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Collyer Memorial
 

     The Dave Collyer Memorial, sponsored by the Spokane Chess Club and the Gary Younker Foundation, is the Spokane area's premiere chess tournament.  Gary Younker started the tournament in honor of longtime chess organizer (and strong player) Dave Collyer who passed away at a young age.  Gary Younker himself died way too young.  Friends of both men began the Gary Younker Foundation, dedicated to promoting chess in the Inland Empire Region of the Northwest, with a special emphasis on youth chess.  The Collyer Memorial is now held each year in memory of both these outstanding men.

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2008

Donaldson & Haessler share Collyer crown

        John Donaldson and Carl Haessler shared the title of champion of the 16th Dave Collyer Memorial played February 23-24, 2008.  They topped the record sized field of 67 players with 4.5 scores. 

The two met in the final round and reached a quick draw to share the title.  Third place was a four-way tie involving David Bragg, Josh Sinanan, Chris Kalina, and Michael Wang. Each scored 4.0 and received $100 as their share of the combined third place, expert prize, and the two Class A prizes.   Wang won an additional $100 donated by the Gary Younker Foundation for the highest score by a player aged 18 or under.  The Kirkland youngster played like a seasoned veteran and won his share of third place by winning the very last game of the tourney, a tight queen vs. rook endgame with little time left on the respective clocks.

        The other winners included Alex Chow, Cyrus Desmarais, and Casey Fleck in Class B.  Their 3.5 scores shared the $175 in class prize money in the largest section in the tournament.  The Class C prizes were shared by Ryan Ackerman and Dave Griffin, each of whom scored 3.0.  The Class D and under prize was won by Cameron Leslie, making his first tournament appearance in the region and his first rated event in five, with a score of 3.5. The second place prize in the section went to Missoula's Brett Thomas-Dejongh with a 2.5 score.  Brett played excellent chess the entire tournament and drew an exciting game with Michael Wang Saturday night.

        As typical, there were many upsets in this always strong tournament.  The top upset went to Helena's Bill Spencer with his last round victory over a player rated 688 points above him!  The second upset was nearly as large. Robbin Arnett of Yakima bagged a player 651 points higher!!  Each won $100 for his upset efforts.

        Despite the upsets, the tournament went pretty much to form the first day.  The top four seeds had the only perfect 3.0 scores after the first day's action: John Donaldson, David Bragg, Carl Haessler, and Josh Sinanan.  The four squared off on the top two boards in round four action Sunday morning.  Donaldson defeated Sinanan while Haessler topped Bragg.  That set the stage for the final round match up.  In their previous meeting  in the 2000 Collyer Memorial, Haessler had defeated Donaldson.  This time there was not a protracted battle despite the fact that the Gary Younker Foundation had offered a $200 bonus to any player achieving a perfect 5.0 score.

        The Collyer Memorial is jointly sponsored by the Spokane Chess Club and the Gary Younker Foundation in honor of past Spokane Chess Club presidents Dave Collyer and Gary Younker.  Gary started the tournament in 1993 in honor of Dave.  After Gary died of cancer in 2001, several of his friends formed the Gary Younker Foundation to promote chess in eastern Washington, with a special emphasis on youth chess.  The Foundation has backed each of the subsequent Collyer Memorial tournaments, as well as other regional events.  Several players made donations to the foundation, including Bill Spencer who donated his $100 upset prize!  

        The weekend kicked off with Donaldson presenting a lecture February 22 at the Liberty Cafe on the first floor of Auntie's Bookstore, on the pending Gata Kamsky semi-final championship match.  The lecture was followed by a 18 board simul.  Donaldson was perfect for the second year in a row, putting away the competition in about 2 1/2 hours.

        The tournament was played at the St. Anne's Children's Center, W. 25 Fifth Avenue South, Spokane.  The site drew plenty of fine reviews from the players and will be used again for next year's Collyer Memorial.

 

SwissSys Standings. 08Collyer

 
# Name ID Rtng Rd 1 Rd 2 Rd 3 Rd 4 Rd 5 Tot
1 W. John Donaldson 10270294 2459 W24 W22 W29 W4 D2 4.5
2 Carl Haessler 10503892 2200 W20 W36 W17 W3 D1 4.5
3 David Bragg 11435025 2208 W33 W9 W14 L2 W10 4.0
4 Josh Sinanan 12826891 2178 W19 W16 W39 L1 W15 4.0
5 Chris Kalina 12616431 1959 W37 L14 W33 W30 W16 4.0
6 Michael Wang 12909669 1818 W52 D21 D32 W39 W18 4.0
7 Phil Weyland 12653584 1860 W35 D8 D15 W14 D11 3.5
8 Cameron Leslie 12786510 1381 W26 D7 L30 W51 W29 3.5
9 Cyrus Desmarais 13388556 1728 W60 L3 W45 D29 W31 3.5
10 Greg Nowak 10310423 2163 W46 W34 H--- W12 L3 3.5
11 Casey Fleck 12839768 1763 D32 H--- W35 W41 D7 3.5
12 Steve Merwin 12087700 2018 H--- W51 W40 L10 W21 3.5
13 Alex Chow 12910167 1699 U--- H--- W61 W34 W30 3.5
14 Martin Schmidt 12861095 1721 W48 W5 L3 L7 W41 3.0
15 Steve Fabian 12417101 1763 D47 W44 D7 W32 L4 3.0
16 Zach Countryman 12904287 1726 W55 L4 W58 W17 L5 3.0
17 Dave Rowles 12480615 1875 W61 W27 L2 L16 W43 3.0
18 Mark Havrilla 12553313 1899 D43 W53 D42 W22 L6 3.0
19 Dave Griffin 12469398 1563 L4 W55 W53 D31 D23 3.0
20 Ryan Ackerman 13432771 1579 L2 W63 L31 W44 W42 3.0
21 James Stripes 12677638 1643 W41 D6 H--- W42 L12 3.0
22 Niles Desmarais 13388598 1762 W63 L1 W59 L18 W46 3.0
23 Ed McLaughlin 10188270 1793 L39 W52 D25 W40 D19 3.0
24 Rob Martin 12497030 1641 L1 W56 D26 W36 H--- 3.0
25 Jeremy Younker 12519554 1643 W58 L29 D23 D49 W39 3.0
26 Michael Cambareri 12707145 1773 L8 W43 D24 W37 H--- 3.0
27 Steve Brendemihl 12518340 1693 W62 L17 L41 W52 W40 3.0
28 Muhammedin Deliorman 13232540 1733 L40 L59 W57 W50 W45 3.0
29 Elston Cloy 12802247 1958 W45 W25 L1 D9 L8 2.5
30 Sterling Kolde 12699144 1825 W54 H--- W8 L5 L13 2.5
31 Eric Eklund 13707676 1771 W57 L39 W20 D19 L9 2.5
32 Brett Thomas-Dejongh 13212923 1306 D11 W38 D6 L15 H--- 2.5
33 Dan McCourt 12400272 1600 L3 W57 L5 W47 H--- 2.5
34 John Walton 13202540 1709 X--- L10 D51 L13 W53 2.5
35 Karl Schmitz 12791440 1545 L7 W48 L11 W62 H--- 2.5
36 Adam Attwood 12788883 1712 W67 L2 H--- L24 W54 2.5
37 Bill McBroom 12179140 1544 L5 W66 H--- L26 W56 2.5
38 Romie Carpenter 12280430 1800 D44 L32 H--- D54 W51 2.5
39 Richard Schumaker 13479524 1434 W23 W31 L4 L6 L25 2.0
40 Ron Weyland 12657609 1302 W28 W49 L12 L23 L27 2.0
41 Josh Cruz 13592276 unr. L21 W54 W27 L11 L14 2.0
42 Mike Jensen 12024550 1807 D53 W47 D18 L21 L20 2.0
43 Ted Catton 12458816 1559 D18 L26 D44 W58 L17 2.0
44 Doug Sly 12475606 1444 D38 L15 D43 L20 W62 2.0
45 Constantin Etingher 12494062 1526 L29 W67 L9 W55 L28 2.0
46 Chris Copeland 12758356 1529 L10 L58 W48 W59 L22 2.0
47 John Hornickle 12543737 1310 D15 L42 D50 L33 W66 2.0
48 Peter Schumaker 13479518 917 L14 L35 L46 W60 W67 2.0
49 Dan Mathews 12806101 1792 W56 L40 H--- D25 U--- 2.0
50 Ward Chow 13459322 1488 U--- H--- D47 L28 W58 2.0
51 Ted Baker 12936996 1421 W59 L12 D34 L8 L38 1.5
52 Alton Blue 12455852 1475 L6 L23 W60 L27 D55 1.5
53 Timothy Grupp 12930412 1418 D42 L18 L19 W66 L34 1.5
54 Charles Fishburn 12451087 1475 L30 L41 W63 D38 L36 1.5
55 John Hay 12880970 1270 L16 L19 W67 L45 D52 1.5
56 Taylor Roberts 12680456 1357 L49 L24 H--- W61 L37 1.5
57 Jim Waugh 12425667 1267 L31 L33 L28 H--- W59 1.5
58 Robbin Arnett 12907111 878 L25 W46 L16 L43 L50 1.0
59 Tim Kennedy 12901159 1366 L51 W28 L22 L46 L57 1.0
60 Bill Spencer 12567155 555 L9 L64 L52 L48 W63 1.0
61 Bob Rajala 12549756 1486 L17 D62 L13 L56 H--- 1.0
62 Chauncy Cullitan 13679508 unr. L27 D61 H--- L35 L44 1.0
63 Jim Burney 12618452 1243 L22 L20 L54 W67 L60 1.0
64 Louis Blair 12454599 unr. U--- W60 U--- U--- U--- 1.0
65 Kevin Korsmo 10328357 1628 W66 U--- U--- U--- U--- 1.0
66 Nathan Neff 13902701 unr. L65 L37 H--- L53 L47 0.5
67 Matthew Grover 13745738 unr. L36 L45 L55 L63 L48 0.0
 

 

 

 

 

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Donaldson & Koons win 15th Collyer Memorial

    Tops seeds John Donaldson and Nat Koons shared the title at the 15th Dave Collyer Memorial with 4.5 scores. Third place was shared by Experts Paul Bartron and Josh Sinanan and Class A players John Julian and David Rowles.  Each scored 4.0.

There were a total of 53 players competing in this year's event.

        Three players shared the Class B prizes with 3.0 scores: Alex Chow, Bert Dennison, and Dan Mathews.  Dennison, from Tyler, Texas, played in the tourney as part of his effort to play a rated tournament in each of the 50 states.  Washington became the 49th state in his collection!  He needs only to add the Wyoming Open to complete his cross country chess tour.  Showing what a small world this is, Dennison had a surprise reunion with the Blue family when Alton and his sons, Ben and David, entered the tourney.  The Blues had previously lived and played in Tyler and knew Dennison from their time down there.

        The Class C category was won by Bill McBroom of Missoula, whose 3.0 score headed the class by one-half point.  Professor Bill generously donated his $100 prize back to the club!  Kenny Erickson took second and won $75 for his efforts.

        The Class D prize was another win for the Chow family when Dr. Ward Chow topped the section with a 2.0 score.  Ryan Ackerman, newcomer Khai Le, and oldtimer Jim Waugh finished second with 1.5 scores.  The top upsets in the tournament came from this category as well.  David Blue had the biggest upset ($100) by downing a player 719 points above his rating!  The second biggest upset went Pat Kirlin who claimed a scalp 456 points above his rating.  Good job to both of you!!

        The weekend began when International Master John Donaldson gave another entertaining lecture and simul at Aunties Bookstore Friday night, February 23. There were 16 players in the simul and John put us all away, sweeping to a 16-0 record in less than two hours!!  Better luck next year, gang! 

Chess veterans John Downes and B. G. Dennison of Texas strike similar poses in their second round matches.  (Photos courtesy of Jerry Morton).

Below: John Donaldson and Phil Weyland (round two)

 

More round two action:

 

Chris Copeland and Geoff Gale ponder their position:

 

 

The 2007 cross table:

SwissSys Standings: 15th Collyer Memorial

 
# Name ID Rtng Rd 1 Rd 2 Rd 3 Rd 4 Rd 5 Tot
1 John Donaldson 10270294 2466 W12 W9 W5 D2 W3 4.5
2 Nat Koons 12602749 2280 W15 W27 W11 D1 W8 4.5
3 Josh Sinanan 12826891 2088 W28 W24 W22 W7 L1 4.0
4 John Julian 12688769 1982 W21 L18 W15 W17 W13 4.0
5 Paul Bartron 12590173 2117 W36 W23 L1 W26 W14 4.0
6 David Rowles 12480615 1852 W52 L7 W43 W23 W11 4.0
7 Curt Collyer 12517518 2218 W16 W6 D13 L3 W18 3.5
8 Chris Kalina 12616431 1954 D17 W31 W25 W19 L2 3.5
9 Phil Weyland 12653584 1874 W37 L1 D28 W22 W29 3.5
10 Steve Merwin 12087700 2053 W33 L26 W24 D12 W27 3.5
11 Geoff Gale 12685185 1965 W43 W29 L2 W16 L6 3.0
12 Sterling Kolde 12699144 1837 L1 W37 W35 D10 D19 3.0
13 John Stanfield 12227590 1915 W35 W38 D7 D18 L4 3.0
14 Elston Cloy 12802247 1959 W40 L22 W33 W20 L5 3.0
15 Alex Chow 12910167 1664 L2 W49 L4 W44 W34 3.0
16 Allen S Smith 12567613 1821 L7 W52 W38 L11 W26 3.0
17 Casey Fleck 12839768 1807 D8 W30 H--- L4 W36 3.0
18 B.G. [Bert] Dennison 10384508 1735 W50 W4 H--- D13 L7 3.0
19 Jim Hanlen 10513740 1887 W34 W47 H--- L8 D12 3.0
20 Dan Mathews 12806101 1774 D25 W42 H--- L14 W33 3.0
21 William McBroom 12179140 1581 L4 W50 H--- D30 W39 3.0
22 John C. Walton 13202540 1682 W46 W14 L3 L9 D24 2.5
23 Niles Desmarais 13388598 1764 W44 L5 W34 L6 D28 2.5
24 Zach Countryman 12904287 1751 W45 L3 L10 W37 D22 2.5
25 J. Michael Jensen 12024550 1842 D20 W39 L8 L29 W45 2.5
26 Adam Attwood 12788883 1703 W48 W10 H--- L5 L16 2.5
27 Romie Carpenter 12280430 1800 W49 L2 H--- W40 L10 2.5
28 Ken Erickson 12893841 1586 L3 W48 D9 H--- D23 2.5
29 John Downes 12465306 1700 W53 L11 H--- W25 L9 2.5
30 Andrew Walker 12544194 1732 D39 L17 W42 D21 H--- 2.5
31 Robert A Martin 12497030 1740 D42 L8 W47 D36 H--- 2.5
32 Mika Mitchell 12438674 1877 H--- U--- U--- W42 W35 2.5
33 Cyrus Desmarais 13388556 1619 L10 W45 L14 W38 L20 2.0
34 Murlin Varner 12460801 1521 L19 W41 L23 W48 L15 2.0
35 Jerry Morton 12449574 1528 L13 W53 L12 W47 L32 2.0
36 Jeremy Younker 12519554 1645 L5 W44 H--- D31 L17 2.0
37 Alton Blue 12455852 1511 L9 L12 W51 L24 W47 2.0
38 Ron Weyland 12657609 1429 W51 L13 L16 L33 W48 2.0
39 Ward Chow 13459322 1347 D30 L25 H--- W43 L21 2.0
40 David Engelhard 13488251 1538 L14 W46 H--- L27 D41 2.0
41 James Stripes 12677638 1718 L47 L34 H--- W50 D40 2.0
42 Ryan Ackerman 13432771 1385 D31 L20 L30 L32 W51 1.5
43 Chris Copeland 12758356 1559 L11 W51 L6 L39 D44 1.5
44 Ben Blue 12751582 1418 L23 L36 W46 L15 D43 1.5
45 Jim Waugh 12425667 1393 L24 L33 W53 H--- L25 1.5
46 Khai Le   unr. L22 L40 L44 D51 W50 1.5
47 Patrick Kirlin 12631768 1262 W41 L19 L31 L35 L37 1.0
48 David Blue 12796186 742 L26 L28 W49 L34 L38 1.0
49 David Griffin 12469398 1461 L27 L15 L48 B--- U--- 1.0
50 Ted Baker 12936996 1369 L18 L21 H--- L41 L46 0.5
51 Ray [Scott] Engelhard 13488266 642 L38 L43 L37 D46 L42 0.5
52 Mark Mangiaracina 12439000 1480 L6 L16 H--- U--- U--- 0.5
53 Davis Mathieu 13405420 unr. L29 L35 L45 H--- U--- 0.5
 

 

 

 

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