Teen King

Niles North teen is U.S. chess king
BY MATT WILHALME Staff Reporter
May 9, 2011 02:09AM

Eric Rosen, 17, first began playing chess the summer before he started second grade, but by the time spring break rolled around, his dad couldn’t beat him anymore.

“We didn’t know it at the time,” his father Brad Rosen said, “but life would never be the same.”

Last week, the junior at Niles North High School became the United States Chess Federation K12 national champion at a tournament in Nashville, Tenn.

Eric Rosen won the title after going undefeated through seven rounds. He rolled to victory after a tense sixth-round matchup against Aleksandr Ostrovskiy, a so-called FIDE Master. FIDE Masters are internationally recognized in the chess community and are on path to possibly become a Grand Master, the highest rating.

The Skokie native nervously watched Ostrovskiy move his pieces until he realized his opponent’s game plan.

“The first 11 moves of the game had been on my computer screen the night before,” said Rosen, who studied several of Ostrovskiy’s previous games in preparation for the match.

By the time he reached the final, Eric Rosen needed only a draw to win the national title, although he didn’t realize it at the time.

Over the years the national champion has played in hundreds of tournaments and at camps across the country and even helped his school win the state chess tournament in 2010. This year Niles North fell to Whitney Young in Illinois, but finished fourth nationally.

More here.

The upset artist

Niles North's Rosen Wins National Chess Championship

By Karyn Malench Yesterday at 2:43 p.m.

Niles North High School chess player Eric Rosen was crowned the National K12 Champion at the United States Chess Federation (USCF) National Tournament held April 28 through May 1 in Nashville, TN. Rosen was the tournament’s only undefeated competitor, beating FIDE Master Aleksandr Ostrovskiy in round six, which set up a match against International Master Marc Arnold for the seventh and final round. Rosen said, “After I won my sixth round game, my nervousness went away, and I felt I had nothing to lose. When I found out I was playing him, I had some time to prepare, and I went to my computer to look up some past tournament games he had played. During the game, I tried to zone everything out and just focus on the board. I was seated on a stage for the last round, but after five minutes, I forgot about everyone watching me.”

Rosen’s incredible grace under pressure allowed him to defeat Arnold, emerging as the tournament champion after three grueling days of seven rounds of play. Niles North Head Chess Coach Harry Kyriazes commented, “This remarkable accomplishment becomes even more extraordinary when one considers that games at the National tournament often take four hours to complete—the Vikings each played nearly eight hours the first day, twelve hours the second, and eight more on the final day of competition.”

The USCF website refers to Rosen’s win as “one of the most outstanding individual achievements in this tournament’s history.” For Rosen, his accomplishment is only just beginning to sink in. “I kept having to repeat to myself that I won the national championship. I remember when I was in second grade, and seeing players at Nationals who were playing on the stage and looking up to them, and it feels like I’ve come so far.”

Niles North Principal Dr. Ryan McTague said, “Niles North is so proud of Eric’s amazing USCF K12 National Championship. First and foremost, Eric is a positive role model whose commitment and dedication to our school and local community serves as an example to us all.” Dr. McTague proclaimed Friday, May 6 as Eric Rosen Day at Niles North High School. Rosen and his teammates will be feted at an afternoon celebration at the school.

Rosen, a junior, began playing chess when he was seven, and worked with renowned trainer Tamara Golovey. He currently trains with Grandmaster Dmitry Gurevich and is a member of the Chicago Blaze team of the United States Chess League. Rosen is the top-rated high school player in Illinois and he earned the title of Life Master in 2010. The Life Master designation is awarded once a player attains a rating of over 2,200 and maintains it for at least 300 chess games. The title is held for life.

Rosen’s latest accomplishment is no fluke. Since he started playing the game, he has steadily earned accolades and awards. He won the 2009 U.S. Junior Open and the 2010 High School Individual State Championship (Denker Qualifier). After his defeat of East Coast Grandmaster John Federowicz in the 2009 U.S. Open Chess Championship, Rosen said, “My goal is to break 2,300 and that’s called a FIDE Master and its one of the highest titles you can receive in chess.” Rosen, who is rated at 2,333, now says, “It would be nice to get my rating high enough to be invited to play in the U.S. Junior Closed. To do that, I definitely have to be over 2,400. My short-term goals are to do well in upcoming tournaments. I plan to play at the World Open in Philadelphia in July and a tournament for players at the Master level and above in Los Angeles in August.”

The ripple effects of Rosen’s national championship will be felt throughout the North Shore. Rosen’s parents were instrumental in starting a chess program at Middleton Elementary School when he was a student, and they helped to set up an informal drop-in chess program at the Skokie Public Library. Rosen mentors chess students at Sherwood Elementary School in Highland Park. He is generous with his talents and offers strategies and puzzles to help others raise their game. He said, “The most important thing is just to enjoy the game and strive to get better. Hard work also pays off. Learning from your losses and mistakes is also one of the most important things you can do in chess and in life—figuring out what your mistakes were and how you can prevent them next time.”

More here.

Susan Polgar World Open for Boys and Girls

The 2011 SP World Open for Boys and Girls has moved from Las Vegas (in June 2011) to Chicago (in October 2011) per the request of many parents and coaches. I expect this event will be bigger and better than ever! I would like to thank the organizer of the LV Chess Festival for hosting this event in previous years. The North American Chess Association will be the new host this year.

Susan Polgar World Open for Boys and Girls 2011
October 7 – 10, 2011
Doubletree Hotel – Oakbrook, IL

Over $100,000 in Chess Prizes and Scholarships

Register Online Now

7R Swiss System; 8 sections: (K-3), (4-5), (6-8), (9-12)

Time Controls:	(K-3) G/30 + 5/sec delay (4-5) G/45 + 5/sec delay (6-8) G/45 + 5/sec delay (9-12) G/60 + 5/sec delay
Round Times:	(K-3) Sat/Sun 11am, 1pm, 3pm; Mon 10am (4-5) Sat/Sun 11am, 1:30pm, 4pm; Mon 10am (6-8) Sat/Sun 11am, 1:30pm, 4pm; Mon 10am (9-12) Sat/Sun 11am, 2pm, 5pm; Mon 10am
Side Events:	Bughouse – Friday 7:30pm Puzzle Solving – Saturday 7:30pm Blitz – Sunday 7:30pm

Ongoing Side Event: Walk-in simul presented by the Chicago Blaze US Chess League team. Done with your game or waiting for your child to finish? Take on a member of the Chicago Blaze between the hours of 12pm and 6pm!

Additional side events to be listed closer to event date. Please check the tournament website for more details.

All equipment will be provided (boards, sets, clocks). Organizer provided equipment must be used. Equipment will be on discounted sale upon tournament completion for school clubs and parents to purchase.

Cajun Chess will be equipment vendor onsite.

All 4th – 12th grade participants who are not a current member of the US Chess Federation will receive a 1-year free membership (no magazine option) included with their tournament entry fee.

All (K-12) participants will receive a free 1-year membership to ChessKid.com (a $49.95 value!)

Prizes
(Boys and Girls – All sections)

All 4th – 12th grade participants who are not a current member of the US Chess Federation will receive a 1-year free membership (no magazine option) included with their tournament entry fee.

All (K-12) participants will receive a free 1-year membership to ChessKid.com (a $49.95 value!)

1st place: Netbook Computer
2nd place: $250 in Chess Prizes
3rd place: $175 in Chess Prizes
4th place: $100 in Chess Prizes

1st place in 9-12 to receive scholarship to Texas Tech University!

Trophies to top 15 individuals
Trophies to top 4 school teams*
Trophies to top 4 club teams*

Certificate of Participation for all players

Tournament Fees

$45 post-marked by 8/27/2011
$50 post-marked by 9/10/2011
$55 post-marked by 9/24/2011
$60 thereafter and onsite

Side events are each $15 mailed in with entry or $20 on-site

Register Online Now

Payments to be mailed to (payable):

North American Chess Association
4957 Oakton Street Suite 113
Skokie, IL 60077

Questions: sevan@nachess.org
or call 847.423.8626
Mention Polgar Tournament in your message

* Top 4 player scores count toward school team prizes; school team trophies awarded in each section; Top 4 player scores count towards club team prizes; club team trophies awarded overall (not based on sections).

Doubletree Hotel – 1909 Spring Road – Oakbrook, IL 60523 – 630.472.6000 $79 room rate; must call hotel directly and ask for North American Chess rate.

North Shore Chess Center

GM Susan Polgar Lecture and Book Signing

On Saturday December 11 @ 7:00pm, Grandmaster Susan Polgar will visit the North Shore Chess Center and provide a free lecture and Q&A session to players, parents, and all other interested parties. GM Polgar will discuss a variety of topics such as advancing chess in education, bringing together chess and corporate sponsors, and the topsy-turvey world of professional chess.

She will also do a book signing of two of her most popular books Breaking Through and Chess Tactics for Champions. Books will be available for purchase at the North Shore Chess Center.

The event is free for everyone to attend but attendance will be limited to the first 50 people registered. To register for the event visit http://www.nachess.org/events

The North Shore Chess Center is located at 5500 W Touhy Ave Suite A Skokie, IL 60077.

For questions please email Sevan A. Muradian at sevan@nachess.org