.S. will attend the  World Youth in Antalya, Turkey, which begins on November 11. Southern California representatives include Annie Wang, Winston Zeng, Simone Liao, Varun Krishnan, and Michael Brown. Coaches include IM Armen Ambartsoumian, FM Aviv Friedman, GM John Fedorowicz, FST (Fide Senior Trainer) Michael Khodarkovsky and GM Sam Palatnik.  

Aviv Friedman told interviewers, "This year is a bit of a transition year, with many new kids going, and some of our best players staying home (Robson, Arnold, Melekhina - to name a few).  The timing of the event when many students are busy with finals, and cannot take time out of school, played a part in the team's composition (more so than in previous years). Still, such experiences are what will help the youth team's next generation excel. Without mentioning any names (or jinxing anyone :)), we also have some hopefuls even in this transition year. Wish us luck (and skill)!" -- USCF news release

JERRY HANKEN, 1934 – 2009 

Chess was an avocation for Jerry, who was an admired probation officer for Los Angeles County for 39 years, but it was clearly what he most enjoyed. He was widely noted as a journalist, with many dozens of articles published in Chess Life and other magazines. His “parting with the lady” series on queen sacrifices (generally with necessity or desperation as the mother of invention) was widely noted and enriched the chess lexicon. In recent years Jerry reported on most of the major open tournaments for Chess Life. He won many awards from the Chess Journalists of America and served as its president for the last four years, signing up many members with his infectious enthusiasm.

 In chess governance, Jerry served on USCF’s Policy Board (today called the Executive Board) for ten years between 1978 and 1994 and was a regular at the Delegates meeting until this August, when ill health kept him from his first U.S. Open since 1972. Never shy about asking questions or making suggestions, Jerry made many contributions to the organization’s health. His oratory, influenced by his Shakespeare scholarship, carried the day more often than not. He was instrumental in the creation of the Southern California Chess Federation in 1977, when California was split for USCF purposes, and served on its board for many years, including a term as president.

As an organizer, Jerry was responsible for bringing two successful U.S. Opens to Los Angeles, in 1991 and 2003. His efforts saved the American Open after it lost its corporate sponsorship in 1990 (he played in 44 straight American Opens since its inception in 1965). His work with the late Louis Statham and Isaac Kashdan contributed to the success of the Lone Pine grandmaster tournaments between 1972 and 1981.

 However, Jerry was proudest of his accomplishments as a player. He won the California Open against a strong field in 1964, and earned the Life Master title (300 games as a Master) many times over. (He coined the term “Original Life Master” when less-meaningful versions of that title came along.) In what turned out to be his penultimate tournament, the 2009 World Open, he upset young FM Daniel Yeager, a game that earned publication in the master-oriented New in Chess magazine.

 Jerry had a strong personality and could be difficult to work with. One aspect of this personality was a devotion to principle, displayed in 2002, when the president of FIDE (a man with a well-earned reputation for human rights violations in his Russian satrapy) was introduced as an honored guest at the USCF delegates meeting. This writer (sitting in the corner of a semicircular room) turned his chair around, a gesture that went unnoticed. Jerry, joined by Bill Goichberg and a few others, forthrightly walked out. That’s the Jerry Hanken I will remember. RIP, my friend. -- Randy Hough

So Cal Chess Federation, PO Box 205 Monterey Park, CA 91754 (www.scchess.com)

Crossroads Little League, PO Box 1428, Lucerne Valley, CA 92356

American Heart Association at www.donate.americaheart.org   (800) 242-8721

 
-- Sheri Reneau

The SCCF Candidates Tournament took place on June 21-22 at The Chess Center in Costa Mesa. Seventeen players accepted invitations to compete for a chance to advance to the State Championship. (Click here for crosstable.)
Taking first place with 3.5-.5 was Gregg Samll, followed at 3-1 by Michael Casella. Six players tied at 2.5-1.5, with Alexandre Krechetov and Ilia Serpik taking the remaining qualifying spots on tiebreak. These four will join State Champion Melikset Khachiyan, Cyrus Lakdawala, Jack Peters, Levon Altounian, Armen Ambartsoumian and Andranik Matikozyan in the round-robin State Championship, to be held at the same site July 18-20 and 26-27.

This year 74 players battled in four Sections for the bragging rights in San Diego County. The Open Section was won by the strongest player in the county, Cyrus Lakdawala, who managed to win the four round section with 3� points despite taking a risky bye in Round 2. Fortunately for him, there was a big upset in that same round when Kevin Scull, rated only 1624, defeated Alexandre Kretchetov, rated 2386, for a whopping 762 differential, which easily won the $25 Best Upset Prize. Bruce Baker won Best Under 2350 with 2�, and pooled his prize with the third place winners Craig Clawitter and Kevin Scull, each with 2�.

The other three Sections were five rounds, with the first three games played at 30/60. and G/1 on Saturday, while Sunday was a more traditional 40/2, G/1. Section II, for players Under 2200, was won by Leonard Sussman with 4 points, but he had to pool his winnings with Alan Bishop, who was the Best Under 2050, also with 4 points. The second place prize was won by Carey Milton, with 3� points.

Section III was the largest with 30. players, all Under 1900, and was won by Yan Shainsky with 4� points. Yan accepted a last round draw to seal his victory over three second place winners, Barry Lazarus, Buddy Morris and Thirunathan Sutharsan, all with 4 points. The Best Under 1750. prize was split between Charlie Berkman and Ramon Dalupang, with 3 points. Finally in Section IV, for players Under 1600, William Delaney and Armando Duenas tied for first with 4� points. Marc Dragosz and Luis Castaneda tied for Best Under 1450. Finally, Set Samson won a new digital Clock for the Best Unrated with 3 points. More details, pictures & games from the tournament can be found at the Club website http://groups.msn.com/SanDiegoChess/. -- Chuck Ensey

One hundred players competed in the 2003 SCCF Junior High School Championship, held in Santa Clarita on March 22. Tying for first with 4-0 scores were Julian Landaw and Vanessa West. Other section winners included Alexandre Maldague (Under 1000) and David Shabsovich (Under 700). Randy Hough and Jay Stallings directed. For complete standings, click here.

Long-time players will remember Juan Fong, a frequent competitor in Southern California tournaments until the mid-1990s. We have recently learned that Juan is now living in Colorado, and would like to hear from his old friends in the chess community. He may be reached at (303) 295-2696, or e-mail at  litodenver@aol.com. 

In Passing

James Hilliard, 1943 - 2003
A popular Los Angeles player, James Hilliard, died on January 27. James was on his mail route. Less than three months from retirement, he had been eagerly anticipating the chance to play more chess. James was born in Tennessee, grew up in Chicago, served in the Navy for four years (without being able to swim!), and then spent many years in Los Angeles. A true chess lover, he was a fixture at the Pasadena Club, many weekend tournaments, and various informal playing venues. He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Jacky, and children Akilah, Khafre, and David.
At James's memorial service, several chessplayers joined other friends and work colleagues in speaking of how much his selflessness and cheerfulness had meant to them. We'll miss you, James.

Hilliard (1900) - Conrad (1630)
Crown City Open, Pasadena 2000
A45 TROMPOWSKY ATTACK
1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 Ne4 3. Bf4 c5 4. Nd2 Qa5 5. c3 Nxd2 6. Bxd2 cxd4 7. cxd4 Qb6 8. Bc3 d5 9. h3 Bf5 10. Nf3 h6 11. e3 Nc6 12. Qa4 e6 13. Bb5 a6 14. Bxc6+ bxc6 15. 0-0 Qb5 16. Qxb5 cxb5 17. Ba5 Bd6 18. Rfc1 Ke7?! 19. Rc6 Rhc8 20. Rac1 Rxc6 21. Rxc6 Ra7? 22. Bb6! Rb7 23. Bc5 Bxc5 24. dxc5 f6? 25. Rxa6 Rc7 26. b4 e5 27. Rd6 Rd7 28. Rb6 Bd3 29. Ra6 Rb7 30. Nd2 Bc4 31. f4 exf4 32. exf4 f5? 33. Nf3 Bd3 34. Ne5 Be4 35. Kf2 d4 36. g4 fxg4 37. hxg4 Rc7 38. a3 Rb7 39. Rd6 1-0

Ivars Dahlberg 1934-2002
We are saddened to report that Ivars Dahlberg passed away last year on February 28 in Los Angeles. Though he had not played regularly since the late 1980\'92s Dahlberg was one of the strongest players in Southern California for many years. Born in Latvia, he came to the United States in the early 1950s, settling in Oregon where he won several state championship titles. He moved to Southern California around 1970, working as a financial planner. Dahlberg had several excellent results in Futurity tournaments at the Chess Set in Los Angeles in the 1970s and 1980s. Perhaps his best result was Lone Pine 1981, where finished with 4-5 against a filed inclding Korchnoi, Gligorich and Sosonko.
Anyone with more information about Ivars, particularly information on how to locate his relatives, is urged to communicate with Val Zemitis (chess@davis.com), who is working on an encyclopedia of Latvian chess players.

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