Texas Cruises Over Oklahoma 38-22

Texas Retains World and Red River Titles
by Victor Yaward, Chess Reporter

Davis, Oklahoma (CRN) - This past Sunday, 61 of the most fanatical chess players and tournament directors in Oklahoma and Texas battled in the largest team match in Southwestern U.S. chess history. By the time the smoke on the 30 boards cleared, Texas had rolled to a decisive 38-22 victory, its sixth dual championship in eight years, despite playing on the road every year except the second. Texas, boosted by seven chess experts under the age of sixteen from the Dallas Chess Club, started out slowly allowing Oklahoma to even the score. But after the score was knotted at 2-2, Texas methodically began to pull away. By halftime Texas had built an insurmountable 19-11 lead.

The decisive point came midway in the second half when Rafael Llanos thwarted a normally devastating attack by Carl Latino, a Stillwater engineering professor. With the outcome set at 31-17 Texas continued to roll. The final 16 point margin is the largest in series history and marks the second year in a row Texas has won by double digits.

Seven Dallas Chess Club juniors, all chess experts and some with world youth titles, held their own against a slate of Oklahoma's toughest players. Although their group as a whole came up short 6-1/2 to 7-1/2, it was clear they felt little intimidation from their older and more experienced opponents. US Chess Federation President Jim Berry, a longtime member of the Oklahoma Chess Team, remarked, "Chess starts exactly where these kids are today. They represent the brightest future of American chess."

Afterward, Texan Wayne Xiong made an interesting observation about how the economy and Texas Chess Team are intertwined, "The fact that this year we are hitting an all-time high of 60 players might suggest that a nice rebound of the economy is just ahead of us. For those folks who have lost a big chunk of their lifetime savings in the last couple of years, and are desperately looking for some lead indicators of the financial market to make some important trading decisions, it would be a good idea for them to come to the Red River Shootout to get some inspiration. If some of the brainy chess people in the room develop a new theory called Red River Shootout effect: in a year that Texas wins the Red River Shootout, the stock market will go up or down when Oklahoma wins, it might be more accurate than the out-of-date Super-bowl effect."

International Arbiter Frank Berry, Oklahoma Chess Team Captain, directed the 60 player event. He was assisted by Rob Jones, Texas Chess Team Captain. The victory also makes Rob Jones the winningest team captain in match history with a 2-0 record. Because of the match's newly discovered ties to the economy, details of next April's Red River Shootout IX will most likely be be published in financial magazines as well as the Oklahoma Chess Quarterly, on line in the Oklahoma Chess Form, on the Texas Chess Association web site, and on the famous chess reporter's (Victor Yaward) blog site: http://texaschessreporter.blogspot.com.

REALRed River Shootout Today!

Davis, OK (CRN) - More than 60 of the most fanatical chess players in Oklahoma and Texas are on the road and heading towards today's team match in Davis, Oklahoma. Texas leads the series 5-2 despite playing on the road six times.

IM leaves Texas Training Camp

Chess Team growing tired of Texas Heat Wave
by Victor Yaward, Chess Reporter

Waco, Texas (CRN) - Citing exhaustion from a grueling training camp schedule and a Texas heat wave, a leading member of the Texas Chess Team has pulled up stakes leaving behind a stunned coaching staff. The player's name has not been released, but Robert Jones, the team's chief diplomatic liaison for Third World Chess States (TWCS), confirmed the Chess Reporter's questions saying, "We lost a good one this time. This will make things much tougher as our weaker players will have to play up at least one board. Texans are tough but that may be too much to ask when facing a fired up Oklahoma team."

Tom Crane, chief match organizer along with Oklahoma's Frank Berry, disclosed the team is considering other training camp sites for 2011. "Waco's a nice site, but we don't want to limit ourselves by locking out other possibilities. The Dallas Cowboys use the Oxnard (California) facilities and we owe it to our players and fans to look seriously at all options." The Honorable Virginia DuPuy, Waco City Mayor, expressed surprise ("Texas has a chess team?") and vowed to do everything necessary to keep chess jobs in Waco. John DeVries, Training Camp Director and a Waco native, expressed relief when he learned about the mayor's support.

As all serious chess players know, the REAL Red River Shootout is a series of matches between the most fanatical chess players in Oklahoma and Texas. Both teams are hard at work in two training camps (Oklahoma is practicing at a huge Walter goat ranch). Texas leads the series 5-2 despite playing on the road six out of seven contests. Publicity and results for the match are in the Oklahoma Chess Quarterly, on line in the Oklahoma Chess Form, on the Texas Chess Association web site, and on the famous chess reporter's (Victor Yaward) blog site: http://texaschessreporter.blogspot.com.

Chess Boxing Match added to Red River Shootout VIII

Neighbors and Hollingsworth on tap for Board Six Thriller in Davis
By Victor Yaward, Chess Reporter

Davis, OK (CRN) – The annual match on April 18th between the Oklahoma and Texas Chess Teams promises more excitement than in previous years. On Board Six two old rivals, Teddy Neighbors of the Lawton Chess Club and Jim Hollingsworth from Texas will play chess as well as box to decide their match. “This is happening all over Europe,” says Tom Crane, Chief Texas Organizer for the match, “like London, Germany, and Siberia. It’s time Red River Chess moved to a new level.” Frank Berry, Oklahoma Chess Team Captain, agrees. “The Siberian Chess Boxing Organization (SCBO), Germany (GCBO), and London (LCBO) have all petitioned FIDE, the world chess championship organization, for admission and sanctioning of their events.” He adds, “Now that the Red River Chess Boxing Organization (RRCBO) is involved, CBO’s everywhere have a better chance of joining FIDE.”

Chess boxing involves both players alternating between battling on the chessboard and in the ring. Victory goes to the first competitor who achieves a checkmate or a knockout. Successful chess boxers typically have great hand speed, fancy footwork, and extraordinarily thick heads. Because of these and other qualities, Neighbors and Hollingsworth were obvious choices. “Texas is going down!” Neighbors cried at a recent Lawton Chess Club board meeting. Hollingsworth’s response was “Bring it on.” Both players qualify as heavyweights.

Adding chess boxing to RRSO VIII is the brainchild of Robert Jones, the 2009 Texas Chess Team Captain. Other ideas he has unsuccessfully advocated include giving extra match points to women players, rook odds and move to the lower rated team, and playing every other match in Texas. Registration for the two-round event is at the Treasure Valley Casino, I-35 Exit 55 & Hwy 7, in Davis, Oklahoma on Sunday, April 18th, between 9:30 and 10:45. The first round begins at 11 am sharp. Except for the Board-Six boxers, there is no early registration or weigh in. For questions, Oklahoma players should contact Frank Berry at fkimberry@AOL.com. Texas players can contact Tom Crane at tcrane5000@yahoo.com or by phone 817-296-4287 or Robert Jones at 214-212-9185 or email jonessoc@juno.com.

As all serious chess players know, the REAL Red River Shootout is a series of matches between the most fanatical chess players in Oklahoma and Texas. Texas leads 5-2 despite playing on the road six out of seven contests. Publicity and results for the match are in the Oklahoma Chess Quarterly, on line in the Oklahoma Chess Form, on the Texas Chess Association web site, and on the famous chess reporter's (Victor Yaward) blog site: http://texaschessreporter.blogspot.com.

Latest on the REAL Red River Shootout

Stay tuned for breaking news about the REAL Red River Shootout, the annual match between the most fanatical chess players in Oklahoma and Texas. Texas leads the series 5-2 despite playing on the road six times.

En Passant

Robert Smeltzer

The Chess World mourns the passing of Robert Smeltzer, one of its most active players. The US Chess Federation's records show this gentle man played in 2,995 rated events since January 1, 1991, including some Red River Shootouts. Plans had been made to ensure he traveled and played in RRSO VIII next month. He will be missed on both sides of the river and our deepest sympathy to his family.

Two Frogs Grill Braces for Texas Chess Team

By Victor Yaward, Chess Reporter (now on Facebook).

Ardmore, OK (CRN) - Two Frogs Grill is pulling out all stops in its preparations for a visit by the top ranked Texas Chess Team on April 18th. The team, consisting of the most fanatical chess players in Texas, will make a pit stop after returning from competition with the Oklahoma Chess Team earlier that Sunday in Davis. "We had a busy season a few years ago," says Andy the Two Frogs Manager, "when both the Texas Chess Team and the Texas State Democratic Legislature Representatives visited Ardmore. Both were a bit rowdy, especially the chess players, but we think we'll be ready this time."

As all serious chess players know, the REAL Red River Shootout is a series of annual matches between the most fanatical chess players in Oklahoma and Texas. Texas leads 5-2 despite playing on the road six out of seven contests.

Chess fans everywhere can follow the progress of the Texas Chess Team and other chess celebrities several prominent chess web sites including: The Oklahoma Chess Forum, Oklahoma Chess Foundation, and on the famous chess reporter's (Victor Yaward) blog site: http://texaschessreporter.blogspot.com:

April 18, Eighth Annual Red River Shoot Out (Sunday)
State Team match open only to OK and TX residents as defined as where USCF has your address. Two rounds G/60+30sec. Must have current USCF membership and rating. Treasure Valley Casino, I-35 Exit 55 & Hwy 7, Davis, OK 73030. EF: $5, Masters Free, all registration on site. Reg: 9:30 to 10:45. Rds. 11 and 2. For questions OK players contact Frank Berry at fkimberry@AOL.com; TX players contact Tom Crane at tcrane5000@yahoo.com or by phone 817-296-4287 or Rob Jones at 214-212-9185, jonessoc@juno.com