\   \

Well, we finished the year as District Champions and 4th. Place in the State. Pity we were not able to participate in the Nationals because of money. Maybe next year.
But we still had our own fun.

 Participants: 35 players
9 Rounds
Top Ten Players:

First Place:  Juan Camilo Arango........9 points

Second Place: Alberto Delgado...........7 points

Third Place: Javier Abreu...................7 points

Fourth Place: Derek Lirio...................7 points

Fifth Place:  Juan Cordon....................5.5 points

Sixth Place: Alejandro de la Flor.........5.5 points

Seventh Place: Alain Marrero..............5.5 points

Eighth Place: Idael Rivero...................5 points

Ninth Place: Kevin Lirio......................5 points

Tenth Place: Andy Martinez................5 points

                 We start this 3rd. year with 40 players, from which 26 are new in the team, 18 are freshmen and sophomores and 7 are girls. It seems a promising year.

Our Best Players & Schools' Places

Players:
Idael Rivero................4/5 points (6th. place)
Alberto Delgado............4/5 points (8th. place)
Camilo Arango..............4/5 points (11th. place)
Alex Osorio...................4/5 points (12th. place)
Javier Abreu.................3.5/5 points (15th. place)

Schools:
First Place: Miami Senior High..................................16/20 points
Second Place: Archbishop Curley-Notre Dame........14.5/20 points
Third Place: Miami-Dade County School..................13/20 points
Fourth Place: South Miami Senior High....................11.5/20 points
Fifth Place: Coral Park High School............................9.5/20 points

Even when the the Museum's web site:( http://www.excaliburelectronics.com/map.html ) explains that the Museum is open Saturdays, it isn't. We are all frustated. Then,  we called our friend IM Blas Lugo at the Miami International Chess Academy and smiles were back.

They organized a 'simultaneous exhibition' for us. Later, we played against some of the Academy's regular players and enjoyed Pizza Hut. It was fun after all.

Our Best Players & Schools' Places

Players:
Camilo Arango................4.5/5 points (1st. place)
Alberto Delgado............3.5/5 points
Idael Rivero...................3.5/5 points
Juan Cordon...................3.5/5 points
Andy Martinez...............3.5/5 points

Schools / Teams
First Place: Miami Senior High........15/20 points

Participants in K-12 category: 6 High Schools and 38 players (Seven from MHS).
Schools: Jackson, Miami High, Miami Central, Homestead Senior, Mater Academy and Booker T. Washington.

Places:
Homestead Senior.........First Place (19.5 / 25)
Miami Jackson.............Second Place (19 / 25)
Miami Senior................Third Place (16.5 / 25)

Our Best Players:
Camilo Arango..........4 / 5
Alberto Delgado.........3.5 / 5
Jesus Acosta...............3 / 5
Alejandro de la Flor...3 / 5
Javier Abreu...............3 / 5

 Participants (Grade 11th. & 12th.):
1-Catalina Foothills...................Tucson, AZ
2-Hunter College.................................... NY
3-Columbus High School......Columbus, OH
4-Glenbard South High School................IL
5-Evanston Township...............................IL
6-Hanna High School.........Brownsville, TX
7-DeWitt Clinton High School................NY
8-Friends Academy........Locust Valley, NY
9-Palo Verde H. S...............Las Vegas, NV
10-Miami Senior High School.................FL
11-Miami Jackson High School..............FL
12-Homestead High School.....................FL
13-Archbishop McCarthy........................FL
14-Buchholz High School.........................FL
15-St. Petersburg High School................FL
16-Bartow High School............................FL

Number of Players (11th. & 12th. Grades): 138                Miami Senior: 7 players

 Our Players & Points:
Camilo Arango................4.5
Alberto Delgado..............4.5
Javier Abreu....................4
Alex Osorio......................3.5
Idael Rivero.....................3
Eugemir Guedes..............3
Alejandro de la Flor.........3

Our School won 2nd. Place in 11th. grade and 6th. Place in 12th grade. This was GREAT!!!!
11th. Grade                                                                                             12th. Grade

1 AZCFHS Catalina Foothills HS, Tucson,A (3)         14.5               ARADHYULA, VAISHNAV (5.5,2156)               BROWNELL, LANDON (5.0,2250)               YEE, VICTOR (4.0,1792)    2 FLMISE Miami Senior High, Miami,FL (4)              13.0               ARANGO, JUAN CAMILO (4.5,1830)               DELGADO, ALBERTO (4.5,1300)               ABREU, JAVIER (4.0,1128)    3 NYHUNT Hunter College Campus School, N (3)     12.0               JOFE, ALEXANDER (4.5,1682)               ZLETZ, MICHAEL (4.0,1753)               LAUFER, WILLIAM JOSEPH (3.5,1100)    4 OHCAHS Columbus Alt HS, Columbus,OH (3)        10.0               BURKHOLDER, BENJAMIN MURR (4.0,1691)               RUSSELL, WESTLEY A (4.0,1700)               CALDWELL, ZEL (2.0,1059)    5 FLMJHS Miami Jackson High School, Miam (5)        9.5               NAVARRO, DUNIE (3.5,nnnn)               QUESADA, SULEIY D (3.0,952)               MONTALVA, JOSE E (3.0,1092)

1 AZCFHS Catalina Foothills HS, Tucson,A (7)           15.5               SAVINE, PAVEL A (6.0,1946)               DE SA, CHRISTOPHER MATTHE (5.0,2093)               HIGGINS, SEAN K (4.5,2034)    2 ILE001 Evanston Township High School,  (7)            13.5               DAMASHEK, ELLIOT (5.0,1587)               HOWELL, TONY (4.5,1284)               SUMMERS, TODD M (4.0,1517)              HUNT, JESSE J (4.0,710)    3 OHCAHS Columbus Alt HS, Columbus,OH (5)        11.5               NGO, SON N (4.5,1551)               ASHBROOK, ANDREW JAY (3.5,1354)               MARSHALL, RICK (3.5,1167)    4 FLBART Bartow HS, Bartow,FL (3)                             11.5               CAPIK, ANDREW (5.0,1826)               SCHELL, DAVID W (5.0,1835)               VALENTI, CHARLES DAVID (1.5,nnnn)    5 NYDWCL DeWitt Clinton HS, New York,NY (3)      10.0               BACCUS, LISA (4.0,1185)               SINGH, BRIAN (3.5,1589)               SILVER, BAFEMI (2.5,1000)    6 FLMISE Miami Senior High, Miami,FL (4)                   9.5               OSORIO, ALEX (3.5,nnnn)               RIVERO, IDAEL A (3.0,1227)               GUEDES, EUGEMIR (3.0,948)

Alberto, Javier and Alex also won First Place individually in their categories.

 Participants: Six (6) High Schools and 32 Players (8 from MHS)

Results:

Teams, Places & Points

1^st. Place...Miami Senior High..........21 points

2^nd. Place...Miami Jackson Senior......14 points

3^rd. Place....Miami Central Senior.......10 points

4^th. Place....William Tuner Senior

5^th. Place.....Northwestern Senior

6^th. Place.....Miami Douglas Macarthur

Best Players (Trophies), Schools & Points

1^st. Place.....Juan Camilo Arango...Miami Senior.....5/5 points

2^nd. Place.....Alex Alvarez.................Jackson................4.5/5 points

3^rd. Place....Alex Osorio...................Miami Senior.....4/5 points

4^th. Place....Javier Abreu.................Miami Senior.....4/5 points

5^th. Place....Alberto Delgado............Miami Senior.....4/5 points

We got almost all the trophies !!! Not a surprise !!!
 

Teams / Schools participating: 19
Players: 83

Team Standings:
1st. place: Miami Senior High........18.5 points
2nd. place: Homestead Senior........17.5
3rd. place: Sunset Senior................14.0
4th. place: Jackson Senior..............14.0
5th. place: Coral Gables Senior......12.5

Places of Our Players:
-Camilo Arango: ..........2nd. p-lace.....5/6 points
-Alberto Delgado: ........4th. place........5/6
-Andy Martinez:...........11th. place......4.5/6
-Alex Osorio: ...............14th. place......4/6
-Idael Rivero: ..............16th. place......4/6
-Richard Valdivia:........20th. place......4/6

Teams / Schools participating: 28
Players: Open...98; U-1000...52

Team Standings (Open):
1st. place: University School of Nova.......16.5 points
2nd. place: Archbishop McCarthy............15.5
3rd. place: Miami Senior High..................15
4th. place: Homestead Senior....................15
5th. place: Jackson Senior.........................15
6th. place: Gulliver....................................13.5

Team Standings (U-1000):
1st. place: Miami Senior High.........................17 points
2nd. place: Archbishop McCarthy..................16
3rd. place: Miami Beach Senior......................14
4th. place: Lamar Louis Curry.......................13
5th. place: Archbishop Curley Notre Dame..12.5
6th. place Ferguson Senior..............................11.5

Our Best Players:
-Camilo Arango (Open): 3rd. place ......5/6 points
-Alberto Delgado (Open): 31st. place ....3.5/6
-Andy Martinez (Open): 34th. place......3.5/6
-Alfonso Chie (U-1000): 1st. place.........5.5/6
-Richard Valdivia (U-1000): 6th. place..4.5/6
-Julio Lanza (U-1000): 12th. place........4/6
 

Participants:
Teams / Schools: 408 from 39 states
Player: 1416 (more than 40 had a rating of 2000 or higher; 2 were International Masters)

This time we didn't compete as a team because only four (4) players were able to attend (too expensive) and they all had different ratings. Then, they played individually in their corresponding categories. Let's see the results:

-Camilo Arango (Open......375 players): 58th. place......4.5/7 points
-Javier Abreu (U-1500........255 players):   7th. place.....5.5/7
-Alberto Delgado (U-1500..255 players):  41st. place.....4.5/7
-Alfonso Chie (U-1200.......310 players):  2nd. place....6.65/7

Participants:
Five High Schools & 25 Players (6 from MHS)

Results:
Miami Senior High............First Place........22 points
Jackson Senior..................Second Place....16 points
Central Senior High...........Third Place.......12.5  "

Our Players:
Camilo Arango..........First Place (District Champion)........5/5 points (Undefeated)
Richard Valdivia........Second Place.................................5/5     "     (Undefeated)
Alberto Delgado........Third Place....................................4/5     "
Alfonso Chie.............Fifth Place.....................................4/5     ":
Andy Martinez..........Sixth Place.....................................4/5     "

Almost all the trophies......

Participants K-12: 10 schools & 36 players (5 from Miami High)
Results: M.H.S.................2nd. Place as a team
             Camilo Arango....4th. Place individual

From 2004 to 2007, I was M.H.S. chess coach. During the school year 2006-07, I also taught a chess class as an elective course. During these three years, our team won twenty two (22) trophies, most of them first and second places, including: District Champions 2006 and 2007; 3rd. Place Open (2006), 2nd. Place Super Stars (2007), and 1st. Place U-1200 (2007) at State level; 2nd. Place Unrated (2005) and 2nd. Place 11th. Grade (2007) in the Nation. Our team had the best performance among all the school teams in this period. The name of Miami High resounded many times in many stages, from Nashville to Kansas, from Orlando to Gainesville, bringing pride and honor to all of us.

Our players have  always been great.  We had some of the smartest students in the school, like Gerardo Muñoz (Silver Knight Award  winner in 06) and Jesus Acosta (Class of 07 Valedictorian). Our first board during these last two years, Juan Camilo Arango, is among the best scholastic players in the State of Florida and an extraordinary human being. Other brilliant kids, like Martin, Derek, Nahuel and Alfonso decided to challenge themselves playing some chess to complement the "A's" they always got in their classes. Then, we always had some "cubanasos", who loved chess and for whom being part of the team gave them a sense of belonging and a motivation to excel in school. They demonstrated to be smart enough to learn English really fast, moving up from ESOL to Regular to Honor classes, like Salgado, Alberto, and Javier, a.k.a. "El Flaco", who also loves planes. We will never forget Frank, our first team captain or our colorful players "El Negro", "El Guajiro", "El Daddy Yankee" and "El Butty Butty". I was lucky having them. We shared moments of stress, frustration, anxiety, glory, fun, and pizzas that we will never forget. Thanks to them for being such wonderful kids.

Ms. Elizabeth Tejada was the person from the District who brought the first chess sets and clocks to our school. She has always been the "soul" of most of the tournaments we attended, rewarding or comforting our players all the time. Blas and Marcel, from MICA, are the "heart of chess" in our city. Because of them, Miami is an important center of chess in the nation and a magnet for our and many other young players. Without the constant support of Ms Patricia Rembert and Ms Mabel Garcia who provided the resources and made the necessary connections, I wouldn't have been able to do my job as a coach. Infinite thanks to all of them.

Now, I am the chess coach of Hialeah Senior High. I will try to use all I have learned with my new team, which -have not doubts about it- will soon become the best in the District.

Chess Tournament "Miami Open"
 

Our Players Performance:

1-Jonathan Mollineda... 3.5 / 5
2-Alejandro Suarez.......3 / 5
3-Omar Viton.............3 / 5
4-Michael Vazquez........2 / 5
5-Angel Cardenas.........2 / 5
6-Laura Alonso...........2 / 5
7-Brian Chirino..........2 / 5
8-Robin Izquierdo........2 / 5
9-Madelyn Argenta....... 1.5 / 5
10-Timur Kuzibaev....... 1 / 5
11-Elizabeth Valdes......0.5 / 5

Participants:

-Seven (7) High Schools: Jackson, Miami Central, Homestead, Hialeah, Booker  T., Turner, and Northwestern.
-Fifty Three (53) Players (Seven from Hialeah High).

Our Students Performance:

Michael Vazquez......4th. Place.......4 / 5
Laura Alonso...........11th. Place.....3 / 5
Alejandro Suarez......17th. Place.....3 / 5
Brian Chirino...........20th. Place......2.5 / 5
Angel Cardenas........21st. Place......2 / 5
Robin Izquierdo.......23rd. Place.....2 / 5
Omar Viton..............33rd. Place.....1 / 5
 

As a team, we won Fourth (4th.) Place.

Participants & Places:

17 schools and 48 players (probably the strongest scholastic tournament organized by MICA, because the strength of the players participating):

1st. Place....Mater Academy.........15.5 points
2nd.  "........Miami Senior.............14.5     "
3rd.   "........Hialeah Senior...........12        "
4th.   "........Rockway Middle..........12        "
5th.   "........Miami Beach Senior.....5.5     "
6th.   "........North Miami Senior.....5        "
7th.   "........South Dade Senior.......5........"
8th.   "........Southwest Senior..........5........"
9th.   "........Ronald Reagan Senior..4........"
10th. "........Key Biscayne Middle....4........"

Our Best Players ( Seven students from Hialeah High participated):

 Michael Vazquez........  6th. place
Jonathan Mollineda....  7th. place
Robin Izquierdo..........27th. place
Laura Alonso..............28th. place
Alejandro Suarez........32nd. place

We did much better this time.

Schools Participating: 10
Students / Players: 59 (Six students from Hialeah High participated):

Our Performance
Jonathan Mollineda............3rd.  Place 4.5/5
Robin Izquierdo..................14th. Place 3.5/5
Michael Vazquez.................17th. Place 3/5
Angel Cardenas...................23rd. Place 3/5
Timur Kuzibaev...................38th. Place 2/5
Omar Viton.........................55th. Place 1/5

We ended in 5th. Place as a Team.

1st Place:   Homestead Senior
2nd. Place: Miami Jackson
3rd. Place: Miami Senior
4th. Place: Mater Academy
5th. Place: Hialeah Senior
6th. Place: Booker T. Washington Senior
7th. Place: Miami Central Senior
8th. Place: Turner Senior
9th. Place: South Dade Senior
10th. Place: Northwestern Senior
 
             

Participants:

Twenty (20) High Schools & 60 Players ( Eight from Hialeah High).

Results:

Jonathan Mollineda........2nd. Place in the 11th. Grade Category (5 points out of 7)
Laura Alonso...................2nd. Place in the Girls Category (4 points out of 7)
Robin Izquierdo......................................................................4 points out of 7
Angel Cardenas......................................................................3 points out of 7
Timur Kuzibaev......................................................................3 points out of 7
Alejandro Suarez....................................................................3 points out of 7
 

Hialeah High...................5th. Place as a team

1-WHOLESALE CHESS SETS AND EQUIPMENT: http://www.wholesalechess.com

2-BASICS:
2.1-HOW TO PLAY CHESS: http://chess-time.com/
2.2-CHESS ESSENTIALS: http://chess.about.com/library/ble10ndx.htm
2.3-CHESS DOMINION (SEE TUTORIALS & EDUCATION: http://library.thinkquest.org/10746/nf_welcome.html
2.4-CHESS IS FUN: http://www.princeton.edu/~jedwards/cif/chess.html
2.5-KIDS' CHESS: http://www.kidchess.com/instruction/index.html
2.6-CHESS ACADEMY: http://www.chesskids.com/lessons04.shtml
2.7-CHESS FOR BEGINNERS: http://www.50chessgames.freeserve.co.uk/
2.8-RULES OF CHESS: http://www.chessvariants.org/d.chess/
2.9-CHESS OPS (Check the bottom of the page for Info on Openings): http://www.eudesign.com/chessops/basics/index.htm
2.10-CHESS FOR KIDS: http://library.thinkquest.org/6290/index.html
2.11-CHESS TOURNAMENTS' RULES & ETIQUETTE: http://www.borderschess.org/rules.htm
2.12-CHESS TUTORIALS: http://www.logicalchess.com/hcc/scholastics/tutorials/tutorials.html
2.13-BEGINNERS' CHESS: http://www.mrfixitonline.com/viewtopic.php?t=321

2.14-CHESS ETIQUETTE:
2.14.1-http://www.chessctr.org/manners.htm
2.14.2-http://clatskaniechessclub.tripod.com/id37.html
2.14.3-http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=Chess%20etiquette
2.14.4-http://www.tomrowan.com/chess/etiquette.html
2.14.5-http://www.finitechess.com/etiquette.htm
 

3-HISTORY OF CHESS
3.1-HISTORY OF CHESS: http://www.worldchessnetwork.com/English/chessHistory/chessHistory.php
3.2-HISTORY OF CHESS:http://www.tradgames.org.uk/games/Chess.htm
3.3-HISTORY OF CHESS: http://www.stmoroky.com/games/chess/chess.htm

4-CHESS TERMS
4.1-CHESS TERMINOLOGY: http://www.logicalchess.com/info/reference/glossary.html
4.2-CHESS GLOSSARY: http://www.kidchess.com/glossary/abridged_glossary.htm
4.3-CHESS TERMINOLOGY: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess_terminology

5-CHESS WORLD CHAMPIONS
5.1-WORLD CHAMPIONS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_chess_champion
5.2-WORLD CHAMPIONS: http://www.chesscorner.com/worldchamps/worldchampion.htm

3-CHESS GAMES: http://www.chessgames.com
3.1-World Championship Games: http://www.mark-weeks.com/chess/wcc-indx.htm
3.2-World Chess Tournaments & Results (Spanish): http://www.ajedrezdeataque.com/05%20Palmares/palmares.htm
3.3-World Chess Tournaments & Results (English): http://www3.sympatico.ca/g.giffen/tournaments.htm

4-ALL ABOUT CHESS (ADVANCED)
4.1-ACADEMIC CHESS: http://www.academicchess.org/
4.2-CHESS CORNER: http://www.chesscorner.com/
4.3-LOGICAL CHESS: http://www.logicalchess.com/resources/
4.4-CHESS THEORY & EXERCISES: http://www.markalowery.net/Chess/index1.html
4.5-BILL WALL's CHESS PAGE: http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lab/7378/chess.htm
4.6-TOM ROWAN's CHESS NOTES: http://www.tomrowan.com/chess/index.html
4.7-CHESS LESSONS: HOW TO GET TO 1900: http://www.entertainmentjourney.com/index1.htm#intro
4.8-CHESS TRAINING / LESSONS: http://webplaza.pt.lu/public/ckaber/
4.9-CHESS TRAINING & MATERIALS: http://www.professorchess.com/index.html
4.10-CHESS PUZZLES: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/adam.bozon/ChessPuzzles.htm
4.11-MORE CHESS PUZZLES: http://www.logicalchess.com/hcc/scholastics/puzzles/puzzles.html
4.12-ANALYZE GAMES & CHESS PUZZLES: http://www.chesslab.com/PositionSearch.html
4.13-CHESS QUIZZES (multiple-choice): http://www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/hobbies/board_games/chess.html
4.14-CHESS ENCYCLOPEDIA: http://www.maskeret.com/mecca/index.shtml
4.15-ANOTHER CHESS ENCYCLOPEDIA: http://www.encyclopedia4u.com/c/chess-1.html
4.16-CHESS CITY: http://www.chesscity.com/
4.17-THE KNIGHTS TOUR: http://www.borderschess.org/KnightTour.htm
4.18-FREE ENDGAME ONLINE TABLEBASE: http://www.shredderchess.com/online-chess/online-databases/endgame-database.html

5-ELO CALCULATOR: http://www.maskeret.com/mecca/elo_fide.htm

6-PLAY CHESS
6.1-DOWNLOAD CHESSPAD: http://www.wmlsoftware.com/download.html
6.2-PLAY CHESS ONLINE FREE (FICS: http://www.freechess.org/ (Download graphic interface Babaschess ) The Best !!!! &  Free !!!
6.3-PLAY CHESS ONLINE FREE IN SPANISH (JAQUE MATE: http://ajedrez.educared.net/ (Download VM Java Microsoft)
6.4-PLAY CHESS ONLINE FREE IN SPANISH: http://www.buho21.com/
6.5-PLAY CHESS ONLINE ( INSTANT CHESS: http://www.instantchess.com/ )
6.6-PLAY CHESS ONLINE (CHESS CLUB: http://www.chessclub.com/ ) Download BlitzIn 2.51 for Windows or Chessic for Mac
($50 Annual Suscription but it gives you access to many features)

7-MISCELLANEA
7.1-CHESSMASTER 10th. EDITION: http://chessmaster10.ubi.com/us/
7.2-GAMES, STATISTICS, PUZZLES,  GENERAL INFO: http://www.chess-poster.com/
7.3-CHESS BOOKS: http://www.amazon.com/
7.4-MIAMI INTERNATIONAL CHESS ACADEMY: http://www.miamichess.com/
7.5-EXCALIBUR (MIAMI):  WORLD CHESS HALL OF FAME:http://www.excaliburelectronics.com/uschf.html
7.6-CHESS CENTRAL: http://www.chesscentral.com/
7.7-CHESS IN THE MOVIES: http://www.skgiessen.de/movies/index.php
7.8-MIAMI-DADE SCHOLASTIC CHESS: http://miami-dadechess.blogspot.com:80/
7.9-CHESS SCREENSAVER, PUZZLES & MORE: http://chessgeek.com

8-CHESS NEWS, ARTICLES, BIOGRAPHIES,VIDEO LECTURES & INFO, POEMS, CARTOONS, ETC:
8.1-CHESS CAFE: http://www.chesscafe.com/
8.2-NEW IN CHESS: http://www.newinchess.com/
8.3-CHESS BASE: http://chessbase.com/
8.4-CHESS FM ( Video Lectures and Live Events): http://www.chess.fm/ (Requires to be a member of Chess Club / ICC)
8.5-GODDESS CHESS: http://goddesschess.com/preview.html
8.6-TOM ROWAN'S ARTICLES: http://www.tomrowan.com/chess/articles/index.html
8.7-U.S. CHESS HISTORY: http://www.excaliburelectronics.com/history_archive.html
8.8-CHESS DATE: http://chessdate.com/
8.9-BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE: http://www.bcmchess.co.uk/
8.10-CHESS NEWS IN THE GUARDIAN: http://sport.guardian.co.uk/chess
8.11-RUSSIAN CHESS: http://www.ruschess.com
8.12-MAGAZINE 64:http://www.64.ru/?/en/
8.13-EUROPEAN CHESS: http://www.eurochess.org/
8.14-GRANDMASTERS' SQUARE: http://www.gmsquare.com/index.shtml
8.15-THE GAME IS AFOOT: BIOGRAPHIES OF GRANDMASTERS: http://www.starfireproject.com/chess/
8.16-ARTICULOS EN ESPAÑOL:
8.16.1-Biografias de Grandes del Ajedrez: http://www.ajedrezdeataque.com/04%20Articulos/Jugadores.htm
8.16.2-Taller de Ajedrez: http://www.educa.aragob.es/iesbcfra/Dmates/32artaje.htm
8.16.3-Hechiceros del Tablero: http://www.hechiceros.net/