Twin City Chess Club - Past Events
Because of Independence Day we won’t be meeting tonight. The plan is to meet again on July 11th.
Enjoy the holiday!
Posted on Monday, April 15th, 2013, in All Pages, Events, Past Events | Comments Off on July 4, 2013 – No meeting
It was a somewhat hastily put together trip, and not an ‘official’ club event, but club members Joseph Alford and Darren Erickson went down to St. Louis on May 12th to see the final round of regular play live. Rather than make a long narrated photo essay post (as we have in the past,) photos of Darren and Joe’s trip are in the gallery below:
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Hey, what’s that in the distance?
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We know we’re in the right city… The day was as beautiful as this picture looks.
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Ah, Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis! We missed you!
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Across the way is the Chess Hall of Fame and Museum. Go see the chess piece exhibit before it is gone in September!
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Home of the World’s Largest Chess Piece, 14’7″ tall.
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See, wasn’t kidding! :)
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In the club, we’re here on the right day! Insides as beautiful as the outsides!
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Joseph Alford and Darren Erickson, ready to witness the action!
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There’s a great restaurant/bar right next to the Chess Club now!
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GM Maurice Ashley graciously allows an interruption to pose with Darren Erickson. (Darren only needs a photo with Jennifer Shahade to have a set of commentators! Next year…)
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Players get ready before round start. (On the left, GM Ramirez would to go the playoff on Monday.)
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On the right, the Once and Future King.
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Giving announcements before game on!
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One player would arrive sit down a little late…
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We’re off and running! (And no flash, so a little blurry!)
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The GMs are tremendous players, but the unsung heroes are the Tournament Directors and Staff…
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Great to watch the players, but let’s get some analysis!
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One can look at a repeater board, live commentary, and hear audio right outside. (I think that’s Marty Grund of ICC standing center – had a conversation with him later…)
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Action goes on outside, as well!
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A little different this year, we couldn’t sit in the basement with the commentators due to equipment. But a small room on the third floor of the Hall of Fame was *excellent*, with courtesy catering also!!!!
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First time I’ve ever been with a chess set this large – helped move pieces in a blindfold game during a break!
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When I say big, I mean big!
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Thank you St. Louis for another wonderful day and year!
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Original Post:
The US Championship will be played in St. Louis from May 2-13, 2013.
In prior years we have had a field trip to the Championship (one such trip here and photos here in Past Events.) Should we choose to form another field trip this year (we haven’t yet,) or if you want to go on your own, the single round observation cost is $10 plus contributing to gas/rental for the carpool. (There are additional costs if you want to attend the opening or closing cermonies – ask about this at club!) This post will be updated if we form a field trip party that is accepting club members or have a TCCC trip day scheduled.
The event section of the website apparently isn’t quite up yet, but it is at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis.
Posted on Tuesday, April 9th, 2013, in All Pages, Events, Past Events, Photos | Comments Off on May 2-13, 2013 – US Championship 2013
We had a very good tournament, with many thanks to the 32 players who participated. USCF Crosstable is located here. Further post update to come!
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Original post:
Late Spring brings many things to sing about, including the return of the Normal Open on Saturday, May 4th (a bit later than last year.) Last year’s event had 27 players – come out and see what blooms this year!
Details as published through ICA and the USCF’s Online TLA Service:
An Illinois Chess Tour Event!

Normal Open 2013 – Illinois Chess Tour
Northbridge Baptist Church – Normal
2413 East Ziebarth Road
Normal, IL 61761
80 % of Entries Returned
Open
- Prizes:
- 80% Returned. Special prize, $20 gas card to the person traveling the farthest.
- Format:
- 4 Round Swiss, G/70;d5 Affects Regular rating only. Round Times: 10:00 AM, 12:30 PM , 3:00 PM , 5:30 PM
Byes: Half point bye all rounds, round 4 must be placed before start of round 2Entry Fees:$17.00 by 5/1, $20.00 at site.Entries To:Jeff Smith, 19439 Lakeside Ln, Bloomington, IL 61705. Telephone: 309-378-2078 On-site Reg: Onsite registration 9:00 – 9:45 AM
Day of tournament phone number: 309-825-5401
- E-mail:
- jeff309@msn.com
- Directions to site:
- Use http://goo.gl/maps/GdN2z – please note Google Maps default location searching for”Northbridge Baptist” slightly incorrect.
- Event Limitations and Site Conditions:
- No Smoking. No Computers. Wheelchair Accessible.
Posted on Friday, April 5th, 2013, in All Pages, Events, Past Events | Comments Off on May 4, 2013 – Normal Open
The Greater Peoria Chess Federation is running the Peoria Open over April 20th and 21st, 2013. Link to United States Chess Federation for details is here and a the GPCF website link is here.
Posted on Sunday, April 7th, 2013, in Events, Past Events | Comments Off on April 20-21, GPCF Open
We had a super-cozy local tournament on April 6th, 2013, thanks to iExcell!
A total of fourteen players came out in three sections. Rather than combine or cancel, the three-section swiss evolved into a round robin section, a double round robin quad, and a [near] round robin for Under 600 players. (“Near” because an incorrectly assigned bye created doubled opponent errors that weren’t caught until it was too late.)
Despite the one hiccup players had a most excellent time. Joseph Alford took first place in the Open with 4.5 points, our Under 1200 DRR saw Garrett Trimble win with a perfect 6.0 score, and the Under 600 section had Rujuta Durwas and Gunnar Holtermann tie with 4.0/5 scores (Gunnar winning the trophy on tiebreak.)
Link to the crosstable showing all the Super-Local players at USCF is here.
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Original tournament posting:
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Posted on Monday, November 5th, 2012, in All Pages, Events, Past Events | Comments Off on April 6, 2013 – IExcell Open/Scholastic April 2013
Colley Kitson, long time member of TCCC and owner of the former Colley’s Chess Cafe in Bloomington, died on Tuesday, March 19th, 2013. Many in the chess community, local and statewide, knew Colley well.
A graveside service of military honors was held on Saturday, April 23rd, 11 A.M. at Calvary Cemetary in Decatur. Map to cemetary is at: http://goo.gl/maps/9QH7U .
Arrangements were handled by Moran & Goebel Funeral Home in Decatur, (217) 875-2004. There is a obituary / tribute at http://www.moranandgoebel.com/obituaries/Colley-Kitson/ If we learn of memorial arrangements, etc. they will be posted here.
There will be a memorial tournament for Colley, details will be posted after discussing with Decatur’s Chess Club and within the Twin Cities club.

Colley Kitson (Left) playing Tansel Turgut in a 22 player simul he organized in December, 2010 at Colley’s Chess Cafe, Bloomington, IL Click for full size.
Posted on Sunday, March 31st, 2013, in All Pages, Events, Past Events | Comments Off on R.I.P. Colley Kitson, March 2013
iEXCELL Chess Tournament
Saturday, January 5th, 2013
Location: iEXCELL, 2416 East Washington Street, Suite B3, Bloomington, IL 61704
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Posted on Saturday, January 5th, 2013, in Events, Past Events | Comments Off on January 5, 2013 – iExcell Tournament
We may wish for Chess Sets, the latest Chess Book, and that New In Chess subscription instead of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. OK, getting Gold would probably buy several years worth of New In Chess….
We haven’t yet decided what is occurring on Christmas and New Years’ Weeks – our move to Thursdays from Mondays may have changed our schedule a little bit. We should know in the next week or two.
Please keep your eyes tuned to the Upcoming Events section for more!
Posted on Sunday, March 4th, 2012, in All Pages, Events, Past Events | Comments Off on Holidays Club Schedule
The tournament was held on December 8, 2012.
Original post below the cut:
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Posted on Thursday, December 20th, 2012, in All Pages, Events, Past Events | Comments Off on iExcell December 2012 Open
At Twin Cities Chess Club we are thankful for many things, chess being right near (or at) the top for most of us.
The 22nd is Thanksgiving Day, and we’re not meeting tonight.
Enjoy your chess, your Thanksgiving holiday, and we pick up with open play on November 29th!
Posted on Monday, November 19th, 2012, in All Pages, Events, Past Events | Comments Off on Thursday, November 22nd, 2012 – No Play on Thanksgiving