The Unrated Beginner Tournament for Kids helps introduce the joy of tournament chess to new students each month.
By Mike Kummer
A total of 39 kids came to the Chess Club on a rainy Sunday to compete in the Unrated Beginner Tourney and created quite a storm. In the Kindergarten-3rd Grade section, Beginner Tourney regular Ajay Eisenberg let his presence be heard early and often as he smacked the clock hard after every move. His round two opponent was so caught up in all the slamming that after Ajay checkmated him, he obliterated the board 1 marker. As Executive Director Tony Rich likes to say: "This is why we can't have nice things."
The Ryker brothers continue to improve. In the second round, Roman's opponent exclaimed "you are too good" in the middle of the game. Roman went on to win that game easily. Roman and his older brother Derian were both 3-0 heading into the final round. But Derian couldn't stop Ajay "the freight train" in the last round, and Roman's hopes were derailed by Andy Behrman, a USCF member. Ajay Eisenberg won a membership to the USCF for his four thumpings.
In the 4th Grade and up section, GM Ben Finegold's daughter, Erum, was putting on a show early. After crushing her first two opponents, she made a slight misstep to cost her the victory in round 3. Erum recovered nicely in round 4 as she delivered a clever checkmate to her unsuspecting opponent.
In round 4, two 3-0 competitors faced off for the championship. New USCF member and Friday Action Quad staple Jack Riordan had the black pieces vs. June Beginner winner Ben Boaz. Ben's 3.5 points last month were not good enough for a USCF membership so he was determined to go 4-0 this time around. Ben's perseverance paid off as he won the intense battle and earned himself a USCF membership.
Congratulations to both the winners and we hope to see everyone at the "Back-to-School Bash" on August 11. USCF membership is required for the event, and everyone will get a chess rating after the event. USCF membership cost as little as $17 for the year. The entry fee is just $5 if pre-registered.
Standings - Unrated Kids Beginner Tourney: Open
| # | Name | Rtng | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | Rd 3 | Rd 4 | Tot | Prize |
| 1 | AJAY EISENBERG | unr. | W9 | W19 | W8 | W2 | 4.0 | |
| 2 | DERIAN RYKER | unr. | W12 | W13 | W11 | L1 | 3.0 | |
| 3 | DAVID NEWLAND | unr. | W23 | L8 | W12 | W11 | 3.0 | |
| 4 | ROMAN RYKER | unr. | W22 | W18 | W15 | L5 | 3.0 | |
| 5 | ANDY BEHRMAN | 210 | W16 | L14 | W17 | W4 | 3.0 | |
| 6 | SCHAYFER HUITT | unr. | B--- | L11 | W18 | W13 | 3.0 | |
| 7 | KENDALL AUSMER | 104 | L18 | B--- | W14 | W15 | 3.0 | |
| 8 | WILSON GAO | unr. | W17 | W3 | L1 | D10 | 2.5 | |
| 9 | ADAM KRIEGSHAUSER | unr. | L1 | D17 | W23 | W14 | 2.5 | |
| 10 | ETHAN BUB | unr. | L11 | W23 | W19 | D8 | 2.5 | |
| 11 | ANDREW TROUT | unr. | W10 | W6 | L2 | L3 | 2.0 | |
| 12 | CATHERINE STANISH | unr. | L2 | W21 | L3 | W16 | 2.0 | |
| 13 | EITAN FAY | unr. | W21 | L2 | W16 | L6 | 2.0 | |
| 14 | MAX XU | unr. | D15 | W5 | L7 | L9 | 1.5 | |
| 15 | RACHEL HERRON | unr. | D14 | W20 | L4 | L7 | 1.5 | |
| 16 | CALLAN SUKANEK | unr. | L5 | W22 | L13 | L12 | 1.0 | |
| 17 | CELINA ZHOU | unr. | L8 | D9 | L5 | D23 | 1.0 | |
| 18 | ZANE AKERS | unr. | W7 | L4 | L6 | F22 | 1.0 | |
| 19 | MATT PUTNAM | unr. | W20 | L1 | L10 | F21 | 1.0 | |
| 20 | NIGEL ANDREWS | unr. | L19 | L15 | L22 | B--- | 1.0 | |
| 21 | HENRY KIDD | unr. | L13 | L12 | B--- | F19 | 1.0 | |
| 22 | IBRAHIM HACKING | unr. | L4 | L16 | W20 | F18 | 1.0 | |
| 23 | KENTON AUSMER | unr. | L3 | L10 | L9 | D17 | 0.5 |
Standings - Unrated Kids Beginner Tourney: K-6
| # | Name | Rtng | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | Rd 3 | Rd 4 | Tot | Prize |
| 1 | BEN BOAZ | unr. | W15 | W10 | W5 | W2 | 4.0 | |
| 2 | JACK RIORDAN | unr. | W14 | W9 | W3 | L1 | 3.0 | |
| 3 | JOHN STARCK | 543 | W16 | W4 | L2 | W9 | 3.0 | |
| 4 | ROY STEWART | unr. | W7 | L3 | W11 | W8 | 3.0 | |
| 5 | JAMES HERRON | unr. | W12 | W13 | L1 | W7 | 3.0 | |
| 6 | ERUM FINEGOLD | 101 | W8 | W12 | L7 | W14 | 3.0 | |
| 7 | ANDRE WALIA | unr. | L4 | W15 | W6 | L5 | 2.0 | |
| 8 | WADE HOWDESHELL | 103 | L6 | W14 | W10 | L4 | 2.0 | |
| 9 | DEMARCO STEWART | unr. | X17 | L2 | W13 | L3 | 2.0 | |
| 10 | S. SRINIVASAN | unr. | B--- | L1 | L8 | W13 | 2.0 | |
| 11 | YUSUF HACKING | unr. | L13 | W16 | L4 | W12 | 2.0 | |
| 12 | BRANDON BUB | unr. | L5 | L6 | W15 | L11 | 1.0 | |
| 13 | ERIC ATKINSON | unr. | W11 | L5 | L9 | L10 | 1.0 | |
| 14 | NOAH FREEMAN | unr. | L2 | L8 | W16 | L6 | 1.0 | |
| 15 | ISMAIL HACKING | unr. | L1 | L7 | L12 | W16 | 1.0 | |
| 16 | CIERRA STEWART | unr. | L3 | L11 | L14 | L15 | 0.0 | |
| 17 | No Player | 385 | F9 | U--- | U--- | U--- | 0.0 |