Badger setting chess standards
by Logan Jaffe
Monday, March 24, 2008
In less than two weeks, hundreds of local chess aficionados will gather in Wisconsin Dells with hopes of winning Wisconsin’s most prestigious chess tournament.
For some, the absence of reigning champion and University of Wisconsin alumnus Alexander Betaneli, 32, clears one spot for victory in this year’s Arpad Elo Open. Others simply come to challenge other Wisconsin Chess Association members in their favorite game.
“I’d say the most intriguing part about chess is the complexity of it all,” said Betaneli, who is currently ranked first among Wisconsin’s active players. “There are so many directions and principles that go into maximizing your performance. Sometimes at the end of the day you just look at the board and think, ‘Wow, I really don’t understand this game at all.’”
The statement seems unusual coming from Betaneli, who leads the Wisconsin Chess Association’s 2007 tour with 618 points and an average rating of 2,286.63.
According to WSA President Mike Neitman, adult scores typically range from 1,600 to 1,650, earning or losing points with each game. A player can get about 40 points for beating a higher-ranked player, whereas equally matched opponents usually gain a point or two with a win, he added.
Although Betaneli won’t compete in this year’s Arpad Elo tournament, which is named after a UW physics professor who developed the U.S. and World chess federations’ rating systems, he said his 1994 Arpad Elo victory was his most memorable. A Russian immigrant, Betaneli learned the game in his homeland from his father and brother, so winning his first tournament in the Unites States was a milestone.
Here is the full article.
Nice article!
Can someone tell me how this tournament is suposed to be
“Wisconsin’s most prestigious chess tournament”
What is that based on?
Excuse me?! Arpad Elo WAS NOT a University of Wisconsin Physics professor!
Arpad Elo was a Marquette University Physics professor.
We members of the Marquette University Chess Club take this misreport personally. First of all, the University of Wisconsin (Milwaukee) chess club would not accept our numerous challenges to a team match. Then someone comes here to say our very own Professor Elo was a UW professor.
We will be trading punches next time this happens! :0))
“hundreds of local chess aficionados”
Where does this writer get this stuff?
The tournament will hva around 60 partipants.
IMHO the comments criticizing Mt. Jaffe for
1) calling the Arpad Elo Open”Wisconsin’s most prestigious chess tournament” and
2) estimating the tournament turnout in the hundreds instead of 60 or so
are a little harsh and perhaps inappropriate. I’ve got to believe that Mr. Jaffe had wanted to give the tournament positive press which is not a crime.
As a matter of fact the number of registrants has yet to be determined. Perhaps with positive press there can be hundreds of registrants. Also, as a matter of fact the label “Wisconsin’s most prestigious tournament is in the eye of the beholder.
Well Mr HubDiggs,
How about the fact the Arpad Elo was a professor at Marquette??
“Wisconsin’s most prestigious tournament is in the eye of the beholder.
That may be true but can the beholder shed some light as to how he came to such a conclution?
If you are not from Wisconsin, you will never understand!