280 Scholastic Players Battle at the 2nd GCSCL Tournament in Beachwood
It may have been a cold winter day, but battle was hot on the chess boards this past Saturday at Beachwood High School as 280 scholastic players faced off in the Greater Cleveland Scholastic Chess League (GCSCL). This was the 2nd GCSCL tournament out of 4 tournaments total, featuring 8 sections, 4 rounds and a $1,000 Scholarship Award that will go to the overall individual winner of the Championship Section, determined by adding the scores from each player’s best three events.
The Championship section participants are no slouches, that’s for sure. Vincent Baker of Mount Vernon, rated 2265 USCF (yes, that’s Master level), took the Championship Section with a clean sweep of 4 points, an impressive performance. Vincent also tied for 1st place in the November GCSCL with Ralph Tan (2034 USCF) making him the sole leader of the GCSCL thus far with 7.5 out of 8. Not too shabby.
Vincent Baker pictured with his 1st place trophy with Roy-Allen Bumpers of PWC
Full results are HERE as well as team results HERE
Congrats to all winners!
**Winners by Section**
Under 1500
PATRICIA TAN, JUAN ORELLANA & NICHOLAS WOJNAR (3-way tie)
High School Premier Under 1000
ISHMAEL CALLOWAY & SHANAYA JAYEWARDENE (tie)
Middle School Premier Under 1000
ZECHARY CAO
Elementary Premier Under 1000
MICHAEL ZHANG & ARAV MATHUR (tie)
Middle School Reserve Under 500
BRIAN LILLY, ZUKHRA SHOPULATOVA & RITU LIMBU (3-way tie)
4th & 5th Grade Under 500
JOSEPH MO
K-3rd Grade Reserve Under 500
LUCAS LIU & LUKE CHAO (tie)
In addition to competing individually players also compete as teams. Joseph M Gallagher Middle School, a Cleveland Metropolitan School (CMSD) in Detroit-Shoreway is dominating the Middle School U1000 Section with excellent results in both tournaments giving them 19 points. Next in line are both Solon High School and Beachwood High School tied at 13. The team with the most points (3 best results out of 4) will take home the victory at the end of the 4 tournaments.
Behold the Gallagher Pyramid of Greatness
Can Vincent and Team Gallagher hold their leads? We will find out at the 3rd GCSCL Tournament coming up on January 19th at Solon Middle School. And no worries, Progress With Chess knows that the holidays just wouldn’t be joyous without chess. Join us at the 2018 Holiday Open on December 28th-30th and sneak that one last tourney in before the new year. A sincere thank you to all that participated in the event. Stay warm and we hope to see you soon!
-written by Stacia Pugh, PWC Director of Marketing & Promotion
-stacia@progresswithchess.org
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Baker & Weaver Split at the Solon Organic Turkey Shoot