Tom Brownscombe crowned Kansas Champion

Chess master captures state crown

LINDSBORG — Tom Brownscombe, a chess master who moved to Lindsborg two weeks ago to head the Karpov Chess School, won the coveted title of Kansas Chess Champion at the Kansas Open that was held last weekend at Bethany College.

“The Kansas Open was a tough tournament,” Brownscombe said. “Even though I’m currently the only chess master living in Kansas, I faced some tough competition from several chess masters who were from out of state. Fortunately, I played reasonably well. I gave up a few draws (ties), but I didn’t lose any games.”

The Kansas Chess Association (KCA) usually sponsors the Kansas Open, but this year the Karpov Chess School signed on as a co-sponsor for the event. Sixty-seven players from throughout Kansas, Colorado, Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Iowa and Missouri played in the two-day event.

“Our turnout was slightly lower than last year, but there were some strong players here,” KCA President Tom Claman said. “There were competing tournaments in Missouri and Oklahoma that lowered our number of entrants.”

The Kansas Open was preceded with a Quick Chess tournament on Friday evening at the Karpov Chess School. Quick Chess players are allowed 10 minutes per game.

Maxx Coleman, Derby, won the event. Coleman is a former student of the Karpov Chess School and is a rising star in Kansas. As of registration time for his tournament, he had nearly achieved the Master level.

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