Indy Chess

We were tabling during lunch at a new middle school to build a new chess program! Nobody beat Coach Jerika today, but one kid did quite well through ten moves with a London system.

The world has spent recent weeks coming to grips with the unfathomable power of artificial intelligence.

So why hasn’t it cracked the code of the world’s most famous board game?

The starting math of chess is relatively straightforward. Thirty-two pieces on 64 squares with perfect information for both players—no one is bluffing or hiding any cards. Yet chess hasn’t been mathematically solved, because the astronomical number of possibilities eventually exceeds the number of atoms in the universe. And even though a cellphone can now checkmate Garry Kasparov, artificial intelligence hasn’t managed to concoct a foolproof plan to win every time.

But as it turns out, the story of chess and AI isn’t one of imminent doom. Instead of simply sinking human players with a single answer, AI is now helping them navigate the board by continuously unlocking secrets of the ancient game.

Read more: 🔗 https://on.wsj.com/4AtFfC7

MADISON BROWN ACHIEVES USCF EXPERT LEVEL RATING OF 2000+!

Madison went 3.0/3.0 at last night's Tuesday Weekly, jumping in rating from 1966 to 2011 against strong competition. When you cross the 2000-point threshold, you are referred to as a USCF Expert.

From her first chess tournament in Westfield when she was 5, to winning a trophy at Nationals in Orlando when she was 7, to thousands of hours of practice, study, analysis, puzzles, lessons (as student and teacher), to "Camp Calculations," to then becoming our club champion just 10 days ago...it's been a long journey filled with so much hard work.

Last night, the work paid off in a major way! Madison, we are all proud of you, and congratulations!

(Thanks to all the players who have competed against her in these club training games every week, giving each other the chance to grow.)

ALLISON TRANSMISSION JUST ANNOUNCED ITS RETURNING TO TAKE THE TITLE BACK FROM LILLY IN THE CORPORATE CHESS CHALLENGE!

Allison Transmission won the title in the first two inaugural years of the Corporate Chess Challenge, led by captain Logan Cross. But Lilly's captain Brad King activated National Master (and Lilly employee) David Airey on board one last year much like their windfall drug Zepbound activates GLP-1. They "put the brakes" on Allison's ambitions, stopped the three-peat in 2025, and earned the title of "Indy's Smartest Company" themselves. And before you think it, no, not one of these jokes was written by A.I. That's probably why they're so good.

Will Lilly and Allision meet in the final this year?!?

We also welcome back Major Tool & Machine who last competed in 2023! They may be an underdog, but given their company has fabricated torpedo tubes for nuclear submarines, it's safe to say your plastic pieces don't scare them.
_________
♟️Corporate Chess Challenge♟️
presented by CohenMalad, LLP
🗓Saturday, October 3 | 9a-3p
🏢Ivy Tech Corporate Center Penthouse
2820 N Meridian Street, Indianapolis
Tournament benefits our free Title I school programs!

We're starting to get a few emails from teams looking for one or two more players. Club members, if you want to play in the ISCA Team Championship on October 10 but don't have a team, email Mike at [email protected] so he can connect you to others.

🏆Madison Brown becomes the 2026 Indy Chess Club Champion, winning on tiebreaks over fellow club member Drew Hollinberger (3.0/4.0)!🏆

Yesterday, a SELLOUT of 82 players gathered to compete in the royal game at St. Paul's Episcopal Church for the 3rd annual Indy Chess Club Championship. There were four USCF-rated sections, a "tornado" (i.e., so much chess in one day your head spins) format of four rounds, 60min+10sec bonus/move games, and a Skittles room full of ping pong, billiards, and air hockey (for the parents).

National Master Harvey Hanke--youth phenom from Fort Wayne--headlined the Championship section. In rounds one and two, he dashed hopes from board one of club members from winning the section outright. But after three rounds, Drew Hollinberger was the frontrunner member with 2.5/3.0, but he now had to play Harvey. Madison had 2.0 close behind, as did 2025 Club Champion Nate Criss. Drew managed to draw against Harvey, while Madison won when she needed to, and the tiebreak gods gave her the victory! Congratulations to Madison!

Here are all the winners (in tiebreak order):

CHAMPIONSHIP/OPEN:
1st - Dominic Bobay (3.5/4.0)
T-2nd - NM Harvey Hanke, Madison Brown*, Drew Hollinberger* (3.0/4.0)

1400-1799:
1st - Aarush Dolli* (4.0/4.0)
T-2nd - Haotian Zhang*, Kavin Ravinchandran, Alkalkirat Lehal (3.0/4.0)
5th - Jackson Campbell* (2.5/4.0)

1000-1399
1st - Vikas Rajaram (4.0/4.0)
T-2nd - Rishik Kollu*, Maximus Wang, Jeremy Bishir*, Micah Vickery*, CJ Kloote*, Beck Chandler (3.0/4.0)

UNRATED-999
T-1st - Leo Wang, Shlok Silodia* (3.5/4.0)
T-3rd - Robert Kinne, Enkhsaruul Undrakh-Orgil*, Jacob Powell, Aadrit Chatterjee* (3.0/4.0)

USCF Rated Results (not tiebreak order): https://ratings.uschess.org/event/202609120433?section=0

*denotes Indy Chess club member

This is annually when we give out awards to our club members in the following areas, and our huge thanks to these players/people for bringing honor to our humble chess club:

♟Coach of the Year: Laura Escobar, for donating eight weeks as a full-time camp coach and now two years as a Pawns to Queens coach

♟Volunteer of the Year: James Norman, for setting up, greeting, and working in the kids' area the past 2+ years at Tuesday Weekly.

♟Most Improved Player: Aarush Dolli & Stephen Vickery, both of whom have gone from under 1000 two years ago to now over 1700

♟Board President Recognition (2025-2026): Gabe Hawkins, who secured title sponsorship for our Corporate Chess Challenge for three years, while helping navigate the organization from a startup to now two full-time employees, almost 20 school programs, and more!

Last, we remembered our friend and club member Dick Arnold with a moment of silence and display. Players who won a game with ...1.b6 (Dick's most recent favorite opening) were entered into a raffle for a $100 prize. Jacob Powell won the raffle in memory of Dick.

HUGE thanks to Chief TD Ryan McCrea who got his last credit to test for Senior TD status, Asst TD Jerika Eppel of Indy Chess, Derrick Satterfield for setup help, and St. Paul's for hosting with their amazing venue!

Most sincerely, thanks to the players and parents for making this club possible.

See you at Tuesday Weekly!

Next big event: Turkey Tornado V | Sat, Nov 21 | 4ss, 60+10 | indychess.org/events (event is expected to sell out)

Our 3rd annual Club Championship is starting its second round! We had a sellout with 82 players, and appreciate the participation by so many club members and guests. Who will get their name etched in the Club Cup for all eternity!?

Follow the pairing/standings on ChessRoster: https://www.chessroster.com/tournaments/fDTF6Pyxakuf

We had to withdraw one of our club members from Saturday's championship. Rest in peace, Dick.

Richard Arnold, 1947-2026
Father of 5, Vietnam veteran, peak 1900+ player

USCF profile: https://ratings.uschess.org/player/11486070

Obituary: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/indianapolis-in/richard-arnold-13021116

"A service honoring Dick’s life and legacy will be held on September 10, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. at Crown Hill Funeral Home, with visitation one hour prior to service. Following the service, he will be laid to rest at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens during a graveside ceremony beginning at 2:00 p.m."

Richard Arnold Obituary - Indianapolis, IN Celebrate the life of Richard Arnold, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Crown Hill Funeral Home & Cemetery.

♟🍁FALL BREAK Checkmating Patterns Camp Returns!
Registration is LIVE! ♟🍁

It's a two-half-day camp (kids attend both days):
Option 1: 9a-12p Mon-Tues, Oct 12-13
Option 2: 9a-12p Thur-Fri, Oct 15-16
USCF-rated tourney add-on 12p-3p second day of each camp (incl. lunch)
(Before Care as early as 8am)

@ St. Thomas Aquinas School
4600 N Illinois St. | Indianapolis, IN 46208

indychess.org/events

Coach Chap will be the instructor to present, review, then drill on 36 of the most common checkmating patterns in chess. Format is like summer camp, with recesses in the gym between the four lessons. Recommended for kids rated up to 1200.

This aligns with the Fall Breaks of IPS, St. Thomas/IHM/SJOA/St.Monica/St Barn., Cold Spring, Carmel Clay, and more! (Unfortunately does not align with Washington Township.)

indychess.org/events

We're not sure if you can take the Club Champion title from last year's victor Nate Criss, but only 16 spots remain for contenders to sign up before the tournament sells out!

Registration: indychess.org/events
Players: tinyurl.com/indychess

Club Championship
Saturday, 9.12 | St. Paul's (6050 N Meridian St.)
4ss, 60+10, $1,175 guaranteed