Just in case you don't know me, I'd thought I'd start by introducing myself. My name is actually Victor Tan and I started this website for my efforts in Loudoun County. I actually live in Loudoun County. How am I involved with Prince William County chess efforts? Well, Bruce George has traditionally been helping Dick Stableford the last couple of years (at least) or so and has been saying that he is leaving the area. Knowing Bruce, he really does mean it. The Prince William County unrated scholastic chess tournaments have grown to extend beyond the county lines and so the number of attendees have grown to follow suit.

Anyway, Bruce asked and I accepted to be the main guy (Pairings Tournament Director) to learn and help out because there are just so many kids that enjoy the game so much. I had previously been TD'ing at the Leesburg Chess Club/Carver Center events and this was a natural growth path. One thing that Bruce brought into these tournament was using the WinTD software to help manage the larger number of kids. I've leveraged my current LoudounChess.org website as an avenue for communications and feedback and have extended it to help the PWC events.

Please feel free to sign up and voice your opinions and concerns in this PWC Scholastic Chess Chat forum. I only ask that you be civil and as usual, I reserve rights as an administrator to define what is acceptable and proper.

Dick has organized these PWC tournaments for a long time and you guys are extremely lucky to have someone like him in PWC. Bruce has also contributed greatly in recent history. Why am I doing this? I'm just another chess parent like many of you and it is one way of being part of the community. My son loves the game as well and benefits from it. Ultimately, it takes not just individuals but volunteer parents and teachers to help keep this type of event going. It takes schools willing to open their doors and making their facilities available because they recognize that this game of 64 squares is helping our kids in ways that a Playstation or Xbox or Wii cannot.

I may know how to tap the keys and click the mouse buttons and make rulings based on the rulebook but the reality is that it takes the Susans and Bobs and Kathys willing to herd, instruct, teach, send emails, make calls, fill up forms and yes, persuade school officials so that the two to three hundred kids can do something really constructive and pursue a worthwhile goal once a month. Thank YOU.