MECA Chess Player of the Year Competition

Hello everybody!

It looks like there is some controversy over the MECA Chess Player of the Year competition. In our discussion of a POY competition we decided to approve eight events with two events in four different areas of Maine: northern Maine (Aroostook County), eastern Maine (Greater Bangor area), central Maine (Augusta/Waterville area), and southern Maine (Greater Portland area). The suggestion was that these events be G/45 or longer with four rounds in one day with the exception of the five round Closed State Championship. The following TD's based on location and past tournaments were asked if they wished to participate: Steve Wong (All Saints Winter Warmup), Dan DeLuca (ChessMaine.net Championship), Tom Sandford (Eastern Maine Open), Roger Morin (Two Aroostook Tournaments), and Phil Lowell (Portland Open and Downeast Open). They all accepted MECA's invitation. Points garnered from their tournaments must be obtained in the Open sections of their tournaments and players must be MECA members to gain points.

Roger Morin felt that two-day tournaments were best for northern Maine and was allowed to keep his events as part of the POY competition. Phil Lowell expressed a desire to change the format to a Quick Chess setup, and he would use the past formula to apply results to the competition. Games would be worth one half the point value of other events.

Looking at Phil's setup for the Quick Chess Marathon it would mean that this event would be worth a potential 14 points whereas the Closed Championship was worth ten and the other events worth eight. I believe that if the Portland Quick Chess Marathon is to remain part of the POY competition then each point should be worth 0.3 points making the tournament worth 8.2 points; that makes it more equitable and does not have a skewing effect on the POY competition.

At our annual meeting in the fall we will evaluate the events that were part of the POY competition and decide which events will be part of the POY schedule for 2012. We would love to hear recommendations from our membership.

I appreciate the fact that Roger brought attention to the inequity of the set-up and to the fact also that the MECA POY competition guidelines were not spelled out on the MECA website like they were in the past. I do hope that future questions are directed to either me or another board member before going through a comment or letter to chessmaine.net. We are doing our best to make MECA a viable organization and promote Maine chess. Despite our busy schedules we have had more meetings than in the past and have been able to involve more areas of the state than in the past; I firmly believe that we are moving in a positive direction.

As President of MECA I realize that the buck stops with me, and I hope that people appreciate the responsibility that I have taken. I was pleased with the State Closed Championship, and I believe there are many excellent events scheduled for Maine chess players in the coming months. Hope to see everyone at an event soon.

Andy Bryan
bvbryan@aol.com

Updated MECA Player of the Year Standings

MECA Player of the Year Standings (after Closed Championship)

Lance Beloungie 24.5
Roger Morin 15.5
Steve Abrahams 14.5
Yuri Riabkov 14.5
Alan Schalk 10.0
Matthew Fishbein 9.0
Aaron Spencer 9.0
Jim Dubois 8.0
Barry Magda 8.0
Don Plummer 8.0
Mark Woida 7.5
Dan Fishbein 7.5
Ruben Babayan 7.0
Richard Judy 7.0
Lee Doucette 7.0
Aaron Falzerrano 7.0
Andy Bryan 7.0
Tom Sandford 6.5
Curt Brock 6.5
Dan La Vallee 6.5
Nicholas Parsons 6.5
Jose Lugo 6.5
Anna Bryan 6.5
Phil St. Jean 6.5
Jon Buxton 6.0
Kathy Richards 6.0
Maggie Bryan 6.0
Andrey Savov 5.0
Bill Loring 5.0
Mark Seedner 4.0

The next event is a Quick Chess event at Southern Maine Community College May 14 in South Portland.

Schalk Runs the Table to Win State Championship

Alan Schalk defeated Jim Dubois in the final round to score 5.0 points and become the 2011 State Champion. Matthew Fishbein, the youngest player finished a clear second with 4.0 points. Richard Judy and Ruben Babayan tied for third with 3.5 points - both of which included half-point byes. Finishing with 3.0 were Jim Dubois, Barry Magda, Curt Brock, Don Plummer, and Dan Lavallee.

Cross table for event:

http://main.uschess.org/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,181/

Round Four Results

Alan Schalk continues to show why he has the highest rating as he won his fourth consecutive game; this time with a quick victory over Aaron Spencer. Matthew Fishbein and Barry Magda won their games to advance to three points as well as Jim Dubois and Don Plummer. At 2.5 are Ruben Babyan, Richard Judy, and Aaron Spencer.

Key final round match-ups include Dubois vs. Schalk, Magda vs. Fishbein, Judy vs. Plummer, and Babayan vs. Spencer.

Round Two and Round Three Results

In the second round at the top board Alan Schalk defeated Matthew Fishbein in what Matthew described as a very strange game that was in the balance for quite some time before Schalk won. Aaron Spencer continued his strong play by defeating Richard Judy. Aaron completes his day with 2.5 points as he has requested a bye for the evening round. Maggie Bryan played Mark Woida to a draw to finish her day with 2.0 points as she also is taking a draw in the third round.

Schalk continued his strong play in the third round defeating Andrey Savov to move to 3.0 points and clear first. Spencer is in second with 2.5, while eight competitors have two points. The other heavyweight battle in the third round pitted Fishbein vs. Abrahams with Fishbein coming out on top. The fourth round begins at 9:30 Sunday morning.

Players with two points include: Savov, Fishbein, M. Bryan, Woida, Dubois, Barry Magda, Don Plummer, and Yuri Riabkov.

First Round of Closed Championship Complete

The top two rated players Alan Schalk and Ruben Babayan won their first round games although Schalk needed all his time to defeat Barry Magda in a very tight match. Other first round winners were Matthew Fishbein, Andrey Savov, Aaron Spencer, Maggie Bryan, Kathy Richards, Don Plummer, Phil St. Jean, and Aaron Falzerano. Many draws due to accelerated pairings resulted in six players with 0.5 points: Steve Abrahams, Mark Woida, Curt Brock, Jon Buxton, Jose Lugo, and Dan Lavallee. There are 28 players competing in the two-day event. The playing room at Rooster's is excellent, and there is geniune comraderie among the players.

Key matchups in the second round are Schalk vs. Fishbein and Savov vs. Babayan. Richard Judy who took a bye in the first round is black against Aaron Spencer while Steve Abrahams is playing Kathy Richards. Jon Buxton will be playing Mark Seedner (1/2 point bye first round). Don Plummer will play Jim Dubois, and Maggie Bryan will meet Mark Woida in a battle of Ellsworth Chess Club members.

More after Round Two.