2015-2016 Twin Cities Chess League (TCCL)

Founded in 1962, the Twin Cities Chess League is one of the largest open chess leagues in the US.

This was a record breaking year with 45 teams, which exceeded last season's record of 42 teams.

The league meets September to March. Seven rounds, one round a month, Fridays at 7:00 PM.

The time control for the top 3 divisions is G/90, for the Open Division it is G/60.

The games are unrated.

David Kuhns ran the league for many years

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Gold Division

	Team	rating	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	match	game
1	Rochester Ultimates	2047	x	4	1.5	0	1.5	2		0	1.5	9
2	No Pawn Intended	1755	0	x	1.5	0	1		0	1.5	0	4
3	Twin Knights of CCOM	2104	2.5	2.5	x	2.5		1.5	1.5	2.5	4	13
4	Topalov the day to you	2160	4	4	1.5	x	1	1.5	1.5		2	13.5
5	Champions of the Castle	2261	2.5	3		3	x	2	0	2.5	4.5	13
6	The A Team	2233	2		2.5	2.5	2	x	1.5	2	3.5	12.5
7	Pawn America	2266		4	2.5	2.5	4	2.5	x	0.5	5	16
8	NYET	2201	4	2.5	1.5		1.5	2	3.5	x	3.5	15

Round 7
Pawn America(5) vs Rochester Ultimates(1.5)
Twin Knights of CCOM(4) vs Champions of the Castle(4.5)

	Twin Knights of CCOM	2104
1	Andrew Titus	2206	1		1	1	1	1
2	Maor Leker Locker	2068	2	1	2		2
3	Connor Quinn	2080		2	3	2	3	2
4	Saumik Naryanan	2064	3		4	3	4	3
3	D.J. Hooker	1937		3
4	Matthew Qu	1901	4
4	John Thomson	1842						4
4	Venkat Srinivasan	1579				4

	Champions of the Castle	2261
1	Kevin Wasiluk	2321	1		1	1	1
1	Alex Richter	2307						1
1	Matt Dahl	2268		1
2	Ahment Shapiro-Erciyas	2150	2	2
3	Byamba Tumurkhuu	2157		3	2		2	2
2	Reuben Lubka	2090				2
4	Peyton Smith	2065	3	4	3			3
3	Dan Voje	2060				3
4	Clark Whitmore	1998	4		4
3	Chris Zweber	1922					3
4	Roy Knuth	1734						4
4	Tumurkhuu	UNR					4

	Pawn America	2266
1	Andrew Tang	2487	1	1	1	1	1	1
2	Kevin Bu	2220				2
3	Jackson Wahl	2167	2	2	2	3	2	2
4	Samarth Chakrasali	2190	3		3	4	3	3
3	Glenn Panner	2071		3
4	Rich Diaz	1813			4		4
4	Riaz Khan	1486	4	4				4

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Silver Division

	Team	rating	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	match	game
1	Kings of St Thomas	2194	x	3	2.5	4	4	2.5		4	6	20
2	Supernova	1988	1	x	0.5	2.5	1.5		1	2	1.5	8.5
3	It’s a Trap	1852	1.5	3.5	x	F		2	0	2	2	9
4	Austin City Limits	1977	0	1.5	4	x	1.5	2.5	1		2	10.5
5	Team Bobby Fischer	1898	0	2.5		2.5	x	2.5	3	3.5	5	14
6	Sons of the Mecheïde	2044	1.5		1	1.5	1.5	x	1.5	3.5	1	10.5
7	Rochester B2 or not B2	1906		3	4	3	1	2.5	x	2.5	5	16
8	3M64	1999	0	2	2		0.5	0.5	1.5	x	1	6.5

Round 7
Kings of St Thomas(6) vs Rochester B2 or not B2(5.0)
Team Bobby Fischer(5) vs It’s a Trap(2)

	Kings of St Thomas	2194
1	Alex Balandin	2459				1
2	Andre Chernov	2191		1	1	2	1	1
3	Arkady E Shemyakin	2124	1			3	2
4	Serafima D Sokolovskaya	2003	2	2	2	4	3	2
4	Andres D Hortillosa	1962	3	3	3		4	3
4	Charles D Musselman	1731	4		4
4	Ralph I Haefner	1626		4				4

	Team Bobby Fischer	1898
1	William Murphy	2010	1	1	1	1	1	1
2	Sean Tuff	1970		2	2	2	2
3	Shrivinas Venkatasubramani	1840	2	3		3		2
4	Louis K Leonard	1775	3		3	4	3	3
4	Matthew Krusack	1672		4				4
4	Thad Swiggum	1628	4
4	Al Tuff	1403			4		4

	Rochester B2 or not B2	1906
1	Masoud Khadem	2032		1	1		1	1
2	Roy W Truelson	2000	1		2		2	2
3	Piyush Debashis Mukherjee	1859	2	2	3	1	3	3
4	Ralph E Townsend	1736			4		4
3	Kevin A Gaustad	1729	3	3		2
4	Thomas Quinn Brinkmann	1686	4	4		3		4
4	Tim Schimke	1631				4

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Bronze Division

	Team	rating	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	match	game
1	Rochester Rookies	1822	x	2	1.5	2.5	2.5	1		2	3	11.5
2	Ministry of Silly Moves	1795	2	x	2	3	2		3	2	4	14
3	Beginner's Mind	1797	2.5	2	x	2.5		0.5	2	2.5	4	12
4	ModelUS Tigers	1787	1.5	1	1.5	x	1	1.5	3		1	9.5
5	uncalled four	2026	1.5	2		3	x	1.5	3	3.5	3.5	14.5
6	B Team	2183	3		3.5	2.5	2.5	x	3.5	3.5	6	18.5
7	paddle to the sea	1765		1	2	1	1	0.5	x	1.5	0.5	7
8	Minnesota g4s	1528	2	2	1.5		0.5	0.5	2.5	x	2	9

My team, the "B Team" clinched 1st place with a round to spare.

0	B Team	2183
1	Tim Lee	2254			1
1	Todd Miller	2202	1	1		1		1
1	Ed Zelkind	2200					1
2	Dave Bocek	2077			2	2
3	Jon Heyer	2000	2	2	3		2	2
4	Ivan Wijetunge	1821	3	3	4	3	3	3
4	Kevin Landman	1732	4	4		4	4	4

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Open Division

	Chestnut Tree Café Chess	1823	b9	2.5	w5	3	w8	3	w3	3	b1	3.5	w4	0			5	15
1	Three Thorns and a Rose	1780	bye		bye		w7,15	3	b8	3	w0	0.5	b3	1.5			3	8
2	Rochester Knights	1630	b11	4	w8	1.5	b16	4	w6	3	b3	1	---	1			3	14.5
3	Rabid Rooks of Jupiter	1754	b15	4	b14	3	w6	3	b0	1	w2	3	w1	2.5			5	16.5
4	Magnus Force	1595	w13	3	b6	1.5	w10	3	b11	4	w14	3	b0	4			5	18.5
5	Hawks	1551	w17	4	b0	1	w11	1	w15	2.5	b18	2	b14	2.5			3.5	13
6	Claymore	1532	b19	4	w4	2.5	b3	1	b2	1	w16	3.5	w8	2			3.5	14
7	Tal Tales	1492	w14	1.5	w17	2.5	b1,15	1	b18	1	w19	4	w16	3			3	13
8	The Eagle Timinions	1443	w20	4	b2	2.5	b0	1	w1	1	b11	2.5	b6	2			3.5	13
9	Pawn Storm	1390	w0	1.5	b13	3	w14	2	b16	0.5	w10,12	0	b20	2			2	9
10	Team Darker Knights	1410	bye		bye		b4	1	w13	2	b9,12	3	w18	3			3.5	9
11	Spectacular Starbursts	1184	w2	0	b20	3	b5	3	w4	0	w8	1.5	b17	2.5			3	10
12	Burnsville Blaze	1391	bye		bye		w18	2	b14	1	w9,10	3	b19	1			2.5	7
13	Kings Quartet	1414	b4	1	w9	1	b19	2	b10	2	w20	2	w15	3			2.5	11
14	Knightmares	1490	b7	2.5	w3	1	b9	2	w12	4	b4	1	w5	1.5			2.5	12
15	Chess Spartans	1039	w3	0	w19	3	w1,7	2	b5	1.5	b17	1	b13	1			1.5	8.5
16	Black Stallions	996	bye		b17	3	w2	0	w9	3.5	b6	0.5	b7	1			2.5	8
17	Mighty Force	949	b5	0	b7	1.5	b20	3	w19,20	1	w15	3	w11	1.5			2	10
18	Andover	1320	bye		w16	1	b12	2	w7	3	w5	2	b10	1			2.5	9
19	Chess Dragons	832	w6	0	b15	1	w13	2	w17,20	1	b7	0	w12	3			1.5	7
20	Fischer of men	1228	b8	0	w11	1	w17	1	b17,19	4	b13	2	w9	2			2	10

	Standings	match	game
1	Magnus Force	5	19
2	Rabid Rooks of Jupiter	5	16.5
3	Chestnut Tree Café Chess	5	15
4	Claymore	3.5	14
5	Hawks	3.5	13
6	The Eagle Timinions	3.5	13
7	Team Darker Knights	3.5	9
8	Rochester Knights	3	14.5
9	Tal Tales	3	13
10	Spectacular Starbursts	3	10
11	Three Thorns and a Rose	3	8
12	Knightmares	2.5	12
13	Kings Quartet	2.5	11
14	Andover	2.5	9
15	Black Stallions	2.5	8
16	Burnsville Blaze	2.5	7
17	Mighty Force	2	10
18	Fischer of men	2	10
19	Pawn Storm	2	9
20	Chess Spartans	1.5	8.5
21	Chess Dragons	1.5	7

Round 7

	Magnus Force	1594
1	Aaron William Thomson	1703	1	1	1	1	1	1
2	Justyn Kei Fine	1727	2	2	2	2	2	2
3	Joshua Dylan French	1727	3	3	3	3	3	3
4	Nathyn Jiro Fine	1221	4			4		4
4	Will Conness	729		4	4		4

	Rabid Rooks of Jupiter	1754
1	Eddie Wasserman	1853	1	1	1	1	1	1
2	Tom Babcock	2000						2
2	Jordan Jelinek	1598	2	2		2	2	.
3	Robert Phenicie	1565	3	3	2	3	3	3
4	Mark Sorlie	1388		4	3	4	4	4
4	John Billman	1317	4
4	Tumua	unr			4

	Chestnut Tree Café Chess	1823
1	Steve Turmo	1954	1	1	1	1	1	1
2	Emmett O'Hare	1836	2	2	2	2	2	2
4	Owen Poepke	1779					3	4
4	Matt Evans	1722	3	3	3	3	4	3
4	Kent Archerd	1609	4	4	4
4	Ben Patterson	699				4

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George Tiers

George Tiers was a MSCA board member when the TCCL was founded in 1962. He has played in every league season, except for one.

This season he played for 3M64 in the Silver Division.

3M64	1999
Craig Heirigs	2045			1	1	1	1
Charles J Fenner	2028	1	2	2	2	2
Antoine Carter	1961						2
Reed Russell	1963	2
Vince Wisniewski	1803			3	3	3	3
George Tiers	1800	3	3	4	4	4	4
Zach Henderson	1702		1
Ed Conway	1600		4
Lincoln Schmidt	unr	4

George's unique chess clock

123rd MN Open

Results here

Ned Wahl, David Kuhns & Jiten Patel

TIMOTHY JON RADERMACHER vs SEAN M NAGLE (0-1)  Round 6

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I finished with 3-0=2 plus a 1/2 point bye in the U2000 section. Wich  was good enough for a 2-way tie for 2nd place. (ANDREW SHEEHAN cleaned up with a 6-0 score)

Dan Voje retires

Dan at the 2016 MN Open

November 24 Dan Voje the long time manager of the Castle Chess Club has decided to retire. He has run the club in several locations and directed most of the tournaments in the state for years. He will be missed. No word on his plans. We wish him well.  

Dan has been chief TD over 1700! times since 1991
He has played in almost 2000! events since 1991

Minnesota Blizzard OpenOctober 24-25

Andrew Tang and Okechukwu Nnej Iwu tie for 1st with 4.5/5.0

Complete results here

Round 5 Board 1 Andrew Tang vs Andres Hortillosa  (1-0)

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Round 5 Board 2 Okechukwu Nnej Iwu vs Jackson Wahl (1-0)

2 Game Match vs MN Senior Champion Dan Voje (2066)Time Control - G30, d10 Result 1-1

2015 Sioux Falls Open - (Revival of the Governors Cup)

NELS W TRUELSON wins the 2015 Paul Salem Sioux Falls Open with 4.5/5.0

USCF results here

I went 3-1 (1st round bye)

I was on board 2 in round 4 and had this wonderful opportunity to get a winning advantage. It was a classic case of, "if you see a good move, look for a better one". Even after that I had a good chance to play for a win, but played defence, when I should have been attacking, and lost the game.  Jerome went on to draw WGM CAMILLA BAGINSKAITE in round 5, and tied for 2nd place.  Well done Jerome! He is back after a 10 year break!

JEROME MITCHELL(2019) vs me Round 4, board 2

Black to play

Just play the game.

Not sure what is going on, but one thing's for sure, I suck at chess.

Hitting my 1800 floor at the 2015 Chicago Open did it for me,

I have given up on getting to 2000.  I did get pretty close  USCF 1962 and FIDE 1980.

2015 U.S. Amateur Team North ChampionshipFeb. 20-22 or 21-22 Schaumburg, IL

USCF results here

Tournament website here

New record 73 teams

Best team name : "Stick that F Pawn Up Your A File"

Team "Chaturanga"

1	Karthikeyan Pounraj	1979
2	Ivan Wijetunge	1906
3	Abhyudhaya Venkat	1644
4	Madhav Parthasarathy	1463

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History (with aproximate number of teams)

2014	Schaumburg	48
2013	Schaumburg	55
2012	Northbrook	42

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East Winners -Virginia Assassins

The Viriginia Assassins:l-r  Lucas Knoll, James Schuyler, Daniel Miller, Andrew Samuelson

2383 James Schuyler

2360 Andrew Samuelson

2354 Daniel Miller

1646 Lucas Knoll

Best Team Name :  Legalize Caruana 

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South Winners - Thad’s No Fun 

Thad's No Fun: NM Richard Francisco, NM Sanjay Ghatti, Frank Johnson, Grant Oen and Thad Rodgers

2015 St Paul Winter OpenJan 24-25, 2015

IM Andrew Tang wins clear first with 4.5/5.0

Complete results here

Pictures from round 3 below.

I went 1-2, but still gained a few points since I beat an A-player and lost to to masters.

SEAN M NAGLE vs OKECHUKWU ANELE NNEJ IWU 1/2 - 1/2

WILLIAM J MURRAY vs TIM R MC ENTEE 1/2 - 1/2

JASON M DRAKE vs ANDREW TANG 0-1

Port of Dubuque OpenJan. 10-11

Open chess returns to Dubuque, Iowa after a 13 year hiatus!

The following is  a history of Open events:

				2002	22	LOUIS PAULSEN DUBUQUE OPEN
				2001	31	DUBUQUE OPEN
				1999	28	LOUIS PAULSEN DUBUQUE OPEN
				1998	28	LOUIS PAULSEN DUBUQUE OPEN
				1996	27	L.P. DUBUQUE OPEN
				1995	28	L.P. DUBUQUE OPEN
				1994	31	LP DUBUQUE OPEN
				1993	27	L.P. DUBUQUE OPEN
				1992	35	L PAULSEN DUBUQUE OPEN

ALERIY KOSOKIN, JAMES ALEX NEAL II & DAVID MCNEIL tie for first.

Complete Results here

 Top seed(2240 FIDE) Valeriy Kosokin from Uzbekistan

5-Round Swiss

Prizes: All Open Prizes Guaranteed ($650).
1st Place = $150 + trophy, 2nd Place = $100

Tournament information here