New York State Chess Association
Encyclopedia
The New York State Chess Association (NYSCA) is the oldest continuously-run chess
organization in the United States, having been formed in Auburn, New York
in 1878, as the "Western New York and Northern Pennsylvania Chess Association." The NYSCA name has been used since 1886. It is the official New York State affiliate of the United States Chess Federation
, and its history pre-dates USCF. It organizes a variety of State-sanctioned championship tournaments across the Empire State
, including the annual New York State Chess Championship, which has been held in Albany on Labor Day weekend since 2006.
While the State Championship and State Scholastic Championship has been held in every major city in the state, in recent years the State Championship and State Scholastic Championship has been most successful in the Albany-Saratoga region. The State Scholastic, the oldest of its kind in the US, will celebrate its 42nd anniversary in Saratoga Springs in February–March 2009.
New York State champions have included Bobby Fischer
, Joel Benjamin
, José Capablanca, and Frank Marshall. The current champion is GM Hikaru Nakamura
. The current Scholastic champion is Rochester high school player and NM Matt Parry. The article "Hamilton 1941" by Bill Townsend, describing the games of a week-long championship held at Colgate University, won a Chess Journalists of America award for Best Historical Article.
NYSCA currently has about 750 members. Its president is Bill Goichberg
of Salisbury Mills
in Orange County
, who is also U.S. Chess Federation president. Its vice-president is Westchester County chess teacher Polly Wright. Its secretary is Phyllis Benjamin of Brooklyn
, mother of New Jersey Grandmaster and former U.S. Chess Champion Joel Benjamin
. Its Treasurer is Karl Heck of East Durham, in Greene County
.
Heck is also the editor of Empire Chess, the quarterly periodical of NYSCA.
Other major events sponsored by NYSCA include the annual Game/45 Championship on Long Island
, and the New York State Open, which has been held in Lake George
the past few years. There are also Quick and Action Chess Championships, which have been held in Albany in recent years.
Membership in NYSCA is $13 for one year, and $36 for three years.
NYSCA also provides funding for its champions to attend the Denker and Polgar Tournaments of High School Champions.
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
organization in the United States, having been formed in Auburn, New York
Auburn, New York
Auburn is a city in Cayuga County, New York, United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 27,687...
in 1878, as the "Western New York and Northern Pennsylvania Chess Association." The NYSCA name has been used since 1886. It is the official New York State affiliate of the United States Chess Federation
United States Chess Federation
The United States Chess Federation is a non-profit organization, the governing chess organization within the United States, and one of the federations of the FIDE. The USCF was founded in 1939 from the merger of two regional chess organizations, and grew gradually until 1972, when membership...
, and its history pre-dates USCF. It organizes a variety of State-sanctioned championship tournaments across the Empire State
Empire State
The Empire State is the official nickname of the U.S. state New York. It may also refer to:*Empire State Building, skyscraper in New York City, one of the tallest buildings in the world*Empire State Plaza, state office complex in Albany, New York...
, including the annual New York State Chess Championship, which has been held in Albany on Labor Day weekend since 2006.
While the State Championship and State Scholastic Championship has been held in every major city in the state, in recent years the State Championship and State Scholastic Championship has been most successful in the Albany-Saratoga region. The State Scholastic, the oldest of its kind in the US, will celebrate its 42nd anniversary in Saratoga Springs in February–March 2009.
New York State champions have included Bobby Fischer
Bobby Fischer
Robert James "Bobby" Fischer was an American chess Grandmaster and the 11th World Chess Champion. He is widely considered one of the greatest chess players of all time. Fischer was also a best-selling chess author...
, Joel Benjamin
Joel Benjamin
Joel Benjamin is an American chess Grandmaster. In 1998, he was voted "Grandmaster of the Year" by the U.S. Chess Federation. , his Elo rating was 2576, making him the No. 12 player in the U.S. and the 214th-highest rated player in the world.-Life and career:Benjamin is a native of Brooklyn, New...
, José Capablanca, and Frank Marshall. The current champion is GM Hikaru Nakamura
Hikaru Nakamura
Hikaru Nakamura is an American chess Grandmaster . He has been ranked among the top six players in the world by FIDE....
. The current Scholastic champion is Rochester high school player and NM Matt Parry. The article "Hamilton 1941" by Bill Townsend, describing the games of a week-long championship held at Colgate University, won a Chess Journalists of America award for Best Historical Article.
NYSCA currently has about 750 members. Its president is Bill Goichberg
Bill Goichberg
William "Bill" Goichberg is a rated chess master and is the former President of the United States Chess Federation. He was elected USCF President on August 14, 2005. He is a USCF Life Master and a FIDE Master, National Tournament Director and International Arbiter of FIDE...
of Salisbury Mills
Beaverdam Lake-Salisbury Mills, New York
Beaverdam Lake-Salisbury Mills is a census-designated place in Orange County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the CDP population was 2,779...
in Orange County
Orange County, New York
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located at the northern reaches of the New York metropolitan area. The county sits in the state's scenic Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley...
, who is also U.S. Chess Federation president. Its vice-president is Westchester County chess teacher Polly Wright. Its secretary is Phyllis Benjamin of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, mother of New Jersey Grandmaster and former U.S. Chess Champion Joel Benjamin
Joel Benjamin
Joel Benjamin is an American chess Grandmaster. In 1998, he was voted "Grandmaster of the Year" by the U.S. Chess Federation. , his Elo rating was 2576, making him the No. 12 player in the U.S. and the 214th-highest rated player in the world.-Life and career:Benjamin is a native of Brooklyn, New...
. Its Treasurer is Karl Heck of East Durham, in Greene County
Greene County, New York
Greene County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Its name is in honor of the American Revolutionary War general Nathanael Greene. Its county seat is Catskill...
.
Heck is also the editor of Empire Chess, the quarterly periodical of NYSCA.
Other major events sponsored by NYSCA include the annual Game/45 Championship on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, and the New York State Open, which has been held in Lake George
Lake George (town), New York
Lake George is a town in Warren County, New York, USA. The population was 3,578 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the lake, Lake George. Within the town is a village also named Lake George. The town is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :The lake was...
the past few years. There are also Quick and Action Chess Championships, which have been held in Albany in recent years.
Membership in NYSCA is $13 for one year, and $36 for three years.
NYSCA also provides funding for its champions to attend the Denker and Polgar Tournaments of High School Champions.