CCC News & Views
NM Leland L. Fuerstman, Editor
      Greetings from Charlotte N.C, USA, Earth to    everyone out there in cyberspace, and welcome to the Charlotte Chess Club website. We have finally entered into the ultra modern age of instant communication. In this column, I will strive to report a weekly synopsis of the previous meeting to include current standings, annotated games, and other interesting anecdotes for your reading, viewing, and listening pleasure. Our goal is to eventually provide our members with a "realtime" site which will instantly produce current information about chess with the touch of a button! We welcome your comments and contributions 
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Click Below To View USCF Most Current Ratings

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CCC NEWS &VIEWS 12-30-99

Fuerstman Is Clear First In Final Wendy's Tournament of the Century*; Ashamalla Perfect In Lower Section
A total of fourty-three festive, happy-go-lucky, fun loving chessplayers, like so many drunken sailors standing on the beach waiting for a title wave, ignored the impending "end of the world" and competed in Wendy's X which ended 12-29-99. In the Top Section, NM Leland Fuerstman (2031) made up for his Rd:3 loss to Patrick McCartney (1861) by defeating NM Daniel Liu (2000) and ex-Expert Gary Newsom (1943) (See Game 0080)  in the final two rounds to capture the Wendy's X title.  Co-frontrunner McCartney met with strong final round opposition in the person of spoiler William F."Frankie" Newton II (2188) and will probably not be able to save his adjourned position. The final CCC meeting at Wendy's  featured a celebrity match between NM Mike Klein (2266)  and NM Garrick Wells (2257) whereupon due to a middlegame inexactitude, the former player bested "the Outlaw's" patented Petroff Defense. (SorryMike, I misplaced your scoresheet; please E-Mail another copy to lelandf@juno.com) Also in the Top Section, David Jaap (1860) slipped up against Jamie McGavran (1850), Tarokh Taefi (1786) succeeded against Michael Curcuru (1786) and NM Daniel Liu (2000) and Todd "Flowers" Trower (1986) drew. In the Middle Section, shuttleman Paul Calloway (1686) missed two rounds and still ended up in clear 1st Place with 3-0! Also in the Middle Section, Mike Isner (1499) successfully defended against Michael "You Know You Make Me Wanna'" Shoup (1077) while Doug "Sky" Millsaps (1644) drew with Thomas "Turnaround" Hayes (1469). In the Lower Section, CCC Lower Section Representative AlphonseAshamalla (1258) celebrated his return from a recent visit to his homeland of Egypt by defeating John Meyer (Unr) and winning the section in perfect style with 5-0! "Watch out Middle Section, here comes Ashamalla!!"  Also in the Lower Section, a special match game between Brittany Brown, 6, and Dougie Millsaps, 5, ended in an apparent Draw! Other Lower Section winners were: Terry Brown, Esq. who was clear 2nd with 3.5-1.5, son Brandon Brown and Helton Clavijo. For complete Wendy's X results see "Current Crosstable."  (*I know the new century doesn't start until 2001 but it just looks so good in print!!) See ya' at Wendy's Restaurant, next Wednesday! for Rd:1 of Wendy's XI.  The idiots at Athen's changed their minds.  Sorry, I tried. LF

shared the yuletide spirit as they competed in the final CCC 3 rounder of the Millennium. In the Top Section, NM Leland Fuerstman (2004) bounced back from his horriffic loss of the preceeding Wednesday to equal the score of Todd "Flowers" Trower (1964) who upset CCC favorite son  William F. "Frankie" Newton II (2160) in Rd:2. Each scored 2.5-.5 and took home $60. In the Lower Section, Anthony Smith (1137) unwrapped three early Christmas gifts scoring 3-0 and winning $40. Fuerstman directed.

Samuel Christopher & Don Norwood   NM Daniel Liu

Patrick McCartney & Gary Newsom

Paul Calloway & Jerome DeBell    Frankie Newton & Todd Trower

John Meyer  Todd Trower

Call it an experiment if you'd like, but the concept of "quick chess" (G/29) seems to be catching on. Though this author was upset in Rd:1 by tournament co-winner Mike Eberhardinger,the spacious, well lighted facility, superb steak and mashed potatoes dinner, and friendly waitresses and management made it all worthwhile!  A rather light turnout of only 8 players witnessed Eberhardinger and Patrick McCartney agree to a "quick" Draw in their final round encounter each scoring 2.5-.5 and taking home $60. "We'll do this again in about a month. It was fun!" (The next one will be Jan 7. See ya' there!) LF

CCC "Favorite Son" Expert Frankie Newton (2145) came face to face with "Ex-CCC Favorite Son" NM Matthew Hoekstra (2250). With the State Title in his sights, fatigue, the clock and the relentless determination of his opponent left Frankie dreaming of what might have been. Still a darn good showing for the aspiring Master; It's only a matter of time! Also, in the Championship Section, NM Daniel Liu (2050) scored 2.5-2.5. 

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In the Under 2000 Section Randy Lovelace (2002) and Patrick McCartney (1771) yielded only two draws each as they tied for 1st-4th with 2 out-of-staters?!? all with 4-1.

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 In the Under 1600 Section Jerome DeBell (1529) grabbed a share of 3rd place with a 4-1 result while Carl McKern (1500) scored 3-2. 

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(For a more detailed description of the events of the N.C. Championship see the CCC "Message Board" at

Congratulations are in order for CCC member Justin Daniel who, at the tender age of 15 has, according to the USCF December Rating Supplement, achieved the Title of Expert with a published rating of 2019. Justin, who recently relocated from Charleston, S.C.with his father, Kevin and family, is a highly motivated and intellectually stimulated "home taught" student. (Where have we seen this before?) His recent results at the Charlotte Chess Club include wins over NM Leland Fuerstman (2018) and Harold "Wyn" Mouzon (2190). We are honored to have such an extremely talented and polite young man in our mix. Watch out Frankie!! Here comes Justin!!!

Would someone please give me one good reason why our sovereign State Championship is Open to players from all states and/or countries? From the best of my recollection, back in around 1975, the NCCA decided to allow "out-of-staters" to play in order to bolster the prize fund! Ten years later, when I was elected President of the NCCA, that rule was voted down.  And I might add that the prize fund for the 1985 N.C. Championship was four times greater than it was this year! with NO "OUT-OF-STATERS! Allowing OoSP's to compete totally defies the very idea of determining the true champions of our own state! It is simply unfair to all who are in contention.  We have other tournaments in North Carolina for that: The LPO, the Land of the Sky, etc. We need at least 1 sovereign one.
Secondly, who came up with this ridiculous idea of allowing players to re-enter? What is this, your "Mulligan" like in golf?  Again, that scheme surfaced in the mid-seventies with your big money tournaments; but certainly not with your State Championship.  And finally, the tournament's improper design rendered the prize fund unappealing.  It is now, and has always been the responsibility of the NCCA to obtain sponsorship in order to defray expenses and increase the Prize Fund.  The current administration simply did not do this.  If these changes are made, and they certainly should be, maybe I will grace them with my presence next year! LF

It's Black to Play; How would you appraise this position?
For Black's Amazing Answer 
see the "Game of the Week"