Chess in the Land of the Delta Blues

BRAVO to the distinguished winners of the 2012 US Amateur South Championship !

What an honor for Memphis to host a
United States Chess Federation Tournament here on home ground.

The thrill for these winners, which now hold a recognized title. 

For the second year in a row, this championship tournament
has been brought to Memphis by Shelby County Chess. 

If you didn't find the courage to play in the tournament this year,
be sure and watch for the details to be announced for the one next year.

Covered on the USCF website:

Reserve Co-Champion Kamron Jafari (left) &

2012 US Amateur South Champion George Woodbury (right)

pictured with their Coach, IM Jake Kleiman (center)

"George Woodbury III, a rising Sophomore at the University of Chicago, is contesting the stereotype of the chessplayer who gives up the game after his time on the Scholastic Circuit. In-between his studies, he has participated in the collegiate club and still found time to keep his game polished & notably sharp. Players asserted that his no-nonsense style & solid technique won him his title.


The Reserve section was characteristic of many under sections: more upsets than expected results, with players regularly coming out of the tournament hall shaking heads & asking "what was his rating again?”

With the top five boards in Round One drawing or going down in defeat, everyone knew that the tournament was anyone’s to win. Kamron Jafari, who studies with Mid-South Chess (Coached by Memphis’ own International Master Jake Kleiman), took a more traditional approach of jumping into the lead & holding it with two solid draws approaching the finish line.

Hayden Henson, after holding the top seed in the section to an opening round draw, had to play up for most of the event (rated only 1257, his post-event rating jumped to 1435!), yet he still needed to produce a clutch victory in the last round to make a fitting finale to his run."

 

Visiting guests to the US Amateur South: GM Kacheishvili, GM Hess, & IM-elect Coleman (standing, left to right) observe games in progress in the main hall. Reserve Co-Champion Hayden Henson also pictured (seated, right, in red shirt)

Once per year! Get a shot at a national title.

Amateur Southern Players Unite, THIS IS THE TOURNAMENT OF THE SUMMER FOR YOU.

A NATIONAL EVENT,

THE US AMATEUR SOUTH CHESS

IS A CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT.

WHEN: JUNE 9TH AND 10TH

WHERE: U OF M HOLIDAY INN, 3700 CENTRAL AVE, MEMPHIS, TN

WHAT: ONLY THE GREAT US AMATEUR SOUTH CHESS TOURNAMENT

ADDED ATTRACTION: VIP guests, Grandmasters Stripunsky, Robert Hess, Georgi Kacheishvili, and International Master Teddy Coleman who will greet you, offer photo ops, and give autographs. SPECIAL FEATURE; A HIGH-END LUNCH BUFFET FOR A VERY REASONABLE PRICE REGISTRATION: Cajun Chess NOTE: THIS IS ALL ABOUT THE 2012 US Amateur South Chess Championship

Well now you can chew on this for awhile!

Winingest Coach - what should it mean?


What does or should an athlete look for in a coach? Do you really think the term “winingest” is at the top of the list? If they are serious about their sport, and plan on going as far as possible in it, then there must be other qualities that are much more important.

If I could ask some famous and successful coaches such as Paul “Bear” Bryant – Auburn University Football, Tom Landry – Dallas Cowboys, Billy Beane – Oakland Atheletes, Pat Riley NBA Miami Heat (widely regarded as one of the greatest NBA coaches of all time), Josh Pastner – Memphis Tigers, or any number of other renowned coaches, did being the winingest coach make you win the next game or season? I doubt any of them would say that just being the “winingest coach” made them a great one or could even guarantee their players next game would be a win. I doubt they would equate being the winingest coach to what made their teams successful and winning, at all.

It seems somewhat like putting the “HORSE BEFORE THE CART”.

I would venture to say that being many things such as:

Always safety minded.

Experienced and has a high level of ability.

Knowledge in every detail of the game.

Program planning for the individual player, not just for the team.

Encouraging.

Caring,

Supportive.

Builds self-esteem, no intimidation or embarrassment

Involved in a network, has connections to advance the players level of play.

Has self character and high morale standings

Surrounded by assistants and support personal with the same goals, character and high morale standings

Inspires their player

Makes it possible to have a good time and make it fun.

Has the ability to turn losses into teaching lessons and encouragement.

Life skills, what is often taught in a youth sport activity will carry on to lessons that are later applied in their lives. Especially perspectives on losing, hardships and even wining, good sportsmanship, fair play, being honest and having integrity are all important to playing well with others, and growing into responsible adults.

Knows when and how to be flexible,

Understands the player as an individual.

A good communicator, no yelling and certainly no obscenities!

Takes time to listen.

Interacts with parents as well as with the player equally.

Challenges their players and themselves to do better, to grow, and continue to develop new skills.

Being all of the above, is what it is all about. The winning part just naturally follows. But, having to use bragging rights based on figments of imagination and ones own grandeur never enter into the real scheme of things. If anything, would be harmful.

So therefore, I would put the term “winingest coach” at the very bottom of the list, if on the list at all, when considering a coach for my child.

Definitely not one that is so insecure in their own abilities that they have to lavish around the title like it makes them better than any other.

You would never hear Bryant, Landry, Beane, Pastner or any other amazing, truly award wining coach having to refer to themselves as the “winingest”. Did they want to win, of course they did. Did winning mean something in their repertoire, I am sure it did, or else what was the objective. But, did being the winingest help make them win at the beginning of each season or any given game for that matter? No, it was their coaching skills that put them where they were, and if their team ended up being the winingest that season, well then that was just the icing on the cake!

It’s never about just winning; it’s about how you play the game. Winning comes from doing all of the above. Not the other way around. No folks, winingest doesn’t make you a good coach.

There are plenty of wrong ways one can employ to be a “winingest coach”.

Oh yes, and I almost forgot! Let's just put the stats to bed. They really aren't important when it comes to being the "BEST COACH" for any child.

"I LOOK TO YOU!"

For Whitney!

Trick or Treat Halloween Tournament at the U of Memphis.

Hosted at the University of Memphis this past Sunday, October 30, 2011.

There were all sorts of Goblins and even a Pretty Miss Cupcake at the
"PUMPKIN PATCH INDIVIDUAL SCHOLASTIC

(K-12) CHESS TOURNAMENT & COSTUME CONTEST!

Fun had by all!
OOPS, fun had by most, and certainly those who were participating in the events.
Enjoy!

UPDATE: Click here for USCF article, "Pumpkin Patch Chess Tournament".

National Chess Day in Memphis.

Hi all!
News about the most outstanding National Chess Day in Memphis TN.

IM Jake Kleiman,

Tennessee's Number One Current USCF rated player.

What a fun day to be had by all!

Shelby County Chess, Mid-South Chess, Friday Knights Chess Club along with the University of Memphis Chess Club were all represented at the National Chess Day event at the Wolfchase Galleria Mall in Memphis with the weekend events kicking off at the Friday Knights Chess Club on Friday evening.

A very special appearance by Tennessee's own Top Rated USCF, Current Player, IM Jake Kleiman was enjoyed for autographs and pictures.

Click here for the USCF take on the activities.

Click here for the Commercial Appeal article, with picture of 7 year old Ben Johnson making his chess move.

Click here for the Commercial Appeal Photo of 7 year old Robert Randall.

Manhattan Open 2011

Manhattan Open 2011
CCA Chess Tournaments

USCF coverage:

Parker Zhao Shocks a GM at the Manhattan Open

Romanenko & Shabalov Top Manhattan; Two Norms Notched

152 games