Thanksgiving chess: The 5th annual Turkey Bowl, hosted last weekend at the University Center at Florida Atlantic University, pulled in 175 competitors to compete for trophies and $4,400 in prizes. Jon Haskel, the event organizer and director, confirmed that the number of participants was the highest ever.

After five rounds of games that could last up to four hours each, the winners in each major rating section were: Grandmaster Julio Becerra (Open section), Michael Corallo (Under 2,000 rating), Joshua Harrison (U 1,600) and Adel Istanbooly (U 1,200). Becerra won the Florida state champion’s title a few months ago.

Human chess anyone? Would you like to play a game in which you face a person instead of a computer screen? Haskel provides the chance by running one of our state’s most active clubs at the FAU campus in Boca Raton.

A typical Friday night meeting attracts about 80 players, he says. Many compete in one game per week four-round tournaments which contain three rating sections. For those who are speed-addicted, Wednesday night club get-togethers offer blitz tournaments (5-minute/person games). For more info, go to

Chess titles for kids: In less than two weeks, a convenient opportunity for Florida kids to play in one of the major national youth tournaments will exist in Lake Buena Vista at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. From Dec. 8-10, the National Scholastic K-12/Collegiate Championship will pit chess players against others in their grade levels to determine the U.S. grade champions. Schools will also compete with three-person grade-level teams. In addition to titles for the national champions, lots of trophies are up for grabs with 10 individual and five school trophies for every grade. Go to

Solution: Turkey Bowl champion Becerra has been performing at a very high level this year. In this column’s game, you can see how he defeated International Master Ron Burnett. Two years ago, as Tennessee state champion, Burnett won the first U.S. State Champion of Champions tournament. In the U.S. Chess League this year, he resigned to our Florida champion after: 30. …Rde4 31. h3 Re1+ 32. Kh2 a4! Once the pawn reaches a2, black can trade rooks to queen a pawn.

A confession? “No chess grandmaster is normal; they only differ in the extent of their madness.” — World champion challenger GM Victor Korchnoi

US Chess League

1. e4 e5

2. Nf3 Nc6

3. Bb5 a6

4. Ba4 Nf6

5. 0-0 Nxe4

6. d4 b5

7. Bb3 d5

8. dxe5 Be6

9. Nbd2 Nc5

10. c3 d4

11. Ng5 Qxg5

12. Qf3 0-0-0

13. Bxe6+fxe6

14. Qxc6 Qxe5

15. b4 Qd5

16. Qxd5 exd5

17. bxc5 dxc3

18. Nb3 d4

19. Ba3 g6

20. Bb4 Bg7

21. a4 d3

22. axb5 d2

23. c6 Kb8

24. Bc5 Rhe8

25. Nxd2 cxd2

26. Rab1 a5

27. b6 Bd4

28. Bxd4 Rxd4

29. bxc7+Kxc7

30. Rfd1 M-

[See Diagram]

Former Florida chess champion Bill Cornwall is a national award-winning chess trainer and columnist. Send comments to .