The Oklahoma Quick Chess Championship

8 May 2004

The Oklahoma Quick Chess Championship was held in Tulsa on 8 May 2004, just before going to print with this issue of the OCB. Results appear in this issue and games will appear in the next issue.

The 27 players who did participate were the largest turnout for such a Quick Chess Championship since 1997! Of course, quick ratings were used, which surprised some folks with Chuck Unruh competing in the A-class. However, the biggest surprise was E-class player Paul Crider with a provisional rating of 1110 based on 5 games from 1998. At the end of round 4, Paul was the only undefeated player!! Movses Movsisyan and Chuck Unruh drew in the 4th round, putting them both at 3.5 at that point. In the next two rounds, Paul fell to Movses and Chuck in some well played games.

At the end of the day, Movses won the Championship plaque on tiebreaks with 5.5 points, with Chuck Unruh bringing home the Second Place plaque. The A class plaque went to Anthony Paolercio with 3.5 points. Class plaques for B, C, D and under were all in the six way tie having 4 points each. B Class plaque went to Mark Dugger. Jacob Joy took home the C Class plaque. And of course, Paul Crider earned the D Class and Under honors.

Rod Whitlatch took home the Unrated honors with 3 points for the day. Rod has been helping floor TD at scholastic tournaments for quite some time. He now is a USCF member and will soon become Oklahoma’s newest Club Tournament Director.

This tournament was a lot of fun with some excellent competition. We look forward to the next Oklahoma Quick Chess Championship tournament in 2005.