Maryland Chess Association
Siddharth Kurup wins 2025 Maryland Sweet 16 in Rapid Armageddon Playoff!
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By Chris Y Kim
Siddharth Kurup won the 2025 Maryland Sweet 16 held at the Rockville Hilton this evening. He won a Rapid Armageddon playoff match against Svetoslav Fedorov. He is an 8th grader from Robert Frost Middle School in Montgomery County.
Rest of article to follow.
Round 2 in 2025 Maryland Sweet 16 Completed
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By Chris Y Kim
Round 2 of the 2024 Maryland Sweet 16 has been completed with a very competitive field. This is the first year the tournament has been held outside of UMBC (University of Maryland, Baltimore County); this year it is held in conjunction with the MCA Old Line Open tournament in the Rockville Hilton Hotel in Rockville, MD. This year's leaders includes two players with Russian backgrounds. We had our first withdrawal due to medical illness after the first round - Eliot Wu had to withdraw due to fever. Krish Ghosh (one of the alternates) will fill in for Rounds 3-4.
Thank you to all the players and parents who came to participate in this year's Maryland Sweet 16. Below are the Brief Standings after Round 2; and the Pairings for Round 3. Round 3 starts at 9:30AM Sunday - watch out for Daylight Saving Time, which will push the clock forward Sunday morning at 2 AM to 3 AM.
Brief Standings (Rating order)
2.0 - Alexander Zlodorev (2079); Siddharth Kurup (2053); Svetoslav Fedorov (1916)
1.5 - Sandeep Thimmasamudram (1892)
1.0 - Anish Mariappan (2109); Brandon Chen (2080); Andy Yue (1931); Sherlock Grigsby II (1887); Ari Bershak (1804); Kevin Fang (1800); Jordan Go (1794); Matthew Zhou (1777)
0.5 - Eliot Wu (1919) - Withdraw; Angelina Verma (1855); Gabriel Joshi (1843); Caden Liu (1626)
0.0 - Architsai Ramnath (1994); Devesh Cherukuri (1871); Caroline Jiang (1826); Krish Ghosh (1681) - Alternate
Pairings - Round 3 (Sunday 3/8/2025 9:30am) - White listed first
Board 1: Alexander Zlodorev (2.0) - Siddharth Kurup (2.0)
Board 2: Svetoslav Fedorov (2.0) - Sandeep Thimmasamudram (1.5)
Board 3: Anish Mariappan (1.0) - Ari Bershak (1.0)
Board 4: Kevin Fang (1.0) - Brandon Chen (1.0)
Board 5: Jordan Go (1.0) - Andy Yue (1.0)
Board 6: Sherlock Grigsby II (1.0) - Matthew Zhou (1.0)
Board 7: Architsai Ramnath (0.0) - Devesh Cherukuri (0.0)
Board 8: Caroline Jiang (0.0) - Krish Ghosh (0.0)
62nd Annual Baltimore Open Final Standings and Prizes
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SwissSys Report: 62nd Annual Baltimore Open
SwissSys Standings. 62nd Annual Baltimore Open: Championship (Standings (no tie break))
Read more: 62nd Annual Baltimore Open Final Standings and Prizes
Nitesh Cherukuri is 2024 Maryland Sweet 16 Champion!
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By Chris Y Kim
Nitesh Cherukuri has won the 2024 Maryland Sweet 16 Championship with a Round 4 victory over Alexander Zlotorev and a perfect 4 win weekend (March 2-3) at the University of Maryland - Baltimore County (UMBC). He is a resident of Howard County and attends McDonogh School as a 7th-grade student. The tournament consisted of 16 strong scholastic players (grades 3-12) rated from 1623 - 2159.
It has been 10 years since the winner of the Sweet 16 had a perfect score! Cherukuri with the victory also wins a 4-year tuition scholarship to UMBC. He had the only 3.0 score heading into the final round and needed at least a draw (to ensure a spot in a rapid playoff), but he ensured the Championship with the fourth round win.
Here are the final standings in tiebreak order (out of 4 games):
Read more: Nitesh Cherukuri is 2024 Maryland Sweet 16 Champion!
MD's Representatives at 2024 U.S. Open Invitationals
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by John D. Rockefeller V
Congratulations to Maryland’s state representatives at the 2024 U.S. Open Invitationals, held during the 2024 U.S. Open:
- GM Larry Kaufman (2325) finished 13th in the John T. Irwin National Tournament of Senior (50+) State Champions and will receive MD Chess's Irwin Stipend of $750. See the Final Standings & Crosstables.
- Jordan Go (1705) finished 30th in the GM Arnold Denker National Tournament of High-School (9-12) State Champions and will receive MD Chess's Denker Stipend of $750. See the Final Standings & Crosstables.
- Angelina Verma (1844) finished 8th in the WIM Ruth Haring National Tournament of Girls (K-12) State Champions and will receive MD Chess's Haring Stipend of $750. See the Final Standings & Crosstables.
- Architsai Ramnath (1957) finished 21st in the Dewain Barber National Tournament of Middle-School (6-8) State Champions and will receive MD Chess's Barber Stipend of $750. See the Final Standings & Crosstables.
- Andy Yue (1953) finished 17th in the John D. Rockefeller III National Tournament of Elementary-School (K-5) State Champions and will receive MD Chess's Rockefeller Stipend of $750. See the Final Standings & Crosstables.
Maryland’s team finished 13th. See the Final Standings.
Maryland’s players were eligible to compete in the optional FM Sunil Weeramantry National Blitz Tournament of State Champions. Separated into 5 sections by rating, players competed against state representatives from any of the U.S. Open Invitationals—regardless of age, grade, or gender. See the Final Standings & Crosstables.
US Chess posted 9 in-depth articles about the 2024 U.S. Open & U.S. Open Invitationals.
MD's Jesse Kraai 2nd at U.S. Senior Championship
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In the U.S. Senior Championship, three players had a chance for second place: GMs Jesse Kraai, Joel Benjamin, and Larry Christiansen. Both Benjamin and Christiansen drew their games, while Kraai continued an impressive streak — winning his fourth game in a row, this time against GM Julio Becerra — to take home the $13,000 second prize.
It was a remarkable comeback for Kraai, who entered the event as the lowest-rated player in the tournament. After losing in the first round, he scored 6/8 and finished a full point ahead of Benjamin and Christiansen.
https://new.uschess.org/news/lee-and-yoo-win-junior-championships-kraai-clear-second-senior
Edward R. Westing, 1926–2024
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https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/seattle-wa/edward-westing-11636012
Allen J. Beadle, 1947-2023
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Allen Beadle, a longtime tournament director, chess leader, and Maryland Chess Newsletter editor passed away on Wednesday, November 8th. He spent many years enjoying chess and played at the Laurel Chess Club.
Age 76, of Clio, Allen Beadle passed away Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at Ascension Genesys with his family by his side. A graveside service will take place at 2:00 pm, Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at Flint Memorial Park Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may be placed on Allen's tribute wall at martinfuneralhome. com. Allen was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on January 18, 1947, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Morris and Nora (Cole) Beadle. Educated locally, Allen attended Genesee High School and graduated with the Class of 1965. Shortly after graduation, Allen proudly enlisted in the United States Army. Upon his return to the States, he went on to obtain his Ph. D. in mathematics from Michigan State University. Allen had a prestigious career and used his education and gift of numbers to work as a mathematician for the Department of Defense until his retirement in 2007. Allen spent many years living in Maryland while working. While he was there, he took on the amazing hobby of beekeeping. He also was studying Russian and Japanese. Playing chess was Allen's favorite pastime. He was a chess champion as well as a director of the chess club in Maryland. Allen was a gifted musician and enjoyed playing the drums and piano. He also enjoyed painting and was a wonderful artist. Allen had a beautiful library in his home with hundreds of books. To say he loved to read would be an understatement. Allen enjoyed spending time with his beloved cats and his friends and family. He will be greatly missed. Left to cherish Allen's memory are his siblings: Bobbie Shock and significant other, Larry Gallaty, Craig and wife, Susanna Beadle; nieces: Chrisi Shock and Brittany Beadle; long-time best friends: Dan and Patty Seitz. Allen was preceded in death by his parents.
Obituary Source : https://martinfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/6550/Allen-Beadle/obituary.html#content-start
https://www.echovita.com/us/obituaries/mi/clio/allen-jay-beadle-17179554