Wolfgang Freese, now teaching in Pocatello at Idaho State University, and recently from Germany, has won the 1969 Idaho Open, played at the new Boise YMCA over the May 17-18 weekend. Freese's record was unblemished except for a third round draw with second place, Dave Reynolds, also of Pocatello and recent winner of the Utah Open. Tournament Director, Dick Vandenburg, lost to Freese and had a draw with Reynolds to place third, 3½-1½. Ezra Brumbach of Parma, Idaho entered the tournament with a rating of 1455 but astounded everyone by scoring 2½ points, including a draw with out-going state champion, Glen Buckendorf. Buckendorf scored 2½ points the first day but lost games to both leaders on Sunday to finish in 5th place. Utah's Dick Heilbut had a bad tournament scoring only 1-4 after starting with a 1977 rating. For the first time in recent years, all of the top players were from Idaho and, for the first time in quite a spell, there were no players from either Oregon or Washington. Utah contributed 12 players to both sections, however.

Alan Taye of Salt Lake City, and only 18 years old, won the Class B section with a convincing 4½-½ score, permitting a last round draw with third place, Max Wennstrom. Larry Munger, also of Salt Lake City, was second, 4-1, losing to the winner. Boise's Nick Skirmants lost to Munger in the last round to place 4th, 3-2. Dick Heilbut's two boys, Rick and Craig, scored 1 and 2 in the junior division, both with 3-2 scores. Looks like Dad had better watch out in the future! Last year's "B" winner, George Rasor, stumbled a couple of times and ended up 8th.

At the annual Idaho Chess Association business meeting, Ted Hartwell was elected President and Dick Vandenburg was re-elected Secretary-Treasurer. In other business, the Idaho State (Closed) Championship was set for February 21-22 with one section of play using class awards, 100% USCF rated, and to be played in Twin Falls YMCA. The 1970 Idaho Open will again be played in the Boise YMCA on the May 16-17 weekend. It will also be a one section affair with class prizes. The one section tournament hasn't been tried in many years in Idaho but will be given another test next year.