Waco Area Challengers keep it Close in

7 to 5 Loss to Texas Military All Stars

Routed by Auxiliary All Stars 7 to 1

Oath of Office Ceremony.

At the BRAZOS Military Chess Classic in Waco, all tournament participants accepted one-day commissions or enlistments in the Texas Chess Militia.

Photo by Dan Shafer.

Promotion Ceremony.

Logan Shafer, Captain of the Waco Area Challengers, has his Captain's Bars pinned on by his very proud Mom, Deborah Shafer.

Logan is universally admired and respected as a current and future chess leader. He is Captain of the Waco Homeschool Chess Club Team. At age 4, he learned chess from his Grandpa and Mother. He is also ranked in the 90th percentile for all Texas players and in the 91st percentile for all USA juniors.

Photo by Dan Shafer.

Future Master.

Drew Shafer scored a full point against the Military All Stars. He is ranked in the 68th Percentile for all USA juniors. In the past year he destroyed every Class G player he faced (rated 0600 to 0699).

Photo by Sheryl McBroom.

Semper fidelis.

Marine Veteran Eric Walters played Top Board for the Military All Stars and scored 2 points. He is ranked in the 95th Percentile for all Texas players.

Photo by Sheryl McBroom.

Making a Move They Can’t Refuse.

John Timothy De Vries is called by many the “Godfather” of Waco Chess. Here he makes a powerful Knight move on Board M2 against Carmen Chairez, Captain of the Military All Stars, during Round 2 of the BRAZOS Military Chess Classic.

John is an inspirational leader and chess promoter. He is a member of the Texas Chess Team and Captain of the Waco Chess Team in the annual BRAZOS team matches at Hillsboro College. Since 1996 he has played nearly 600 tournament games. John’s peak rating is 1505 and he is ranked in the 88th Percentile for all Texas players.

Photograph by Sheryl McBroom.

Chess Legacy.

Wayne Sampson (in the photo) and National Chess Master Dave Love have a lot in common. Both were bitten by the "Chess Bug" many years ago in Rochester, New York.

Wayne Sampson played for the Waco Area Challengers and scored a much needed point against the Texas Military All Stars. He is ranked in the 75th Percentile for all Texas chess players.

Photo by Sheryl McBroom.

Behind Every Good Chessplayer ....

Tammy Anderau is a chess fan at many Waco tournaments and special events like RRSO, BRAZOS, etc.

Perhaps she is Waco's secret weapon for the 2019 Texas Women's Chess Championship?

Photo by Sheryl McBroom.

Round 2 Battle of Captains.

8-year old Logan Shafer, Captain of the BRAZOS Challengers Chess Team (left) battles Russ Heise, Captain of the Texas Military Auxiliary Chess Team on Board A1. After a hard fought battle, "Old Age and Treachery" prevailed.

Logan is a fast rising Class C player. Waco's Class B players are paying close attention as he recently started beating them. Logan is ranked in the 91st Percentile for all USA Juniors and is in the 90th Percentile for all Texas players.

Russ Heise is a big supporter of Texas Military Chess and a very serious chess player and ranked in the 94th Percentile for all Texas players. He is a member of both the Tarrant and Texas Chess teams.

Photo by Sheryl McBroom.

Future Waco High School Champion.

Daniel Guel scored a hard-fought point against the Texas Military All Stars. He is one of the youngest and most active tournament directors in Texas. Tough both over the chess board and on the football field, he plays Wide Receiver for his high school football team.

Daniel is Champion and Co-Champion for several Waco Homeschool Championships. In less than five years he has played nearly 500 tournament games. He is ranked in the 96th Percentile for all USA Juniors and in the 95th Percentile for all Texas Chess Players.

Photo by Sheryl McBroom.

Turning the Tables on the Waco Area Challengers.

Army Veteran Kawme Hart (left) lives in Killeen and anticipated playing for the Waco Area Challengers. If that had happened it likely would have meant an upset victory over the Military All Stars. However, a vacancy resulted in Mr. Hart being commissioned in Texas Chess Melitia for one day. He scored a 2-0 sweep over his Waco Area Challengers, including Co-Organizer Jeffrey Spyrison (right).

Photo by Sheryl McBroom.

Helping Texas Chess soar to new heights.

Air Force Veteran Rick Gran was recalled to Active Duty for one day to serve in the Texas Chess Militia. Rick is a member of the Arlington Chess Club, the Tarrant Chess Team, and the Texas Chess Team.

Photo by Sheryl McBroom.

Leading by Example.

Army Veteran Carmen Chairez was reactivated and commissioned into the Texas Chess Militia for one day. As Team Captain he led his warriors to a 7 to 5 victory over the Waco Area Challengers.

Captain Chairez is the 2018 Fort Worth Veterans Open Chess Champion and a Texas Chess Association Life Patron Member. He is also a member of the Waco Chess Team, the Texas Chess Team, the Arlington Chess Club, the Tarrant County Chess Club, and the Waco Chess Club.

Photo by Sheryl McBroom.

Rare photograph.

Air Force Veteran Sheryl McBroom is one of the top chess photographers in Texas. However, few know what she looks like because she is normally behind the lens rather than in front. Ms. McBroom is a member of the Tarrant Chess Team, the Texas Chess Team, the American Legion Post 379 Chess Club, the Arlington Chess Club, the Fort Worth Veterans Chess Club, and the Tarrant County Chess Club.

Photo by Dan Shafer.

Judge Advocate General (JAG).

Lieutenant Randy Dixon accepted a one-day commission in the Texas Chess Militia to serve on the Texas Military Auxiliary Chess Team.

Randy is a successful attorney in Ennis, Texas. He is respected as a smart formidable opponent over the chess board. He scored a perfect 2-0 sweep of his match opponents. He is the top rated chess player in his hometown of Ennis. He is also ranked in the 88th Percentile for all Texas chess players.

Randy is a member of the Texas Military Auxiliary Chess Team, the Texas Chess Team, the Waco Chess Team, the Arlington Chess Club, the Tarrant County Chess Club, and the Waco Chess Club.

Photo by Sheryl McBroom.

Leadership is the process of influencing Soldiers to accomplish the mission (Army Field Manual 22-100).

Logan Shafer did what all good team captains do — recruited and inspired as soon as he knew he was in charge. It's obvious he did a good job. His Waco Area Challengers came ready to battle against the Military All Stars.

Photo by Sheryl McBroom.

Mentorship.

During the lunch break, Russ Heise, Auxiliary All Stars Team Captain, explained chess is possible in Civilan Careers as well as Military. Mr. Heise is the successful owner of a window blinds business in Fort Worth. He's enjoyed a good marriage, raised a family, provided for all, and played a lot of chess.

"Owning your own business can be hard work, but it's all worth it!"

Photo by Sheryl McBroom.

Mentorship.

During the lunch break, "Submarine Bob" Curtis shared his experiences and encouraged all to pursue challenging careers while leaving time for chess. Mr. Curtis has played chess in 27 countries, on a mountain top, on top of a pyramid, at the bottom of the sea, in a castle, and in a 300 year old haunted mansion. He worked as a Rescue/Recovery Diver in the 1970's. He's a Retired Instructor for Remote Operated Vehicle pilots. He's also a retired Tri-Athlete and built his own submarine.

He claims his bucket list is still half empty.

Photo by Sheryl McBroom.

Waco Chess Auxiliary.

Raymon Mc Elhaney recently came out of Chess Retirement and joined the Waco Area Challengers.

Photo by Sheryl McBroom.

Mentorship.

Jim Anderau shared his experiences and offered encouragement during the lunch hour. Mr. Anderau is a formidable chess player and scored 2 points for the Auxiliary All Stars. He is a member of the Waco Chess Club, The Waco Chess Team, and the Texas Chess Team. He is also ranked in the 83rd Percentile for all Texas Chess players.

Photo by Sheryl McBroom.

Good organizers are worth their weight in gold.

Co-Organizer Jeffrey Spyrison self-funded 95 percent of all costs including rent and catered lunch. Mr. Spyrison is a Waco Chess Club member and ranked in the 86th Percentile of all Texas Chess players.

Photo by Shery McBroom.

Mentorship.

John De Vries and Jeffrey Spyrison provided mentorship by sharing experiences and giving encouragement.

Photo by Sheryl McBroom.

Chess is his Life.

Co-Organizer and Chief TD Jim Hollingsworth is a US Chess Life Member and has 50 years of Chess Life magazines archived in his home (five stacks – one for each decade). He claims he has read every issue.

In 2018 he was crowned Texas Armed Forces Chess Champion.

Photo by Sheryl McBroom.

Awards Ceremony.

Front row – left to right – Noah Mahan, Logan Shafer, Drew Shafer, and Caleb Brown.

Back row – left to right – Jim Hollingsworth, Daniel Guel, Marshall Melasky, and Jeffrey Spyrison.

Photo by Sheryl McBroom.

Promotion Ceremony.

Chief TD Jim Hollingsworth (left) promoting Marshall Melasky (right) to Sergeant in the Texas Chess Militia.

Photo by Sheryl McBroom.

BRAZOS Military Chess Classic

Special Thanks

     The Organizers are grateful to all players, their parents and volunteers. Some deserve special mention: