Hey fellow Sacramento chess fans,
I have a chess novel with espionage themes, SPY’S MATE, coming out from Thinkers Publishing in October 2025. It’s set in the former Soviet Union and has chess diagrams, a unique feature in chess fiction as far as I know, so it has educational value as well, for newcomers to this great game.
Anyway, I’m hoping to connect with some of you to get feedback on the book’s latest draft. Please feel free to email me at
buchanan@csus.edu if you’d like to get a peek at it in the next four weeks before it goes to print!
I’m going to have a book launch in mid-October at Beer’s books, and would love to invite everyone to that event!
I’m also hoping to play some games with you at Great Escape Games soon, though my game has suffered in recent years due to various medical problems…
Thanks for your consideration.
Yours, Brad Buchanan
Hi everyone!
The San Jose Chess Club is announcing it's first ever OTB FIDE Rated and Open to Public tournament. The Silicon Valley Open is a premier USCF and FIDE rated tournament, details are listed down below. Details are listed below and are also on the website linked. Registration form is on the website as well. We currently have 1 GM and 3 IM's registered for the tournament. Entry List can be found on the website.
Website and Registration: https://www.sjchessclub.com/home
Dates: May 22nd-23rd, 2021.
Rounds and Time Control: 5 rounds G90 Inc30.
Round times: Saturday: 9:00am, 1:30pm, 6:15pm. Sunday: 10:00am, 3:00pm.
2 Sections: Open, and Reserve (U2000).- Open section will FIDE and USCF rated, Reserve section will be USCF rated.
Prizes:
$3,900 based on 80 fully paid entries. Under prizes based on May USCF Published Rating
Open Section= 1st: $1,000, 2nd: $500, 3rd: $350, Top U2200, $250.
Reserve Section (U2000)= 1st: $800, 2nd: $400, 3rd: $250, Top U1700: $200, Top U1400: $150
Early online registration before 5/6 is $100, afterwards it will be $120. Registration will close at Friday noon. There will be no onsite registration. Please register on the form below
Play Up: Play ups are only allowed for players 1800+ wanting to play in the Open section. Play up fee is $20. Please select the play up option in the payment if you are playing up.
GM/IM/WGM/WIM receive free entry with no prize deduction until 5/18. After that $100 prize reduction. Please email chessclubsanjose@gmail.com to enter.
Location: Sonesta San Jose
Tournament Director
STD & FA Judit Sztaray
COVID-19 procedures: To ensure safety we will require all players to where a mask at all times. We will also be providing latex gloves to anyone who wants them. After each round the boards, tables, and seats will be sanitized. Pairings and Standings will be online.
Boards are provided, but players should bring clocks!
This tournament in non-refundable a week from the event
Questions? Email chessclubsanjose@gmail.com. Or message @qing29 or @chesspilot01