CHESS : LOCAL NEWS
The Southern California Chess Federation Candidates tournament concludes today at the Holiday Inn, 7000 Beach Blvd. in Buena Park. Many of the best local players have earned the right to compete in the Candidates tournament, and the top scorers will gain entry to next month’s Southern California Championship, the eight-player invitational state championship. Chess fans are invited to watch, free of charge. Games begin at 9:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
The oldest major tournament in this area, the 35th annual Pacific Southwest Open, takes place July 1-4 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 200 S. Pine Ave. in Long Beach. Once again, the Santa Monica Bay Chess Club will sponsor the event. Because July 4 falls on a Tuesday, this year’s tournament will last seven rounds, with two games scheduled on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday, and one game Monday evening. For all of the details, call Randy Hough at (818) 282-7412 or Steve Hughes at (310) 450-7201.
Gregg Fritchle won the 1995 La Palma Club Championship with an excellent 7-1 score. Chris Roberts finished second at 6 1/2-1 1/2 in the 24-player tournament, and Joe Hanley took third place at 5 1/2-2 1/2. Class prizes went to Bob Engler (best “A”), Harold Valery (“B”), Greg Parker (“C”) and Dwayne Coleman (“D”).
The next tournament at the La Palma Chess Club, which meets Friday evenings in Central Park, 7821 Walker St. in La Palma, will be the seven-round When Harry Met Siegbert, beginning Friday. The title refers to the 100th anniversary of the first international tournament in Hastings, England, in which American Harry Nelson Pillsbury triumphed over the best European stars, including Dr. Siegbert Tarrasch. Call Brian Scanlon at (714) 523-2550 for more information.
Matthew Beelby scored a perfect 5-0 to win the Arcadia Warmup, the 43-player tournament that ended last week at the Arcadia Chess Club. The club,which meets Monday evenings in the Senior Citizens’ Building, 405 S. Santa Anita Ave. in Arcadia, will start the five-round Summer Swiss on June 19. Call Fred Brock at (818) 331-1638 for details.
The Wilshire Chess Society will run Action (25-minute) quads June 25 in the Community Room (third floor, near the food court) of the Westside Pavilion in Los Angeles. For more information, call Raymond De Turenne at (213) 253-7102.
The Joust Challenge, a 10-minute tournament, will be held June 25 at Stuft Pizza, 25352 Crenshaw Blvd. in Torrance. Register at the site before 1 p.m., or call Rick Okubo at (310) 544-1140.