Morin wins chess tourney

    The seventh annual Houlton Open was played at the Art Studio in Houlton on April 2. Eight players participated, with Roger Morin winning his fourth straight tournament this year with three out of four games, but only after a very lucky break.
    Morin was clearly out-played in the last round by Ray Haines and with 15 seconds left Haines pushed a pawn to his eighth rank and punched his clock. It is illegal to punch the clock with just the pawn on the eighth rank. It needs to be promoted then a player can punch the clock. Morin immediately repunched the clock and as Haines was putting a queen on the queening square, Haines’ flag fell, losing the game. Each player had 60 minutes to finish the game.
Contributed photograph
WINNER — Roger Morin, right, plays Ray Haines during the seventh annual Houlton Open Chess Tournament.
    Haines and Lance Beloungie tied for second and third, respectively. Andy Chan, a Houlton High School student, for the second time again took clear first in the under 1200 section.