Hawaii Chess Federation

September 1 – 3, 2018
Kapiolani Medical Center, Diamond Head Tower, Conference Rooms 2&3
1319 Punahou St., Honolulu, Hawaii 96826

Hawai’i State Open Championship

September 1 – 3, 2018 (USCF membership required; available at the door or in advance at https://secure.uschess.org/webstore/index.php (be sure to bring your USCF membership card or something that includes your USCF ID number)). $5 Nuisance Fee for any player who shows up without USCF ID!

5 Round Swiss
Time Control: All rounds at G/115 d/5
EF: $30 if received by 9/1, $40 thereafter. USCF Scholastic or
Youth $5 less
Registration: (Sat. 9/1) 8:00am – 8:45 am
Round Times:

(Sat. 9/1) Round 1: 9:00 am
Round 2: 1:30 pm
(Sun. 9/2) Round 3: 9:00 am
Round 4: 1:30 pm
(Mon. 9/3) Round 5: 9:00 am

Prize Fund: ($750 prize pool *based on 15 players in each section
OPEN: $150 -100 – 50; Expert (U2200) $45; A $45; B $45;
RESERVE (U1600): $100 – $70 – $50; D $45; E/below (including unrateds) $45;

TWO SECTION FORMAT! However, sections may be combined if turnout is low.

Hawai’i State Blitz Championship

September 3rd, 2018 (USCF Blitz Rated!)
7 Round Swiss, B&W against each opponent; all games G/5
EF: $25 if rec’d by 9/1, $30 thereafter. USCF Scholastic or Youth $5 less
Registration: (Mon. 9/3) 1:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Round Times: 2:00 p.m., 2:25 p.m., 2:50 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 3:40 p.m. 4:05 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Prize Fund: ($350 prize pool *based on 20 players*); $125 (1st), $75 (2nd), $50 (1st U2200), $50 (1st U1800), $50 (1st U1400/Unrated)

(Both tournaments: If we get more than the number of “based on” entrants, the prize fund may or may not be increased and the increase may or may not be allocated on the basis of class size. Hawai’i residents only eligible for title of “champion.” Section-based prizes require at least two competitors in a classification; otherwise, the prize may be rescinded Up to two half-point byes in the Open Championship if requested prior to beginning of Round 3.)

Bring boards, sets and clocks
None will be provided / you must know how to set your clock / you must keep score / you must bring your own writing instrument (or MonRoi device) to use in keeping score / embedded electronic receiving devices are expressly prohibited / cell phones must be turned to silent, off or vibrate / Decisions of the TD are final. No board – No Clock – No Play

Checks/Entries payable:
Hawai’i Chess Federation
c/o Bob Newell
201 Ohua Avenue 3003-2, Honolulu, HI 96815
E-mail: bobnewell@bobnewell.net

Download a printable entry form here.

The 2018 Hawaii State Scholastic Championships were held on 3/31 at Washington Middle School, with the Girl’s Championship held one week earlier.

Many new champions were crowned including Liam Riley, pictured here, who won the High School division with a 4.5/5 score!

For full results, download the pdf crosstables here.

(This file actually includes ALL of the results from the 2017-2018 Hawaii State scholastic schedule!)

Photo Gallery from the Event Here (Shared by Bert Nakagawa)

What: The camps will be conducted by ​Ten​-time Hawaii State Champion Cornelius Rubsamen.  Activities include practice games played under tournament conditions, game analysis, strategic thinking, and tactics training.

Why: This series of mini-camps are designed to continue skill development of our players and to prepare for upcoming tournaments.

Who:  All age groups are welcome.  Cornelius will adjust materials to the skill levels in attendance.

Where:  Jarrett Middle School, Room D1

When:  Camps are scheduled from 2-5 p.m. on the following Sundays, starting with Sunday, February 4th:

04 February

18 February

04 March

18 March

01 April (Easter)

15 April

29 April

Cost:

$10 per participant, payable on site.

More Info/Register:

Guy P. Ontai

Scholastic Director, Hawaii Chess Federation

HawaiianDragon@Chess.com

Mobile:  (808)371-2145

Congratulations to Cornelius Rubsamen (left) for winning the Hawaii State Closed Chess Championships on December 23. This tournament was organized by TD Damian Nash in an effort to crown a Hawaii Chess Champion after the Open tournament unfortunately had to be cancelled.

This is his tenth time! Two wins and two draws were enough to clinch clear first place and the trophy. Here he makes peace with Hawaii chess newcomer Chad Badgett of Kauai who drew all four of his games. Bill Shea is seen in the background.

Chad Badgett nearly defeated Evan Zheng in a brilliant game. He went for repetition of position in time pressure and so both players split the $25 best game prize.

Cornelius accepts the $150 first place prize from tournament director Damian Nash, who was seeded second but finished at 50% along with three others. Kevin Erick earned the full $100 second place prize because he the only other player with a plus score at 2.5 points. Just like last year, Evan Zheng’s hopes for the state title were spoiled in the last game of the tournament when Kevin Erick showed beautiful technique in a R+2B vs. R+B+N endgame.

The tournament participants. Back row: Chad Badgett, Cornelius Rubsamen, Damian Nash, Chris Tyau, Evan Zheng, Kevin Erick. Front row: Charles Sonido, Larry Pagtama. Not pictured: Bill Shea.

Cornelius vanquishes Damian Nash in the third round after Nash played the Advanced Caro Kann aggressively with a kingside pawn storm, going for a win with the black pieces. In the background Bill Shea and Chris Tyau fight to a draw.

Hawaii’s highest rated master, Lloyd Kawamura, came to watch and “share the air” of the strong tournament. HCF board member Larry Reifurth also enjoyed watching the 3rd round games.

Special thanks to Tom Zheng for finding such a beautiful playing site next to the Ala Moana Mall. A huge mahalo also to Robert Welch at the Armchair Adventurer at Dole Cannery and Bughouse Master Fred Haley for making this tournament possible at the eleventh hour.

See the tournament cross table/rating report here.

Mahalo to Damian for organizing this tournament and for this report and pictures!  

We regret to inform the Hawaii chess community that this year’s State Open and Blitz Championship will be cancelled due to us being unable to secure an affordable and appropriate venue in time.

The 2018 Hawaii State Open and Blitz Championships will be held over Labor Day weekend.  Details on that event will be published as soon as they are available.