OSCO Grand Prix… WOW!

There were 423 scholastic chess players with OSCO Grand Prix Points for the 2005-6 season. The Grand Prix Fund ended at $1186 after all 6 events which averaged 197 players. OSCO processed 317 USCF memberships for these 6 events. Results, photo galleries, interactive games, Grand prix standings, news releases and final standings list are linked from www.okschess.org/results.htm .

The 2005-6 OSCO Grand Prix Champions are:

• Kenny Lin in Grades K-4 with 156 Participants
• Hannah Farell in Grades 5-6 with 136 Participants
• Devin Hughes in Grades 7-8 with 56 Participants
• Rachel Farell in Grades 9-12 with 75 Participants

Here are details about the six events in the 2005-6 OSCO Grand Prix’ record breaking season:

• 236 players from 57 schools at the 10^th Annual Oklahoma State Championship held 4 Mar 06 at Carl Albert High School in Midwest City. This was the largest rated tournament ever for Oklahoma! Robert Epperly and all of the Carl Albert supporters hosted an outstanding tournament. Thanks to the OSCO Volunteer Team that helped the State Championship to go so smoothly, including: Tournament Directors - Jim Gray (Stillwater), Robert McDonough (Jenks), Mike Swatek (Claremore), Charles Unruh (Owasso) and Rod Whitlatch (Jenks); Floor TDs - Robert Blair (Midwest City), David Nichols (Edmond), Judson Temple (Oklahoma City), Chuck Unruh (Owasso), Darren Barnes (Tulsa), Bill Chapin (Claremore), Gregory Chong (Midwest City), Aaron Mongold (McCloud), James Stansell (Broken Arrow), Dan Wade (Oklahoma City), Robbie Yanik (Tulsa); and TD Assistants - Trish Westcott (Edmond), Rex Black (Oklahoma City), Jim Dalton (Claremore), Cody Keeler (Midwest City). Thanks also to Joe Deal for all the great photos in the tournament gallery.
  
  
• 204 players from 49 schools at the 11 Feb 06 Madison Bulldogs Scholastic Open at Madison Elementary in Norman. This was the largest rated non-championship tournament ever for the OKC metro area! Donna Brown and all of the Madison supporters put on an outstanding tournament. Thanks to the OSCO Volunteer Team that helped the tournament to go so smoothly, including: Tournament Directors - Pete Ferris, Rod Whitlatch, Robert McDonough, Jim Gray, Tom Pepper and Mike Swatek; Floor TDs - Robert Epperly, James Stansell, David Nichols, Dan Wade, Robbie Yanik and Peter Lowen; and TD Assistants - Rethia Mullinix, Julie Luscomb and Trish Westcott. Thanks also to Pete Ferris, Stephanie Simmons and Bob Drumm for all the great photos in the tournament gallery.
  
  
• 229 players from 50 schools at the 5^th Annual Jenks Winter Open held 14 Jan 06 at Jenks East Intermediate School. This event was an unexpected record for the largest rated tournament in Oklahoma history! Check out the article about this event in the April 2006 OCB Online. Rod Whitlatch and all of the Jenks supporters put on an outstanding tournament. Thanks to the Tournament Directors that helped the tournament get started on time and go so smoothly, including: Pete Ferris, Mike Covington, Robert McDonough, Jim Gray, Charles Unruh, Lauren Shaffer and Mike Swatek. Thanks also to Pete Ferris and Bob Drumm for all the great photos in the tournament gallery.
  
  
• 164 players from 38 schools at the 10 Dec 05 Ida Freeman Holiday Open at Ida Freeman Elementary in Edmond. Dave Nichols and all of the Ida Freeman Boosters put on an outstanding tournament as a club fundraiser. Thanks to the Tournament Directors that helped the tournament to go so smoothly, including: Rod Whitlatch, Brett Hughes, Robert Epperly, Robert McDonough, Charles Unruh, Michele Swartz, Jim Gray and Mike Swatek. Thanks also to Joe Deal and Stephanie Simmons for all the great photos in the tournament gallery.
  
  
• 212 players from 43 schools at the 6^th Annual Oklahoma Grade Championship held 19 Nov 05 at Claremore 1st Assembly of God. This was the largest ever Oklahoma Grade Championship. Claremore Christian Scholastic Chess Club was a wonderful host for this OSCO championship event. Thanks to the Tournament Directors that helped this large event to run so smoothly, including: Rod Whitlatch, Lauren Shaffer, Alan Buynak, Brett Hughes, James Stansell, Dan Wade, Brandon Rhodes, Dave Nichols, Robert Epperly, Robert McDonough, Charles Unruh and Mike Swatek. Thanks to Joe Deal and Yoli Sizemore for the photo galleries.
  
  
• 141 players at the 15 Oct 05 Claremore Scholastic Open at Roosa Elementary. Thanks to the Roosa Rookies Chess Club volunteers and the Tournament Directors that helped this larger than expected event to run so smoothly, including: Rod Whitlatch, Ben Shaffer, Michele Swartz, Alan Buynak, Brett Hughes, Dave Nichols, Robert Epperly, Robert McDonough, Charles Unruh and Mike Swatek. Thanks to Joe Deal and Yoli Sizemore for the photo galleries.