Marvin “Joe” Barker

We are sad to announce that Marvin R. Barker, Jr., known as Joe to most of us, has passed away.

Date of Birth : March 14, 1947

Date of Death : September 29, 2018

"Joe was known around Charleston and the state of West Virginia for many years as an area chess champion, winning numerous chess tournaments over a number of decades. He was an active member in the Charleston Chess Club and enjoyed reading and studying chess in his spare time."

Obituary

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Children's Home Society Charity Chess Tournament

Please see the following message from Craig Timmons about an upcoming tournament in the Charleston area:

I am going to try something I haven't done before but have always wanted to do, a charity chess tournament.

On Saturday, Feb 28, 2015, The Children's Home Society is having an event at Buffalo Wild Wings at the Corridor G location. I am going to run a chess tournament with the time controls of G/10;d0. The entry fee is $10 and all proceeds will go directly to the Children's Home Society.

Registration begins at 12 Noon and play will begin at 12:30. We will do 3-4 rounds and it should go pretty quick. I reserve the right to split the event into multiple sections based upon ratings. There will be an unrated section for those that are not members of the USCF.

If you don't want to play in a short time control tournament, please come and play a "friendly game" and show your support for the Children's Home Society.

If you are available on February 28th, please consider supporting this cause by playing in Craig's tournament.

2014 DuPuy Memorial

The 2014 DuPuy Memorial chess tournament will be held from May 31 - June 1. This year the venue is changing to the Ramada Inn in Charleston, WV.

Date:	May 31 - June 1, 2014
Site:	Ramada Inn 600 Kanawha Blvd E, Charleston, WV 25301 (304) 344-4092
Format:	5-SS G/90, d10
Registration:	Ends 9:45 AM Saturday, May 31st
Rounds:	Saturday 10-2-6; Sunday 10-2
Entry Fee:	$100 on-site / $75 before May 15, 2014
Prizes:	$7250 Projected
Sections:	Open: 1st $1500 2nd $1000 3rd $700 U2100: 1st $600 2nd $500 3rd $300 U1800: 1st $500 2nd $400 3rd $200 U1600: 1st $400 2nd $300 3rd $200 U1200: 1st $300 2nd $200 3rd $150
Entries:	Craig Timmons 811 Hughes Drive St. Albans WV, 25177 (304) 389-6707 (Checks payable to Craig Timmons).

For more information about the DuPuy Memorial, please visit the tournament website.

Kanawha Valley Open

The Charleston Chess club will host a tournament in two weeks:

Kanawha Valley Open

Date:	August 3, 2013
Site:	WVSSPA Building; 1610 Washington Street East; Charleston, WV 25311
Entry Fee:	$15.00, $2 discount to Charleston Chess Club members.
Prizes:	(Based on 20 entrants) 1st - $100; 2nd - $40; U1900 - $40; U1500/UNR - $40
Format:	3 SS; Game/75; d/5
Registration:	9am - 9:45am
Rounds:	10-1-4
Contact:	John Everett Roush; 114 Chloe Drive; Ripley, WV 25271
Phone:	304-550-4103
Email:	jroush@wvsspa.org

For a list of other upcoming tournaments in West Virginia, please visit the West Virginia Chess Association website.

Charleston Chess Club Christmas Party & Club Championship

The Charleston Chess Club is planning to have a get together on December 15, 2012. As always light refreshments will be provided and chess for fun on the agenda. The party will begin about 11 AM and continue until about 3:30 PM. Anyone is welcome to bring a dessert or other dish, but it is not required. As in past years, the party will be held at the WVSSPA Building at 1610 Washington Street East in Charleston, WV.

The club is also planning to revive the club championship. It will be rated, but there will be no entry fees or prizes except a trophy.

2012 Charleston Chess Club Championship

Date: November 24, 2012
Site: WVSSPA Building; 1610 Washington Street East; Charleston, WV 25311
Format: 4 SS; Game/60 with 5 second increments
Registration: 9 AM - 9:30 AM
Rounds: 9:45 AM – 12:30 PM – 3 PM – 5:30 PM Rounds may begin earlier with the consent of the participants
Entry: There is no entry fee, however, one must be a member of the Charleston Chess Club to play. Membership dues are $10 per year, which you may pay on site. Those people who joined in the summer of 2011 will be eligible to play in this tournament without further contribution. Their “year” of membership will expire on December 1, 2012. Those who have joined more recently will get the full year’s membership. USCF membership is required and will be available on site.
Prizes: A trophy will be awarded to 1st place.

2011 WV Championship Results

The 2011 WV State Chess Championship was held on Labor Day weekend at the WVSSPA building in Charleston, WV. South Carolina resident Klaus Pohl won the tournament with an impressive 5.5 score. The championship title was shared by West Virginia residents David Saville and Ben Good. Several other players won class prizes. Here is a transcription of the final chart:

Klaus Pohl (2200) 5.5
Wayne Christensen (2096) 4
David Saville (2062) 4.5
Ben Good (2025) 4.5
Donald Griffth (2000) 4
James Walker (2000) 4
Sidhartha Parhi (1954) 4
Chris Que (1916) 3.5
Lewis Sanders (1900) 3
David Hines (1871) 3
Michael Richardson (1846) 3
Joseph Dixon (1828) 3
Gary Cummings (1796) 2.5
James Fuller (1765) 2.5
Michael Felton (1700) 3
Matthew Richardson (1584) 2.5
James Fields (1565) 2
Advait Patel (1559) 2.5
David Hundley (1279) 2.5
Sam Timmons (1063) 1
Charles McCallister (964) 1
Sam Walker-Matthews (504) 2
Dale Eggleton (Unr) 1.5

State Championships

The West Virginia State Championship and the Ohio Chess Congress are both this weekend. Good luck to all the players!

Charleston Chess Club Speed Tournament

The Charleston Chess Club will hold a non-rated speed tournament at its usual meeting place (1610 Washington Street East; Charleston, WV) on August 2, 2011.

Registration: 5:30 pm to 6:15 pm
4 round Swiss System
Rounds: 6:25 pm; 6:50 pm; 7:15 pm; & 7:45 pm
Time Limit: 10 minutes per game for each side
Entry Fee: donation of $1 for “paid up members” and donation of $2 for others (Membership in the CCC may be paid at site, $10 per year for adults & $5 per year for under 18 years old)
Prizes: 1st Place = 75% of entries. (Remainder of donations goes to the club treasury for miscellaneous expenses)

Miscellaneous Rules, i.e. touch move, illegal move, etc. will be explained just prior to the start of round one.

2011 West Virginia State Championship & Junior Championship

The 73rd West Virginia State Championship will be held September 3-5, 2011 at 1610 Washington St E Charleston, WV. As always, the format of this tournament will be 6 SS 35/90, SD/60. The entry fee will be $40 by August 29th or $50 at site. Prizes are $1000 based on 30 entries, and a trophy will go to the top West Virginia Chess Association member and resident. WVCA membership is required for in-state residents ($10). Other state memberships will be accepted for out-of-state residents.

Registration is Saturday 8:30 - 9:30 am. The annual WVCA business meeting will be held Saturday at 9:00 am. Rounds are Sat 10-4, Sun 9-3, and Mon 9-3. Send advance entries to Charleston Chess Club, c/o Marvin Barker, 806 Litz Drive, Charleston, WV 25311. Make checks payable to Charleston Chess Club. For more information, including an entry form, visit the WVCA tournament page here.

In addition, the West Virginia Junior State Championship will be held on Sunday, September 4th at the same site. The format of this tournament will be 4 SS G/75. The entry fee is $20 by August 29th or $30 at site. Prizes are $125 based on 10 entries. WVCA membership is required for in-state residents ($10). Other state memberships will be accepted for out-of-state residents. This is a scholastic tournament and only junior players may participate.

Registration is Sunday 8:30 - 9:00 am. Rounds are 9-11:30-2-5. Send advance entries to Charleston Chess Club, c/o Marvin Barker, 806 Litz Drive, Charleston, WV 25311. Make checks payable to Charleston Chess Club. For more information, including an entry form, visit the WVCA tournament page here.

Charleston Chess Club Speed Tournament

The Charleston Chess Club will hold a non-rated speed tournament at its usual meeting place (1610 Washington Street East; Charleston, WV) on July 5, 2011.

Registration: 5:30 pm to 6:15 pm
4 round Swiss System
Rounds: 6:25 pm; 6:50 pm; 7:15 pm; & 7:45 pm
Time Limit: 10 minutes per game for each side
Entry Fee: donation of $1 for “paid up members” and donation of $2 for others (Membership in the CCC may be paid at site, $10 per year for adults & $5 per year for under 18 years old)
Prizes: 1st Place = 75% of entries. (Remainder of donations goes to the club treasury for miscellaneous expenses)

Miscellaneous Rules, i.e. touch move, illegal move, etc. will be explained just prior to the start of round one.

Charleston Chess Club Christmas Party

The Charleston Chess Club will hold a "Chess" Christmas party from 11 am to 4 pm on Sunday, December 19, 2010 at the WVSSPA Building; 1610 Washington Street East; Charleston, WV 25311.

We will have snacks (chips, cupcakes, etc.), drinks (coffee, soda), and probably fried chicken or pizza or somthing along those lines.

Of course, the main "event" will simply be the chance to play chess purely for the fun of it. No one need bring any food or drink. Just bring yourself and perhaps a chess set/clock.

I hope you can make it! Merry Christmas!

John Roush

Charleston Chess Club Christmas Party

The Charleston Chess Club's Christmas party scheduled for tomorrow has been canceled due to the upcoming snow storm. They are looking to reschedule for later in the month.

Charleston Chess Club Christmas Party

From John Roush:

The Charleston Chess Club will be holding a Christmas get-together from 11 AM to 3 PM on Saturday, December 19, 2009 at the WVSSPA Building (1610 Washington Street East; Charleston, WV 25311), which is where the chess club meets on Tuesdays. We plan to play chess and snack on various items (fried chicken, cupcakes, chips, etc.).

I encourage all who can make it to come. We usually have a good time!