By Mike Nietman, Local Organizer, 1990 World Youth Chess Festival for Peace

In July of 1990 Fond du Lac’s Marian College hosted the Under 14, Under 12 and Under 10 Open and Girl’s sections of the World Youth Chess Championships. Over 170 players from 40 countries and six continents descended on the small liberal arts college located sixty miles northwest of Milwaukee. Many famous players competed in the event. International stars included Romania’s Gabriel Schwartzman and a then-relatively-unknown Peter Leko of Hungary. The Americans were led by Tal Shaked, Morgan Pehme, Josh Waitzkin and eventual Under 10 champion Nawrose Nur. But the biggest name was the world’s number one rated woman, Hungary’s Judit Polgar who arrived with her contingent and her father Lazlo.

Most teams that flew came thru Milwaukee’s Mitchell airport; this included the Hungarians. We had staged greeters at the airport to welcome the teams as they landed and to shepherd them to waiting buses for the final leg of their journey to Fond du Lac. We knew the flights most of the teams would be on, so we asked the Milwaukee representatives to notify Hungarian-born and retired Marquette University Physics professor Arpad Elo about Judit’s itinerary, as he had always wanted to meet her.

Because of his dedication to the teaching, coaching, and encouragement of our children in chess for the past 7 years, Randy Bubolz has been named New Berlin Citizen of the Year for 2010 by the New Berlin Mayor’s office.  Over the course of more than 800 sessions, Randy has mentored more than 1200 students to learn and excel in Chess!

Randy states "Motivated and considerate parents and students from Glen Park, Orchard Lane, Elmwood, Reagan, Poplar Creek, and now a number of other schools are the keys to my success with chess.  I merely opened a door for the students to show them they can have fun and be successful not only at their school, but regionally and nationally.  The efforts of the whole community sparkle in every trophy and medal.  Without the commitment of many, many people, I would be hearing my chess lessons echo in empty rooms." 

Randy will be given the award Tuesday, May 11 at the New Berlin City Council meeting.  Congratulations Randy!

Congratulations to 2008 Wisconsin Chess Tour winner Chris McKinney. He held off TD Guy Hoffman at the WI Memorial to capture his first Tour title. Guy takes second.

Since the place winners were in class A, Jim Coons moved up to take the A prize and Robin Grochowski took the B prize. Greg Reese, Jr took the C prize while WCA Treasurer Ken Rasmussen captured the D prize. Sean Chang captured the Under 1200 prize.

The $450 prize fund came from $1 per entry from the nine Tour events.

The 2009 Wisconsin Chess Tour kicks off February 7-8 with the UW-Winter Open. The remainder of the 2009 Tour includes The Waukesha Memorial Feb. 28, Hales Corners April 25, Arpad Elo Open May 16-17 (Pewaukee), Green Bay Open July 25-26, Wisconsin Closed Championship (Milwaukee) Sept. 5-7 and the Badger Open (Waukesha) October 3-4 with additional events to be approved by the WCA Board of Directors later in the year.

LATEST NEWS:  Events Added!  In addition to those listed above, 2009 Tour events include Greg Knutson Memorial October 24-25 (Madison), William Martz Memorial/North Central Open (Pewaukee) November 27-29 and Wisconsin Memorial (Madison) December 19-20.

The USCF announced last week that WCA President Mike Nietman's nomination papers are in order and he is one of eleven candidates for the four Executive Board seats open in the 2009 USCF Executive Board contest. All USCF voting members (those 16 and over) will receive a ballot in the mail in early June. Deadline for voting will be July 20. Mike thanks all those who signed his nomination papers and hopes you'll support his candidacy.