Overview:

• The Hawaii State Chess Champion is Cornelius Rubsamen.
• All unrated Chess players, and players rated under 1800 USCF, are invited to play NM Rubsamen.
• A minimum rating of 400 is highly encouraged!
• On Friday, April 11th, from 5:00 to 7:00pm NM Rubsamen will play 20 people simultaneously.
• Each board will have a clock allowing NM Rubsamen and each opponent 45 minutes for the game.
• HCF Vice-President Anthony Miranda will moderate the event..The location is the State Capitol building, conference room 430.

Registration:

• Please register here for the event and then arrive at the Capitol building by 4:45
• Seats around the edges of the room are where players sit, in front of a chess board, playing the black pieces.
• Players who arrive after 5:00pm may still be admitted to the room, but clocks will have reduced time.

Rules of Play:

• Players are invited but not required to write down the moves of the game.
• After finishing a move, players press their clock firmly, making an audible click.
• If requested by NM Rubsamen, players will show him the last move they made.
• Players may not consult with each other or with any electronic device.
• Cell phones must be turned off during the exhibition. 

Entry Fee and Prizes:

• There is no entry fee for this event.  It is a public service by NM Rubsamen and the Hawaii Chess Federation.
• Anyone who wins or draws their game with NM Rubsamen wins a free entry fee to an HCF-sponsored monthly tournament.
• The Hawaii Open and the World Chess Festival events are not considered monthly tournaments.

About NM Cornelius Rubsamen:

Cornelius Rubsamen is a United States Chess Federation National Master, a title he earned in 1998, and a Life Master, a distinction he achieved in 2008. Since 2002, he has won the Hawaii State Championship 13 times, including his most recent victory in September 2024. With over 300 tournament appearances at local, national, and international levels since he began competitive play in the 1990s, Cornelius has secured multiple national victories, including clear first at the 2006 Annual North American Open (Expert Section) in Las Vegas.

Beyond competition, Cornelius has been deeply involved in chess education since 1995, coaching in Hawaii’s schools, including Kamehameha Schools, Iolani, HBA, HMS, and many others. He has directed chess clubs, organized chess camps, and traveled with teams and individual students to national scholastic competitions in Atlanta, Orlando, Dallas, Denver, Nashville, Madison, among other locations. His coaching has produced numerous scholastic state champions and more than a dozen expert- and master-rated juniors.

In recognition of his contributions to chess instruction, Cornelius earned his FIDE Instructor certification in 2013 and was awarded the FIDE Trainer title in 2022, a distinction held by only a small number of trainers in the United States.

 

Special Welcome from the Event Host:

Dear Hawaii Chess Federation Members,

We are excited to extend an invitation to all members of the Hawaii Chess Federation and their ohanas to join us for the upcoming Art at the Capitol event on Friday, April 11th.

Art at the Capitol promises to be a vibrant and engaging event, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of our state. There will be live performances, and a stunning display of art from the state collection. It's an opportunity not only to appreciate the diverse artistic talents of Hawaii but also to connect with fellow art enthusiasts and community members. There will also be local food vendors participating.

In addition to the festivities, we're thrilled to announce that there will be a special Simultaneous chess match taking place at the event. Members are invited to participate in a friendly match against our current state champion, NM Cornelius Rubsamen. It's a chance to test your skills against the best active chess player in Hawaii and enjoy a spirited game of chess in a unique setting.

If you're interested in participating in the chess match at Art at the Capitol, please respond to this email to RSVP your attendance. We will be raffling the 20 spots to play against Cornelius the week prior and will also include a short waitlist. We encourage all chess enthusiasts to join us for what promises to be a memorable event filled with culture, camaraderie, and chess.

 

We look forward to seeing you there!

Anthony Miranda, HCF Vice President