The latest WVCA bulletin has been released. Get it here.

I modified the website this evening to use a plugin which will better organize upcoming events. There is a link at the top to a list of the events and a list of events on the right as well. If you have any trouble finding upcoming events, please let me know.

Max Zavanelli, originally from the Wheeling area, has passed away from cancer. Max was the winner of the 1974 WV State Championship tournament, but was ineligible to claim the title as he lived in New York at the time. He was also a Senior International Master in correspondence chess.

Max’s obituary

Mike Lewis, a chess player and former teacher at East Bank High School, passed away in Pensacola, Florida on Sunday, February 11, 2018.

Obituary from Charleston Gazette-Mail

Date: March 17, 2018
Site: Bridgeport Conference Center, 300 Conference Center Way, Bridgeport, WV 26330
Sections: K-3, K-5, K-8, K-12
Format: 4 round Swiss System (5 if necessary for K-8 and K-12)
Time Control: K-3/K-5 G/30 d5; K-8/K-12 G/45 d5
Entry Fee: $25 by 3/10, $30 afterwards. Advance registration required.
Check In: 7:45-8:30
Prizes: Team and individual trophies. K-12, K-8, and top female will be nominated to the Denker, Barber, and NGIT national tournaments of champions.
Online Registration: http://www.wvsca.com/registration
See flyer for more details and entry form.

The latest bulletin can be downloaded here.

Congratulations to John Roush, who is a winner of the US Chess Outstanding Career Achievement Award. Also notable is Former US Senator Jay Rockefeller, who was named as Special Friend of US Chess. See the full announcement at uschess.org.

Well, since your webmaster won the chess tournament today, perhaps we’ll go back to being the WV Chess Association. Hope you enjoyed April 1.

The WVCA has decided after 76 years of playing this futile game, that we should try and simplify things a bit. To that end, we are now a checkers organization! All hail Marion Tinsley.

We’ll have our last hoorah at chess today at the Bridgeport Library at noon.

I recently received the game files from the 78th WV State Championship. They can be downloaded here. I won’t swear to the accuracy of a few of these games. Some of you are much better chess players than writers!