Spirit Lake Chess Open — Tournament Recap

♟ CDA Chess Club — Tournament Report

Erickson Reigns at the
Spirit Lake Chess Open

Tuesday, April 21, 2026  ·  Spirit Lake, Idaho  ·  16 Players  ·  4 Rounds

Kenneth Erickson swept the field with a perfect score as players from across the Inland Northwest converged on Spirit Lake for a day of sharp chess, community competition, and a few surprises along the way.

♟ The tournament hall buzzes with concentration during the early rounds — pairings visible on the projector screen above.

Clear First: Kenneth Erickson

There was no ambiguity at the top of the standings. Kenneth Erickson of CDAChessClub claimed sole first place with a perfect 4.0 score, winning all four of his rounds. Entering the tournament as the highest-rated player in the field at 1926 — and leaving with a nudge up to 1936 — Erickson's dominance was as expected as it was impressive. He left no doubt about who the best player in the room was.

A Crowded Race for Second

Behind Erickson, four players finished tied at 3.0 points, sharing places 2 through 5. Jonathon Clay Rorabeck of SpokaneChess was the highest-rated of the group at 1670, while Michael Joseph Fellegy represented CDAChessClub with a strong performance from a 1351 pre-event rating. Marty Powell, an unrated player, turned heads by finishing in this elite group — suggesting real strength that the rating system hasn't yet captured. Quinton Timothy Rogers of Spirit Lake rounded out the 3.0-point contingent, giving the host club a fine result to celebrate.

The Middle Tier — Eagles Nest Makes Its Presence Felt

Places 6 through 11 were a tightly packed group, with scores ranging from 2.0 to 2.5 points. Zachary D. Furman (CDAChessClub) and Jamen Mathew Whitney (Eagles Nest) both scored 2.5 to share positions in the 6th–8th cluster alongside unrated Gideon J. Rapier. Eagles Nest had a notably strong presence throughout this section of the field. Keegan Whitney, Carlie McLachlan (CDAChessClub), and Jacob Thomas Katt of Kelloggs all finished with 2.0 points.

♟ The crowd gathers to watch the night's final game — Erickson, with just two seconds on his clock, defends for over three minutes against Marty Powell to clinch the championship.

A Night to Remember: The Final Game

The second photo tells the real story of the evening. As the last game of the night wound down, the room gathered around the board — parents, kids, and competitors alike — to watch something special unfold. Kenneth Erickson, with just two seconds remaining on his clock, somehow held off Marty Powell for more than three minutes of tense, precise defense before finally securing the win. When the game ended, the crowd erupted in a well-deserved round of cheers. It was exactly the kind of moment that makes local chess worth playing — and worth watching.

Oliver Hall of Eagles Nest earned 12th place with 1.5 points, while Louis Wesley Christen of CDAChessClub took 13th with a hard-fought point. The final three spots — places 14 through 16 — saw Evan Ronald Whitney, Kaiden Jesse Whitney, and Van Quesnel all finish with 0.0 points. All three represent Eagles Nest, and with two Whitneys in this group and one earlier in the standings, it's clear the family is a cornerstone of the Eagles Nest program. Every game played is experience earned, and we expect to see them climbing the standings at future events.

Takeaways

CDAChessClub showed impressive depth, with players finishing at every level of the standings — from champion to midfield to developing. Eagles Nest deserves particular recognition for bringing the largest contingent of competitors, helping make this a genuine regional community event. SpokaneChess added cross-border rivalry, and the Kelloggs and Spirit Lake clubs gave the day a true Inland Northwest flavor.

With multiple unrated players in the field, this tournament likely served as a debut for several newcomers — and their rating clocks are now running. We look forward to watching them develop and seeing everyone again at the next open.

Congratulations to all participants, and a warm thank-you to Spirit Lake for hosting. ♟

♟ Official Final Standings

Place	Name	Club	Rating	Rd 1	Rd 2	Rd 3	Rd 4	Total
1	Kenneth Erickson	CDA	1926	W14	W9	W18	W4	4.0
2–5	Jonathon Clay Rorabeck	Spokane	1670	W13	W10	L4	W16	3.0
2–5	Michael Joseph Fellegy	CDA	1351p	D12	W7	D6	W11	3.0
2–5	Marty Powell	CDA	unr.	W5	W6	W2	L1	3.0
2–5	Quinton Timothy Rogers	Spirit Lake	unr.	L4	W16	W9	W15	3.0
6–8	Zachary D Furman	CDA	1531	W15	L4	D3	W14	2.5
6–8	Jamen Mathew Whitney	Eagles Nest	635p	W11	L3	D8	W13	2.5
6–8	Gideon J Rapier	–	unr.	L9	W14	D7	W12	2.5
9–11	Keegan Whitney	Eagles Nest	1087	W8	L1	L5	W10	2.0
9–11	Carlie McLachlan	CDA	1003p	W16	L2	W14	L9	2.0
9–11	Jacob Thomas Katt	Kelloggs	unr.	L7	W15	W16	L3	2.0
12	Oliver Hall	Eagles Nest	unr.	D3	W13	L1	L8	1.5
13	Louis Wesley Christen	CDA	632p	L2	L12	W15	L7	1.0
14–16	Evan Ronald Whitney	Eagles Nest	389p	L1	L8	L10	L6	0.0
14–16	Kaiden Jesse Whitney	Eagles Nest	368p	L6	L11	L13	L5	0.0
14–16	Van Quesnel	Eagles Nest	unr.	L10	L5	L11	L2	0.0

♟   CDA Chess Club   ·   Coeur d'Alene, Idaho   ·   cdachessclub.com   ♟