Samuel Sevian, 12, is currently a resident of Massachusetts, according to the U.S. Chess Federation. Since playing his first rated event in Orlando, Fla., in 2006, he has become one of the strongest young players in U.S. history, becoming the World Under 12 Champion less than a year ago in Maribor, Slovenia. See his listing www.en.wikipedia.org to see this native of upstate New York’s travels, training and titles. He will turn 13 in late December. His father is a laser scientist constantly on the move doing research.
Sevian’s name came up as one of five Mass. students on the USCF’s 2014 All-America Chess Team. Others are Robert Perez, 17, in his second year at M.I.T. (he’s a native of Florida); Mika A. Brattain, 14, of Lexington; Andrew Liu, 14, of Westboro; and Carissa Yip, now 10, of Chelmsford. One of many stories last week at www.uschess.org.
In other national regional news, New England defeated Connecticut using its draw odds in the playoff quarterfinals at www.uschessleague.com. First board Alexander Ivanov drew, but Mika Brattain got the win on board three that sealed the drawn match shown live last week at www.chess.com. New England now faces the New York Knights at 3 p.m. Nov. 16 in the Eastern Division semifinals leading to the championship finals on Nov. 23.
Ray Paulson of Lowell and Geoff LePoer of Westford topped the 33-player Fandreyer Memorial at Fitchburg State University. Ernest Fandreyer over 10 years played in 102 Wachusett CC events until his passing last year, and was instrumental in establishing FSU as the club’s regular meeting site. More results at www.wachusettchess.org, including details of the new event starting Wednesday.
John Curdo of Auburn, Alonzo Ross of Shrewsbury and Mike Odell of Worcester shared first at 3.5-1.5 in the Greater Worcester Chess Club’s October Open. Under-1700 winner (also 10 players) was Peter Shtudiner of Worcester. Details of the November six-round event are at www.chesspals.com. The Thursday night club will not meet on Thanksgiving.
Alexander Ivanov of Newton was co-winner of last month’s 31st Western States Open in Reno, Nev. Former Worcester postmaster and life member of MACA, Phil C. Dennis, now retired in Reno, competed in the sixth section of the 210-player event.
Marc Esserman and Tim Sage, both from eastern Massachusetts, dominated the R.I. Open in Providence, tying for first in the 34-player, three-section event.
Worth view the many stories on the current World Championship in India that began yesterday. Tops might be Wednesday’s story, “Wall Street glued to chess duel” at www.cnbc.com/id/101174841, on Harvard professor Ken Rogoff’s predictions on the Anand-Carlsen match in Chennai.
Nice column.