Wayne Hatcher (OK) watches Oklahoma cruise to a huge lead
Life member Wayne Hatcher decided to take it easy on Texas players and just watch the games. He certainly got an eyeful. Wayne is ranked in the top thirty for all Oklahoma chess players. He plays in a lot of OCF sponsored FIDE tournaments and has an impressive 1944 FIDE rating.
Photo by Jim Hollingsworth
Chess Expert David Zelnick (OK)
Chess Expert David Zelnick (from Bartlesville) set the pace on Board One for the Oklahoma Chess Team with 2-0 sweep of his Texas opponent.
Photo by Mike Tubbs
Chess Expert Shawn Graham-Bowcaster (OK)
Chess Expert Shawn Graham-Bowcaster (from Oklahoma City) scored a perfect 2-0 on Board Five.
Photo by Jim Hollingsworth
Bruce Wells, Oklahoma's Most Fanatical Chess Player (13 straight RRSO's)
Bruce Wells (from Ardmore) has never missed an RRSO. Because of his work schedule, he sacrificed sleep to play in RRSO XIII. Bruce played a tough match on Board Eight.
Photo by Mike Tubbs
Don Winslow (OK)
Don Winslow (from Shawnee) upset a tough Class B player in the second round of the concurrent Murray County Open.
Photo by Jim Hollingsworth
Tommy Hay (Left) and Chief Tournament Director Frank Berry (Right)
Tommy Hay (from Oklahoma City) won his Board Ten match quite handily with a 1.5 - 0.5 score. He is fast becoming one of the most active organizers and directors in the State. Tommy is also Treasurer of The Challengers Chess Club which is the Chess Capital of central Oklahoma.
FIDE Arbiter and Organizer Frank Berry directed this annual team match and the Murray County Open. He has been USCF rated and a Life Member since 1962. He has also been the Editor of the outstanding Oklahoma Chess Quarterly since 2000.
Photo by Mike Tubbs
Four Time Oklahoma State Champion Sergey Galant
National Chess Master Sergey Galant finished as Co-Champion of the concurrent Murray County Open with a 2.5 - 0.5 score.
Photo by Jim Hollingsworth
RRSO Co-Founder Tom Nichols
Chess Expert Tom Nichols (from Pauls Valley) split a tough match on Board Three (1-1). Tom is also an RRSO Co-Founder and was one of the Army's toughest chess players during his Military Service.
Photo by Mike Tubbs
Aurelio Gonzalez, the Most Fanatical Chess Player in Texas (13 straight RRSO's)
Aurelio Gonzalez has never missed an RRSO and split his tough match with an Oklahoma expert on Board Three. He also has been the Treasurer of the Tarrant County (Texas) Chess Club for over ten years.
Photo by Jim Hollingsworth
Life Chess Master Advait Patel (OK)
We're not sure if the reputation of Oklahoma's top ranked chess player, Life Chess Master Advait Patel (from Midwest City), kept Texas chess masters at home for RRSO XIII. Clearly the Texas Chess Team had no one near his caliber this year. None the less, young Advait sportingly increased the experience levels of other Oklahoma chess players and became Co-Champion of the concurrent Murray County Open with a 2.5 - 0.5 score.
Photo by Jim Hollingsworth
Mike Donovan (TX)
During his Military Service, Mike Donovan (from Austin, Texas) was one of the Army's toughest chess players. RRSO XIII was his first and his battle with a strong opponent on Board Five captured the fascination of every chess player in the room.
Photo by Jim Hollingsworth
Texas Chess Team Captain Tom Crane
Senior Tournament Director Tom Crane (from North Richland Hills, Texas) was the inspiration for the first RRSO. Back then few realized it would become the epic event it is today. No one has worked harder and more consistently to ensure the success of every fun match. He scored a tough split (1-1) on Board Nine.
Tom Crane is one of the most active and highly sought tournament directors in Texas. As this is written, USCF records credit him with being Chief Director of 148 tournaments.
Photo by Mike Tubbs
Rubin Wells (OK)
Rubin Wells (from Ardmore) is one of the most respected chess ambassadors in the State. During the "Golden Era" of Oklahoma Chess, the championships and events he used to organize and direct in Ardmore were well attended. He played a tough and spirited match on Board Eight.
Photo by Jim Hollingsworth
OCF President Jim Berry (OK)
FIDE Arbiter and International Organizer Jim Berry (from Stillwater) is one of the most respected and revered members in the United States Chess Federation (USCF). At his own expense ("It's all for Chess!"), he served on the USCF Executive Board from 2007 to 2013, including one term as President (2010-2011).
After spliting a tough match on Board Four (1-1), he organized and directed a special treat for some of the OCF'S most serious chess players: A ten-board BLINDFOLD simultaneous exhibit with Chess Grandmaster Timur Gareyev.
Photo by Mike Tubbs
Chess Grandmaster Timur Gareyev (KS)
Chess Grandmaster Timur Gareyev (from Kansas) arrived at RRSO XIII early in the second round, observed some games, and gave encouraging comments to players after they finished. He is in training to set the WORLD BLINDFOLD SIMUL RECORD and accepted OCF President Jim Berry's generous offer to practice against ten of OCF's most serious chess players. His impressive 10-0 sweep is recorded elsewhere on this website.
Photo by Jim Hollingsworth
Standing by her Oklahoma Man (and Chess Team)
Maria Tubbs (Left) graced RRSO XIII just as she does in previous years. She is known to be a huge Sylvester Stalone fan and inspired her husband Mike (right) first thing RRSO morning with Talia Shire's immortal Rocky II words: "WIN!" Both live in Lawton.
Photo by Jim Hollingsworth
Texas Chess Team's Number One Fan
Kyom Donovan (from Austin, Texas) quietly and gracefully supported her husband and his Texas Chess Team friends. She also consoled a carload of Texans during their long journey south of the Red River.
Photo by Jim Hollingsworth
RRSO Co-Founder Jim Hollingsworth (TX)
Jim Hollingsworth (from Fort Worth, Texas) managed two tough draws on Board Six. He also arranged for the lunchtime delivery of food by local restaurants.
Texas Chess Team
