Bammel Chess Club
News

Bammel Team Hangs Tough with Best in Texas!!
The Chess Team headed for the coast on November 8, 1997.  Space Center Intermediate hosted the second HCA tournament of the season.  We were looking forward to this trip because we knew all of the top area teams ( which just happen to be most of the top Texas teams ) would be there.  We didn't have the tournout for the trip like we usually do because of other activites going on at school, but we did manage to field a team that was strong.  We are proud of you all.
Team Results
 
Place Points Team Name Texas Rank ( 1997 State Tourney )
1st 19.5 Sharpstown Middle                             3
2nd 19.0 Lanier Middle                             1
3rd  17.0 Stafford Middle                   did not attend
4th 16.5 Bammel Middle                   did not attend
5th 15.5 Hartmann Middle                             6
6th 14.5 Space Center Intermediate                             4
7th   9.5 Albright Middle                            15
Individual Placings
 
Player Name Points Place
Matt Tirey     4.5 / 5      2nd
Chris Tilotta     4.0 / 5      2nd
Matt Griesmeyer     4.0 / 5      2nd
George Dginchvelashveli     4.0 / 5      2nd
Everyone did a super job!  Next stop is the Hunstville Scholastic on December 13th.  This is our first USCF event of the year as we begin to gear up for the State Championships.

BAMMEL STARTS STRONG IN CLOSEST TOURNAMENT YET!! 

Bammel's Team got off to a strong start at our first tournament of the season.  The team travelled to MacArthur High School in Aldine for a round-robin tournament.  Bammel had 18 players; 10 vetereans and 8 newcomers.  The team played strong with ALL 10 VETERAN PLAYERS WINNING TROPHIES!!!  We are off to a great start!!!

The team finished with 26 of a possible 28 points to come in behind Lanier Middle School; the 2 time stae champs and current #3 team in the USA, with 27.5 points.  Second place went to Sharpstown Middle School; the #3 team in Texas, with 26.5 points to edge Bammel by 1/2 of a point.  Keep up the great work!!!!!

Team Finshes
1st Place  -  27.5 points - Lanier Middle School ( State Champs / #3 in the USA )
2nd Place - 26.5 points - Sharpstown Middle School ( #3 in Texas )
3rd Place - 26 points - Bammel Middle School
Individual Scores
Chris Tilotta - 5/5    1st place        Vishal Marocha - 4.5/5   1st place
Jose Matos - 6/7  2nd place (tiebreaker)      Greg Vanover - 4/5   2nd place    Lynden Fraser - 4/5   2nd place
Chuck Barry - 5.5/7    2nd place       Matt Tirey - 4/7   2nd place
Ronalyn Dantes - 3/5     3rd place         Matt Griesmyer - 4/7      3rd place
George Dginchvelashveli  -  3/5     4th place

Special Notes:  Ronalyn Dantes and George Dginchvelashveli deserve special recognition for fighting back from each losing their first two games to win the last 3 and finish in the trophies!  Matt Tirey rebounded from 3 consecutive defeats and scored a 2nd place trophy!  Chris Tilotta went undefeated and untied while Jose Matos and Vishal Marocha had no defeats!


Tilotta Starts the 1997 Season with a Victory at
Klein Scholastics

Bammel's top player from last year, Chris Tilotta, picked up where he left off at the school year's end. Chris captured 5.5 out of  7 points to win first place in the Klein Scholastics held on August 23 at Klein High School.  We are all looking forward to a great year and this was a super way to start.  Good job Chris!!


BAMMEL'S TOP PLAYERS COMPETE IN THE
TCA TEXAS STATE AMATEUR TOURNAMENT

Bammel's top two players, along with one of their coaches, competed in the TCA Texas State Amateur Championships over the Memorial Day Weekend in San Antonio, Texas.  So far, this was the biggest tournament that any Bammel players or coaches have been involved with.  The tournament consisted of six rounds played over three days.  Matches that routinely lasted 3 or more hours were something new to us, but we adjusted well.  Bammel's two students fared well winning 2 points each, while their coach, Mr. Lancaster, had a rougher time losing all of his matches and gathering only one point on a bye.

Our players learned a huge amount as the weekend progressed.  Some of the younger players included the current Texas High School champion Steven Grubbs and one of the top-rated players in the state and former Texas Middle School champion David John.

Individual Scores
Chris Tilotta - 2 points
Lynden Fraser - 2 points
Mr. Lancaster - 1 point

BAMMEL FINISHES SEASON WITH
ANOTHER 2ND-PLACE TROPHY

On May 24th, Bammel's team competed in the Klein Spring Scholastic at Klein High School.  The tournament featured two divisions; a rated division for USCF members and an unrated division for Non-USCF members.  Bammel had three players finish in the top six in the unrated division and finished second overall behind Kleb Intermediate.

TEAM STANDINGS
KLEB INTERMEDIATE -  FIRST PLACE
BAMMEL MIDDLE SCHOOL - SECOND PLACE
INDIVIDUAL SCORES AND PLACINGS
RYAN NEICE - 1ST PLACE  ( 6 OUT OF 7 POINTS )
CHRIS ELKINS - 4TH PLACE ( 5 OUT OF 7 POINTS )
CURTIS GULLEDGE - 6TH PLACE ( 4 OUT OF 7 POINTS )

BAMMEL TEAM PLAYS STRONG AT
THE VILLAGE SCHOOL

Bammel traveled to The Village School on May 10th for a four-player team competition. There were only three teams with us for this event, but it was one of the most fun. Players of all skill levels were mixed together to form the teams, and you never knew who you might go against. This was fun because we got to play some very strong players that are not usually in our division.  Our three teams placed well with two fourth place finishes and a second place finish. Another highlight was our first ever ALL GIRL TEAM made up of three Bammel players and one player from Fonville Middle School.

Individual Scores and Placings
Second Place Team Division BB
Chris Tilotta ( .5 pts ), Vishal Marocha ( 3 pts ), Jason Saenz ( 2 pts ), George Dgin ( 3 pts )
Fourth Place Team Division BB
Lynden Fraser ( 1 pt ), David Thibaudeau ( 1 pt ), Ryan Neice ( 3 pts ), Daniel Ellis ( 1 pt )
Fourth Place Division CC
Renee Graham ( 1.5 pts ), Ronalyn Dantes ( 1 pt ), Andrea Rodriguez ( 0 pts ), Fonville ( 0 pts )

We had a great time. The next stop is the Klein Scholastic on May 24th.


CHESS CLUB KEEPS CLIMBING TO THE TOP
TEAM GRABS SECOND PLACE AT WILLOWRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL

The Bammel Chess Club travelled to Willowridge High School on Saturday, April 12, 1997 for an event put on by the Houston Chess Association.  The team faced some tougher opponents this time due to our strong finishes as of late.  As the players found out, when you win a lot you end up playing tougher opponents the next time!  Everyone was ready though, and we came out fighting.  Our players posted their best ever first-round.  The opening round has been a real killer for us lately, but our tournament experience is beginning to show and the nerves are not so bad.  Everyone on the team scored at least one point on the day!

Bammel fought to its best-ever team point total and its best team finish in the short, 7-month existence of the club.  The team totals were as follows (as you can see, we are in some elite company):

1st- (20 points)  Lanier Middle School,  1996 & 1997 Texas State Champions / 1997 3rd place at SuperNationals

2nd- (15 points) Bammel Middle School

2nd- (15 points) Space Center Intermediate,  1997 Texas State 4th place team

3rd- (13 points)  Albright Middle School, 1997 Texas State 15th place team

Individual Scores
Vishal Marocha -  4 points  *THIRD PLACE* SECTION  "GG"
Lynden Fraser - 4 points *THIRD PLACE* SECTION "HH"
Chris Tilotta - 3.5 points *FIFTH PLACE* SECTION "DD"
Greg Vanover - 3.5 points *FOURTH PLACE*  SECTION  "FF"
Chuck Barry - 3 points *FOURTH PLACE*  SECTION  "A"
Amber Amador - 2 points     Fernando Delgado - 2 points
George Dginchvelashvili - 2 points    Chris Elkins - 2 points
Daniel Ellis - 2 points    Richard Garcia - 2 points
Jose Matos - 2 points    Drew Robinson - 2 points
Jason Saenz - 2 points    Derek Yorek - 2 points
Chris Alexander - 1.5 points    Dechandra Gladney - 1.5 points
Chris Barnes - 1 point    Matt Griesmeyer - 1 point
Andrea Rodriguez - 1 point    Matt Tirey - 1 point

THIS IS THE THIRD EVENT IN A ROW WHERE BAMMEL HAS PLACED AMONG THE TOP SCHOOLS.  WE ARE EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOU ALL!  KEEP UP THE GOOD PLAY!!


CHESS CLUB WINS THIRD PLACE TROPHY AT WOODLANDS SCHOLASTIC
SECOND TOP-THREE FINISH IN TWO WEEKS!

The chess club traveled to its second tournament in two weeks on Saturday, March 8.  Only three members went to the Woodlands Scholastic Championships ( a full team consists of 4 players ).  Chris Tilotta, Chris Alexander, and Chuck Barry all competed in the Middle School Division.  The competetion was fierce, the toughest our players have faced all year, with the likes of Lanier Middle School preparing for the upcoming state tournament.  Our boys played tough and won the third place team award for their efforts.  Lanier once again dominated the tournament with  16 1/2 points.  Space Center Middle School came in second with 10 points and Bammel rounded out the top three with 4 points.

This was the first USCF ( United States Chess Federation ) tournament for Bammel.  In USCF events, all of the middle-schoolers are lumped into one big section.  Our players were competing for 10 trophies against 45 others.  The competition was stiff, and we learned some great moves along the way.  We know that Bammel will be one of the schools preparing for state next season.

We would like to wish the best of luck to Lanier Middle School in their quest for a second straight state title.

Tournament Results

THIS IS THE SECOND TOURNAMENT IN A ROW WHERE BAMMEL HAS CAPTURED THIRD PLACE.  WE NEED ALL OF YOU TO COME OUT FOR THE NEXT TWO EVENTS AND HELP US MOVE ON UP!! 
CHESS TEAM WINS THIRD PLACE  /  TILOTTA TAKES HOME FIRST PLACE TROPHY

Bammel's Chess Club competed in the HCA Chess Tournament at Sharpstown Middle School on March 1, 1997. Seventeen players traveled to the tournament, leaving at 7:30 in the morning and arriving home at 5:30 in the evening. The team did an outstanding job at the event.  Everyone was focused and played sharp chess.  The players represented Bammel with outstanding class and sportsmanship.  We are proud of them all.

Tournament Results

Outstanding Performances  ( players competed in 5 rounds for a possible total of 5 points ) Bammel placed third overall in the Middle School Division behind the current State Champion Lanier Middle School team and the host team of Sharpstown, the current third place team in the state.  We are proud of everyone who worked hard for this tournament.  We are only going to get better.  GO BAMMEL!


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