CHESS : STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

The Southern California Chess Federation conducted its most prestigious tournament, the 1995 SCCF State Championship, over the previous two weekends in Buena Park. This was the seventh in the series of annual invitational round robin state championships run by the SCCF. The organization also sponsors the Southern California Open, a state championship open to all, every Labor Day weekend.

The winner, with a score of 5 1/2-1 1/2, was Jack Peters, the champion in 1989 and 1990 and co-champion in 1991. Cyrus Lakdawala, the 1994 champion with a record score of 6 1/2- 1/2, hurt his chances to repeat by giving up four draws, and his last-round loss to Stephen Booth dropped him into a tie for second place at 4-3 with Levon Altounian and William Longren.

Jonathan Yedidia, who finished second last year, had an off tournament and settled for fifth place at 3 1/2-3 1/2. Other scores: Booth and Valdis Saulespurens, 2 1/2-4 1/2, and Stephen Jones, 2-5.

Longren had the best result of the five players who advanced from the SCCF Candidates tournament in June. He notched three wins and a draw in his four games as White, which signals his potential to thrive in high-level competition. Altounian played solidly except in his miniature against Longren.

All 28 games of the championship will be printed in “Rank and File,” the magazine published every two months by the SCCF. For information on SCCF membership write to SCCF, P.O. Box 205, Monterey Park, CA., 91754.

NEW CHESS CLUBS

Two new clubs have opened recently, and each offers free chess instruction from a master. The Orange County Chess League meets 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the Lakeview Senior Center, 20 Lake Road in Irvine. Call Michael Carr at (714) 768-3539 for details. The Calabasas Chess Club meets Tuesday evenings at the Calabasas Tennis and Swim Center, 23400 Park Sorrento in Calabasas Park. For more information, call Ron Hermansen at (818) 360-0592 or Michael Keating at (818) 222-2182.