Blackstone Chess Events

Banks Bangs Bucket

Pawtucket, May 15 - NM Sinclair Banks is the 2010 chess beast of the bucket, winning the Pawtucket Open with a perfect 3-zip.

Masters Deadlocked

Pawtucket, April 24 - The April Masters/Experts Blitz (G/7) ended in a standoff, with SM Denys Shmelov and expert David Harris sharing top honors, with 5 wins an 1 loss apiece.

Vigorito Tops Octads

Pawtucket, April 17 - IM David Vigorito won all 3 games to sweep the Spring Octads at the Blackstone Chess Center. For his efforts, David earned first prize, $50, and 1 rating point!

Clark Sweeps Fools

Pawtucket, April 15 - Mike Clark won all 3 games to sweep the April Fool Folly, and take home first prize ($50). The event took place April 1st, 8th, and 15th. David Harris captured second prize ($32).

Chris Clark and David Rush divided the under 1700 prize ($24).

Ivanov & Sammour Tie

Pawtucket, March 20 - GM Alexander Ivanov and Jorge Sammour-Hasbun tied for the top spot in the the Blackstone Spring Rapids, held Saturday, March 20. Each finished with a score of 3.5/4.

Andrew Wang Leads March

Pawtucket, March 13 - Andrew Wang took first prize ($50) in the March Octads, scoring a perfect 3/3. Daniil Mosiyenko captured second ($30) at 2.5.

Neil Fachon upset David Harris in the final round to finish first in the lower half ($30), with Boris Zhevelyuk taking second ($20) in the lower half. 14 players competed in the event.

Shmelov Masters Rapids

Pawtucket, February 28 - Denys Shmelov emerged as the winner of the Winter Blackstone Masters Rapids with a score of 3½/4, giving up only one draw to Stuart Finney. Stuart shared second with the other youth in the field, Andrew Wang. Each scored 3/4. The tournament was a 4-round 8-player swiss, with a time control of 15 minutes, and a 5 second delay.

Harris Takes Pawtucket

Pawtucket, February 6 - The first Pawtucket Rapids was won by David Harris with a score of 3-0. Harris emerged ahead of fellow Blackstone club member and rival Sinclair Banks, with a win over Banks in round 2. This was a 3-round swiss, time control was game/25 with a 10 second increment.

Golberg/Harris tie Experts

Pawtucket, February 6 - Ben Goldberg and David Harris came out on top in the Winter Experts Rapids, each with a score of 4/6. This was a double quad (4-player round robin) at game 8 plus 2 seconds delay.

The Under 2000 Rapids was held at the same time, a single 6-player round robin, with a time control of Game/15 plus 5 seconds delay. Paul Gavlick made a clean sweep, finishing with a score or 5/5.

Masters Blitz goes to Shmelov

Pawtucket, January 22 - Denys Shmelov dominated the Third Blackstone Masters Blitz. Six players competed in a double round robin, at a time control of game in 7 minutes. Denys scored an impressive 9½/10, giving up a draw to Miro Reverby who finished second.

Frank Wang Blitzes Experts

Pawtucket, November 28 - Frank Wang won the Second Blackstone Experts Invitational Blitz with a score of 10/14. Frank got off to an early lead, winning his first 8 games, but was slowed down by the top of the lineup in the last 3 rounds. A first prize of $50 was awarded, along with a free entry to a future Blackstone Masters Blitz.

Ben Goldberg took second place with a scode of 9/14. Third place went to Andrew Wang , the young star of the Boston Blitz USCL team, who finished with a score of 8/14.

This event was an 8-player double round robin, everyone plays everyone one game with each color. Time control was Game in 7 minutes.

Vigorito & Reverby top RI Open

Pawtucket, November 21 - David Vigorito shut out the competition at the 2009 Rhode Island Open, held at the Blackstone Chess Center The RI Open title and trophy went to Miro Reverby, who scored 2½/4. Chris Gu and Jeff Hall tied for second place with Reverby. Miro took the Rhode Island Open title on tie-breaks. The RI Open Under 2100 title and trophy went to Chris Gu. Jeff Hall won the RI Open Under 1900 title, prize, and trophy.

David Coccio was top dog in the under 1700 section, taking first place, and the RI Open Under 1700 title and trophy, with a score of 3½/4. Second place was a tie between Benjamin Swiszcz and Cristian Estrada, each at 3/4. The RI Open Under 1500 title and trophy went to Benjamin Swiszcz.

This is one of two RI tournaments in which trophies and titles are awarded. The RI State Championship is held every Spring, while the Rhode Island Open is usually held in the fall. These events are organized and directed by Rhode Island Chess. Many thanks to tournament directors Frank Vogel and Eric Berkey.

Rush Takes Alekhine Rapids

Pawtucket, October 31 - James David Rush swept the Alekhine Rapids held Saturday Oct. 31 at the Blackstone Chess Center. Rush took out two higher rated players to secure first place with a perfect score of 3/3. David Harris finished second at 2½/3. The event was a 3-round swiss, Game/25, plus 10 second increment.

Finney wins Malyuta Memorial

Pawtucket, October 17 - Stuart Finney swept this year's Max Malyuta Memorial tournament with 4 wins, and no losses. Read the full report.

GM Ivanov Tops Autumn Action

Pawtucket, October 3 - International Grandmaster Alexander Ivanov paid a visit to the Blackstone Chess Center to test the skills of our local players. Ivanov scored a perfect 3-0, but we do not mind losing to a player of Alexander's caliber. However, we are eager to get another shot at him!

Cop Tops Blackstone Experts

Pawtucket, September 25 - Providence Police Sergeant Joseph Acampora dominated the First Blackstone Experts Blitz with 9 wins and 1 draw! This earns Joe a spot in the next Blackstone Masters Blitz Invitational.

2009 Blackstone Chess Festival

Pawtucket, August 29 - High School Senior Zachary Weiner of NY won the 2009 Blackstone Chess Festival Open with a perfect of 4-0. Jorge Sammour took the Masters Blitz by a whisker, with 8 wins and 2 losses. IM Igor Foygel finished second, with 7 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw. David Griego scored 12 wins and 2 draws against 7 players in a simul Saturday Aug. 22.

David Griego (right) causing grief for Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (left)

Read the full report on the 2009 Blackstone Chess Festival

Goldberg Takes Pawtucket

Pawtucket, May 30 - Local Expert Ben Goldberg took the Pawtucket Open after an upset over National Master Sinclair Banks, finishing with a score of 2½;-½. The event was a 3-round swiss, with a time control of Game/55 and 5 second delay. Banks tied for second with Andrew Tichenor at 2.0-1.0.

Smirnov Wins Spring Swiss

Pawtucket, April 27 - The Blackstone Spring Swiss was won by William Smirnov with a score of 2½-½. This event was 3-rounds, and took place on Monday April 13th, 20th, and 27th. Time control was Game/90 with a 5-second delay.

Sinclair Banks takes April Action

Pawtucket, April 25 - The Saturday Afternoon April Action went to Sinclair Banks. Sinclair, at 2½-½, needed a win in the final round, to get past David Harris, who was undefeated after 3 rounds.

Check out the crosstables from recent events.

Avalos, Ramirez Blitz Stoners

Pawtucket, April 16 - The Blackstone Thursday Night Blitz was dominated by Carlos Avalos, and Tomas Ramirez, topping the field with a score of 5-1. The format was a double swiss. Both Tomas and Carlos split their match with David Harris, who finished second with 4-2.

Vernal Victory for Fachon and Gu

Pawtucket, March 28 - Neil Fachon and Christopher Gu tied for first place in the Blackstone Vernal Rapids, with a score of 2½-½. After taking a Grandmaster draw in round 2, they both went on to win their final round games. This event was a 3-round swiss, with a time control of Game/40, plus a 5-second delay.

Check out all the crosstables from Blackstone Chess USCF rated events.

Here are some of the additional crosstables from Blackstone Blitz tournaments.

Regional News

Finney Takes Gold in Mazatlan

Blackstone Chess Member Stuart Finney of Barrington RI earned a gold medal in the North American Youth Chamionship in the under age 14 category. Stuart scored six wins and a draw, to capture clear first, and the FIDE title of Candidate Master (CM)!

The event was held in Mazatlan Mexico over the weekend of October 2-4. Stuart also earned a spot in the 2010 Pan American Youth Championship to be held in Brazil next July. Congratulations to CM Stuart Finney!

Read more at WCM Claudia Munoz Chess Blog

Rhode Island State Championship

Providence, May 3 - The 2009 Rhode Island State Chess Championship was held the weekend of May 2-3 at RI College. In the final round, defending champion Miro Reverby had the White pieces against challenger David Harris. In an exciting finish, Harris survived a dangerous attack in the Najdorf-Sozin variation, and went on to win the endgame to take the 2009 RI Championship.

See more details of the 2009 RI Championship. (Coming Soon)

Highlights from Past Events

Winter Masters

GM Timur Gareyev won the 2009 Winter Masters, held in January. Check out the games and crosstable from this event.

Festival Open

The 2008 Blackstone Chess Festival Open featured 4 Grandmasters. It was held at the Comfort Inn in Pawtucket, the weekend after the New England Masters. GM Timur Gareyev took first place, and the title of 2008 Blackstone Chess Festival Champion. Here is the crosstable and report on this tournament.

New England Masters

Top playes representing 10 nations competed in the 2008 New England Masters in Pawtucket, RI. Many thanks to Chris Bird for bringing a top class event to the state of Rhode Island. Blackstone Chess hosted the event at the To Kalon Club in Pawtucket, not far from the current Chess Center. This tournament was part of the 2008 Blackstone Chess Festival.

GM Sergey Erenburg slipped ahead to win in an exciting final round finish. Check out the final standindgs, and more details from the 2008 New England Masters,