Pennsylvania State Chess Federation
The Pennsylvania State Chess Federation (PSCF) is the official Pennsylvania affiliate of the United States Chess Federation (US Chess). PSCF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. PSCF sponsors about 20 annual state championship events, held throughout the state. The Pennsylvania State Championship rotates between the eastern, central and western regions of the state each year. PSCF publishes a quarterly newsletter, The Pennswoodpusher. PSCF was founded in 1939, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania under the leadership of William M. Byland. PSCF affiliated immediately with US Chess, which was founded the same year, and has been the official state affiliate for Pennsylvania ever since. In 1943, the PSCF State Championship was the first championship event in USCF history to be paired with the Swiss system. The chief director of that event was George Koltanowski. Currently the highest-ranking member is Grandmaster Alexander Shabalov. The state has two Grandmasters - Shabalov, and Bryan G. Smith. The current PSCF president is Tom M. Martinak. PSCF Presidents: 2002–present: Tom M. Martinak 1978-2002: Ira Lee Riddle 1939-1977: William M. Byland PSCF State Champions 2001–present: 2016: Grant Xu 2015: Grant Xu 2014: Peter Minear, Rodion Rubenchik, Ilya Shvartsman 2013: Peter Minear 2012: Daniel Malkiel 2011: Peter Minear 2010: Thomas Bartell, Alisa