DCC March 2025 Report

So then, now that I'm done and bragging about the DCC...

Note that the heading photograph and all the photos used in this DCC report are by Shirley Herman. These reports mainly highlight DCC tournaments, but to give credit where credit is due, the Colorado State Chess Association also stages weekend tournaments throughout the year. One of the best is the CSCA Colorado Closed, where the strongest Colorado players battle it out in four sections: Champion, Challenger, Scholastic Champion, and Scholastic Challenger. The heading photo is the Championship section games in progress. Nine time Colorado Champion Brian Wall is seated in the center left, paired against Matthew Wofford. Eamon Montgomery has opened with the Queen pawn against Sullivan McConnell. On the far board, Griffin McConnell appears to be wondering what Rhett Langseth is doing with the clock :-)

CSCA President Earle Wikle congratulating Champion Griffin McConnell...

The six players in each section play a round robin to determine the winners. The new CSCA Colorado Closed Champion is Griffin McConnell (2215). He had the pleasure of winning against his brother, Sullivan (2341) in round 1, and only lost to Eamon Montgomery (2273). The Challenger winner is Patrick Zijlstra. The Scholastic Champion is Amiltai Sebba, and the Scholastic Challenger winner is Grayson Manuel. In addition, Karthika Sakthisaravanan's Kings of Chess has regularly scheduled USCF rated tournaments, and she also provides chess instruction. Certainly, there is no shortage of USCF rated chess tournaments in Colorado.

... and here Mr. Wikle presents Scholastic Champion Amitai Sebba with his prize money check. 

But, without question, with the monthly Tuesday and Thursday night tournaments, and four big weekend tournaments every year, the Denver Chess Club provides the most over the board chess playing opportunities for prize money and USCF rating points in Colorado. So then, now that I'm done bragging about the DCC, on to who took home prize money and gained USCF rating points in the DCC March tournaments. 

Of course there is no DCC Tuesday night report without a room shot :-)

In the Tuesday night Premier section, Sullivan McConnell (2342) was held to an upset draw by Forrest Lundstrom (1897) in round 1, then won all his other games to finish with 3.5 points and take the 1st place prize of 108 dollars and 92 cents. Rising star Sikander Baker-Nigar (1971) held Daniel Herman (2168) to a draw and won against Matthew Wofford (2165) to end up with 3 points and he won the 2nd place prize of 65 dollars and 35 cents. Mr. Herman and Rhett Langseth both finished with 2.5 points, and they share the 43 dollar and 58 cents 3rd place prize. I know I could use the $ symbol, but I like readers to see that you win dollars and cents at the DCC :-) 

Sullivan McConnell (w) vs. Daniel Herman (b)

Speaking of winning money by playing good chess, Mr. Lundstrom won both the 1st and 2nd Upset Prizes to put 50 dollars in his pocket, in addition to a big rating point gain. After holding probably the best player in Colorado to a draw in Round 1, Forrest took the full point from Eamon Montgomery (2244) in Round 2.  

Michae Silberberg (w) vs. Ashwin Mathimaran (b)

In the Tuesday night U1900 section, relatively low rated Michael Silberberg (1589) proved that his USCF rating will be rising fast. His 4 point perfect score took 1st place and won 104 dollars and 98 cents. Kristopher Zelkin and Jeff Nohrden ended up with 3 points and each player won. 52 dollars and 49 cents. Long time DCC player Paul Kulback (1327) won the 30 dollar 1st Upset Prize with a Round 1 win against Jackson Curry (1518). The 20 dollar 2nd Upset prize went to Shirley Herman (1163) for her Round 1 draw against Abhiram Palle (1500). Further proof that Ms. Herman's game is improving. Note: When it's an Upset draw, the rating point difference is halved.

Tyler Hicks-Wright (w) vs. Jonathan Olson (b) 

Unrated Jonathan Olson ruled the Tuesday night U1500 section. His perfect 4-0 score won 104 dollars and 98 cents. James LaMorgese took the 2nd place prize of 62 dollars and 99 cents with 3 points, losing only to Mr. Olson in Round 2. Joe Aragon and Tyler Hicks-Wright both ended up with 2.5 points, and they share the 3rd place prize of 42 dollars. The 30 dollar 1st Upset Prize was won by James Ambers (931) when he held Christopher Cox (1296) to a draw in Round 1. Cameron McCanless (918) won the 20 dollar 2nd Upset Prize with his Round 2 draw against Richard Eveleigh (1092). Incredibly, these were the only upsets in this section. 

 A row of Thursday night players. In front is Isaac Richardson (b) vs. Nick Hvizda (w).

Good friends Daniel Herman (w) and Rhett Langseth (b) are archrivals when playing over the board. 

In the Thursday night Premier section, Rhett Langseth and Michea Silberberg each ended up with 3 points, and both players won 78 dollars and 81cents. Mr. Silberberg (1614) also won the 20 dollar Premier Upset Prize for his Round 2 win against Forrest Lundstrom (1892). Daniel Herman, Ben DeGuire, and John Schoenke all scored 2.5 points and they share the 3rd place prize of 57 dollars and 53 cents.

Ben DeGuire is totally focused.... 

... and Micheal Silberberg (b) looks totally focused vs. Forrest Lundstrom (w).

Nick Hvizda once again ruled the Thursday night U1600/Unrated section. With a perfect 4-0 score, he earned 90 dollars and 6 cents. Maybe Nick has a 6th sense for chess :-) Richard Lundstrom only lost to Mr. Hvidza, and he took home 57 dollars and 53 cents for 2nd place. Caleb Knedlik, TD Weston Taylor, and Jonah Freed all finished with 2.5 points and each player won 11 dollars and 26 cents. Viaan Khandelwal (1155) also ended up with 2.5 points and won the U1300 prize of 33 dollars and 77 cents. The 20 dollar U1600 Upset Prize went to Meir Neustadt (927) when he won his game against Shirely Herman (1167) in Round 3.

Note: A Chris Peterson Best Game, and other games, will be added when Mr. Peterson finds time away from his medical school studies and work. 

Thanks again to all, 

J.C. MacNeil