Crowd Expected At Chess Open

WILLIAMSTOWN - It could be a record showing today for the fifth annual Williams College Chess Open, as 30 or more chess players are expected to take part in the full-day event.

With players from all over New England and New York expected to attend the non-elimination tournament, event organizer Trevor Murphy said he hopes this year will be bigger than ever.

"I'm looking forward to some well-played games. I hope to see some beautiful games," said Murphy.

Registration begins at 9 a.m. in Griffin Hall at the college and the games will begin at 10. The three-round U.S. Chess Federation-rated chess tournament will pair players with equal ratings against each other in timed matches.

"Sometimes you get a real cross-section of a community. It's really interesting to see a youngster playing a retiree and they are competing on a level playing field," said Murphy, who himself is an avid chess players.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the winners and Murphy hopes to honor not just the overall winner but winners of non-traditional categories like top college player or best unrated.

Each win earns one point and a tie gets a half point and a loss merits zero points. After the first round, players are matched based on earned points. Each player has 90 minutes to make all of their moves and a chess clock is used to keep track.

"This means that each game could last three hours if both players use all their time," said Murphy.

Last year, the tournament featured a grandmaster, the highest title a chess player can attain, and this year Murphy expects to host a large crowd.

"I have four people from Amherst coming to play. There is an eighth grader from Connecticut with a very high rating coming up to play. I have at least three Williams College alumni coming and three Williams College students," said Murphy. "I've never had so many people express interest to in coming to the tournament."

Williamstown Board Opts to Negotiate with College on Water St. Lot

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:04AM / Tuesday, June 09, 2026

Newly elected board member Nate Budington, far left, participates in his first in-person meeting along with, from left, Matt Neely, Stephanie Boyd, Peter Beck, Shana Dixon and Town Manager Robert Menicocci.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Select Board on Monday decided to enter into negotiations with Williams College on the sale of the vacant town-owned lot at 59 Water St.

 

But the board members made it clear that the college's proposal to acquire the lot is a starting point, not a final deal that the elected officials would accept.

 

"For the sake of continued conversation, I'm in favor of [awarding Williams the site], but if this process wasn't continued with the opportunity for further negotiation, I wouldn't vote to continue this," Peter Beck said. "I think that next step is necessary for us to get to a yes on this."

 

"I think there's wide agreement on that," Matthew Neely said just before the 5-0 vote to enter talks with the college.

 

Williams was the sole respondent to a town-issued request for proposals to develop the former town garage site, currently a dirt lot.

 

The college's stated intent is to build a new Facilities office and create up to 170 parking spaces at 59 Water Street. That use will allow the college to redevelop the current Facilities building site and parking lot as part of a reconception of the school's indoor athletic and recreation facilities.

 

Under the terms of the RFP, the college's proposal was subjected to review by an ad hoc advisory committee to the town manager, who brought the question to the Select Board. That board will have the final say on any purchase and sales agreement.