Chess clubs host annual tournament
Charlotte Observer, 12/17/06 section V

The chess clubs of West Caldwell, Hibriten and South Caldwell high schools hosted their annual Holiday Foothills Chess Tournament on Dec. 9 at West Caldwell High School.

Twenty-six student and adult players competed in Four-Round Swiss Style Pairings.

Participants contributed several dozen canned food items for the food drive being held at West Caldwell High School and $150, which will be used to help sponsor a family in the community.

The seven sessions ranged from nationally ranked expert level to beginners. Awards were given to the top three players in each of the rating groups.

Top finishers were:
First session (expert): First place, Ellis Jones of Bryson City, Tenn.; second-place tie, Randy Lovelace of Taylorsville and Hickory's Alex Cibotarica.

Second session: First place, Randy Wheeless of Charlotte. Wheeless is president of the N.C. Chess Association. Second place, John Simonsen of Johnson City, Tenn.

Third session: First place, Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute student Brad Reese.

Fourth session: First place, Jayson Miller of Hibriten High School; second place, South Caldwell's Bobby Stroud; third place, Mike Taladay of Hudson; fourth place, Andrew Simonsen of Johnson City, Tenn.; fifth place, Anthony Snyder, a student at Maiden High School.

Fifth session: Six-way tie among Matt Embler and Dustin Hartley of West Caldwell High School, Kent Wheeless, who is homeschooled in Charlotte, Robbie Earp and James Huff of Hibriten High School, and Jack Shaver, a member of the Hickory Chess Club. Others who competed in that section were Peter Slivka of South Caldwell High School, Tim Ballas of West Caldwell and David Simonsen of Johnson City, Tenn.

Sixth session: Three-way tie among Louis Bullock and Winston White of West Caldwell and Logan Bost of Maiden High.

Seventh session: First place, Tyler Austin of CCC&TI; second place, Ashton Leatherman of Maiden; third place, Jonathan Curtis of Hibriten.

For information about future chess events, e-mail John Thomas at jthomas@caa.k12.nc.us.