RRSO XI

06 April 2013
Davis, Oklahoma

Oklahoma
(At Home)
13.5
10.5

Texas
(On Road)
Bd
Player
Pre
Post
Score
Pre
Post
Player
Pre Post
Pre Post
01
2072
2065
0.5
1.5
2100
2107
2072
2065
2100
2107
02
1968
1958
0.5
1.5
1964
1974
1968
1958
1964
1974
03
1960
1978
2.0
0.0
1952
1934
1960
1978
1952
1934
04
1940
1937
1.0
1.0
1898
1901
1940
1937
1898
1901
05
1918
1927
1.5
0.5
1897
1888
1918
1927
1897
1888
06
1877
1885
1.5
0.5
1830
1822
1877
1885
1830
1822
07
1828
1837
1.5
0.5
1788
1799
1828
1837
1788
1799
08
1782
1754
0.0
2.0
1709
1740
1782
1754
1709
1740
09
1727
1747
2.0
0.0
1651
1629
1727
1747
1651
1629
10
1565
1569
1.0
1.0
1607
1603
1565
1569
1607
1603
11
1060
1095
1.0
1.0
1360
1333
1060
1095
1360
1333
12
1400
1400
1.0
1.0
1319
1328
1400
1400
1319
1328

2013 Murray County Open

06 April 2013
Davis, Oklahoma

#
Player
St
Pre
Post
Rd01
Rd02
Rd02
Total
01
TX
2219
2213
W04
D02
W03
2.5
02
OK
1927
1934
W03
D01
W04
2.5
03
OK
0756
0844
L02
W04
L01
1.0
04
TX
1154
1114
L01
L03
L02
0.0

RRSO XI Photos

Oklahoma Chess Team 2013 OKLAHOMA CHESS TEAM - WORLD AND RRSO CHAMPIONS - PHOTO AND GRAHICS BY JIM HOLLINGSWORTH
Texas Chess Team 2013 TEXAS CHESS TEAM - SOUTHERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS - PHOTO AND GRAHICS BY JIM HOLLINGSWORTH

RRSO XI Games

Click for all RRSO XI Games
Source:  Frank Kim Berry's OKIE Database

Red River Shootout #11
OK - TX completes 11 straight years of annual matches

By Frank Berry (deceased)
Oklahoma Chess Team Captain

     Webmaster's comments (August 17, 2016):  RRSO always attracts a lot of press and publicity.  This was published in the Oklahoma Chess Quarterly (Vol 30-3, July 2013, Summer Edition).  The author (in the photo) appears to have written this article before RRSO XI and his theme is overzealous recruiting by Texas.  Two points of view can arise from looking at the cross tables and match scores.  One is this is only a perception problem as both teams have basically the same ratings.  It is indeed possible one side can outplay the other.

     However, the "Elephant in the Room" point of view is RRSO morphed into a high school baseball team going against the Triple A team for the New York Yankees.  Whatever the real truth is, a perception problem can be a "real" problem.

     When RRSO was conceived the intent was to reunite old friends and rivals and have fun.  Neither side seriously expected to win the match.  Getting that trophy may have been icing on the cake, but it was secondary to comradery.  The players all enjoyed and respected each other.  At the annual Victory Dinner stories, jokes and laughter were the norm.  But, around the seventh year there was a change in leadership for one team, as well as philosophy.  Suddenly RRSO was no longer fun and in danger of folding.  At least that was the perception.

     It should be noted every leader ever associated with RRSO made decisions based on their philosophy and what they felt was right.  Over time any philosophy is judged on whether it's the right fit for the enterprise.  For RRSO, the fit clearly wasn't right and a change was needed.  Fortunately, leaders of any organization, even RRSO, can be replaced and fun times can return.  This process took a while (as in years).  Then came RRSO XIV, an unexpected tie and lots of fun.  Both sides call it the best RRSO ever (perhaps overlooking RRSO's III, IV and V).  We'll see.  This Webmaster believes as long as people stay true to RRSO's founding principles, the best ever RRSO will happen again, many many times.

And Frank Berry wrote:

     It might be impossible to write extensively and accurately about the various border states that have or still have head-to-head over-the-board team chess mnatches.  But there are two states that have just completed 10 straight years competing against each other in a team format.

     I'm talking about the Red River Shoot Out held each Spring between Texas and Oklahoma.  The rules are simple.  Must be current USCF member, have a rating and USCF address must list player as OK or TX.  The rating is so we'd know where to put you in the line-up.

     After ten years - to nobody's surprise - Texas leads the series by an 8-2 score.  Number of boards have ranged from 9 in 2008 to 30 in 2010.  Average has been 19 boards with the most recent averaging 24 boards.  We have been playing two games at G/60 with a 30 sec inc.  Pictures are taken at the start and a nice trophy gets to remain with the winning state.  If one state had extra players they were organized in a quick event.

     Jim Hollingsworth of Fort Worth first proposed this idea to Oklahoman Tom Nichols and the first match was held in the Red River border town of Ardmore.  It then got moved to Wichita Falls (TX), Norman (OK), Thackerville (OK) and finally found a permanent home in Davis (OK) about 55 miles north of the Red River which is the natural border between OK and TX.  This seems to be the midpoint between Oklahoma City/Tulsa and the Ft Worth/Dallas areas.  The location in Davis is the Inn of The Treasure Valley Casino.  We charge the players $5 ea which pays the $150 rent on the casino's attractive conference room.

     Three players have competed in all ten matches.  Aurelio Gonzalez and Paul Huspeni of Texas and Bruce Wells of Oklahoma.  The closest finish happened in Norman (2005) when the top board was the last to finish.  All players gathered around to watch FM Movses Movsisyan (OK) barely hold a draw; two pawns down with open kings and queens in a tricky late middlegame with NM Nick Schoonmaker (TX)and secure the victory for Oklahoma 21.5 to 20.5.

     Recently, Texas has been actively recruiting from their overabundant supply of super-strong players to ensure that the RRSO trophy will remain south of the Red River.  The past three scores (2010-2011-2012) have favored Texas by 38-22, 23.5-18.5 and 24.5-11.5.  Regardless, players like the rare match team format.  Like the late GM Eduard Gufelf pointed out:  "When you play for a team you have the unanimous support of your teammates and the struggle is absolutely uncompromising."

     In 2013 it was agreed upon by team captains that players will be paired closer to their ratings.  50 points (give or take) was the arbitrary pairing range on each board.  Left over players have the option to play in the "Murray County Open" held concurrently.