Poll: Which Class "A" Player Favored to Qualify?

Which Class "A" player is most likely to qualify from the Markowski Qualifier to the Club Finals?

Fawsi Murra, Jr.

 

 11

Jeff Turner

 

 3

Paul Agron

 

 1

Robert Defore

 

 5

Roberto Aiello

 

 3

Tom Fries

 

 4

Jamieson Pryor

 

 2

Fausto Robles

 

 7

Alfredo Deleon

 

 15

--Some other Class "A"--

 

 3

Polls can be fun, if not a little silly at times.  So let's have some fun!

In 2007, feisty Fausto Robles made club history by becoming the first Class "B" player to qualify for the finals.  In spite of prognostications that he would end up as the tail-ender in the finals, feisty Fausto evaded the cellar and finished creditably and honorably.

Fast forward (I nearly said, "Faust forward") to present-day 2009.  One round out of seven has been completed for the Markowski Qualifier.  It is not too late for you to join in the fun and be part of club history by making this the biggest ever Alina Markowski Tournament.  You would begin with a half-point bye for the missed first round.  I would like to see the club flirt with getting a hundred participants. You can join in round two on Wednesday, January 14th or send Chuck Ensey an email at ChucNGlo@aol.com to let him know that you are coming to play.  If you need to take a half-point bye, let Chuck know that too!

Okay, let's get back to this week's poll.  There are four masters (the fifth master, Nick Schoonmaker is from Fort Worth, Texas and was a house player for round one) and lots of experts.  Let's say, for the sake of argument, they are the favorites to garner most if not all the coveted remaining twelve spots - but remember brave Fausto, even the little guys and gals can cover themselves in glory by breaking through to the finals.

This week we honor our Class "A" players and we will ask you, dear readers, to pick the Class "A" player most likely to join the finalists.

For those seeking improvement with the help of a chess instructor please note that Fausto Robles is a student of IM Felix Villarreal and that Roberto Aiello is a student of IM Cyrus Lakdawala.