by Jeff Roland

I think our "Idaho chess friends who are no longer with us" would have been proud!

The 1st Annual ICA Players Memorial chess tournament was played in Boise, Idaho on May 14-15, 2011 at the Boise State University, Student Union Building, Hatch Ballroom. The Chief Tournament Director was Jeff Roland and the Assistant Tournament Director was Caleb Abernathy (this was Caleb's first official event as a Tournament Director).

Twenty-seven (27) players attended the event (21 players from Idaho, 5 players from Utah, and 1 player from Washington). Sixty-one (61) games were played in all (which includes the "Extra Game" played between the two players who had the forced byes in the fourth round of the Open and the Reserve sections).

David X. Vasquez of Provo, UT won the event outright with 4½ points, followed by a 2-way tie for 2nd-3rd places shared by Tim J. Stakland (Provo, UT) and Kurt P. Douglas (Boise), each with 4 points.

In the Reserve (U1400) section, Douglas W. Finch (Orem, UT) won first place with 4½ points, followed by Erica Dawn Barkell (Boise) in second place with 3½ points, and Michaela R. Abernathy (Meridian) in third place with 3 points.

Hank Harris (Boise) said he hasn't played in an officially rated USCF event since 1980, 31 years ago!

All of the players seemed to have a great time. It was a delight to meet and play the players from out of state, and I hope that everyone will come to the ICA Summer Classic in Boise, Idaho, on July 9-10.

I would like to thank Phil Weyland for his part in securing the playing site, and also to thank Tammy Hodges of BSU for making sure the room was set up so professionally and suited our needs so well. I would also like to thank each and every player who played in the event. You truly made this a memorable, first-ever, ICA Players Memorial!