05.12.13 Matthew Fishbein, Joshua Quint and Ruben Babayan each scored 4.0 points to share equal first at the 2013 Maine State Chess Championship played at the Best Western Plus Waterville Grand Hotel on April 27-28, 2013. As a testament to the competitiveness of the tournament, the top eleven places were separated by a single point. Here's a photo report with USCF crosstable. If you played in this tournament and would like to submit an interesting game please do so by clicking on the submit your games link on the left-hand margin of any ChessMaine.net page. Thanks!

Thanks to Dan Fishbein and Roger Morin for contributing to this report.

USCF crosstable of this event

Thirty-five players competed in the 2013 Maine State Chess Championship at the Best Western Plus Waterville Grand Hotel on April 27-28, 2013. After the last round game Babayan-Quint ended in a draw securing both players' position at the top of the crosstable, all eyes were on Fishbein-Bryan to see if the wunderkind Matthew Fishbein could pull out a win to give him 4.0 points and a share of first place. After a great battle and a half-dozen accurate moves by Fishbein, his opponent, Jarod Bryan a multiple-time state champion himself, extended his hand in resignation. Fishbein, with a sigh of relief, stood up, unceremoniously marked the result on the pairing sheet and received congratulations from onlookers and fellow players.

Trailing the three leaders were six players just off the lead with 3.5 points. None more surprising than John Jones (USCF 1029) who, in the process of tying for 4th-9th place, took down Darrell Butler (1489), Lee Doucette (1509) and Jon Buxton (1739). Also in the 3.5 point group were: Roger Morin, Raymond Simmons, Max Berube, Dmitry Albin, and Lance Beloungie. Aaron Spencer and Arnold Clarke tied for 10th place with 3.0 points.

Dmitry Albin and Lance Beloungie tied for the Class B prize. Brian Hurst got the Class B prize and John Jones took home the Class D and under prize.

Thanks to the Maine Chess Association for organizing this event and to Phil Lowell for serving as tournament director.

Ruben Babayan (left) and Joshua Quint played their last round game to a draw to share first place.

With that game in the bag, attention turned to the game Matthew Fishbein (right) vs Jarod Bryan. Fishbein was able to pull out a win giving him equal first with Babayan and Quint.

John Jones (1029) (right) in the process of winning his game with Jon Buxton (1739)

Jones (right) put up the same result in round four (a win) this time vs Lee Doucette.

And Again! This time vs Darrell Butler (left).

Joshua Quint (right) won this game vs Jarod Bryan in round four to set himself up for his last round draw with Babayan to clinch equal first.

Always a contender: Former state champion Roger Morin

Jim DuBois (foreground left) prepares for his game with ChessMaine.net-t-shirt-sporting Matthew Fishbein.

A view of the well-lit, quiet tournament room.

This game: Roger Morin (left) vs Joshua Quint ended in a draw.

Aaron Spencer (left) plays Curt Brock.

Max Berube (left) plays Richard Judy.

Darrell Salisbury (left) plays Brian Hurst.

MECA President Andy Bryan (right) tries unsuccessfully to hold off Jon Buxton.

Tournament director Phil Lowell (left) challenges Brian Roderick.

Barry Magda (left) tangles with Aaron Spencer.

This youth vs experience game between Matthew Fishbein (left) and Roger Morin ended in a draw.

Rob Shore (left) and Bill Loring play to a draw in the last round.

Who is the owner of this great Maine plate?