The CCL Chess School

Chess, Community and Learning

 

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

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.

CCL takes all at Elementary School Championship

Going into the 2013 Ohio Elementary School Championship, I thought that CCL might have been at risk.  None of our top 7 CCL K-6 players had entered the tournament, with the top 2 seeds being non CCL players.  I signaled the SOS and that masked man with his silver bullets, Dukie, came to the rescue.  As it turned out Dukie could have stayed home eating fries with Tonto as the other CCLers quickly removed all threat of competition.

The number two seed (1745) lost to Vincent and gave up a draw to Arvi K.  While the number 3 seed lost to Jeremy while drawing Ethan and Sophie.  CCL ended up winning 10 of the 11 individual trophies and all 3 team trophies (teams where most of the players are CCL players).  It doesn’t get much cleaner than that.

I knew that the flowers were going to smell sweet when I went into the playing hall before the last round and only saw CCL players on both sides of the top 5 boards.

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Clear first play with a perfect 5-0 was my hero of the day, Luke.

Clear 2nd place with 4.5 was the quickly improving Ethan

Finishing with 4-1 were: Matthew, Vincent (with just a loss to Luke), Sujan (with just a loss to Luke), and Stella.

Finishing with 3.5 – 1.5 were: Joe, Arvi, Jeremy, and Kunal

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Cody Y won the K-3 section with 4.5 points.  Emma came in 4th with 4 points and Doc came in 7th with 3.5 points.

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We only had one player in the U-700.  It was that low rated player that I just let into CCL and told you he is pretty good and may shock you all in a couple of years.  Well, let my words start to ring clearly as Alan came in clear second place and gained 185 rating points.

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Luke, Maggie, Chris, and Annorjan qualify for 2013 World Championships

–        World Youth Championships

  • I believe that the cut offs for tournaments for the World Youth qualifications is upon us.  We ended up with 4 CCL players qualifying for the 2013 World Championships and although I am not certain, I believe that all 4 of them are planning on attending.  They are:
    • Open U-12
      • Luke
      • Annorjan
    • Open U-10
      • Chris
    • Girls U-12
      • Maggie

Luke, Annorjan, and Maggie will also be competing in the 2nd Annual Online National Invitational Chess Championship will be held from June 14th-17th, 2013 on Chess.com.  Luke will be in China during this tournament but still chose to compete since it is online.  However, his games will be very late at night.  Interestingly, 25% of the U-12 section is from CCL.

Founded and organized in June of 2012, last year’s event was the first ever online National Chess Championship approved by the United States Chess Federation.

This year’s event looks to surpass the first in both participation and prizes. Thirty-two of the nation’s best and brightest youth players have already accepted their invitations to play and thousands of dollars in prizes, designed to go specifically towards private instruction / lessons for the kids, are being donated by Chess.com LLC.

Click here for the full press release regarding this exciting event.

CCL at the Cincinnati Open

 

  • Coach Goran finished in clear 1st place with 4 straight wins followed by a charity draw in the last round.  In his limited time here, Goran has won all of the major open tournaments in Ohio (Cincinnati Open, Gem City, King’s Island, Columbus Open, Cardinal Open (2x) except for the Cleveland Open.
  • I don’t know how much money was won but the players finishing in the top 5 were:
    • Goran                   Open     1
    • Maggie                Open     tied 5
    • Luke                      U-2100  tied 3
    • Monish                 U-1800  tied 2
    • Arvi K                    U-1500  tied 1
    • Timothy               U-1500 tied 4