Blackstone Chess Events

Sowa Sweeps Allegretto

Pawtucket RI, April 23 - Aidan Sowa won all three games, including an upset over club director David Harris to win the April Allegretto.

Ivanov Dunks Derby

Pawtucket RI, December 4 - GM Alexander Ivanov swept the Blackstone December Derby, with a score of 3-zip, not as easy as it sounds. First prize was $100. NM Miro Reverby took home second prize and $60. with 2 ½ points. Five masters competed in this tournament. Time control was Game in 70, with a 5 second delay.

Ivanov Vamps to Top

Pawtucket RI, November 6 - GM Alexander Ivanov won the Blackstone Chess November Vamp without a glitch, three wins, no losses. Second place was split between Sinclair Banks and David Harris. Time control was Game in 70, with a 5 second delay.

Finney Tops Octads

Pawtucket RI, October 2 - CM Stuart Finney was merciless at the Blackstone October Octads, picking off rooks, minor pieces, and pawms en route to his 3-0 rout. David Harris limped into second place with 2-1. Time control was Game in 75, with a 5 second delay.

Sarkar Takes Throne

Pawtucket RI, August 22-24: IM Justin Sarkar won the Blackstone Chess Festival International, to become the 2010 Blackstone Chess Festival champion. Nelson and Andres Castaneda, and Kapil Chandran tied for 2nd. Chandran also won the prize for top junior (under 21 years).

Robert Holmgren took the under 2000 Championship, and William Petrillo won the under 1500 Championship. A clean sweep for both, at 3-0 in this one-day event, help Saturday August 23.

Banks Bangs Bucket

Pawtucket, May 15 - NM Sinclair Banks is the 2010 chess beast of the bucket, winning the Pawtucket Open with a perfect 3-zip.

Masters Deadlocked

Pawtucket, April 24 - The April Masters/Experts Blitz (G/7) ended in a standoff, with SM Denys Shmelov and expert David Harris sharing top honors, with 5 wins an 1 loss apiece.

Vigorito Tops Octads

Pawtucket, April 17 - IM David Vigorito won all 3 games to sweep the Spring Octads at the Blackstone Chess Center. For his efforts, David earned first prize, $50, and 1 rating point!

Clark Sweeps Fools

Pawtucket, April 15 - Mike Clark won all 3 games to sweep the April Fool Folly, and take home first prize ($50). The event took place April 1st, 8th, and 15th. David Harris captured second prize ($32).

Chris Clark and David Rush divided the under 1700 prize ($24).

Ivanov & Sammour Tie

Pawtucket, March 20 - GM Alexander Ivanov and Jorge Sammour-Hasbun tied for the top spot in the the Blackstone Spring Rapids, held Saturday, March 20. Each finished with a score of 3.5/4.

Andrew Wang Leads March

Pawtucket, March 13 - Andrew Wang took first prize ($50) in the March Octads, scoring a perfect 3/3. Daniil Mosiyenko captured second ($30) at 2.5.

Neil Fachon upset David Harris in the final round to finish first in the lower half ($30), with Boris Zhevelyuk taking second ($20) in the lower half. 14 players competed in the event.

Shmelov Masters Rapids

Pawtucket, February 28 - Denys Shmelov emerged as the winner of the Winter Blackstone Masters Rapids with a score of 3½/4, giving up only one draw to Stuart Finney. Stuart shared second with the other youth in the field, Andrew Wang. Each scored 3/4. The tournament was a 4-round 8-player swiss, with a time control of 15 minutes, and a 5 second delay.

Harris Takes Pawtucket

Pawtucket, February 6 - The first Pawtucket Rapids was won by David Harris with a score of 3-0. Harris emerged ahead of fellow Blackstone club member and rival Sinclair Banks, with a win over Banks in round 2. This was a 3-round swiss, time control was game/25 with a 10 second increment.

Golberg/Harris tie Experts

Pawtucket, February 6 - Ben Goldberg and David Harris came out on top in the Winter Experts Rapids, each with a score of 4/6. This was a double quad (4-player round robin) at game 8 plus 2 seconds delay.

The Under 2000 Rapids was held at the same time, a single 6-player round robin, with a time control of Game/15 plus 5 seconds delay. Paul Gavlick made a clean sweep, finishing with a score or 5/5.

Masters Blitz goes to Shmelov

Pawtucket, January 22 - Denys Shmelov dominated the Third Blackstone Masters Blitz. Six players competed in a double round robin, at a time control of game in 7 minutes. Denys scored an impressive 9½/10, giving up a draw to Miro Reverby who finished second.

Frank Wang Blitzes Experts

Pawtucket, November 28 - Frank Wang won the Second Blackstone Experts Invitational Blitz with a score of 10/14. Frank got off to an early lead, winning his first 8 games, but was slowed down by the top of the lineup in the last 3 rounds. A first prize of $50 was awarded, along with a free entry to a future Blackstone Masters Blitz.

Ben Goldberg took second place with a scode of 9/14. Third place went to Andrew Wang , the young star of the Boston Blitz USCL team, who finished with a score of 8/14.

This event was an 8-player double round robin, everyone plays everyone one game with each color. Time control was Game in 7 minutes.

Older results are in the 2009 Archive.

You can also view crosstables from recent events.

Regional News

Gu Grabs 2011 RI Crown

Providence, May 1 - 12 year old NM Chris Gu became the 2011 RI State Chess Champion with an impressive 4 wins, and one draw. NM Mauricio Ruiz, who held Gu to a draw finished second with 2 wins and 3 draws. The event took place the weekend of April 30-May 1 at Rhode Island College.

Goldberg Wins RI Open

Warwick, Nov. 22 - Ben Goldberg earned his USCF National Master title by winning the 2010 Rhode Island Open, drawing Grandmaster Allexander Ivanov of Massachesetts on his way to the RI Open title.

Goldberg 2010 RI Champ

Providence, May 4 - The 2010 Rhode Island State Chess Championship was held the weekend of May 3-4 at RI College. Ben Goldberg put in an outstanding performance to win the championship with a 4-1 score.

2010 Chess Festival

Sarkar Takes Throne

Pawtucket RI, 2010/8/22: IM Justin Sarkar won the Blackstone Chess Festival International, to become the 2010 Blackstone Chess Festival champion. Nelson and Andres Castaneda, and Kapil Chandran tied for 2nd. Chandran also won the prize for top junior (under 21 years).

Robert Holmgren took the under 2000 Championship, and William Petrillo won the under 1500 Championship. A clean sweep for both, at 3-0 in this one-day event, help Saturday August 23.

Highlights from Past Events

Finney Takes Gold in Mazatlan

Blackstone Chess Member Stuart Finney of Barrington RI earned a gold medal in the North American Youth Chamionship in the under age 14 category. Stuart scored six wins and a draw, to capture clear first, and the FIDE title of Candidate Master (CM)!

The event was held in Mazatlan Mexico over the weekend of October 2-4. Stuart also earned a spot in the 2010 Pan American Youth Championship to be held in Brazil next July. Congratulations to CM Stuart Finney!

Read more at WCM Claudia Munoz Chess Blog

Rhode Island State Championship

Providence, May 3 - The 2009 Rhode Island State Chess Championship was held the weekend of May 2-3 at RI College. In the final round, defending champion Miro Reverby had the White pieces against challenger David Harris. In an exciting finish, Harris survived a dangerous attack in the Najdorf-Sozin variation, and went on to win the endgame to take the 2009 RI Championship.

See more details of the 2009 RI Championship. (Coming Soon)

Highlights from Past Events

Winter Masters

GM Timur Gareyev won the 2009 Winter Masters, held in January. Check out the games and crosstable from this event.

Festival Open

The 2008 Blackstone Chess Festival Open featured 4 Grandmasters. It was held at the Comfort Inn in Pawtucket, the weekend after the New England Masters. GM Timur Gareyev took first place, and the title of 2008 Blackstone Chess Festival Champion. Here is the crosstable and report on this tournament.

New England Masters

Top playes representing 10 nations competed in the 2008 New England Masters in Pawtucket, RI. Many thanks to Chris Bird for bringing a top class event to the state of Rhode Island. Blackstone Chess hosted the event at the To Kalon Club in Pawtucket, not far from the current Chess Center. This tournament was part of the 2008 Blackstone Chess Festival.

GM Sergey Erenburg slipped ahead to win in an exciting final round finish. Check out the final standindgs, and more details from the 2008 New England Masters,