GM Leonid Kritz wins 80th Annual Southwest Open

Congratulations to GM Leonid Kritz for winning the Open section of the 80th Annual Southwest Open which was played August 29th-September 1st.  There were a total of 214 participants in the tournament with 25 players rated 2200 or higher. GM Kritz won with a score of 6.0/7 with five (5) wins and two (2) draws.

Luis Salinas and GM Leonid Kritz (Photo by Barbara Swafford)

Non-USCF Member Rated Game Pilot Program

The USCF is launching a pilot program in selected states allowing non-USCF members to play rated games based on a pay-per-game fee structure. The purpose of the pilot program is to explore ways to grow chess and introduce chess players unfamiliar with the USCF to the organization and rated play.

States agreeing to participate are Florida; Georgia; Texas. We hope you will support your state affiliate and agree to participate! States participating in the program would provide non-USCF members with the opportunity to play rated games based on a $2 per-game fee, not to exceed $10.00 per tournament. Byes, forfeits, or otherwise un-played games would not incur a charge.

Some restrictions apply including but not limited to:

All tournaments categorized as National Events, Grand Prix events, Jr. Grand Prix by the USCF are ineligible for this program;

Players must be new to USCF Rated tournaments and not be a current or past USCF member;

Local affiliates participating in the program must submit completed application form to the USCF office by June 9, 2014 and provide their State Affiliate with a copy;

All Pilot Program tournaments must be held between June 15, 2014 and August 15, 2014 and must be rated by August 31, 2014.

For questions concerning the program, please contact Joan DuBois: jdubois@uschess.org or 931-787-1234 ext. 123

Darwin Yang wins State Championship

162 players competed in the Texas State Championship over the weekend.  Congratulations to GM-elect Darwin Yang, who topped a strong field field (15 players rated over 2200) with a 6/7 score.

TCA Conference Call - May 28

Do you have an issue you want to discuss with TCA officers? Join the TCA conference call (open to the public).

Wed May 28, 9-10pm (CDT)
1-605-475-6333
Participant Code: 9145683

The Big Picture

I don’t want to look back at my life and say I didn't take enough pictures of me and my story. And since pictures can say a thousand words, it doesn't take much time to say a lot. I wonder if we can transfer this thought into the Texas Chess Association?  Imagine what we could say and what it would look like if every member posted just one picture to our TCA facebook page. After all, we don’t want to look back and say that we didn't take enough pictures of us and our story. Let’s share a few pictures and share our story with the world. I challenge all TCA members to post a chess related picture on the TCA facebook wall or email it to texaschess@gmail.com for inclusion on texaschess.org.

- Jorge Trevino

TCA conference call - March 26

Do you have an issue you want to discuss with TCA officers? Join the TCA conference call (open to the public).

Wed March 26, 9-10pm (CDT)
1-605-475-6333
Participant Code: 9145683

TCA Business Meeting

TCA will hold a business meeting on Saturday Feb 8 at 8:35 pm at Hilton Americas Hotel in Houston, Room 329 as part of the Texas Scholastic Chess Championships. The meeting is open to the public - you don't have to be a member to attend, but you do need to be a member to vote.

2014 Texas Scholastic Championships

The biggest TCA event of the year is coming to Houston the weekend of Feb 8-9.  If you haven't already made your travel plans, now's the time!  Special hotel rates are available until Jan 31.

Texas K-12 and Collegiate Championships

Two big events coming the weekend of Nov 9-10:

Texas K-12 Grade Championships
Texas Collegiate Championships

2013 US Class Championships

Just a reminder that the 2013 US Class Championships are this weekend in Houston, with a guaranteed prize fund of $11,500!