The crisp air and festive lights signal the arrival of December, a time when children and adults alike eagerly anticipate the holiday season and its joys. Adding to this winter wonderland excitement is the Dr. David Ostfeld Memorial ICA Championship tournament!
For those familiar with the name, it's a recurring highlight in the chess community. Hosted by the International Chess Academy of New Jersey, these tournaments are held five times a year, each marking a different season. Dr. Ostfeld, a cherished chess coach at Bergen County Academies, played an integral role in the inception of this esteemed event. His legacy continues to inspire and shape the world of chess. As we gather for the December tournament, we honor his memory and celebrate the strategic brilliance that chess brings to the community.
The tournament itself featured seven sections, ranging from the most inexperienced of beginners up to the master level and beyond. The tournament has always been held at Bergen County Academies in Hackensack. However, today’s tournament was held at the Paramus location instead (this would only be a one time occurrence), but the tournament was still a success! Sections 1-4 were held in the large gymnasium, which included 2 unrated sections, U800 section, and U1200 section. The top 3 sections were all held together in the commons area, which included the U1400, U1600, and open section.This tournament overall was a great experience for everyone, regardless of their score.
The U1600 and open sections were by far not only the largest sections, but also most competitive and thrilling to watch. The Lee siblings, Justin and Jessica, both performed well with 3.5 and 2.5 points respectively. After both playing in the grade school championships back in November and placing with individual and team trophies, they were able to repeat their consistency again. Justin and Jessica were also featured on the ICA show live stream later that night, hosted by Alan Salnikov. They were able to review and go through their games, explaining their thought processes and analyzing critical positions.
We hope to see you at our New Years Eve Blitz tournament on December 31, 2023 and our next Dr. David Ostfeld tournament on February 11th back at Bergen County Academies in Hackensack. Lastly, our ICA show live stream is every Sunday night at 8:00 PM. We plan on live streaming during the upcoming New Years Eve blitz tournament, so you do not want to miss out on that!
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