Due to unforeseen circumstances, the election for the 2023-2025 Missouri Chess Association Board of Directors was delayed. As of this September, the board has found a new election commissioner, Mr. Nathaniel Fast, who will spearhead conduction of the election on an accelerated timeline to install a board for the new term before the end of year. The current 2021-2023 board is continuing to serve in an interim capacity with sole duty of managing day-to-day needs as they arise until the election is completed and the new board installed.
In order to meet this accelerated timeline, nominations need to be submitted via email to the MCA Secretary () no later than 11:59 PM on Sunday, October 15. Ballots will be sent as soon as practical after close of nominations to eligible voting MCA members who were in good standing as of June 1, 2023.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work to remedy this situation, and as always, thank you for your continued support of Missouri Chess.
The 2020 Missouri team narrowly missed the playoffs. The 2021 Missouri team intends to win them. The team’s improved depth could be the key to accomplishing this.
Returning members include NM Roman Kozelov (2298), NM Ken Jones (2204), Isaiah Gadson (2159), Nathaniel Fast (2118), Asish Panda (2007), and Ben Boaz (1949). Joining the team this year are NM Julian Proleiko (2259) and NM Doug Eckert (2258).
The States Chess Cup is a national online league in which state teams of four compete each week. The team’s average must not exceed 2200. While there is no ceiling on the individual’s rating, there is a floor of 1800. This means that even if a state puts a player with a US Chess rating of 1700 on board four, their rating will be considered 1800 when calculating the team’s average.
Standings are determined first by match points within a division while game points are used to break ties. A new addition to the league this year is the use of three divisions. Missouri is in the Central Division.
In week 1, Missouri took on Illinois. Missouri fielded Kozelov, Proleiko, Gadson, and Panda with a team average of 2181. Missouri trounced their rival from the previous year, winning 12.5 to 3.5 and grabbing first place in the Central.
If you would like to see NM Ken Jones’ commentary please visit the Springfield, MO. Chess Club’s YouTube channel.
Missouri’s team of Kozelov, Eckert, Gadson, and Panda played Minnesota in week 2. Missouri took an early lead, winning round one 2.5 to 1.5. The match became deadlocked after that. After two rounds, the match was tied at 4 and after the third round the score stood at 6 to 6. The match did not tip Minnesota’s way until deep into the last round, giving them the full match point. The final score was Minnesota’s 8.5 to Missouri’s 7.5.
Missouri would have held onto their game point lead, ensuring that they would win any ties, but the Oklahoma team was forfeited in their scheduled match against Michigan. This not only put Michigan in first with the free match point, but also gifted them 16 game points.
Below is commentary of the exciting week 2 match from Jared Bray and Brian Rude.
The Missouri team of Kozelov, Eckert, Gadson, and Panda will face Ohio tonight (July 12, 2021) at 7:00 on lichess. You can follow the team by searching for their usernames.
