The Parkersburg Homecoming for 2020 has been cancelled.

The WV Action Championship on May 2 has been cancelled. We are looking at options for hosting the event at a later date.

WV Governor Justice has strongly urged groups to cancel events that involve large gatherings. He aimed this comment initially at extra-curricular activities and Friday, March 13 closed secondary schools indefinitely. Subsequently the State Superintendent of Schools banned all scholastic extra-curricular activity until at least April 10.

Therefore, I am postponing the 51st WV State Scholastic Chess Championship that was scheduled for March 28 in Bridgeport, WV. Here is the contingency plan:

(1) If able, we will reschedule by May.

(2) If we cannot hold the event, we will consider holding it in conjunction with the Clarksburg Open on June 6.

(3) If that is not possible, we will hold an invitational event with the top-rated players for each section, K-12, K-8, and K-5.

(4) If that is not possible, we will select participants based on rating and number of events participated in this year to determine the invites to the US Chess invitationals (Denker, Barber, Haring, and Rockefeller) in August.

I am sorry for the inconvenience, but the safety and health of our youth chess players is important. Those who have registered will remain registered, if you would like to withdraw and reregister later please email the TD (greerlaw@aol.com) and request your refund of the entry fee.

Bob Greer

It is with sadness that I announce Tom Bergquist, Secretary-Treasurer of the WVCA for 53 years, passed away early last year. Tom was first elected President of the WVCA in 1959. He moved to the Secretary-Treasurer position in 1960, which he held until 2013. Tom was 90 years old.

Tom, fourth from left, at a reunion dinner in 1996.

Robert Canary won the 2020 Winter Open, held in St. Albans, on January 18, 2020. 25 players competed in the 4-round open event.

USCF Crosstable

Here is the announcement for the 2019 WV Scholastic Chess League. Team play is on January 19 and 26. The individual tournament is on February 9.

There will be an announcement forthcoming for the 50th WV Scholastic Chess Championships on March 24 once the details are finalized.

Jerry Engle of St. Albans has passed away at the age of 61. His obituary can be found here.

We are sad to announce that Marvin R. Barker, Jr., known as Joe to most of us, has passed away.
Obituary

Joe Barker’s visitation will be Friday, October 5, 2018 at Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home, 1118 Virginia Street East, Charleston at 1 pm. Service to follow at 2 pm.

Here is one of Ed Garner’s games from the Senior Invitational Tournament held during the summer. Ed had the advantage in the opening, but let it slip. His opponent then made a mistake in a winning endgame and the game ended in a draw.

The Sept. 29 tournament has been moved from the Bridgeport Library to the Benedum Civic Center on West Main Street in downtown Bridgeport.