Temecula Chess Club

Our dear friend James was a gift to the Temecula Chess Club and everyone who knew him. He was an unmistakably warm and open person who always added a sense of relaxed comfort and humor to any room he entered. He was always kind and welcoming to new players, as well as familiar and connected with regulars. He was as exemplary as a competitor as a competitor can be. He won and lost with grace and humility. He played with his full heart and mind, and loved the game in a pure way. He was a USCF National Master, and played with considerable skill in his late 60's and throughout his 70's, when he was a cornerstone member of TCC since it's beginnings pre 2015, when we landed our current location. He was a rock of consistency and fully devoted to chess, while simultaneously being open minded and eager to chat on many other subjects of life he lovingly observed, like philosophy and science.

Speaking for myself, I miss my friend, and I wish that he was still here. Seeing him walk through the door as I was pairing rounds on Tuesday nights was always pleasing and reassuring. I would always think "James is here, that's good. Let's see what his shirt says this time". An irony of him was that although he was unassuming and modest, he would wear t-shirts with loud, and often obnoxious messages and pictures on them, like "brains are great, I wish everyone had one" or "if you're happy and you know it.." with a frustrated Tyrannosaurus on it. We would joke and go on about whether he was just expressing himself or using it as a deliberate psychological tactic. He would glowingly relay his perfect 2-0-0 score against Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, and then pause, give a humble wink and grin, and confess that both games were when Hikaru was only 8 years old.

My last interaction with him was very tender. It was in one of the final rounds of the July tournament. He beat me in a game and insisted that it was just luck, and I insisted that it wasn't. We kibitzed a bit, and found the key points of the game. When we finished, he said "thank you for making the old man happy tonight". I told him that he won a stake of the 2nd place prize money, but the cash drawer had been cleared out in a deposit and I would pay him next week. We owed him fifty bucks. He said not to worry about it and that he would take a break in August for a trip or something and then be back in September to play again. He passed on August 27th.

-P.G.

We had 12 players total in our last rated adult training group session! It's been growing steadily since February when we started with 4 players, and now is blossoming into a really cool thing! We meet at the club on Fridays and start at 6pm now instead of 6:30, and after training and chatting and playing skittles games, we play a rated G/30+5 for everyone. Fist session is free, and $15 per session after that. We hope all feel welcome to try it out!

It was Elias Alonso and Gavin Mainwaring who ended up tied for 1st place in August Advanced group class, and here, they enjoy their prizes! Many students made significant rating gains and played well also! Just a heads up- we will be open with regular hours for free play tomorrow and Labor day! ♟️

Tonight we begin the TCC 156 Jim Mennella Memorial tournament at 7pm. It will be 10 rounds of G/45+5 in remembrance of our beloved James, whom we will miss very much, and we will make a more in depth tribute to him in the next few days as we gather materials and the right words to say. Last month, Marius Lucan (right), Avinaya Subedi (left), and Henry Doktorski (center) wore the crowns and took prize money by finishing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places respectively! Who shall come through in the marathon 10 rounder of September? We shall see!!!!!

♟️ SEPTEMBER IS HERE, AND THE BOARDS ARE READY! ♟️

Get ready for an exciting month of USCF-rated chess action at Temecula Chess Club! Whether you're looking to test your skills, gain tournament experience, or compete for the win, we've got two great opportunities for you.

TUESDAY TOURNAMENT
📅 September 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29
⏰ 7:00 PM
💰 Entry Fee: $30

JUNIOR JOUST
📅 Saturday, September 26
⏰ 2:00 PM
💰 Starting at $20
✔️Ages 17 & under

Come compete, sharpen your skills, and enjoy the thrill of tournament chess! Bring your game and let's see what you've got!

📍 Temecula Chess Club
27403 Ynez Road, Suite #213, Temecula

TIME CHANGE FOR JUNIOR JOUST!

A quick heads-up for all Junior Joust players and families!

Our JJ7 Official USCF Rated Tournament is happening Saturday, August 29th, but we’ll be starting a little later than usual.

New Start Time: 2:30 PM

📍 27403 Ynez Road, Suite #213, Temecula

Please plan accordingly and make sure your player arrives in time for the updated start time.
We’ll see you at the chessboard!

Our weekly classes are designed for junior players aged 17 and below who are looking to start or continue building their skills.

Fundamentals (Afternoon Session)
Best suited for beginner students with a flexible schedule who have little to no tournament experience or formal chess instruction.

Fundamentals (Exclusive Session)
Best suited for beginner students with a busier schedule who have little to no tournament experience or formal chess instruction.

Advanced Class
Best suited for intermediate-level students who have completed formal chess instruction and are looking to strengthen their skills, compete more confidently, and improve their USCF ratings.

Tip: Enroll siblings and save 20%!
More info 👉 https://www.temeculachess.com/classes

For the month of July, our advanced group class crowned 2 co-champions; Andre King (right) and Noah Soules (left)!!! 👏🏆🏆 Heading into the final round, Andrew held a half pount lead over Noah. When Noah won convincingly in his game, and Andre went down a piece in his game, it looked like Noah would take clear 1st, but then Andre showed his endgame prowess that he is becoming known for, as he salvaged a draw in the game and tied the score for the month! Stories from the board continue next month- what happens next? 📰📚♟️

♟️ Ready for your next chess challenge this August? Join us at Temecula Chess Club!

Whether you're a seasoned tournament player or looking to test your skills, we’d love to have you at the board. Come compete, improve your game, meet fellow chess players, and enjoy some great chess! ❤️♟️

UPCOMING USCF-RATED TOURNAMENTS

♟️ Tuesday Tourney
📅 August 4 • 11 • 18 • 25
⏰ 7:00 PM

♞ Junior Joust
🏅 JJ7 — Saturday, August 1 • 2:00 PM
🏅 JJ8 — Saturday, August 29 • 2:00 PM

📍 27403 Ynez Road, Suite #213 Temecula, CA 92591
https://www.temeculachess.com/tournaments