2009 U.P. Open Report: Endsley, Nichols
Report by Tournament Director Philip Taskila
Barry Endsley of Calumet took home the trophy for the 2009 U.P. Championship.
Prizes were:
1st. Tony Nichols
2nd. Endsley, Gregg, Lindquist
Under 1800. Beckwith and Roos.
Under 1600. Schmiege and McCracken
[The junior trophy went unclaimed!] Unfortunately, no juniors played in this event.
Tom Hogan did a great job providing coffee and treats for the players. He was the go to man when we needed anything.
Thanks to the Ahmed Shrine for providing the playing site and its generous donation toward tournament expenses.
Rob Roos faces off against Tom Hogan
Photo Credit: Jim Dowling
Round 1. Top players won all white boards but suffered. Two draws with Black.
Round 2. Lindquist drew Endsley and Schmiege drew Roos. McCracken earned a full point against John.
Round 3. Four players took ½ point byes. It was a round of upsets. Garrison beat Endsley, Lindquist squeezed by Boyer, Schmiege beat Beckwith, McCracken beat Dowling, and Schell beat John.
Round 4. Eddie Barber had a personal emergency and withdrew. Ken Boyer his a deer with his car and withdrew. The round did not start until 10:00 a.m. because the Lake Superior Chess Association annual meeting ran over.
Round 5. A quick draw on board 1 decided the tournament winner. Congratulations Tony Nichols.
LSCA Annual meeting
Photo Credit: Gary Gill
[End of Director’s Report.]
There were a lot of interesting games, several of which were submitted for Best Game Prize. Tournament winner Tony Nichols will annotate some of his games once he returns from his tour of the U.P. Here is a lively round 4 miniature where Alan Gregg dismantled Ray Garrison’s King’s Gambit:
http://www.westmichiganchess.com/Shared%20Documents/2009_2/2009upopen.htm
2009 U.P. Open Preview
Thanks to Rob Roos for the update below on this weekend's tournament in Marquette and to James Sawaski for providing the photos!
MARQUETTE — The 2009 Upper Peninsula Open Chess Tournament will still be held near the shores of Lake Superior, but it is moving back to the central part of the peninsula this year.
The 38th annual tournament will be held Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 15-16, at the Masonic Building in downtown Marquette.
Ron Seaberry [left], The Chess Team author and three time Upper Peninsula Champion James Sawaski [right, sitting]. Wolfgang Andel is on the window ledge behind Sawaski.
Lester Bedell of Atlanta, Ga., captured the 2008 tournament at the Kewadin Casino in Sault Ste. Marie. Bedell, a Bay Mills Tribal member, scored four wins and a draw in five games. Bedell was in the area to attend the funeral of his sister Debbie and dedicated the tournament triumph to her memory.
Rob Roos of Sault Ste. Marie is the defending U.P. champion. He finished with three points and won the trophy for top U.P. finisher.
Several chess players have competed in the U.P. Open in all four decades of its existence and are planning on being there again this weekend. [Lake Effect Chess Gardening editor] David Sundeen of Lansing is closing in on 30 U.P. Open tournaments, while some of the long-time members of the LSCA are still competing in the event, such as Robert John and Gary Gill of Marquette, and Phil Taskilla of Ishpeming.
"This is probably the best playing site we've ever had," said John, who is Treasurer of the LSCA. "The Masons have donated the playing site and also added some money for our prize fund. We're hoping to see some old friends and bring in some new players as well."
Notable past participants in the U.P. Open include Grandmaster Gregory Serper, IM Ben Finegold, and NM Victor Pupols.
Tournament details : Location: Masonic Building, 128 W. Washington St. Marquette MI (parking and entrance in rear of building). 5 round swiss-system, with game in 2 hrs. Entry fees: $30 ($20 for juniors under 19)-- $5 more at site. Prizes: First place $200 guaranteed, others based on entries. Trophy to top U. P. resident and top U. P. junior.
Registration 9-9:30 Sat. Rounds Sat. 10:00, 2:30, 7:00; Sun. 9:30, 2:00.
All times EDT. Byes available in all rounds, but must be requested before registration ends. Info and early entries contact Robert John, 315 E. Prospect St., Marquette MI, 906-228-8126, rjjjr@chartermi.net.
2001 U.P. Champion Robert John [on the right] will have home court advantage in Marquette.
U.P. Champions List:
2008 — Rob Roos, Sault Ste. Marie
2007 — Randy Peterson, Iron Mountain
2006 — James Sawaski, Newberry
2005 — Randy Peterson, Iron Mountain
2004 — Gary T. Gill, Marquette
2003 — Lucas Hoy, Negaunee
2002 — James Sawaski, Newberry
2001 — Robert John, Marquette
2000 – Ken Ceterski, Iron Mountain
1999 — Justin Ceterski, Iron Mountain
1998 — Justin Ceterski, Iron Mountain
1997 — James Sawaski, Newberry
1996 — Tom Ceterski, Iron Mountain
1995 — Justin Ceterski, Iron Mountain
1994 — Fred Glhoff, Iron Mountain
1993 — Joe LaForest, Negaunee
1992 — Rich Riopelle, Marquette
1991 — Jerry Haapapuro, Wakefield
1990 — Irwin DeMerse, Bessemer
1989 — Martin Matthews, Marquette
1988 — Jerry Haapapuro, Wakefield
1987 — Greg Bailey, Pt. Aux Pins
1986 — Gary Gill, Marquette
1985 — Phil Taskilla, Ishpeming
1984 — John Kirk, K.I. Sawyer
1983 — Jeff Meyer, Escanaba
1982 — Charles Leinen, Iron Mountain
1981 — Helmut Kreitz, Marquette
1980 — Tom Ludwinski, Gwinn
1979 — Tom Ludwinski, Gwinn
1978 — Gary Hill, Gwinn
1977 — Jan Ludwinski, Gwinn
1976 — Tom Ludwinski, Gwinn
1975 — Lee Larson, Negaunee
1974 — Lou Owens, L’Anse
1973 — Robert Blair, K.I. Sawyer
1972 — Lou Owens, L’Anse