Chris Shen wins Barber Tournament of K-8 Champions

Chris Shen wins the Barber tournament of K-8 champions of this year in Norfolk, VA. Chris is a rising 8th grader of Liberty Middle School, Powell, OH. This year's national edition included 48 chess players who qualified by the win of respective home state middle school champion. Chris scored 5 out 6 and remained undefeated with 4 wins and 2 draws. He is tied with a player from Texas for the 1st place, and won the tie break to bring home the title of "champion of champions"

2017 Pan-American Intercollegiate Chess Championships Held in Columbus Ohio

The titanic trophy-cup in shining gold-tint stood just a bit taller than the four silver cups in its row, any of which looked as if it could commemorate first place for Wimbledon. For four days players and coaches stole glances at the big one.

Upcoming Ohio Open Tournaments

2018 MOTCF

March 24-25, 2018

To register or more information CLICK HERE

2018 Columbus Open

July 13-15, 2018

More information coming soon

Welcome to the Ohio Chess Association Youtube Channel

Enjoy these first 2 videos where NM Tom Britt goes over 2 of John Stopa's games. As many of you know John passed away July 7th, 2017. The first game Tom goes over is a game from the World Open in which John had the black pieces against IM Emory Tate. The second game is a game where John once again had the black pieces but this time against the well known chess author Eric Schiller. 2 fabulous games with wonderful insight from a National Master!

Look for more of these exciting videos in the near future from some of Ohio's top players

If you are interested in contributing please contact the OCA President at

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Ohio Game Spotlight

2017 Barber Tournament

Round 5 - 2017 Barber Tournament

Justin Wang (2336) - Christopher Shen (2307)

Annotations by Christopher Shen

{C07: French Tarrasch: 3...c5, 4 Ngf3 and 4 exd5 Qxd5} 1. e4 {I choose this
game to share with Ohio chess players because this is a critical game of round 5 on
the top board between top 2 seeds. I also want to post this French opening I
played in memorial of coach Goran.} e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 {I remember last
time Goran saw this line from my game was in 2016 Gem City Open when I played
black against then IM Ruifeng Li on top board.} 4. Ngf3 cxd4 5. exd5 Qxd5 6.
Bc4 Qd6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Nb3 Nc6 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 a6 11. Re1 Qc7 12. Bb3 Bd7
13. g3 O-O-O 14. Bf4 Bd6 15. Bxd6 Qxd6 16. Nf3 Qc7 17. Qe2 Bc6 18. Ne5 Bd5 $6
$146 {Not a very accurate move} (18... Be4 {is a correct move} 19. Qc4 Qxc4 20.
Bxc4 Bg6 21. Nxg6 hxg6 22. Rad1 Ng4 23. Be2 Nf6 24. f4 Kc7 25. Bf3 b6 26. Rxd8
Rxd8 27. Kf2 Rd2+ 28. Re2 Rxe2+ 29. Bxe2 a5 30. Ke3 Nd5+ 31. Kd4 Kd6 32. Bc4
Nb4 33. c3 {Sorsak, J-Komora,A Hlohovec 1993 1/2-1/2 (41)}) 19. Ng4 $6 {
After the game, Justin told his weak move like this because he was also
nervous about the game. We both realize the result of this round would impact
the outcome of whole tournament.} (19. Qe3 $5 {should be investigated more
closely} Rhf8 20. Qf4 $14) 19... Nxg4 20. Qxg4 f5 {Black threatens to win
material: f5xg4} (20... g6 21. Rad1 Bc6 22. Qb4 $11) 21. Qe2 Rhe8 22. c4 Bc6
23. c5 {Attacks the backward pawn on e6} Kb8 24. Rad1 (24. Bxe6 $2 {doesn't
work} Bd5 25. Qc2 Bxe6 $19) 24... Be4 25. Bc2 Bxc2 26. Qxc2 Rxd1 27. Rxd1 Rd8
28. Re1 Qc6 29. Qc3 {White threatens to win material: Qc3xg7} Rd7 $6 (29... g6
$1 {would make a solid pawn structure for Black} 30. b4 $11) 30. Qe5+ {White
forks: e6} Ka7 31. Qxe6 {This move suprised me because White seeks a draw when
I thought he wanted to keep the tension and slowly pushed to make a better
position on board.} (31. b4 a5 $14) 31... Rd1 $1 $11 32. Qe2 Rxe1+ 33. Qxe1
Qxc5 {A queen endgame occured.} 34. Qd2 g6 35. b3 Qe5 36. Kg2 Qe4+ 37. f3 {
White threatens to win material: f3xe4} Qe5 38. h4 Kb6 39. Kf2 Kc6 40. Kg2 h5
41. a4 b5 42. axb5+ Kxb5 43. Qd3+ Kb6 44. Qd8+ Kb5 45. Qd3+ {Twofold repetition
} Kb6 46. Qd8+ {A draw was ageed and we both were ready to let next round
determine final result.} 1/2-1/2

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The purpose of our association is to foster the study and pursuit of the game of chess by conducting tournaments for players, sponsoring teams to represent the state of Ohio in interstate and international play, promote chess organizations in the state of Ohio, and the overall general promotion of chess.

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