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Dear Idaho Chess Community,
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What an incredible weekend. Our inaugural Idaho Open as the Idaho Chess Network has officially wrapped up, and we could not be more thrilled with the turnout, the sportsmanship, and the level of play we witnessed at the Riverside Hotel.
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This event sold out at 66 players — hitting our maximum venue capacity. We welcomed 32 players in the Open Section and 34 in the U1400 Section. But beyond the raw numbers, this was arguably one of the largest turnouts and almost certainly the strongest tournament in Idaho history in terms of player ratings. The Open Section featured National Master Viktors Pupols (WA, 2200) along with five players rated 2000+ and fourteen players rated 1800 or above — a depth of top-tier talent rarely assembled in a single Idaho event. Players traveled from across Idaho and neighboring states including Washington, Wyoming, Oregon, and Montana to compete. To sell out our inaugural tournament while also drawing the strongest field ever seen in the state is a testament to how far chess has come here — and where it is heading next.
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Thank you to every player, parent, volunteer, and supporter who made this historic event possible. Your participation proves that the legacy of chess in Idaho is alive, well, and growing.
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Here are the final results:
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Open Section (32 Players)
| Placement |
Player |
Score |
Prize |
| 🥇 1st Place |
James Wei (2120) |
4.5 pts |
$500.00 |
| 🥈 2nd Place |
Christian Campos (1975) |
4.0 pts |
$133.33 |
| 🥉 3rd Place |
William Aepli (WY, 2140) |
4.0 pts |
$133.33 |
| 4th Place |
Makaio Krienke (2169) |
4.0 pts |
$133.33 |
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A dominant performance by James Wei to take clear first with 4.5 out of 5, holding off a stacked field that included three players rated over 2100! Congratulations also to Christian, William, and our own ICN Treasurer Makaio Krienke, who finished in a three-way tie at 4.0 to round out the top four.
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U1400 Section (34 Players)
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Thanks to the overwhelming turnout of 66 entries, we were able to double the originally advertised prize payouts for the U1400 Section — a direct reinvestment back into our developing players!
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| Placement |
Player |
Score |
Prize |
| 🥇 1st Place |
Samuel Pinson |
4.5 pts |
$200.00 |
| 🥈 2nd Place |
Reyansh Upadhyay |
4.0 pts |
$62.50 |
| 🥉 3rd Place |
Lindon Smith |
4.0 pts |
$62.50 |
| 4th Place |
Jordan Ingwersen |
4.0 pts |
$62.50 |
| 4th Place |
Jack Oien |
4.0 pts |
$62.50 |
Samuel Pinson led the U1400 section with an impressive 4.5 out of 5! The race for places 2 through 4 was fierce, with four players tied at 4.0 — a testament to the growing depth of talent in Idaho's developing player pool.
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Thank You & What's Next
While no inaugural event runs perfectly, we learned valuable lessons that will help us grow. We could not have achieved this milestone without:
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- Chief Tournament Director Jeff Roland and Assistant TD Brian Lange, who navigated the complexities of 66 players across five rounds with professionalism. Their dedication kept us nearly on schedule despite the challenges.
- Our broader team of volunteers who supported behind the scenes.
- The Riverside Hotel for hosting us.
- Every player who traveled from across Idaho and beyond to compete.
We are energized by what this weekend proved: chess in Idaho has a bright future. Here is our upcoming calendar — mark your calendars!
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🚨 NEW FORMAT SPOTLIGHT: The Quarterly Quads Series
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This is not your typical tournament. The Quarterly Quads is a brand-new competitive format designed to reward consistency, build rivalries, and grow the prize pool with every player who joins.
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- Three quad-style tournaments are held per quarter (July, August, September for Q1)
- Players earn points across all three events: Win = 1 pt | Draw = ½ pt
- No individual tournament prizes — everything rolls into the pools below
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ICN Membership is not required to play in the Quarterly Quads — anyone can participate and earn points! However, ICN Membership is required to collect prize money from either the quarterly or annual pools. Non-members who finish in prize-winning positions will forfeit their share, increasing the payout for eligible members.
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| Pool |
How It Builds |
Payout |
| 🏅 Quarterly Pool |
20% of all registrations from the three events are pooled together |
Paid to the top 3 point earners for the quarter |
| 🏆 Annual Grand Prize Pool |
An additional 20% of all registrations accumulate through the end of the year |
Paid to the top 5 point earners for the entire year |
Why it matters: The more players who participate, the bigger the payouts. Your registration doesn't just buy you a seat — it grows the pot for everyone.
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⚡ Hurry and get your ICN membership sorted before the first event to maximize the prize money available to you! Become an ICN Member
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⚠️ The first event is less than two weeks away!
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Miss the first event and you're already playing catch-up in the standings. Lock in your spot and start accumulating points from Day 1.
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Summer Calendar
☀️ Summer Classic
July 18th, 2026 @ CWI Boise
Featuring Scholastic Section! Register early before spots fill.
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♟️ Online Learning: Notation Class
July 26th, 2026 (Virtual)
Join Josh Price to master reading and writing chess notation — plus a special segment on first-time tournament etiquette and practical advice for players preparing to compete in their first rated event!
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♙ Beginner Chess Camp
Week of July 27th, 2026
Presented by Josh Price (Idaho Chess Coach) in partnership with ICN. Perfect for new players looking to learn the fundamentals!
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♘ Intermediate Chess Camp
Week of August 3rd, 2026
Also presented by Josh Price (Idaho Chess Coach) in partnership with ICN. Designed for players ready to take the next step in their development!
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🛡️ Quarterly Quads Event #2
August 8th, 2026 @ CWI Boise
Round 2 of the Quarterly Quads — your second chance to earn points toward the quarterly and annual prize pools!
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🎓 Adult Summer Chess Camp
Week of August 10th, 2026
Immerse yourself in a full week of chess instruction designed for adult players.
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If you enjoyed this event, please consider making a tax-deductible donation at idahochess.net to help us fund scholarships, camps, and future tournaments.
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Play hard. Play fair. Grow the game.
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Warm regards,
The Board of Directors
Idaho Chess Network
(d/b/a Idaho Chess Federation)
📧 info@idahochess.net | 🌐 idahochess.net
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© 2026 Idaho Chess Network. All rights reserved | IRS 501(c)(3) Non-Profit | Effective May 4, 2026
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