Since I last promoted the 1st annual ChipperThings/WacoFork Chess Tournament, the thing got real.
In several ways actually.
For one thing, we've had about a dozen early commitments from players, including a couple of legitimate expert bracket favorites. We invented a way to break the entries into expert and novice brackets using something I'm calling the Personal Player Rating, which means each player will rate themselves on a scale of 1 (you're fairly certain you know how all the pieces move) to 100 (you can play a game without looking at a board). One of the early entries rated himself an 85 and another has played games without a board in the past.
We also have a Facebook page which you can visit and commit to playing if you want.
Oh, I suppose I should also mention the 5 W's and 1 H.
Who: You.
What: Playing in the 1st annual ChipperThings/WacoFork Chess Tournament.
Where: The Dancing Bear Pub (btw, you must be 21 or older to enter the tournament).
When: Sunday, June 24 beginning at 6:30 p.m. and ending when we have expert and novice (let's call it casual from now on) bracket winners.
Why: For fun and cash prizes and cool trophies designed by Chipper Things.
How: Email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., then show up by 6:30 the night of the tournament ready with your $5 entry fee and your PPR in mind.
One more bite: One last way in which this thing has jumped up a notch in intensity — ChipperThings proprietor Becky Murphy beat me in chess over the weekend and, rumor has it, talked a little trash about it.
Well, my queen whispered a little something in my ear to pass along. "Gossip, gossip, bishop just stop it. Everybody knows I'm a checkmating monster."
