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WMSCL

THE WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS SCHOLASTIC CHESS LEAGUE

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Check out all of the winners of THE ELI BOURDON AWARD, it goes to the grades 10-12 section winner from western Massachusetts, at the Western Massachusetts Scholastic Singles Championship. The award has been presented to these winners since 1972.

For the Western Massachusetts Scholastic Chess League Schedule of Matches click here.
And for the Western Massachusetts Scholastic Chess League Directory click here.

WMSCL Officers
President and Match Coordinator: Joel W. Slupnicki
105 Railroad Street
Belchertown, Massachusetts 01007
cell phone# 413-297-0002
Work: c/o Eagle Hill School
242 Old Petersham Road-PO Box 116
Hardwick, Massachusetts 01037
413-477-6000, extension 393
e-mail: jslupnicki@ehs1.org
Scholastic Tournament Coordinator and Membership Secretary: William T. Nolte, phone# 413-596-9021
Western Massachusetts is extremely fortunate to have Bill Nolte, for serving scholastic chess players since 1972.

A High School may join the WMSCL by filling out the following form.
If you have MicroSoft Word click here.
If you have Adobe Acrobat Reader click here
Mail in memberships by September 30th. If it is later call Joel Slupnicki or Bill Nolte to see if it is too late to join.
Make check for $15 payable to: Western Mass. Scholastic Chess League
Mail check and form to: William Nolte
                                      29 Rochford Drive
                                      Wilbraham, Ma. 01095


High School Teams
Teams normally consist of four players and play their strongest player on board one, their next strongest on board two and so on down to board four. Any team having only three players forfiets their game/s on board four. A team consisting of more than four players may play alternates on board four. Any High School may have more than one team, which they would designate as team A, team B, etc.

WMSCL Team Matches
The WMSCL High School team matches usually begin in November. Each team playes a home match and an away match with each High School in its division.

WMSCL Tournaments
WMSCL tournaments are open to all school children, not only WMSCL members.
WMSCL tournaments traditionally begin with the Western Mass Fall Scholastic Chess Tournament. Other events include the Western Mass. Scholastic Singles Championship in January. USCF membership is required for these events.
The Western Mass. Scholastic Chess League Individual/Team Championship is held in March. The sections up to grade 9 play rated games and therfore USCF membership is required for those participants. The High School teams play unrated games and the teams from High Schools that have joined the WMSCL pay no entry fee.

See the Upcoming Events section for details on future scholastic tournaments.

  • The USCF home page has info about Scholastic chess

    LEAGUE MATCH INTRUCTIONS FROM YOUR W.M.S.C.L. PRESIDENT

    WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS SCHOLASTIC CHESS LEAGUE
    2009-2010 MATCH SCHEDULE AND MEMBER DIRECTORY

    Welcome to the 2009-2010 edition of the WMSCL Match Schedule and Member Directory. Please join me in welcoming two new schools to our league this season. East Longmeadow High School and Agawam High School will be competing for Division I honors along with two returning programs Belchertown High School and Minnechaug Regional High School. The faculty advisors for each program are listed in the Membership Directory along with their appropriate contact information.

    As in previous years, trophies or plaques will be awarded at the end of the season to all participating programs, and our format will once again not have any material changes. Each match will continue to be played out with four students from each member school. Your top rated player will occupy Board #1, next best at Board #2, etc. Board #1 for the home school will play White, Board #2 Black and rotate accordingly. Our scoring system will remain consistent as well. A win will continue to earn 1 point a stalemate .5 point for each program, while a defeat will result in no points awarded. Although there are no time clocks involved, it is understood that the maximum time limit for each match will remain at 1 hour, unless mutually agreed upon by both the players as well as their respective advisors prior to the start of play. Although not required, notation is strongly recommended for future reference.

    As with USCF tournament play, the "touch rule" will be in effect and enforced. The team that earns the most points of the four individual matches wins the team match. League standings will be determined not solely on match records, but also on the total number of points earned during the course of our season, so the .5 point available for a stalemate could factor in as a tiebreaker as we wind the competition down, so please encourage all players to finish their respective matches strong.

    The schedule has each team with a home as well as an away match for each opponent in their respective division. As in previous years, there seems to be no objection in playing both matches on the same date due to either transportation or poor weather concerns. The only stipulation is that there is sufficient advance notice exchanged between advisors in order to properly prepare and that the home team switches Board #1 from White to Black at the beginning of the 2nd match. Additionally, all competitions will begin at 3:00 unless mutually agreed upon. As some of you have mentioned, your respective Winter Athletic schedules may require a change in the match date as well, and I would ask that you remain in contact to finalize a day that works from both ends of the equation.

    Please mail the results of each match on the attached form to my attention here at Eagle Hill School, or if you prefer, simply email me, and I will keep all the Advisors current as to their league standings. If you do need to reschedule, please call in advance and attempt a makeup match as close to the original date as possible. Good Luck, everyone!!

    END OF LEAGUE MATCH/AWARD PRESENTATION

    The team tournament for this year will once again be held in late March, at a location yet to be determined. The award presentation will take place at the conclusion of the final round, and a flyer will mailed out with more specific details as we get closer to the event.

    END OF LEAGUE MATCH
    The team tournament for this year will once again be held in late March, at a location yet to be determined. The trophy presentation will take place at the conclusion of the final round, and a flyer will be mailed out with more specific details once we get closer to the event.

    Joel Slupnicki
    WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS SCHOLASTIC CHESS LEAGUE
    2009-2010 MATCH SCHEDULE


    Week 1-December 8th, 2009
    East Longmeadow HS at Belchertown HS
    Agawam HS at Minnechaug RHS

    Week 2-January 12, 2010
    Belchertown HS at Agawam HS
    Minnechaug RHS at East Longmeadow HS

    Week 3-January 19, 2010
    Agawam HS at East Longmeadow HS
    Minnechaug RHS at Belchertown HS

    Week 4-January 26, 2010
    Belchertown HS at East Longmeadow HS
    Minnechaug RHS at Agawam HS

    Week 5-February 9, 2010
    East Longmeadow HS at Minnechaug RHS
    Agawam HS at Belchertown HS

    Week 6-March 2, 2009
    East Longmeadow HS at Agawam HS
    Belchertown HS at Minnechaug RHS
    WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS SCHOLASTIC CHESS LEAGUE MEMBER DIRECTORY

    1) Agawam High School
    760 Cooper Street
    Agawam, MA 01001
    Faculty Advisor: Gail Howe
    School Phone: 413-821-0521
    E-Mail: ghowe@agawamteachers.org
    Website: http://www.angelfire.com/games/ahschess/home.html
    .

    2) Belchertown High School
    62 North Washington Street
    Belchertown, MA 01007
    Advisor: Steve Koziol
    School Phone: 413-323-9418 ext. 2130
    E-Mail: sekoziol@charter.net

    .

    3) East Longmeadow High School
    180 Maple Street
    East Longmeadow, MA 01028
    Faculty Advisor: Peter Van Buren
    School Phone: 413-525-5460
    E-Mail: pvanburen@eastlongmeadowma.gov

    .

    4) Minnechaug Regional High School
    621 Main Street-STE 1
    Wilbraham, MA 01095
    Advisor: Frank Sersanti
    School Phone: 413-596-9011
    E-mail: fsersanti@hwrsd.org
    .