As always, the Texas Chess Association staff and I thank you for your outstanding support and love for the game of chess. Everything we do for our chess players is a team effort and your contributions are much appreciated.
This, the second issue of Texas Knights this year, is packed with tournament reports, games, and pictures. Thanks to those who contributed to this, and in particular to our Editor, Jeff French. Speaking of contributions to chess, this past month our Texas Chess Association suffered a tremendous loss. We mourn the passing of our good friend Luis Salinas. For many, many years, Luis was the President of the Dallas Chess Club and the Chess Program Assistant Director of the University of Texas at Dallas. All of us are going to miss him tremendously! His burial will take place on Friday, April 12th, in San Antonio, and his Celebration of Life will take place in Dallas on April 21st. For more information and exact locations, please go to the Dallas Chess Club website. Also, please mark your calendar for the 2024 Luis Salinas Memorial 79th Annual Texas State and Amateur Chess Championships, to be held at the DFW Airport Marriott South, May 24 – 27. Join us at the event and honor our friend who touched so many lives.
This year, many of our 10 TCA regions held championships, which culminated in the Texas State Scholastic Championships, North/Central and South. Thanks to all the participants and to the organizers, TCA and DCC Treasurer Barbara Swafford (North/Central), and UTRGV Chess Program Director GM Bartek Macieja (South). Thanks to both of you and your tournament staff for organizing these State Championships. Because of your efforts and the attendance by our players, we will have an online playoff to determine the Texas representatives for the Denker, Barber, Rockefeller, and Haring US Chess National Tournaments of State Champions. In addition, the fifth player who will represent us, at the Irwin National Tournament of State Senior Champions, earned his selection at the Texas Senior Championship. He is Scott Elliott. Scott contributed an article, photos, and games to this issue of Texas Knights. Thanks also to Chris Wood, our TCA Website Administrator, and the Arlington Chess Club for organizing this event. The US Chess National Invitational Tournaments of State Champions will take place in conjunction with the U.S. Open, at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel, Norfolk, Virginia, July 27 – 30, 2024. Even if you are not going, you can follow the progress of our champions on the US Chess website.
With best regards,
Franc
