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Black Knights Chess Club
Army Wins the CIC Championship for a
5th Year in a Row!!
With the departure of Cadets David Jacobs (3x
individual champ, runner up last year) and Bovey Zhu (appeared on
Regis and Kelly Live), the other service
academies were chomping
at the bit to end our 4-year reign as CIC champs at the 49th
Annual Armed Forces Chess Open (AFO). This years competition
was held at the Bethesda Naval Medical Center. The competition
consists of 6 rounds over the 3 day Columbus Day weekend. On
paper, Air Force had
a rating advantage for the 1st
time in 5 years. The CIC competition is a 5 person team event
with a win =1, draw =0.5 and loss =0. After 4 rounds it was
tied, after 5 rounds USMA held a slim 0.5 point lead. The 6th
and final round was exciting, with the winner going home with a
beautiful trophy and individual
medals and the loser going home
with nothing. The cadets maintained their 0.5 lead to win 17.0
to 16.5 for Air Force and 7.5 for Navy. AFO veterans
Steve
Whitham 09, John McCrone 09, Russell Mixon 11, and Stephan Wathen
10 led the way for USMA, but the story of tournament was newcomer
Kelley Jhong 11. Playing in her 1st tournament
since high school, Kelley earned the top female prize, top cadet
prize, and made the largest contribution
in the team winning the
CIC competition for a 5th time. Air Force and Navy
will have to wait again for another year.
1.
Kelley Jhong, Steven Whitham, CIC John McCrone, Russ Mixon,
Steven Wathen lead the cadets to
5th consecutive title!
2. 13
cadets played in the AFP, for 6 cadets it was their 1st
tournament.
3. Kelley Jhong, top cadet prize, top
female prize.
4. John McCrone, top C player.
5.
Rodney Joye, top unrated player.
6. Eating well at
Olive Garden.
7. James Gorby with tournament organizer
Capt Tom Belke.
Cadets on Live with Regis and Kelly!
21 April 2008
Thanks to the efforts of Barb Demaro
of the US Chess Trust, Cadet Bovey Zhu was part of a 10 player
simultaneous exhibition against
Nicholas Nip, age 10, the youngest US Chess Master in history. The
show was taped live at the Lincoln Center ABC studios. Her
organization has been working on this event for months and she
was gracious enough to invite us to participate. He is rated at 2207.
We got to be in the front row of the
audience and
after the show
we got to meet Regis and Kelly. The Dean said
that one of the
benefits of being the 3x Armed Forces Champ is that
you get to put
your arm around Kelly instead of standing next to Regis.
What a
great experience. Thanks again Barb!
1. Barb Demaro with 10 year old master Nicholas Nip.
2. The 10 players and Nicolas in the "Green" room awaiting to go
on-stage.
3. Bovey Zhu and David Jocobs on stage with Regis and Kelly after the
show.
4, 5. Nicholas Niip went 9-0-1. Bovey lost. The producers of the
show incorrectly stated he was the AFO champ.
World Team Championship, Parsippany NJ 16-18 Feb 2008
We had 2 teams, Army Strong (3-3) and Full Mental Jacket
(2-3-1). We did the color guard and ate like kings. The
highlight of the
tournament
was Cadet David Jacobs defeating a 2700,
the highest rated player he has defeated ever. We bid farewell to our
chess
firsties David Jacobs and Bovey Zhu, the core of our successful winning teams.
1. 1st Round, the Hawks vs Army Strong.
2. Danis Butners and Phillip Neumann in action.
3. Eating great at the Outback.
Army Defeats Air Force 6.5 to 5.5, 2-4 Nov 2007
LTC
Robert Burks took 6 cadets to the USAFA over the weekend and the
Cadets defeated Air Force 6.5 to 5.5 in a head-head chess
match. Over the past 5 years,
USMA is 5-1 in head-head
Service Academy matches and 4-0 in inter Service Academy
matches. The Army team consisted of Cadets David Jacobs '08,
Fred Lough '08, John Mccrone
'09, Steven Whitham '09, Stephen Wathen '10, and Ariel Gelman
'11. After the 1st round the score was 3-3. After 5 of the 6
games
were completed in round 2,
the score was still tied at 5.5-5.5. The outcome of the match
rested on the shoulders of Cadet Stephen Wathen, who scored an
upset
victory giving Army the
overall competition.
48th Annual Armed Forces Championship, Henderson Hall,
Washington DC, 6-8 October 2007
For the 4th year
in a row the cadets captured the CIC trophy, pulling away
from Air Force in rounds 5 and 6. The top team scorers were:
Cadet David Jacobs, CIC,
2008, Cadet Bovey Zhu, 2008, Cadet John McCrone, 2009, Cadet
Steven Whitham, 2009,
Cadet Stephan Wathen, 2010, Cadet Ari Gelman, 2011.
Dave finally lost
a game to the eventual champ, Larry Larkins and finished
2nd. Goodbye Dave, it was a great run!
1. Team
with the CIC Trophy
2. The Marine Corps PX put on a great show.
3. Dave Jacobs wins the fisherman aware for beating
someone in 7 moves.
4. John McCrone studies his next move.
5. 110 players, a great turnout.
6. Dave Jacbos gets the 2nd place trophy and chess
set.
7. Bovey always seems to collect plenty of hardware at
these events.
8. Michael Swayze earns the Charles Thrasher greatest
upset away. What a huge bishop!
World Amateur Team 17-19 Feb 2007
This year we took 2 teams and 7 cadets. Unfortunately,
none of the other academies showed up. We did battle the Seapower 2007
team to lose 4 to 3.5
1. Our Biggest Fan: David Rogers!
2,3 We are the color guard for the opening ceremony and lead the crowd
of 1000 in the pledge of allegiance.
4.5. Our 2 teams do battle. Where is Air Force and Navy!?
I came out of retirement to go 3-2-1 as 1st board on the John
McCrone All Stars.
Armed Forces Championship 6-9 Oct 2006
18 cadets, LTC Robert Burks (math) and myself were at the 47th Annual
Armed Forces Chess Championship held at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in
Washington DC, 6-9 Oct. After 2 days and 4 rounds of play, the USAFA and the
USMA were tied at 15 points each with the USNA a distant third. The USMA
pulled away the final 2 rounds, winning the Commander in Chief's trophy
24-18 for a third year in a row. The top cadets were David Jacobs 08, Eugene
Sung 10, Michael Wathen 09, Bovey Zhu 08, Steven Whitham 09, and Stephan
Wathen 10. Cadet Dave Jacobs repeated for the third time as individual
champion, going 5-0-1, the only cadet to hold this title in the tournament's
history. For the past three years, Cadet Jacobs has a record of 15-0-1.
Cadets Jacobs and Sung were also part of the interservice team that helped
Army beat Air Force by one point.
1. Cadet Celebrate the 3 CIC trophy in a row.
2-3. Air Forces Earns 2nd after a hard fought tournament.
4. Air Force and Army battle in the 6th round.
5. Dave Jacobs takes on LTC Taffider in the finals.
6. Justin Langreck, Jeremiah jacobson, Nelson Muniz, and Patrick
Flannagan do battle.
7. Chess Club celebrates after the ceremony.
8. Dave Jacobs with the Individual 1st Place Trophy.
9. Coolin' out at Outback.
10. Stephen Wathen vs Gordon Randall.
11. Benjamin Smith vs Evan Wright
12-14. Trophy winners Eugene Sung, Bovey Zhu, and Hunter MacDonald
15-21. Receiving Congratulations from the Superintendent,
Dean, and Commandant on a great achievement! 6 December 2006.
Eastern Team Championships 18-20 Feb
2006
Cadets Defeat USAFA 3-1, win Military and U1700 Divisions
Cadets Michael Wathen '07, David Jacobs
'08, Bovey Zhu '08, and Steve Whitham '09 turned in the best
performance ever by a cadet team in the 6 round, 3 day tournament
held this last weekend in Parsippany NJ. Though seeded 130 out of
260 teams, the cadets compiled a 4-2 record, winning the military
division and tying for 1st in the intermediate division. The cadets
were on display by doing the opening ceremony color guard with
cadets from the USAFA. In round 4, the cadets played on Board 1 vs
USAFA and defeated them 3-1. Because they were playing in uniform on
Board 1, tremendous interest was generated for both academies. One
of the losses was against the US Chess Federation Board of
Directors, a team of expert players. One of the directors signed his
chess book and gave it to the cadet he played.
The other loss came against a team with
a grandmaster, which is the highest level of chess player (world
class). In that match, Cadet Jacobs suffered his first loss while at
the academy, losing to a grandmaster after battling over 60 moves.
Cadet Jacobs' game was extremely close and for a game to go over 60
moves vs a grandmaster is an outstanding achievement.
1. Air Forces vs. Army on Board 1, 4th Round
2,3. Color Guard Post.
4. Our Air Forces friends.
5,6. Winning the Military Division
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West Point Champions 1924-1945
This trophy bears the names
of West Point Cadet Champions from 1924-1945. It is made
of sterling silver. In 2005 it was being sold on Ebay and
through the generosity of LTC(R) David McClellan, the trophy was
donated back to the cadet chess club. The trophy was originally
discovered in a yard sale in Fayettvilee NC. This trophy traces the club
history as one of the oldest cadet clubs at the academy. Pictures
of the cadets on this trophy can be found in the Chess Hall of Fame.
This trophy in is in the display case outside the Dean's office on
the 1st floor of Taylor Hall.
 
Jaques and Son Chess Set
This chess set was donated to the club by
Duncan Sinclair, USMA Class of 1935. He used this set as a cadet
and he wanted today's cadets to play games with this set. This set is
an antique, worth well over $3000. Image the faces of people who know
the rarity of this set when they see a cadet playing with it.
Chess In the Parks, Central Park NYC, 30 Sept 2006
14 Cadets played in the Chess in Parks rapid chess open. Over 500
players played in the tournament. This served as our tune-up for the
Armed Forces Open.
1. Mike Wathen vs. COL Goda 0-1.
2. Near the bandshell.
3. Frederick Lough and Benjamin Smith battle while interest onlooker
eats chips.
4. Cadets James Gorby and Hunter MacDonald do battle.
5. Cadets Kevin Hu, Justin Langreck, Benjamin Bradley, and Stephen
Wathen get ready to play.
6. It's Mike Wathen vs John McCrone.
7. Bovey Zhu says, hey no coaching from your mother.
Armed Forces
Championship Ft Meade MA, 8-10 October 2005
USMA wins CIC Trophy for 2nd year in row by earning 17.5 points vs.
the USCGA 11.5 and USAFA 11 point totals. Cadet David Jacobs
repeats as individual player champion, an amazing feat, besting a
field of 67 players. Cadets David Jacobs, Michael Wathen, and
Bovey Zhu combined with 2 active duty and a retiree helped Army win
the Interservice Championship! Cadets John McCrone, Kevin Seymore,
and Frederick Lough played outstanding chess, helping USMA to trouce
the other service academies.
1. Team celebrates after
winning the CIC trophy
2. Cadet David Jacobs earns top individual honors
3. Cadet Michael Wathen battles an Marine MSG
4. Cadet Michael Wathen goes 4-1, earned the best cadet award
5. CIC Ben Griffin battles Cadet Couture of the USCGA
6. Three cadets help Army win the interservice championship
23-22.
7. Ike Hall
Howizer Photo 2005
8. Meeting the Supt, Dean and CSM with the CIC trophy
Army Defeats Air Force 14.5-10.5, 5 Nov 2004
Air Force was seeking revenge for Army's come-from-behind victory
1/2 point victory at the Armed Forces Open. Army did not need any
last round heroics in this tournament. We never trailed in this
tournament and built up a commanding 12.5 - 7.5 lead after the first
four rounds. Army was lead by Dave
Jacobs (5-0), Mike Wathen (3-1-1) and Jon Bowlby (3-2).
Armed Forces Championship, 9-11 Oct 2004
The Chess Team captured the Commander-in-Chief trophy at the U.S.
Armed Forces Open Championship, October 2004. Shown here are, from
left to right, COL Gary Krahn (Math), cadets Michael Wathen and
David Jacobs, BG Daniel J. Kaufman (Dean), cadets Benjamin Griffin,
Jonathan Bowlby and Jeffrey Chase, and LTC Carl Fossa (EECS). Photos
courtesy of The Pointer View.
The West Point chess club participated in the 2004 U.S. Armed Forces
Open Championship held 9-11 October at Annapolis, MD. The cadet team
of Benjamin Griffin (F1 2006), Jeffrey Chase (B3 2006), Jonathan
Bowlby (H1 2006), Michael Wathen (B3 2007), and David Jacobs (A4
2008) defeated teams from the Air Force Academy, Naval Academy, and
Coast Guard Academy to win the 2004 Commander-in-Chief Trophy. CDT
Jacobs also won first place in the tournament in a field of 82
active duty, reserve, retired, international, and cadet/midshipmen
chess players. CDT Jacobs is the first cadet or midshipmen to ever
win the Armed Forces Open Championship.
1. The teams of all 4 service academy's in the
Mahan Hall foyer.
2. 1st Place, Cadet David Jacobs.
3. LTC Fossa and the Black Knight Chess club celebrate with
the CIC trophy.
Team Championships, Parsippany NJ, 14-16 Feb 2004
This year we sent 2 teams. The highlight of the tournament was Army vs.
Navy in round 4 on Board #1. The cadets and mids
were treated like celebrities with Cadet Francisco Martinez pulling out a
miracle draw to tie Navy 2-2. MAJ(P) Carl Fossa was
the best individual player, going 4-1-1. We are featured on page 16-17 of
the April 2004 issue of Chess Life.
1. The Color Guard gets ready to do the opening ceremony.
2. Top Gun Wanna-bees Pedro Maldando-Diaz and Ben Griffin ready to get
gonged.
3. Jino Caro and Michael Wathen with USCF Chess Trust Director Barbara
Demaro.
4. MAJ(P) Carl Fossa goes 4-1-1 as the 1st board.
5,7. Army-Navy on board #1, round 3 of 6, with applause from the crowd!.
6. OICs shake hands before the teams do battle.
Army Defeat Marist 7 1/2 to 6 1/2, 6 March 2004
Students from Marist College battled the cadet chess club in the EE&CS
conference room. The cadets won round 1, 4 1/2 to 2 1/2.
Marist came back, winning round 2, 4 to 3, making for an exciting finish.
Standout players for Army (going 2-0) were Gerald Gangaram (2007),
Micah Smith (2005) and LTC Paul Heiney.
Army Defeats Air Force 11 1/2 to 6 1/2, 7-9 Nov 2003
For the 1st time ever, the Cadet Chess Club was able to
fly out to the Air Force Academy to battle Air Force in Chess.
Army fell behind 2-4 after round 1, probably due to the travel the day before
and the 0730 start. The cadets battled back
in the 2nd round 4 1/2 to 1 1/2, taking a 1 point lead into round 3. The
cadets ran away 5-1 in round 3, winning the match.
Special thanks to CPT Scott Boehne and Air Force Cadet Chess Club for being such
gracious hosts.
1. Air Force and Army Chess Teams
2. Start of match, game in 30. Michael Wathen, class of 2007, is our
1st board.
3. Cadets Francisco Martinez, Benjamin Griffin, and Brian Burch do battle.
4. Micah Smith contemplates a move. Imagine, Subway, Taco Bell, and
Dominoes in the Cadet Area.
5. At the Traildust Steakhouse. Can you eat a Stud, a 30 ounce
steak?
6-7. At Falcon Stadium to watch the Football game.
Army Defeats Navy 16 1/2 to 10 1/2, 19 Jan 2003
We traveled to USNA in and stayed in the Bancroft hall.
The matches were played in their Mahan Hall.
1. Navy: CMDR Gutzler, 1/C Rich Morrissey, 1/C Kip Rainey, 2/C
John Crumpacker, 2/C Pat McAnany, 4/C John Doherty, 4/C Hezel, 4/C Russell Hill, 4/C Grant Patterson, 4/C
Kyle Thayer. Army: Joshua Conary, David Eastman, Christopher Manchev, Jino Caro, Joshua Riojas, Marcus Warner, Brian
Burch, Jeffrey Chase, Benjamin Griffin, Vernon Pritchard
2,3 Team Captains Rich Morrissey and David Eastman
4. Admiral portraits watch matches in Mahan Hall
5. Chris Manchev battles Mid John Crumpacker
6. Benjamin Griffin plays Mid Kip Rainey
7. Joshua Riojas is up a whole rook in the endgame.
8. A pause in the action.
US Team Championship, Parsippany NJ, 15-17 Feb 2003
The cadets acted as color guard. We are also now a poster child for the
tournament, we are featured on page 6 in
the Feb 2004 issue of Chess life.
1. Color Guard. Applause drowns out cursing woman.
2-4. Winners of the Talent Contest, Oh What a Knight. Josh Conary,
Marcus Warner, David Eastman, Benjamin Griffin, Micah Smith, Jino Caro.
5. MAJ Fossa contemplates a move.
6. Josh Conary in his first tournament.
7. Practice makes perfect.
8. Record Snow over the weekend.
9. Micah Smith and Dave Eastman.
Chess Club Trip to Central Park, 2nd Annual
Chess in the Park Tournament, NYC, 28 Sept 2002
This event is put on by the NYC Parks and Recreation Department and consists
of 6 rounds with a 10 minute time limit. We played in the open next to
the Bethesda Fountain. Ben Griffin won 4th place in his division.
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1. Welcome to the 2nd Annual Chess in the Park Tournament with over
500 players.
2. MAJ Carl Fossa plays a chessmaster.
3. Gino Caro says you don't stand a chance against me.
4,5 Benjamin Griffin battles in the novice division and goes 5-1, taking
4th place and a trophy.
6. Strawberry Fields, a monument to John Lennon near the tournament site.
7. If only I could control my kids this way! (Human Chess Game)
8-11. Micah Smith, Pedro Maldonado, Chris Manchev, and Charles Parsons are
ready to play
12-16. Cadets do battle against civilians and other cadets
17. CIC Dave Eastman relaxes in the boathouse. Planning trips is hard
work.
Team
Championships, Parsippany NJ, 16-18 Feb 2002
We had 2 cadet teams and an officer team. The cadets won the
best dressed award and a free $150 dinner.
1. Cadets Jino Caro, Matthew Snyder, Ran Du, and Florian Strambu
2. Best Dressed Contest Winners for a $150 dinner - Micah Smith, Marcus
Warner, Jeston Morris, David Eastman
3. Color Guard for opening ceremony
4. Best Dressed winners on stage with USCF tournament director Jim Doyle
5. Opening Ceremonies
6. Mission Impossible Skit
7. MAJ Hater contemplates a move
Cadets Pictured:
Team #1 - Cadets Florian Strambu,
Jeston Morris, Ran Du, Marcus Warner
Team #2 - Cadets Micah Smith, David Eastman, Matthew Snyder, Jino
Caro
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