(CROSSVILLE, TN)The four teams which won their Amateur Team Championship held a playoff this past weekend playing over the Internet Chess Club (ICC) website. Won 3-1 over both MidWest and South.

The West Team - “Let’s Mate Those Fockers” …….

Members of the winning team were: Charles Van Buskirk rated 2319 was on Board #1; Ron Hermansen rated 2271 was on Board #2; Team Captain Tim Hanks rated 2230 was on Board #3 and Rory O. Valle rated 1958 was on Board #4. The Club Tournament Director on site in Los Alamitos, CA was Austin Ong.

The Midwest Team – “We Have Hardcore Stuff”……

Board #1: John Cole rated 2331 was also Team Captain; Board #2: James Stephen Cates rated 2037; Board #3: Ben Inskeep rated 2025 and Garret Smith rated 1975 rounded out the team on Board #4. Senior Tournament Director Roger Blaine was onsite in Zionsville, IN to oversee this team.

The East Team – “My 60 Memorable Anti-Semitic Rants”…..

Board #1: Eli Vovsha rated 2502; Board #2: Samson Benen rated 2352 was also the Team Captain; Board #3: Evan Rosenberg rated 2124 and Board #4: Josh Bromberg rated 1773. John Fernandez was the Local Tournament Director on site as he hosted the East Team playing from his home.

The South Team – “Grob This”…….

Board #1: Javier Torres rated 2229; Board #2: Jorge L. Diaz rated 2180; Board #3: Bill Perez rated 2081 was also the Team Captain; Board #4: Wayne Ballantyne rated 2063. Local Tournament Director Gil Luna directed this team at the World Chess Hall of Fame located in Miami, FL.

RESULTS……..

East vs South:
Board:
#1:Eli Vovsha (E) - Javier Torres (S) 0.5 – 0.5
#2:Jorge L. Diaz (S) - Sam Benen (E) 1 - 0
#3:Evan Rosenberg (E) - Bill Perez (S) 0.5 – 0.5
#4:Wayne Ballentyne (S) - Josh Bromberg (E) 1 - 0

Total East: 1
Total South: 3
Board:
#1: John Cole (MW) - Charles Van Buskirk (W) 0 - 1
#2: Ron Hermansen (W) - J. S. Cates (MW) 1 - 0
#3: Ben Inskeep (MW) - Tim Hanks (W) 0.5 – 0.5
#4: Rory Valle (W) - Garrett Smith (MW) 0.5 – 0.5

Total West: 3
Total MidWest: 1

Finals: South vs. West
Board:

#1 Javier Torres (S) - Charles Van Buskirk (W) 0 - 1
#2 Ron Hermansen (W) – Jorge L. Diaz (S) 1 - 0
#3 Bill Perez (S) - Tim Hanks (W) 0 - 1
#4 Rory Valle (W) - Wayne Ballentyne (S) 0 - 1

Total West: 3
Total South: 1

International Chess Arbiter Carol Jarecki was the Chief Tournament Director of the 2005 U.S. Amateur Team Playoffs. The four teams won their regional 2005 Amateur Team Chess Championship and agreed to a chess-off via the Internet this past weekend. Internet Chess Club (ICC) hosted the chess play over their internet chess playing website while all four teams played from four difference locations around the country! The four members of the West Team will receive a commemorative watch for their outstanding accomplishment of achieving the title of 2005 Amateur Team Champions.

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The United States Chess Federation (USCF), founded in 1939, serves as the governing body for chess in the United States and is now headquartered in Crossville, Tennessee. USCF is devoted to extending the role of chess in American society. It promotes the study and knowledge of the game of chess, for its own sake as an art and enjoyment, and as a means for the improvement of society. The USCF is a not-for-profit membership organization nearing 90,000 members. For additional on the USCF see: http://www.uschess.org.