[imagefield_assist|fid=14798|preset=fullsize|lightbox=true|title=Rex and Jeanne Sinquefield present GM Gata Kamsky, center, with his prize for winning the 2011 U.S. Championship. The Sinquefiields were both honored by the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame on Sunday.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=700|height=528]
Chess Club founders Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield were each recognized and honored Sunday night at the 2012 Missouri Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Springfield, Mo.
At the beginning of the ceremony, Jeanne was given a 2012 Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Achievement Award for her diligent work and dedication toward the establishment of a Boy Scout Merit Badge for chess.
Rex was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame alongside St. Louis Cardinal great Jim Edmonds, Mizzou Basketball stand-out John Sundvold, former Kansas City Chief Mel Gray and a number of other notable athletes, sports programs and sports professionals.
“You guys did it the easy way, with baseball, basketball, football and golf,” joked Sinquefield as he delivered his acceptance speech.
Chess legend Garry Kasparov sent along his congratulations to Rex in a brief video message.
The legendry Kasparov also sent along a message to the audience to explain to them why he thinks chess should be recognized as a sport.
Rex was recognized for his hard work and dedication to supporting the game of chess locally, regionally and nationally, and for his commitment to demonstrating that chess is not only a sport, but that it also has myriad educational benefits. The United States Chess Federation also has awarded Rex the Gold Koltanowski award each of the past three years, which is given to the person who has done the most to support chess in the U.S. each year.
For more information about toe Missouri Sports hall of Fame, and to view the list of other inductees, please visit www.mosportshalloffame.com.
