Hales Corners Chess Challenge XX

Hola darlings!

I will have full results and all chess femme prize winners, and also the winners of Don McLean's memorial prize ($50 awarded to a player in both the Open and Reserve Sections, based on relative performance rating) tomorrow, it's already late for me and I've yet to eat supper, yikes!

My chess buddy, Ellen Wanek (1070),  who has done so much for chess in the Sheboygan, WI area, played in the Reserve Section and started out with a big bang -- winning her first two games!  She finished at 50%, good for Ellen!  Ellen started in 28th place and moved up to 21st place overall in the Reserve Section.  Ellen wins $40 in Goddesschess prize money for her efforts.

In the Open, Rachel Ulrich (2124), who is pushing hard to reach an ELO of 2200 and earn her United States national master title, finished in 5th place overall in the Open Section, starting out as the 8th ranked player.  You rock, Girl!  She lost her first game, and came back with three straight wins.  For her efforts, Rachel wins $120 in Goddesschess prize money.  I am hoping Rachel wins the Don McLean memorial prize in the Open Section.

Susanna Ulrich (1517), playing in the Open Section, moved up in the rankings, from 43rd to 37th, with 1.5, and wins $60.  Alena Huang (1653), who also played in the Open, finished with 1.5, and wins $60 Goddesschess prize money.  Alena moved from 32nd to 30th place. 

You can check out the final standings at the Southwest Chess Club's blog. 

Congrats to all the chess femmes who participated.  This event's female player participation rate was about 15%, a little more than double the percentage of female players overall in the world.  Good for us!

Hales Corners Chess Challenge XX!!!

Hola darlings!

Time is flying by!  Please mark your calendars:  October 18, 2014!!!!  Hales Corners Chess Challenge XX, hosted by the Southwest Chess Club, will be taking place at the Olympia Resort in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.

The Challenges are held two times a year, and now up to tournament twenty.  Goddesschess has been funding special prizes for the chessplayers in these events since Challenge XVIII, woo woo!  So pleased to announce that Goddesschess is once again sponsoring prizes for female players in both the Open and Reserve sections, plus a chessly gift bag for the top female finisher in each section.

I'm also working on a special prize in memoriam of one of Goddesschess' founding members, webmaster and invaluable contributor, Don McLean, who passed away on October 12, 2012.  More details once I have things firmed up with the organizers.

• The Challenges are USCF Grand Prix qualified (10 GP points) and also earn USCF Junior Grand Prix
• Four rounds of play in one day
• Life Master Sheldon Gelbart is on hand once again to analyze your games with you -- I find it absolutely fascinating and so educational to kibbutz this process as the LM plays through the games with anyone who brings their score sheet to him
• Game in 60 minutes with 6 second delay
• USCF rated

Flyer at Southwest Chess Club's website. 

ENTRY FEE:
$40 – Open; $30 – Reserve (both sections $5 more after October 15, 2014)Comp Entry Fee for USCF 2200+: Entry fee subtracted from any prizes won

SITE REGISTRATION: 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

ROUNDS: 10 am -- 1 pm -- 3:30 pm -- 6 pm
Pairings by WinTD---No Computer Entries---No Smoking

PRIZES: OPEN 1st—$325 2nd—$175 A—$100 B and Below—$75
RESERVE 1st-$100 2nd-$75 D-$50 E and Below-$40
Goddesschess Prizes for Females in Addition to Above Prizes Open: $40 per win/$20 per draw; Reserve: $20 per win/$10 per draw plus free entry for top female finisher in each section to Hales Corners Challenge XXI

Tournament Director: Robin Grochowski
Assistant Tournament Director: Allen Becker

SITE: Olympia Resort Hotel---1350 Royale Mile Road---Oconomowoc, WI 53066—1-800-558-9573 (mention Southwest Chess Club for $99 room rate)

ENTRIES TO: Allen Becker—2130 N. 85 Street, Wauwatosa, WI 53226

QUESTIONS TO: Robin Grochowski – 414-861-2745 (cell)

USCF I.D. Required -- Bring your own clocks – Sets and Boards Provided
Half point bye available in Round 1, 2 or 3 if requested prior to round 1; not available in Round 4