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

Fuerstman Finishes Strong, but Might Not Catch Newton! Calloway Sweeps Middle; Gordon, B.Brown Lower Section In Wendy's XII
A grand total of fourty-five of the local chess community's less timid competitors laid it all on the line this past month as they boldly risked their rating points, and their egos, for the slight chance that they might someday succeed and be called Champion! In the Top Section, NM Leland Fuerstman (2023) took Team Salisbury to task after he boldly (or "recklessly" if you prefer) rejected a draw and won his pawn down Rd:4 adjournment versus Greg "Hornblower" Hall (1831) and then proceeded to single handedly take revenge for Pearl Harbor by launching a devastating attack against David "Kamikaze" Jaap (1800). The pretty "double piece sacrifice!" earned honors as the "Game of the Week". However, Fuerstman's excellent score of 4-1 may not be quite good enough to claim the Title. CCC Favorite Son Expert Frankie"WWF" Newton II (2169) maintains advantages in Rd:4 & 5 adjournments against David Jaap (1800) and NM Daniel "Deep" Liu (2024) respectively. (See Game 0103) Wins in both games would elevate his score to 4.5-.5!  Also, in the Top Section, with the Black pieces, Greg "Hornblower" Hall (1831) outlasted Patrick McCartney (1870) while 16 year old upstart Expert Justin Daniel (2022) relegated NM Garrick "Outlaw" Wells (2242) to his fourth consecutive Draw!? In the Middle Section, Paul "Shuttleman" Calloway (1661) "whupped ass and took names" as he manhandled "Iron" Mike Lipkin (1586) and waits, with 4 points already registered, to complete his promising exchange down, pawn up adjournment versus CCC Website Advisor Carl McKern (1522).  Also, in the Middle Section, "Iron" Mike Isner (1509) took care of Doug "Sky" Millsaps (1584) while CCC Internal Affairs Committee Chariman Paul F. Lucas (1606) has adjourned with Jerome "Bouncer" DeBell (1613).  In the Lower Section, Daryl "Flash" Gordon (1302) and Brandon Brown (1151) shared the honors each scoring 3-2.  Other Lower Section winners were: Joe Feiler, Adam Clontz, Michael "You know you make me wanna" Shoup and Sean Johnson. See all results in "Current Crosstable." 

Fourteen of our less diffident members fought their way through the thick black smoke and into our excellent new facility more commonly known as the Ole Smokehouse Dining Room on Saturday, February 26, in order to participate in the first of many weekend tournaments to be held there this year.  In the Top Section, NM Daniel "Deep" Liu (2000)  defeated Richard Stancil (1695) and Patrick McCartney (1861) before agreeing to a Draw on move 23 with NM Leland Fuerstman (2041) who had scored victories against Michael Curcuru (1785) and Robert Spurrier (1998).  Each scored 2.5-.5 and took home $75. To view Patrick McCartney's Rd:3 encounter with Robert Spurrier 

In the Lower Section Quad, Carl McKern (1522) was swindled out of a Draw in Rd:2 by Don Norwood (772) but won his final round to take clear 1st with 2.5-.5 winning $40. Don Norwood (772) was second with 2-1. Fuerstman directed.

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The Ole Smokehouse Dining Room located at 1513 Montford Dr. is an excellent new facility, with a superb menu, direct parking, smoking area and free coffee. The private "quiet" playing area (which could easily accommodate 100 players!) is clearly the finest that the Charlotte Chess Club has used in years. Our next event has been scheduled for March 18.  See ya there!

Newton Draws GM Shabalov (2623), Crushes IM Sevillano (2547) at Land of the Sky!
A roar of applause and cheers filled the room as "the Gladiator" entered...for, he had once again, proven himself in battle, "beyond the call of duty."  This time, William F. Frankie "the Gladiator" Newton II (2188) asked no quarter and yielded none after employing the "Swiss Gambit" in Rd:1 of the Land of the Sky.  In Rd:2 he handily defeated Jeffery Pennig (1947) and was thusly paired with one of the highest rated active players in the U.S., International Grandmaster Alex Shabalov (2623) whom he Drew! (See Game 0094)Round 4 saw "the Gladiator" at his best as he crushed International Master Enrico Sevillano (2547) in an exciting game.(See Game 0095)  In the final round, our hero, battered, bruised and exhausted from his previous encounters could no longer thrust his sword and fell honorably to National Master Larry Tapper (2321). Still, a fantastic result against a very strong field of players.  Also, in the Top Section, Justin Daniel scored 2.5-2.5.  In the Under 2000 Section, Michael Curcuru was 2nd-4th with 4.5-.5 while Paul "Shuttleman" Calloway finished in the money with 3.5-1.5 posting wins over J. Fred Wilson, Patrick McCartney and Tim Bond. Patrick McCartney scored 3-2 while Don "Sky" Hofer posted an equal score.  Andras Bader went 2-3 and "Iron" Mike Eberhardinger  went .5-3.5. In the Under 1600 Section, Jerome "Bouncer" DeBell scored 3-2 while Spencer Singleton, Terry Brown, Nick Bambara and Brandon Brown went 2-3. "Amazing" Al Ashamalla slipped a bit with 1-4.  In the Under 1200 Section, Michael "You Know You Make Me Wanna" Shoup scored 3.5-1.5. In the SpeedChess Tournament, Brandon Brown tied for 1st in the Under 1600 with 5-5. A more detailed narrative of this event may be viewed on our CCC Message Board.