Our Resident Grandmaster: Var Akobian
The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis warmly welcomes back GM Varuzhan Akobian as its Resident Grandmaster through January 18.
Blog
Chess Club Member Profile: Julian Proleiko
Familiar around the Chess Club has been the face of Julian Proleiko, who first walked through our doors at the age of 12. He began like any St. Louis chess novice -- attending Sunday’s Kids Beginner classes, taught by Grandmasters -- and within six months, Julian had made a complete transformation from beginner to a competitive chess athlete.
Musings of a Resident GM: Two Games That Ended a Career
Two Games That Ended a Career
By GM Ben Finegold
You know, one of the top players in the world from 1987-1990 was GM Mikhail Gurevich. Although you may not have heard of him, almost everyone else in the world thought he was No. 3 on the planet -- behind Kasparov and Karpov. Mikhail won many tournaments, had a great strategical understanding, and great opening knowledge. He was a solid player: he didn’t take too many risks, but he didn’t play a lot of boring draws, either.
Musings of a Resident GM: Finegold Demands Etiquette!
By GM Ben Finegold
Hey everyone!
I have been the Rotating Resident GM for 2 weeks, and boy am I dizzy (rotating for 2 weeks is tough!).
I want to talk a bit about the chess world and then get on to the CCSCSL world!
Our Resident Grandmaster: Ben Finegold
The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis is excited to have GM Ben Finegold back as its Resident Grandmaster through the month of December. Moving to the area from Michigan in 2009, Finegold was the CCSCSL’s very first Resident, a position that leads all of the Club’s regular lectures and programming, and has since become a staple in the St. Louis chess scene.
Musings of a Resident GM: Seirawan on the World Championship
It is wonderful to be back at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. And it is simply the best of times to be a chess enthusiast, as the crown jewel in the chess world -- the World Chess Championship Match between Champion Magnus Carlsen and Challenger Viswanathan Anand -- is in full swing. It has been a pleasure to watch the official website broadcasts:
http://www.sochi2014.fide.com/
IM Kannappan wins 2014 Saint Louis Thanksgiving Open
IM Priyadharshan Kannappan overcame a strong field to win the 6th Annual Saint Louis Thanksgiving Open at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis on November 7-9. This year’s event featured a 47-player Open section with 17 titles, including Grandmasters Walter Browne, Ben Finegold and Fidel Corrales; along with two lower sections for a tournament total 91 players.
Player Profile: CCSCSL Instructor Jason Fredericks
The Chess Club has a solid team of associates and instructors who possess exceptional skill, knowledge and teaching styles. One of these chess gurus is Jason Fredericks, who recently joined our staff over the summer. Fredericks, 30 years old, currently holds a rating of 1982 and is the the number-one chess player from the country of Guyana, and still represents the South American federation as such. The youngest of four children, Fredericks was born in Guyana and moved to the U.S.
Our Resident Master: Aviv Friedman
One of the elements that sets the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis as one of the nation’s premier chess facilities is our constant rotation of Resident Grandmasters -- though this time, we’re making a very special exception.
Chess Club Member Profile: Thalia Cervantes
With the exception of the U.S. Women’s Championship and kids’ classes on Sundays, sightings of lady chess players are few and far between around the Club. So any time an unknown woman walks through the front door of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center, there is much hope among the staff. Hope that she possesses a genuine interest in chess. Hope that she will become a member and boost our gender minority. Hope that she’s not just asking for directions around the Central West End.
