orthwes $3.95 N t C h March 2019 e s s GM Bu Xiangzhi and IM John Donaldson visited the brand new Pacific Northwest Chess Center (PNWCC) On the front cover: Northwest Chess L-R: GM Emil Anka, IM John Donaldson, March 2019, Volume 73-03 Issue 854 PNWCC Vice President Vijay Sankaran, IM Leslie Leow, GM Bu Xiangzhi, and PNWCC President Xuhao He. ISSN Publication 0146-6941 Photo credit: PNWCC. Published monthly by the Northwest Chess Board. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Office of -Re cord: Northwest Chess c/o Orlov Chess Academy 4174 148th On the back cover: Ave NE, Building I, Suite M, Redmond, WA 98052-5164. The new 2019 Idaho Blitz Champion James Wei. Photo credit: Jeffrey Roland. Periodicals Postage Paid at Seattle, WA USPS periodicals postage permit number (0422-390) NWC Staff Chesstoons: Chess cartoons drawn by local artist Brian Berger, Editor: Jeffrey Roland, of West Linn, Oregon. [email protected] Games Editor: Ralph Dubisch, [email protected] Publisher: Duane Polich, Submissions [email protected] Submissions of games (PGN format is preferable for games), Business Manager: Eric Holcomb, stories, photos, art, and other original chess-related content [email protected] are encouraged! Multiple submissions are acceptable; please indicate if material is non-exclusive. All submissions are Board Representatives subject to editing or revision. Send via U.S. Mail to: David Yoshinaga, Josh Sinanan, Jeffrey Roland, NWC Editor Jeffrey Roland, Adam Porth, Chouchanik Airapetian, 1514 S. Longmont Ave. Brian Berger, Duane Polich, Alex Machin, Eric Holcomb. Boise, Idaho 83706-3732 or via e-mail to: Entire contents ©2019 by Northwest Chess. All rights reserved. [email protected] Published opinions are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor or the Northwest Chess Board. 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Page 2 March 2019 Northwest Chess orthwes N t C h e From The s s Editor’s Desk Well this is the March issue, and I’m finishing this up on February 19 to send off to the printers for production. Since this is the March issue, one would think it’s about time for Spring Table of Contents to arrive!! In Boise, which is where I live, this winter has been somewhat mellow for a change. However, in many parts of the GM Bu Xiangzhi and IM John Donaldson visit PNWCC country, I think the weather this winter has been what most PNWCC ........................................................Front Cover would call bad! In Washington, the State Championship even From The Editor’s Desk had to be delayed by one week. Jeffrey Roland .................................................................3 This is my 76th issue as editor and as always no two issues Eternal Cube (a poem written at the 2019 Idaho Closed) David Zaklan ..................................................................3 ever feel the same... all are unique, special, and have their own challenges. February being such a short month, it’s about time 2019 Idaho Blitz Championship Jeffrey Roland .................................................................4 for me to start working the April issue already too! ICA Tip Of The Month Next month’s issue should be exciting as no doubt much Adam Porth .....................................................................5 will be written about the state championships in each of the three PCC January 2019 Game 60 states (Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.) Brian Berger ...................................................................6 Players are of course invited to submit games to be considered Chesstoons Cartoon for publication to [email protected]. That is really how we Brian Berger ...................................................................9 get most of the material that goes into the magazine. West Regional Scholastic Tournament Jeffrey Roland ...............................................................10 Anyway, I hope you enjoy this issue. Letter To The Editor —Jeffrey Roland, Editor John Frostad .................................................................12 Washington Senior Championship (Half-Page Ad) Seattle, WA Apr 13-14..................................................12 8th Annual Larry Evans Memorial (Full-Page Ad) Reno, NV Apr 19-21 .....................................................13 Introducing Pacific Northwest Chess Center Xuhao He .......................................................................14 Eternal Cube PNWCC Through A Player’s Eyes By David Zaklan (a poem written at the 2019 Idaho Coliln Smith ..................................................................14 Closed State Championship) PNWCC’s First Master Lisa & Charles Levine .................................................15 2019 TBD Memorial Standings Seen from the inside, retrospective Murlin Varner ..............................................................17 Team BC Edges Out Team Washington correction and mirror as we grapple Paul Leblanc .................................................................18 13th Annual Grand Pacific Open (Half-Page Ad) the serrated edges of ignorance and Victoria, BC (Canada) Apr 19-22 ...............................20 44th Annual Keres Memorial (Half-Page Ad) ability. Richmond, BC (Canada) May 18-20 ...........................27 Washington Open (Half-Page Ad) Lynnwood, WA May 25-27 ..........................................28 Like our souls are entwined in our Pacific Northwest Chess Center (PNWCC) ...................29 Seattle Chess Club Tournaments ...................................30 bodies, chess ensnares our dreams and 2019 Idaho Blitz Champion James Wei Jeffrey Roland ...............................................Back Cover drive. The fierce love of a fierce game. Northwest Chess March 2019 Page 3 time control was game/5;d0. This blitz Pagerolas (1943P-1974—13.0/16), of 2019 Idaho Blitz tournament was definitely not bad! It was Jackson, Wyoming, who scored 13 wins, expensive to rate through US Chess, at 25 three losses, and no draws. Third place in Championship cents per game, 24 players, playing eight the tournament went to James Wei (1842- By Jeffrey Roland “double” rounds, which is like 16 rounds, 1974—11.5/16), of Boise, Idaho. As the that worked out to 184 games or $46.00. highest placing Idaho player, James wins Boise, ID—January 19, 2019 It was worth it, though, to see the players the title of Idaho Blitz Champion. James I attended the 101st Annual U.S. having such a good time socializing is only 12 years old, in the sixth grade, Open in Saint Paul, Minnesota in 2001. before the tournament began, between and this is not the first time he has won That year, in addition to winning outright rounds, and even after the tournament. the Idaho Blitz Championship. He also first place, GM Alex Yermolinsky gave a When the players left the playing site at won the title in 2017! lecture wherein one of the attendees asked the end of the day, players who had not Another prize winner was Finn him, “What do you think of Blitz chess?” known each other before the tournament Belew (1054-1067—9.0/16), of Boise, to which he gave a very surprising (to me) started were actually laughing and Idaho. Finn is also in the sixth grade, and answer. He said, “Blitz is bad,” and then carrying on as if they had been best friends wins the top scholastic player trophy. proceeded to give reasons why. I took that for years. It was one of the most pleasant to heart and thought that was right. Later, experiences I’ve witnessed in all the years We did not record any of the games I attended another lecture that he gave at I’ve directed tournaments. Players came on video, and thus don’t have