The CCL Chess School

Chess, Community and Learning

 

Chess lessons and more, for players of all strengths and ages.

Chris Shen becomes the 7th CCL graduate

In stealth like fashion, at least from my perspective, Chris obtained his USCF expert’s rating, making him the 7th CCL graduate.  Chris is our youngest graduate to date, earning his CCL degree before the beginning of 4th grade classes.  He now joins the ranks of our other very accomplished CCL graduates.

 

CCL graduates are:

John Hughes

Walker Griggs

Maggie Feng

Rahul Ramaswamy

Annorjan Naguleswaran

Luke Xie

Chris Shen

 

What is a CCL graduate?  It is an honorary degree that we give to any CCL player who has worked their way through the ranks while in CCL and has made a USCF experts rating (>= 2000).   It entitles them to lifetime membership in CCL, based on good behavior, without the requirements of taking lessons.  They are allowed to receive email spam from me for the rest of their lives!!  Although graduates are no longer required to take lessons while in CCL, all of our previous graduates are still active students in CCL.  A big congrats goes on to Chris, the current U-8 World Youth Championship bronze medal winner.

5 CCLians qualify for 2013 World Youth again!!!, while John runs wild in Ireland.

 

Just like in 2012, 5 CCL players have qualified to play in the upcoming 2013 World Youth Chess Championships.  It is quite an honor to for a chess organization to ever have 1 player qualify but with 5 per year, and expecting even more for next year, this is incredible.  You have raised the bar so amazingly high.  Our returning qualifiers from last year include Maggie (who is about to leave for the Pan American Championships in Brazil), Chris (Bronze medal winner from last year’s World Youth Championship), and Luke (who is about to leave for the Barber Invitational).  New to this year’s invitees are Annorjan whose USCF rating has skyrocketed to 2087.  Our 5th person, John, is not official yet but is expected to soon receive an invitation to play on the Irish team.  John is currently completing a very successful chess tour of his home of heritage, Ireland.  In our game section I have posted his last round win over FIDE rated 2330, David Fitzsimons, from the Ireland Championship.  In addition to scoring very well in the Ireland Championship, John swept the field their Amateur Championship, showing once more that CCL players are trained to compete successfully in the international arena.

Below is a picture taken before the start of the 2013 Ireland Championship.

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CCL performs well at the Columbus Open, Walker ties for 1st

Open section

Walker finished in a tie for 1st place and won $400

Anagh won $25 for the upset prize (399)

 

Premiere section

Austin and Matthew came in tied for both 2nd place and top U-1600, winning $400 each.

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Reserve section

Jason won $267  tied for U-1400  class prize

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Lainie won $300 (U-1200 2nd place)

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The members of the 25 club for last weekend were:

Lainie                   +142      1248

Austin                   +120      1675

Matthew             +98        1701

Lucas                    +95        1222

Kevin                    +94        1250

Jason                    +76        1344

Ganesh                 +69        1602

Nayan                  +67        1062

Arjun                     +33        1760

 

Although making the 25 club is a litmus test, I am going to make an exception this time because there were so many close calls:

Sam 24, Anagh 23, Sujan 23, Vikram 20

Pre-CCL

We have received many requests for entry into CCL by players who have shown potential but have not quite reached our criteria for entry.  As a result, we decided to develop a Pre-CCL program, a training program designed by the CCL coaching staff, to meet this need.  By teaming up with other coaches/programs, we are providing a route for a smooth transition into CCL.  The Pre-CCL coaches/programs are trained to help assure that the critical skills needed for CCL enrollment are developed, making for the students successful entry into CCL.  Entry into CCL from a Pre-CCL program is given priority over a requested entry from a non-Pre-CCL program.

Some of the benefits of Pre-CCL include:

  • Full access to the CCL library.  With well over 1800 unique chess titles, our library is one of the bigger ones in the country.  You can assess the library by going to http://www.librarything.com/catalog/alancas.   There is a search the library field where you can search for specific topics, titles, or authors.  The books are loaned on a free basis for two months.  However, once is book has been out for 3 months, we start charging $2 per book per month as an overdue charge.
  • Sometimes we rent a room to stay in at a tournament, if your other group does not have a gathering point at that tournament and we do, you are welcome to join us.
  • We  would be glad to recommend appropriate books, software, and other learning materials to anyone who desires it.  Working on chess on your own is the key to becoming a strong chess player.  The ‘CCL secret’ is that there is no secret, just the willingness to study chess, either by reading or videos.
  • Sometimes we have special activities, which you may be invited to.
  • Receiving CCL communications.
  • Eligibility for CCL chess camps.
  • Full communication with the all of the CCL staff of any chess questions that you may have.
 The current status of this program is:
Central Ohio The “Mate-In-2,” is a pre-CCL program representing a 2-step process for novice or beginners to potentially become a World Youth Championship contender.  Young chess players join a special group called the KnightMare Slayers taught by FIDE certified Instructor F. Leon Wilson. As these students develop specific chess skills and understanding, they become entitled to take advanced individual lessons with CCL staff.  During the summer months, KnightMare Slayers will be eligible to take private lessons with CCL staff and/or attend KnightMare summer camps.
Cincinnati area This program is being coordinated by FIDE Master Hans Multhopp, a CCL coach.  He will be teaming up with other private chess coaches in the Cincinnati area to provide our pre-CCL training program.
Whole country IM Atanas Kizov, from Online Chess Lessons, will be providing the Internet based Pre-CCL program.   Requests for entry into this program should be directed to: NM Alan Casden, CCL Program Director acasden@insight.rr.com cell = (614) 561-2718

Memorial weekend chess for CCL

–        There were two big tournaments last weekend, the Gem City Open and the Chicago Open.  Although most of you went to Gem City, we did have about 4 people head up to Chicago for the weekend.  From the responses that I got back from my previous email, the big money winners from Gem City were:

  • Goran – $1200 – clear 1st place in the open – 4.5/5 – Goran is without a peer in Ohio chess, winning almost every event that he competes in.
  • Rusty – $501 – 4.5/5 – clear 1st place in the U-1400 section
  • Kunal and Elton tied for the 1st and 2nd U-1200 class prize – 4-1 – getting $400 each.
  • Matthew and Miles got $266 each, ending in a 3-way tie for the U-1600 prize in the U-1800 section – 3.5/5Mathhew
  • Abhi got $100 for tying with two other people for the 2nd place U-2000 class prize 3/5 in the Open section.
  • Between rounds some CCL players found a way to relaxphoto

–        CCL students are starting to raise the bar by scoring well against internationally titled players.  Walker drew two grandmasters and beat an IM at the Chicago Open, popping up to 2323.  Annorjan drew a grandmaster at Gem City in a game that he came very close to winning.