NY STATE CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP RETURNS TO SARATOGA SPRINGS AUG. 30 - SEPT. 2:
Over 200 Expected From Across State

The 118th Annual New York State Chess Championship, America's longest-running chess tournament, returns to the Sheraton Hotel and Convention Center in Saratoga Springs for Labor Day Weekend. This event has been held in Saratoga Springs since 1992, and it was also held there in 1945 and 1987. Last year, former U.S. Champion International Grandmaster Joel Benjamin of New York City tied for First with Grandmaster Gennady Zaichik of Philadelphia and International Master Victor Frias of Mexico, although Benjamin won the title on tiebreaks. That was the seventh time that Benjamin has finished First in this tournament. This year, Joel will be defending his title against Grandmaster Michael Rohde of New York City, who also won the Championship in 1993 and 1994.

Over 200 players from throughout New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New England are expected to turn out for the tournament, including some of the country's top players. Among them will also be several of the top youngsters in the U.S., including Dmitry Schneider from New Rochelle and Samson Benen of New York City, the Number 3 and Number 4 players in the country under age 12. Schneider and Benen, both 11, are already both accomplished National Chess Experts, and have each defeated several Masters in rated tournaments. Many other young players are expected to participate as well, such as 7-year-old Laura Ross of New York City, the Number 12 Ranked Player in the U.S. under age 8. There are six separate divisions in the tournament for all levels of players, beginners, intermediates and Masters, and the lower divisions in particular attract many young players. The total prize fund is over $10,000, including $1,200 and the Championship Trophy to the winner, as well as many more prizes for players in the lower divisions. Some players, adults as well as children, will even be playing in their very first chess tournament. All participants will receive national chess ratings from the U.S. Chess Federation (USCF), which are used in tournaments throughout the U.S. The main playing schedule begins at 1 pm Saturday August 31st and continues until Monday evening. Spectators are welcome throughout the weekend.

In addition to the State Championship, Saratoga will also host the 5th Annual Action Chess Championship, at 7 pm Friday August 30th. Unlike the slower-paced State Championship, the players in the Action Tournament have only 30 minutes each for the entire game. As its name suggests, "Action Chess" is much more lively and fast-paced than regular tournament chess, as both players try to avoid using up their time before their opponent. The other side tournament during the weekend takes place Saturday August 31 at 10 pm: the Fifth Annual "Bughouse" Championship (where participants compete on teams of two players and may consult with each other), in an even faster and livelier format-- only 5 minutes for the whole game.

The New York State Championship is the oldest annual chess tournament in the country, and is, in fact, one of the longest running annual chess tournaments in the entire world. The first New York State Chess Championship was held in 1878.

For more information on the New York State Championship, the New York State Action Championship, and on upcoming USCF nationally rated tournaments, contact Steve Immitt, Tournament Organizer, evenings at (212) 477-3716 or (212) 675-0256. Additional information may also be obtained from the New York State Chess Association, at (718) 336-3988.

TO: ______________________________________________________________


City News Desk

FROM: Steve Immitt (212) 477-3716 FAX: (212) 995-9281
Organizer (212) 675-0256
New York State Chess Championship

DATE: August 28, 1996

SUBJECT: 118th Annual New York State Chess Championship
(America's Longest-Running Chess Tournament)
August 30 - September 2, 1996: Saratoga Springs, New York

For more information, beginning Friday afternoon August 30th, call the Saratoga Springs Sheraton Hotel, host hotel of the tournament, directly at (518) 584-4000, and ask for "the chess tournament."


Here is more chess tournament news from Steve Immitt: Steve Immitt's Chess News

Here is a link: Irina Gets Krushed: The Squashing of a Beautiful Russian Girl

Here is more chess news: Sam Sloan's "Chess News"


Contact address - please send e-mail to the following address: Sloan@ishipress.com