Hilton Student Captures Club Championship with Perfect Score

David Carr Jr (at right with Black pieces) won his game
against Wilson Liu in the final round of the Club Championship.

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Oct. 28, 2026 – 

12-Year-Old David Carr Jr. Wins the 3rd Matt Parry Memorial Club Championship

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Community Chess Club of Rochester (CCCR) crowned a new champion on Wednesday evening as 12-year-old David Carr Jr. of Hilton, New York completed a remarkable undefeated run to claim first place in the 3rd Matt Parry Memorial Club Championship with a perfect 4.0 score.

The final round was held on October 28, 2026, at the Rochester Chess Center, concluding four rounds of highly competitive play. Carr, a student at Merton Williams Middle School in Hilton, finished alone atop the standings after defeating Wilson Liu (1918) in the championship pairing on Board 1. Entering the round with a perfect score, Carr successfully navigated the pressure of the top board and secured the tournament title outright.

Playing at a tournament rating of 1971, Carr's performance was even more impressive than his rating suggested. His final performance rating of 2163 demonstrated master-level form throughout the event and established him as a deserving champion.

Final Round Highlights

The championship matchup featured Carr against fellow contender Wilson Liu. A victory guaranteed Carr sole possession of first place, and the young champion delivered when it mattered most.

Several other key games helped shape the final standings:

• Henry Swing (2055) defeated Wesley Ross (1770) on Board 2.
• Jacob Snell (2032) overcame Rolando Scrubb (1797) on Board 3.
• Thomas Weaver (1805) scored a victory against James Attaya (1500).
• Deyan Mihaylov (1610) defeated Nicholas Secours (1634).
• Nathan Pedersen (1345) upset Bill Pollifrone (1600).
• Michael Lionti (1423) defeated Dakaylah Winfield (1467).
• Chris Floro (1316) won against John Strazzabosco (1400).
• Joseph Sarratori (927) recorded a notable victory over Matthew Sherman (1357).

Two games ended peacefully, with Eric Luce and Adam Snyder drawing, as well as Nathan McKay and David Phelps splitting their point. Anastasia Gore and Chris Vaquero also agreed to a draw.

Final Standings

Carr's perfect score placed him a full point ahead of a talented chasing pack. Five players tied for second place with 3.0 points. Standard tie-breaks determined the final rankings for trophy and medal winners. Standard tie-breaks were used for cash prizes and were divided equally among players tied on score.

Prize Winners	Player	Rating	Score	Performance
1st Place Trophy	David Carr Jr.	1971	4.0	2163
2nd Place Trophy	Wilson Liu	1918	3.0	1991
3rd Place Trophy	TJ Weaver	1805	3.0	1923
4th Place Trophy	Henry Swing	2055	3.0	1993
3 point score Runner-up	Jacob Snell	2032	3.0	1902
U2000 Medal	Wesley Ross	1770	3.0	1969

U1700 Medal	Adam Snyder	1675	2.5	1604
U1400 Medal	Nathan Pederson	1345	2.0	1552

U1100 Medal

Joe Sarratori

927

1.5

1403

*Note: Standard tie-breaks were applied to determine final rankings for trophies, medals and other non-cash prizes.

The event demonstrated considerable depth, with multiple players outperforming their pre-tournament ratings. Among the strongest performances were:

• David Carr Jr. (+192 points over rating performance)
• Joseph Sarratori (performance 1403 versus rating 927)
• Nathan Pedersen (performance 1552 versus rating 1345)

These results highlighted the competitive spirit and improving strength of Rochester-area chess players across all rating levels.

Front to Back & Left to right:
Rolando Scrubbs vs Jacob Snell
Henry Swing vs Wesley Ross
Wilson Liu vs David Carr Jr

A Bright Future for Rochester Chess

Carr's victory is particularly noteworthy because of his age. At just 12 years old, he navigated a field that included numerous experienced adult competitors and several players rated over 2000. His perfect score and tournament-leading performance rating suggest that Rochester chess fans may be witnessing the continued rise of one of the region's most promising young talents.

The championship was contested under a G/80;d5 time control, giving players 80 minutes for the game with a 5-second delay per move, allowing for deep strategic battles and demanding endgame play.

Tournament Chief Ken McBride gives chess players
 their final instructions.

Event Leadership and Volunteers

The tournament was directed by Chief Tournament Director Ken McBride, whose efforts helped ensure a smooth and successful championship.

The event was organized by Michael Lionti, with valuable assistance from tournament volunteers John Strazzabosco, Wilson Liu, and David Phelps. Their contributions helped make the 3rd Matt Parry Memorial Club Championship another successful chapter in the Community Chess Club of Rochester's growing tournament tradition.

As another club championship comes to a close, the Rochester chess community celebrates not only a worthy champion, but also the strong participation, sportsmanship, and competitive spirit displayed throughout the event. 

For 2026, the title belongs to a new name: David Carr Jr., Community Chess Club of Rochester Champion.

Front to Back & Left to right:
Nathan Pedersen vs Bill Pollifrone
Deyan Mihaylov vs Nick Secours

Left to right:
Matthew Sherman vs Joe Sarratori

Front to Back & Left to right:
Eric Luce vs Adam Snyder
Jim Attaya vs TJ Weaver
Nathan McKay vs David Phelps

Front to Back & Left to right:
Jim Attaya vs TJ Weaver
Nathan McKay vs David Phelps

Left to right:
Chris Floro vs John Strazzabosco

Front Seated & Left to Right:
TJ Weaver 3rd Place
David Carr Jr - 1st Place
Wilson Liu - 2nd Place
Henry Swing - 4th Place
TD & chess players in the background

The chess club will hold the Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, November 11 at the Rochester Chess Center at 7:30pm. Cake and light refreshments will be served. All are welcome. We will also have our weekly US Chess Rated Game (G/80;d5) with registration between 6:30pm and 7:15.

Thank you for visiting the blog!

Upsets Shake Up Matt Parry Memorial Club Championship Heading into Final Round

Wilson Liu (Left, Black pieces) vs Henry Swing

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Oct. 21, 2026 – The race for the title tightened considerably Wednesday night as several lower-rated players scored notable upsets in Round 3 of the 2026 Matt Parry Memorial CCCR Club Championship at the Rochester Chess Center, creating a wide-open battle entering the fourth and final round.

Following the awarding of the evening's door prizes, attention turned to the chessboards as competitors prepared for what many viewed as a pivotal round in the championship. With several contenders vying for position near the top of the standings, Tournament Director Ken McBride asked that the chess clocks be started and Round 3 was officially underway at the Rochester Chess Center.

The biggest surprise of the evening came on Board 1, where Wilson Liu (1918) knocked off top seed Henry Swing (2055). The victory vaulted Liu into contention for the championship and denied Swing an opportunity to take sole possession of first place.  post.

Another upset occurred on Board 11, where Nathan Pedersen (1345) defeated Matthew Sherman (1357) despite being the lower-rated player. While modest in rating difference, the result kept Pedersen in the hunt and earned him a favorable final-round pairing.

Elsewhere, the higher-rated players generally held serve. David Carr Jr. (1971) defeated Thomas Weaver (1805), while Jacob Snell (2032) overcame Nicholas Secours (1634). Rolando Scrubb (1797) continued his strong tournament by defeating David B. Carr (1543), joining the crowded group of players with two points.

Among the lower boards, Deyan Mihaylov (1610) defeated Joseph Sarratori (927) and John Strazzabosco (1400) scored against Anastasia Gore (772). Eric Luce (1850), Adam Snyder (1675), and James Attaya (1500) also collected important victories.

After three rounds, no player has emerged as a runaway leader, setting up several critical encounters in the championship-deciding fourth round.

Round 3 Results

Board 1: Wilson Liu (1918) defeated Henry Swing (2055)
Board 2: David Carr Jr. (1971) defeated Thomas Weaver (1805)
Board 3: Wesley Ross (1770) defeated Nathan McKay (1734)
Board 4: Jacob Snell (2032) defeated Nicholas Secours (1634)
Board 5: Eric Luce (1850) defeated Bill Pollifrone (1600)
Board 6: Rolando Scrubb (1797) defeated David B. Carr (1543)
Board 7: Adam Snyder (1675) defeated Michael Lionti (1423)
Board 8: James Attaya (1500) defeated Chris Floro (1316)
Board 9: Deyan Mihaylov (1610) defeated Joseph Sarratori (927)
Board 10: John Strazzabosco (1400) defeated Anastasia Gore (772)
Board 11: Nathan Pedersen (1345) defeated Matthew Sherman (1357)

Final Round Pairings

Several games in Round 4 will have direct implications for the championship.

Board 1: Wilson Liu (1918) vs. David Carr Jr. (1971)
One of the tournament's most important contests will be played on Board 1, where co-leader David Carr Jr., sporting a perfect 3-0 score, takes on Wilson Liu, coming off the tournament's biggest upset of the event. Liu will look to continue his momentum against a player who has yet to drop a point in the championship.

Board 2: Henry Swing (2055) vs. Wesley Ross (1770)
Ross enters the final round with a perfect score of three points and controls his own destiny in the championship race. Swing, despite suffering a surprising setback in Round 3, remains one of the tournament's strongest players and will be looking to play spoiler while keeping any remaining title hopes alive. Despite his upset loss, Swing remains dangerous and may still have title hopes if results elsewhere break his way. 

Board 3: Rolando Scrubb (1797) vs. Jacob Snell (2032)
Scrubb has been one of the tournament's biggest success stories and now faces one of the event favorites.

Board 4: Eric Luce (1850) vs. Adam Snyder (1675)
A strong performance by either player could result in a high overall finish.

Other final-round pairings:

• Thomas Weaver (1805) vs. James Attaya (1500)
• Nathan McKay (1734) vs. David B. Phelps (1931)
• Deyan Mihaylov (1610) vs. Nicholas Secours (1634)
• Nathan Pedersen (1345) vs. Bill Pollifrone (1600)
• Dakaylah Winfield (1467) vs. Michael Lionti (1423)
• John Strazzabosco (1400) vs. Chris Floro (1316)
• Joseph Sarratori (927) vs. Matthew Sherman (1357)
• Anastasia Gore (772) receives a pairing with a house player

As the championship enters its final round, the standings remain closely contested. Liu's upset of the top seed was the headline result of Round 3, but with several players clustered near the top, the 2026 Matt Parry Memorial CCCR Club Championship appears destined for a dramatic finish.

Front to Back & From Left to right: 
Wesley Ross vs Nathan McKay
TJ Weaver (not pictured) vs David Carr Jr
Wilson Liu vs Henry Swing

Front to Back & From Left to right: 
Bill Pollifrone vs Eric Luce
Nick Secours vs Jacob Snell

Deyan Mihaylov vs Joe Sarratori

Jima Attaya vs Chris Floro

                              Round 3 Results:

                                                 

                Round 4 "Preliminary Pairings"

                                Wall Chart:

Round 2 Delivers Upsets and Black-Side Successes

The second round of the Community Chess Club of Rochester's club championship was held Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at the Rochester Chess Center, featured several notable upsets and an exceptional showing by the Black pieces. While top seed Henry Swing continued his march through the field with a win over Eric Luce, lower-rated players Thomas Weaver, Wesley Ross and Mike Lionti scored impressive victories against opponents rated more than 150 points higher. In a rare occurrence, Black won eight of the twelve games played, turning conventional wisdom about White's first-move advantage on its head.

The biggest upset came on Board 2 where TJ Weaver (1805) defeated Jacob Snell (2032) with the black pieces, overcoming a rating deficit of more than 200 points. Another major upset occurred on Board 4 where Wesley Ross (1770) also scored with Black against David Phelps (1931). Another upset occurred on Board 8 where Mike Lionti (1423) defeated the higher-rated Deyan Mihaylov (1610). 

Board 1 saw tournament favorite Henry Swing (2055) continue his strong start, defeating Eric Luce (1850) from the Black side. Higher-rated players generally held serve on most boards, as David Carr Jr., Wilson Liu, Bill Pollifrone, and David Carr all converted their rating advantages into victories.

Black pieces proved to be a powerful weapon throughout the round. Fully eight of the twelve games were won by Black, an unusually high percentage and a reversal of the traditional first-move advantage enjoyed by White. Several of those Black victories came on the top boards, dramatically reshaping the standings heading into Round 3.

Among the lower boards, Nathan McKay, Nicholas Secours, James Attaya, and Dakaylah Winfield scored important victories to remain in contention. Winfield's win over Anastasia Gore and Attaya's victory over Matthew Sherman ensured that several players remain within striking distance as the tournament enters its second half.

With two rounds now complete in the four-round event, the standings have tightened considerably. The upsets in Round 2 demonstrate once again that ratings provide only a forecast, not a result, and every remaining game could have a major impact on the final standings.

Round 3 promises several key pairings as tournament leaders and upset winners collide in the battle for the championship.                                                    

A big thank you to Eric Luce who provided a complete analysis of his game with Henry Swing on Board 1. 

                                                     Round 2 Results:

                Round 3 "Preliminary Pairings"

                                Wall Chart:

Round 1 Opens 3rd Annual Matt Parry Memorial Club Championship

    

Matt Parry

US Chess Original Life Master

The 3rd Annual Matt Parry Memorial Club Championship got underway Wednesday evening October 7th at the Rochester Chess Center, kicking off what promises to be an exciting four-week battle for the club title. The championship is being contested over four consecutive Wednesdays in October, with one round played each week. Over four rounds, players will battle for the prestigious title of 2026 Community Chess Club of Rochester (CCCR) Champion.

A special moment before the start of play was the attendance of Matt's parents, Neil and Diane Parry, who joined players and club members for the opening ceremony of the memorial tournament honoring their son.

A strong field of 25 players entered the event, ranging from experienced experts to improving club competitors. After the opening round, the field has naturally split into score groups, setting up several intriguing encounters for Round 2.

The top board will feature a clash between two of the tournament favorites as US Chess Expert Henry Swing (2055) takes on Eric Luce (1850). Other key matchups among the leaders include US Chess Expert Jacob Snell (2032) against Thomas Weaver (1805), Rolando Scrubb (1797) versus David Carr Jr. (1971), and David Phelps (1931) facing Wesley Ross (1770).

Further down the pairings, Wilson Liu (1918) meets Adam Snyder (1675), while Nathan McKay (1734) takes on Joseph Sarratori (927). Several evenly matched contests are also on tap, including Nicholas Secours (1634) versus Chris Floro (1316) and Deyan Mihaylov (1610) against Michael Lionti (1423).

With three rounds still to play after next week's action, every point will be critical as players seek to remain in contention for the championship. Round 2 is expected to provide a clearer picture of the early favorites, while also giving underdogs an opportunity to make their mark in this year's memorial event.

The Rochester Chess Center hosts Round 2 next Wednesday as competitors continue their pursuit of the 2026 3rd Annual Matt Parry Memorial Club Championship title.

                            Round 1 Results: 

Round 2 Preliminary Pairings:

                                  Wall Chart:

Upcoming Events in Rochester & Buffalo New York

The Rochester Chess Center will be hosting the Waterloo tournament and will not have their weekly Saturday afternoon 3-Round event on Sept 26th. Please consider supporting the Waterloo Tournament.  Nick Secours will be the Tournament Director. The organizer is Tim Smolinski. More details are the flyer below. 

EXTENDED EARLY BIRD -RHPT Masten World FIDE Fall Classic 2026

Hosted and Directed by Archangel 8 Chess Academy ♟️

📅 Event Dates

• Tournament Dates: Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13, 2026
• Venue: Hyatt Place Hotel, 5020 Main Street, Amherst, NY

🎊 Fireside Welcome Reception

• Friday, September 11, 2026
• 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
• Business Casual Attire

🏨 Special Hotel Rate

• $199 per night
• Must book by September 4, 2026

♟️ Tournament Format

• Two-day event
• 5 FIDE-rated Swiss games
• Time Control: Game 85; d5

🏆 Sections

• FIDE OPEN
• Saturday Only Scholastic (K–8)
• 5 Swiss games
• USCF-rated
• Time Control: G25; d5

💰 Entry Fees

• Early Bird Entry Fee: $80 USD
• Advance registration only
• Send registration to knightsof64@yahoo.com
• Include:
  • Full name
  • USCF ID number
  • Section
  • Contact number
• Early Bird deadline: September 10, 2026
• After September 10th: $100USD
• Final deadline: September 10, 2026

🏅 FIDE Open Prizes

• $500 + trophy
• $250 + trophy
• $125
• Under 1800 class prize: $225
• Under 1500: $200

🎓 Scholastic Awards

• Awards to the Top Four Finishers

🤝 Special Offer

• Merriweather members: Free entry!

⏰ FIDE Open Schedule

• Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026
• Check-in with cash payment by 10:00 AM
• Round 1: 10:30 AM
• Round 2: 2:00 PM
• Round 3: 5:30 PM
• Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026
• Round 4: 10:00 AM
• Round 5 (Finals): 1:30 PM

Chess Simultaneous Results!

The Chess Simultaneous with Bodhi Blaska

This chess simultaneous was held at the Rochester Chess Center on July 30th, 2026, beginning at 6:45pm.  The last game finished at 11:45pm.  Thirteen players played the black chess pieces against our Community Chess Club of Rochester (CCCR) club co-champion, Bodhi Blaska, commanding a strong USCF rating of 1980.  The final result for Bodhi was 8 wins, 3 draws, and 2 losses.  The simultaneous event is held annually, and the club champion (or co-champions) traditionally takes the role to play all of the opponents at the same time.  Marco Tipiani, who is also co-champion, was unable to participate because he has moved to Texas.

The evening started out with a pre-event dinner at 5:30pm.  The club provided pizza, snacks and beverages for all of the players and spectators.  At 6:30pm, the players and spectators moved to the main playing room for a questions & answers session to review the simul rules and etiquette.  Promptly at 6:45pm, the simul started and Bodhi began his rounds of tables set up with chess boards.  Bodhi played the white pieces on all the boards, which is tradition.  By 9pm, no games were finished.  After 9pm Bodhi won his first game against Jacob Snell.  Over the next hour a win by Adam Synder and David Phelps was scored. Then after 11pm, draws by Deyan Mihaylov, Jim Attaya and John Manning were scored. By the end of the event at 11:45pm, the final game was drawn with John Manning. As Manning's game was the last game, a time delay clock was introduced. 

In the final tally, Bodhi was defeated only by Adam Snyder and David Phelps, earning draws against Deyan Mihaylov, Jim Attaya, and John Manning.

During the 4 1/2-hour chess simultaneous Bodhi took no breaks, except to restock his beverage and have some snacks while playing.  Only during the final game did Bodhi take a seat to finish his game with John Manning.

Bodhi is currently attending Monroe Community College and is majoring in Business Administration.  We all are grateful to Bodhi for providing all of us with a great evening of chess.  We will celebrate the results on Wednesday night, August 5th at 7:30pm with a cake and other treats along with the awards ceremony.  

Bodhi shakes hands with Bill Pollifrone 

at the start of the chess simultaneous.
 

Bodhi patiently works his way through the games.

Jacob concedes victory to Bodhi, Bodhi's first win.

David Carr concedes the game to Bodhi.

Bodhi makes his move against Matt Sherman.

Bodhi studies the chess position in his game with Chris Floro.

Bodhi plans his next move against 

former CCCR Champion David Phelps

Joe Sarratori (AKA the Strongest Chess Player) lasted 

until the very end until eventually resigning to the Bodhi.

Nathan Pedersen contemplates his next move.

Deyan Mihaylov contemplates his next move.

Bodhi agreed to a draw with Jim Attaya after a fantastic game.

To ensure fairness for both players, a delay clock 

was introduced for the final game. 

With John Manning up a rook and pawns vs Bodhi's knight and pawns, 

Bodhi found he could hold the position so no progress could be made.  

Both players agreed to a draw for the final game of the night at 11:45pm.

Participants & Results

Who is this masked man?

😆 The chess‑playing gorilla strikes again!