Webmaster's comments (August 18, 2016):  RRSO always attracts a lot of press and publicity.  This was published in the Oklahoma Chess Quarterly (Vol 31-3, July 2014, Summer Edition).  The author (in the photo) first made the chess scene in Lawton in the late 1970's.  For the local news media chess news wasn't news unless Victor Yaward was in the byline.  Some complain his writings about the RRSO series appear biased for Texas.  Others insist his reporting is fair and (mostly) balanced.  Whatever the case, his knack for transforming a mundane RRSO into a spectacular and epic event helps justify his title as "The Most Interesting Man in Chess."

     The defending Red River Champions Oklahoma Chess Team, in an exciting on-the-road match against the Texas Chess Team, failed to rally in the second half of RRSO XII and lost to the most fanatical chess players in Texas.  Oklahoma's top two boards, manned by Alex Zapata and Joshua Alexander, paced their teammates with an 87.5 percent win ratio against the strongest players Texas could muster.

     Aurelio Gonzalez, the most fanatical chess player in Texas (twelve straight RRSO's), led the Texas charge on Board 3.  His perfect 2-0 score over RRSO veteran Shaun Graham-Bowcaster enabled Texas to take a slim one-point lead and fostered Texan hopes for a possible rout.  Those dreams were quickly dashed as Oklahoma's players halted their opponent's momentum dead in its tracks.

     The teams drew the 2nd round and that enabled Texas to leave with the coveted and famous traveling trophy.  Oklahoma's players vowed to follow their Team Captain, Frank Berry, in his quest to to return the title and trophy to Oklahoman soil in RRSO XIII.

     As all serious chess players know, the "REAL" Red River Shootout is a series of annual team matches between the most fanatical chess players in Oklahoma and Texas.  On a Spring Day, usually in late April, chess players in both states make the journey and converge to the Treasure Valley Inn - Exit 55 off I-35 - Davis, OK.  The Entree fee is low, yet the stakes are high:  One "famous" Traveling Trophy and bragging rights for another year.  Interested Players should check the RRSO website and latest OCQ for future RRSO match details around the beginning of each year.  All players must be Oklahoma or Texas according to their current USCF address and have a USCF rating.

"When you play for a team you have the unanimous support of your teammates, and the struggle is absolutely uncompromising."

GM Eduard Gufeld  1936 - 2002