Monday, September 29, 2008

2008 Tournament Schedule!

Below are the tournaments we will attend for the rest of the year. This list is subject to CHANGE and discussion. This is just what I am thinking right now. Please call me at 262-679-4051 or email me at seghers@gmail.com if you would like to either register or if you have questions! - Mark Seghers

Oct 4 - This Saturday!
Hales Corners Challenge VIII
USCF Tournament- must be USCF Member- call/email me if you would like to register.
Wyndham Milwaukee Airport Hotel
4747 S. Howell Avenue
Milwaukee 414-481-8000

Oct 11
Thomas Jefferson Middle School
WSCF
Port Washington
Map it!
Info

Nov 1
Holy Trinity Lutheran School
WSCF
Okachee
Map it!
Info

Nov 15
Goodrich Elementaray
WSCF
Milwaukee
Map it!

Nov 22
Assata High School
WSCF
Milwaukee
Map it!

Dec 6
Donges Bay Elementary School
WSCF
Mequon
Map it!

Dec 13
St. Thomas Moore High School
St. Frances
Map it!

Dec 20
Messmer High School
WSCF
Milwaukee
Map it!

LMDS Takes First at Museum

The Knights of LDMS Take Home First Place!

The team of Rachel Gomoll, Chris Tillson and Reid Seghers took first place at the Milwaukee Museum Tri-state Tournament (WSCF Open Section) this Saturday!
Reid and Chris took 3 points to take 5th and 10th. Rachel took 2 points to take 14th. Rachel beat the VERY tough Erik Rokni in the second round. Way to go Rachel!!!

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Chess Points

Players in the the LDMS Chess Team will be able to earn (and occasionally lose) "chess points"... these points are earned by performing valuable chess-related activities. Below are some examples. Later in the year, students will be able to redeem their points for chess related prizes!

Example Point values
-5 = asked to sit out of class (third warning)
0 = very poor behavior in class (two warnings)
1 = notated game
not so good behavior in class (one warning)
2 = class attended, good behavior
notated tournament game
3 = tournament game won
class attended, great, interactive, helpful behavior
4 = prepared and taught short lesson in class
in tournament, beat player with >100 higher USCF rating

Team Play at LDMS


In the LDMS Chess Team, we are all teachers, and we are all students.
Our early classes have been great, and we have a nice mix of players experienced with chess tournaments, and others who have played chess but never in a tournament setting.
We have 22 kids signed up for the Chess Team, about half of them from the powerful Mill Valley program which was coached by Mr. Reese (now coach at Bay Lane).
In our second class, we played a team game. Above is the team who played the black pieces, studying and considering their next move. One team made a blunder and that was all it took! Several powerful lessons were revealed through this exercise.
The game of chess is an oracle which reveals itself through our focus and our attention. These discoveries lead to tactics, which lead to improvement.
Next week we will be focusing on chess notation and chess puzzles. We hope you will join us!
- Mr. Seghers


Monday, September 22, 2008

Chess Club Meeting Minutes

Today was a great chess team meeting!

We talked about our success at the Badger Open (scholastic division), and welcomed several new members! We have about 20 members already!

Then, we divided into two teams and played one team vs. the other, Family Feud style, using the instructional board. Each team had a line, and the first person in each line made their move, and then moved to the back of their line. The person in the front of each line was allowed to listen to suggestions from his teammates, which he/she could either follow or ignore.

The result was a very interesting game with one key blunder we were able to discuss. At the end of the game, students gave their ideas about what they saw during the game.

This weekend, there is a tournament at the Milwaukee Museum. Click here for details, and please let me know if your child can attend!!! You can email me at seghers@gmail.com, or you can call me at 262-679-4051. Next week, our chess class will again be on Monday from 3-4pm. See you there!

New: Southwest Chess Club Tournament

From the SW Chess Club (web site located at http://home.wi.rr.com/swcc/ ) -

Hello Chess Players,
This Thursday, September 25, marks the start of a new tournament, the Cool Autumn Breezes Blowing Swiss, a four round event with one game each night of the tournament. There will be two sections. Register at the playing site between 6:20 and 6:50 pm. If you know you will be late but wish to enter, please contact me in advance. Remember, we are now meeting at the Layton State Bank in Greendale, located at 5850 Broad Street (lower level). Details below.
Cool Autumn Breezes Blowing Swiss: Sept. 25, Oct 2, 9, 16 4-Round Swiss in Two Sections (Open and Under 1600). Game/100 minutes. USCF Rated. EF: $5 members, $7 others. (One ½ Point Bye Available for any round (except round four) if requested at least 2- days prior to round). TD is Fogec; ATD is Grochowski Tom Fogec Southwest Chess Club 414-425-6742 tfogec@wi.rr.com

LDMS Takes 2nd!

In the Badger Open, we had 2 and a half boys play. Reid and Chris played all 6, and Evan played 3 games after showing up late. Mr. Seghers could not attend due to a prescheduled annual event out of town. Thanks to Mrs. Tillson and Mrs. Seghers for driving the boys and holding down the fort.

We took 2nd place in the scholastic division with some great wins! While we are not judging ourselves based on the number of trophies we win, this showing proved that we did not get too rusty over the Summer, and that our boys retained their skills!

Evan and Reid have participated in the Southwest Chess club over the Summer, and the Green Bay Open. This helped keep their skills sharp. Chris also did a little practicing, and is a tough player. Our team begins the season with some strong players as our foundation.

Great Job boys!!!!!!!!!!

Friday, September 19, 2008

Milwaukee Museum Chess Sept 27!!

Milwaukee Museum Chess Tournament - WSCF and USCF

Another OPTIONAL warm-up for LDMS players!

Location: Milwaukee Public Museum, 800 Wells Street Milwaukee, WI 53233
Format: Five Sections
WSCF K – 3 5 Round Swiss G20, G25, G30, G30, G30
WSCF under 600 5 Round Swiss G30
WSCF Open 5 Round Swiss G30
USCF under 800 4 Round Swiss G45
USCF Open 4 Round Swiss (3) G45, G60 (This division begins at 9:00 am)

Pairings: Players will be paired according to USCF rule 28d1. Please notify TD if you have a rating other than a
USCF or Wisconsin rating. The higher rating will be used to determine pairing order per WinTD selections.

Awards: WSCF K - 3 Three Team Trophies. Individual trophies to top 5 players.
WSCF K – 12 under 600 Three Team Trophies. Individual trophies to top 5 players.
WSCF K – 12 Open Three Team Trophies. Individual trophies to top 5 players.
USCF K – 12 under 800 Three Team Trophies. Individual trophies to top 5 players.
USCF K – 12 Open Three Team Trophies. Individual trophies to top 5 players.

Medals to all non trophy winners.

Entry Fees: WSCF Divisions: $10 before Sept 1, $15 by Sept 13, $20 by Sept 25, $25 on site.
USCF Divisions: $15 before Sept 1, $20 by Sept 13, $25 by Sept 25, $30 on site.
(post marks by Sept 20 for $20 & $25 price )

Entry: Please contact Coach Mark at 262-679-4051 or seghers@gmail.com

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

The Knights ?

I posted recently that we were going to be The Rookies... However, there is a Muskego concept that is brewing... we might be The Knights... stay tuned...

See you Monday 3-4, Room 419. Be there!

Coach Mark Seghers 262-679-4051.. Call me if you have any questions.

Monday, September 15, 2008

First Meeting Minutes, Next Meeting...

Our irst Meeting at LDMS Goes Well...


Today after school, the LDMS Chess Team had our first meeting. While some key members were unable to attend, the meeting went well, and we welcome some newcomers including Zeke Baker to the squad!

We talked about the new school year and the upcoming tournaments (the WSCF schedule is still unpublished) and much more.

We picked a team name - the Rookies, which Reid came up with and Rachel immediately seconded... We liked this name because 1) it continues the "chess piece" theme from Mr. Reese's Mill Valley Knights, 2) promotes it from Knight to Rook as the children get more experienced, and also 3) this is our first year as a team, like true rookies in a way, and 4) Rooks work best when they work together, protecting and supporting each other.
(NOTE- we may choose to change our team name to The Knights of LDMS based on a continued conversation with Coach Reese of Bay Lane. Stay Tuned!)

The attending members of the team each get 10 chess points for attending this first meeting. The points system will run throughout the year, and point totals will be posted on this site for all members. The points will translate later in the year to something valuable for the children, to be announced....

NEXT MEETING: Our next meeting is a week from today, MONDAY (we will stick with this day), September 22, from 3:00 to 4:00 PM in Room 419.

USCF TOURNAMENT THIS SATURDAY- OPTIONAL: This weekend is the Badger Open. Reid and Chris will be attending, and possibly others- let me know ASAP if you would like to attend!!! If we get 4 or more, we will participate as a team. This is an unofficial LDMS team event, however, as I will be unable to attend myself, unfortunately.








Tuesday, September 9, 2008

First Meeting MONDAY Sept 15, 3pm Rm 419

Something New this Year! Announcing the LDMS Competitive Chess Program!

Starting MONDAY, September 15th, at 3pm in Room 419, we will be forming a competitive chess team that will play against other schools in WSCF and USCF events! This team is coached by Mr. Seghers, an LDMS parent with two boys at LDMS, Reid and Evan. Reid and Evan come from the powerful Mill Valley Knights, who won the State Championship earlier this year! Several other LDMS students were also members of that great team, coached by Mr. Gregory Reese.

We will be meeting most weeks after school, on either Monday or Wednesdays, to be determined. I will print a schedule that I will hand out in our first meeting on the 17th. I will also print out a TOURNAMENT schedule showing which tournaments our team will be participating in as a team. Note that this COMPETITIVE Chess program is IN ADDITION to Mr. Antoniewicz’ existing Thursday night social chess program (which begins in November). We hope you will attend both! It’s always good to enjoy a good game of chess.

The Mon/Wed meetings will involve 1) announcements of upcoming tournaments, 2) a lesson, taught by Mr. Seghers OR one of the team!, and 3) 20-minute games matched with players of similar skills. Early on, we will learn how to play in tournaments – it’s a little different! – and also learn how to play with a clock, and finally how to take chess notation so you can re-play and learn from past games.

Regarding tournaments, they are all OPTIONAL for team members. Whoever can make it, that is our LDMS team for that tournament. The first chess tournament is September 20th already! This is the BADGER OPEN. This tournament is located at the Marriott Milwaukee West, in Waukesha. Fee is $15. I will bring more detailed information on this event to our first chess team meeting. There is also a tournament on September 27th, at the Milwaukee Museum. These tournaments are not “official” LDMS tournaments- consider them “warm-ups!!”…

Does your Dad or Mom play chess??? I am looking for co-coaches, parents who play chess and would like to help out! Want to be an assistant coach?? I am looking for players who want to help teach beginning players- more details to come next MONDAY.

SIGN UP TODAY!!! The sign-up sheet is posted by Room 118, OR you can just show up at our first meeting on Wednesday, September 17th, at 3pm in Room 419.

Check out our web site! http://ldmschess.blogspot.com/ … Post your own articles, or comments!