Sheehan Memorial Chess Tournament

ALL AGES ARE ENCOURAGED TO ENTER

Saturday, November 16, 2024 at Scappoose High School

Entry is simple and inexpensive $20 for individuals or $25 for each set of two from a particular school. Option A: Use this link: Scappoose – Mike Sheehan Memorial — Oregon Scholastic Chess Federation (oscf.org) Option B: Email airhaug@gmail.com with 1) First & Last Name, 2) Age, 3) Category, 4) Zip Code, 5) USCF ID & Team (if applicable). Option C: Bring $ to pay registration fee when you check-in on November 16th (space available). Registration the day of competition on November 16th will be accepted on a space available basis. Registration scholarships can be arranged by emailing airhaug@gmail.com. On line or mailed registrations need to be received NLT November 1, 2024 if you would like a free tournament T-shirt and default categories will be based on age unless USCF rating suggests otherwise. ** Note that the “free” USCF ID only applies to K-12 registrations. *** If paying by mailed- in check, send to Joel Haugen, 52363 SW Jobin LN, Scappoose, OR

Location: Scappoose High School (33700 SE High School Way. Scappoose. OR . 97056)

Time: Registration begins at 8AM; 1st Tournament Round commences at 9:15AM; Tournament should conclude around 3PM.

Food: Free snacks and a pizza lunch provided to all registered participants

T-shirts: Free to all who register before November 1,2024.

Trophies: Unique “Scappoose” trophies to the top 3 in each division; medals to top 15.

Background:

Mike Sheehan Chess Background Information

In 1963, Mike Sheehan was 17 years old and a member of the Dorsey High School chess club when the club won top honors at the Los Angeles all-city high school chess tournament. Twenty eight schools participated in the tournament, including Hollywood High where the competition took place. Mike Sheehan was the top scorer among 132 players.

Chess was a lifesaver for Mike, who grew up in a tough Los Angeles neighborhood. His talent at chess brought him to the attention of members of the city’s adult chess clubs, where he frequently played to hone his skills. One of those members was Jacqueline Rothschild Piatigorsky (wife of cellist Gregor Piatagorsky), who was known as one of the strongest women chess players in the U.S. and a regular competitor in the U.S. Women’s Chess Championship. In 1963, Ms. Piatigorsky founded the Piatigorsky Cup tournament, whose cash prizes were among the largest in any chess tournament at that time. It’s no wonder that Mike gave serious consideration to entering the world of championship chess for his livelihood.

But economic realities intervened, and after graduating from Dorsey that same year, Mike joined the Marine Corps, where he served for three years (including Viet Nam) before going on to earn his B.A., M.A., and PhD in economics from the University of California at Riverside, then his J.D.L. (law degree) from the University of Iowa.

Throughout his life, Mike played chess. If he couldn’t find a willing player, he played out the games of chess masters from a library of chess books that he kept close at hand. He used chess as a way to get to know people, not only to test their mettle, but also to make them feel at home. When Portland saw an influx of Russian Jews who had left their home in the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, Mike set up his chess board at Congregation Sharie Torah in Northwest Portland, and following Sabbath services, he welcomed the Russian newcomers to play a game. He carried a chess set with him in his truck along with other “emergency supplies.” He tested the mettle of his two soon-to-be sons-in-law by inviting them to play chess. There was always a chess board set up and ready to go in his home—the same board and chess pieces which brought victory to Dorsey High School in 1963.

Mike never got into the swing of playing chess with a computer. For Mike, except for those games he re-enacted with the masters, chess was all about person-to-person interaction. It’s where he honed his skills as a lawyer, and as a community activist. It taught him to be mentally agile, willing to sacrifice for the greater good, and to focus on the end game.

Contact Airhaug@gmail.com for questions

Use this link for basic chess moves: https://www.chess.com/

2024 Mike Sheehan Memorial Chess Tournament Rules Summary

All current USCF tournament rules apply, unless specified below.

The following are merely highlights.

GENERAL RULES

Registration:  Pre-registration guarantees your place. Regular registration deadline ($20) is midnight on November 13, 2024.

Check-In for Registered Players: Players must check-in in person by 9:00 am on Saturday, April 6th; first round will start at 9:20 am.  Players who miss the check-in deadline for their section will not be paired in the first round and will receive zero points for that round.

Byes and Early Departures:  By prior arrangement with the tournament director, one half point bye may be available for any round other than the last round.  Please contact organizers in advance.  Also, if you need to leave or withdraw from the tournament, please notify tournament officials so that pairings can proceed smoothly.

Tardies and No-Shows: Game clocks of tardy players will be started at the start of the round. If they do not show up before one-half of their clock’s time/game time passes, they lose the game by forfeit. If they do not check in they will not be paired, and they will be removed from the roster starting the next round. Forfeit games do count in the final standings but do not count toward ratings.

Section Placements and initial pairings:  Section placement will be based on a player’s established NWSRS rating, as determined by publication in the NWSRS database issued in the week prior to April 6th, unless a player has a higher established rating in the March 2024 USCF Supplement, in which case the USCF rating will be used.  In unusual circumstances, the organizer may adjust section placement for players with NWSRS ratings that are not established (i.e., ratings based on fewer than 15 games).  Pairings in all sections will follow the Swiss pairing rules using the section placement ratings. Organizers may invite players to change sections if it would result in an even number of players to improve play for one or more sections. Organizers reserve the right to split or combine sections, in which case pre-established trophies and prizes will be retained for players in the relevant group.

Ties: Tie breaks for place trophies (to be determined by the Tournament Director), will be in the following order: Solkoff, Cumulative, and Opponents’ Cumulative. 

Team awards:  This is primarily an individual tournament, but there are team awards.  A team consists of any one player from the same school, as noted on the NWSRS rating ID and posted on the pairings sheets.  It is the player’s obligation to correct any errors in school attendance before the third round begins.  Team awards will be based on the cumulative score of a given school’s highest four players as reviewed across all ratings class sections.  A “soft” pairing rule will be used to avoid having team or family members play each other when possible, but this is not guaranteed to avoid all matches between teammates or family members, especially later in the tournament, when those restrictions will be removed. Team tiebreaks will be determined between teams of more than 3 players by comparing the 4-score sum; otherwise, we will sum the S,C,O scores of the top 3 players.

Errors:  It is the player’s responsibility to look at the standings /scores and review them for accuracy.  Report problems immediately.  Errors from prior rounds which are not immediately reported might not be corrected.

RULES OF PLAY

If a player has a question or an issue, the player must stop the clock and raise a hand so that one of the officials can help resolve the issue.  Once the game is over and the players have agreed to an outcome, the result is final.

Pre-Arranged Draws: Pre-arranged or premature draws (the latter can occur with or without prior discussion between the two players involved) to arrive at a predetermined outcome are not allowed. TD may give double forfeits to players who prearrange or prematurely offer/accept draws.  This does not apply to normal draws such as stalemate, insufficient material, etc. that can happen in the normal course of a game.

Variations: Claims of draw by insufficient losing chances will not be honored (USCF rule 14H6); Rule 10I2 var. I applies.

Notation:  Notation is encouraged in the intermediate and advanced sections, unless prior arrangements have been made with organizers associated with a documented disability, and then relief will be granted only as outlined in the USCF rule book. In all sections, both players may stop notating as soon as either player’s clock has less than 5 minutes remaining. Spectators or coaches, may, at a player’s request, continue notating for a player from an unobtrusive location.  Players using paper notation may record their moves either before or after making the move (see USCF rule 15a Var. I). Players using approved electronic recording devices must move before notating.

Clocks:  Clocks are required in the advanced section, and strongly encouraged (and will be used if available) in the intermediate section.  Initial time controls are G/25 d5 in all sections.  At the tournament director’s discretion any time controls may be abbreviated if necessary to meet building use obligations.  If both players agree, clocks may also be used in the beginner sections.  In all sections, if clocks are not used from the start of the game, a clock will be put on games with 10-20 minutes left in the official time control, with equal time put on each players’ clock (usually not more than 10 minutes a side, but never less than 5 per side). Also, a TD may place a clock on a game at any point of the game to help ensure fair and equitable use of time. If one player’s time runs out, the opponent calls “flag down” and wins the game if he/she has sufficient mating material. If the opponent who calls “flag down” has insufficient mating material, the game is a draw.

Touch Move/Capture:  During the game, if a player touches a piece with intent to move it and it has a legal move, the touched piece must be moved.  If a player touches a piece without intending to move it (to move it to the center of a square, for example), he/she should say “I adjust” before touching the piece. Additionally, if a player touches the opponent’s piece with his or her piece or hand with the intent of capturing it and it can be legally captured, it must be captured. The touch piece rule does not apply to accidental brushes. Once a piece has been released after a move, the move is final cannot be reconsidered.

En Passant captures:  En Passant is a standard chess move and is allowed. If your opponent plays a move citing en passant, you can call a judge over to confirm that the move was legal as played. However, the judge will not tell you how to properly play en passant – only whether the move played is legal. Check with your coach or an experienced player for instruction on en passant after your game is finished.

Breaks:  If you need to take a restroom break during one of your games, raise your hand.  You will be permitted to go to the restroom, but if there is a clock on the game, it will continue to run. We strongly suggest you use the restroom between each round. Players may not speak to parents, spectators, coaches, other players, or anyone else during breaks. Nor may they actively or passively participate in any discussion of their game in progress.

Electronic Devices: CD players, IPODs, MP3 players, cell phones, and other similar electronic devices will not be permitted in any playing area. Players with these devices will be asked to remove them from the room. Interruptions caused by electronic devices (ringing cell phones, pager beeps, alarms, etc.) are disruptive to the whole room. Such electronic disturbances will be penalized with subtraction of 10 minutes or half the remaining time (whichever is less) from the offending player’s clock. Second offense is forfeit of the game. For further details, see USCF Rule N1. USCF-approved chess recording devices are allowed, but TD must be informed and allowed to inspect devices beforehand.

Players own the outcome of their games:  In order to encourage players to take more responsibility for their games, they will be asked to agree to an outcome (win, lose or draw) without any interference from the tournament directors. The director will normally assist only if asked by one of the players or if a dispute arises, but every effort will be made to ensure the players decide on an outcome on their own. Because TDs cannot keep an eye on all games, USCF Rule Variation 11H1 will be in force: “Director as witness only. In an event in which most games are not watched by directors, a director may refrain from correcting all illegal moves he or she may notice but simply serve as a witness should one of the players point out the illegal move before ten more moves have been made.” This variation will be applied consistently: TDs will not require players to correct illegal moves when witnessed in some cases but not in others. It is the player’s responsibility to note illegal moves and ask a TD if a dispute arises.

Parents, Coaches and Other Spectators:  Spectators are forbidden from influencing the games in progress in any way, including pointing out illegal moves, flag falls, stalemate, etc. Spectators should also avoid eye contact with players and refrain from body language and facial expressions that indicate an opinion or emotion about the progress of the game or a particular move. “Spectators” include those players who have finished their games, and those playing on adjacent tables. If any player feels his or her opponent is getting assistance from others, or feels uncomfortable by the presence of others, his/her request to remove the others from the play area will be honored.

Analysis and Skittles: Analysis of games and playing of informal games are prohibited in the playing rooms while tournament games are in progress.

SPORTSMANSHIP:

Standard Etiquette:  Players will shake hands before starting a game and once again after the game is over. “Good Luck” wishes before and “Good Game” after the game are signs of good sportsmanship and are highly recommended.   During a game,no conversation with the opponent or any spectators is allowed in the playing rooms while games are in progress.  The only exception is simple chess-related words for one’s opponent, e.g. “check,” “adjust,” “draw?”, etc.  No distracting body movements or facial gestures are allowed.  Upon improper behavior, the opponent raises a hand and a tournament official will offer to help.  See below about repeated disruptions or behavior problems.

Behavior Problems or Repeated Disruptions: Disruptive behavior that is not corrected and eliminated is unfair to opponents and players on nearby boards. Disruptive behavior includes exceptionally loud talking, exaggerated facial expressions or body language that intimidates or distracts other players, loudly moving pieces or hitting the clock, or any other activity that the floor judge deems disruptive.   Floor judges will caution players who are being disruptive. If disruptive behavior persists, the floor judge will, if possible, consult with an additional floor judge or tournament director, the player and the player’s parent or coach. If disruptive behavior persists after this consultation, sanctions may be applied. Sanctions may include loss of time on the player’s clock, forfeiture of the game or any other sanctions within the TD’s discretion.

Respectful Use of Space:  Attendees must respect, and must not disturb, property of the school, its staff, or its students, including lockers, desk contents, signage, etc.  Tampering with or abusing property is grounds for sanctions, including disqualification.

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