[imagefield_assist|fid=15452|preset=fullsize|title=Julian Proleiko recently returned from a trip to Russia where he seems to have acquired secret Soviet training methods.|desc=|link=none|origsize=|align=left|width=700|height=462]
By Mike Kummer
The "Back-to-School Bash" was the third and final installment of the 2012 Scholastic Summer Series of tourneys. Clark Berry, the winner of the "Summer Slam Bash" and Torin Hylan, the winner of the "Royal Rumble Bash" were the top two seeds in the 29-player field. Torin's first-round encounter lasted the longest as he finally put Domenic Fenoglio away. Domenic ended up finishing strong to capture the "Top U600" trophy. In round 2, Torin's brother, Bo, got the only stalemate of the event. But in all fairness, it was in a dead drawn king-and-pawn endgame. In round 3, Clark breezed by his opponent utilizing multiple queens. CCSCSL rising superstar Julian Proleiko sacrificed his queen to achieve smother mate against his baffled opponent. Julian, Clark and Torin were all perfect heading into the fourth and final round.
The two "Bash Champions" squared off, while Julian was paired against Ellison Van Scoy, a visitor from Ohio.
Julian won the game in the endgame with a an x-ray motif that won Ellison's queen to finish 4-0. Clark and Torin's game predictably was the last game to finish. A lot of players stuck around to watch the two battle. It was the classic knight vs. bishop endgame. Clark had the bishop plus his king was in much better position. Clark ran his king over to the queenside to gobble up pawns while Torin's king remained idle on the back row. Armed with queenside passers, Clark got the pawns rolling while Torin's knight could do little to stop them. With Clark's victory, both he and Julian were deadlocked with 4 points each meaning there was only one way to decide 1st place.
Tiebreaks.
Basically, it came down to whose opponents performed better in the event. Unfortunately for Clark, Lixen Zheng scored the "Biggest Upset" of the event in round 4 against Clark's 3rd round opponent costing Clark the title. All of Julian's hard work earned him the 1st Place trophy. He just returned from Russia where he acquired secret Soviet training methods. Julian let it slip that his goal is to be 2200 at this time next year. With his dedication to the game and the resources of the Chess Club at his fingertips, his master plan may just become a reality.
