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Week 1: August 31

By on August 24, 2011 in

[imagefield_assist|fid=11982|preset=fullsize|lightbox=true|title=GM Ben Finegold will be critical to the success of the new-look Arch Bishops.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=700|height=467]

By Mike Kummer, Assistant Manager of the Arch Bishops

The Saint Louis Arch Bishops head into its second season in the U.S. Chess League with a revamped roster and a mission to make the play-offs. The team missed the play-offs in its inaugural season with a record of 5-5.

So this off-season, Team Manager Tony Rich and Assistant Manager Mike Kummer restructured the squad by adding six new faces to the 10-player roster. IM Goran Vojinovic from Serbia and Expert Nick Karlow bring talent and enthusiasm to the team. Aspiring GMs Kevin Cao and Jialin Ding will team up with GMs Hikaru Nakamura and Ben Finegold.

The team brought on two masters, both with a solid rating of 2346, to help balance the roster. Typically, the Arch Bishops will start FM Jake Banawa and NM Timur Aliyev together with a GM and a player rated under 2300. FM Doug Eckert and newly crowned Expert Margaret Hua return for the second season. Both were undefeated last year.

The U.S. Chess League is a 16-team league that is played over the Internet Chess Club (ICC). The Arch Bishops compete in the eight-team Western Division and need to finish in the top half to qualify for the play-offs. Come root on the Arch Bishops every week throughout the season. The first match is Wednesday, August 31 at 7:30 p.m. vs. the San Francisco Mechanics. See you there!

To learn more about the Saint Louis Arch Bishops, click here: http://www.uschessleague.com/StLouis.html.

To find out more about the U.S. Chess League, click here http://www.uschessleague.com/index.html.

Week	Date	Color	Opponent
1	8/31 Weds.	W	San Francisco Mechanics 7:30
2	9/6 Tues.	W	Los Angeles Vibe 8:00
3	9/14 Weds.	B	Dallas Destiny 7:00
4	9/21 Weds.	W	Arizona Scorpions 8:00
5	9/28 Weds.	B	Chicago Blaze 7:00
6	10/5 Weds.	W	Philadelphia Inventors 7:15
7	10/11 Tues.	B	Seattle Sluggers 8:00
8	10/19 Weds.	B	Miami Sharks 7:00
9	10/26 Weds.	W	Seattle Sluggers 8:00
10	10/31 Mon.	B	San Francisco Mechanics 7:30

OUR MISSION It is the mission of the Saint Louis Chess Club, an educational organization, to maintain a formal program of instruction to teach the game of chess and to promote and support its educational program through community outreach and local and national partnerships to increase the awareness of the educational value of chess.

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY

Wheelchair/disability access is available in the rear - please proceed through the parking lot to our east and around to our back door. If you need additional assistance, please let us know.

The STLCC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, disability, and any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws or regulations in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, events, programs, or activities.

The Saint Louis Chess Club complies with the Internal Revenue Service's guidelines regarding publication of its non-discrimination policy in its brochures, catalogs, advertisements and otherwise making it known to the general community.

Any violation of this policy should be reported the General Manager, Joy Bray, jbray@saintlouischessclub.org - 314.361.2437, Administrative Director, Tad Middleton, tmiddleton@saintlouischessclub.org -314.361.2437 and/or the HR Manager, Cathy Gallaher, cgallaher@saintlouischessclub.org - 314.332.5582.

POLICY ON RELATIONSHIPS AND INTERACTIONS WITH MINORS

The integrity of Saint Louis Chess Club’s relationship with minor players is paramount to the Chess Club’s educational mission and success. All individuals employed by or working under the direction or authority of the Saint Louis Chess Club are expected and required to maintain appropriate boundaries and relationships with minors (individuals under the age of 18 years) and are strictly prohibited from engaging in sexual misconduct, hazing and harassment.

UPDATED POLICIES COMING SOON

We encourage any victim or other persons with information regarding inappropriate conduct to contact Cathy Gallaher, Saint Louis Chess Club HR Manager at cgallaher@saintlouischessclub.org. You may also make a report confidentially, and if you wish, anonymously, through our ethics reporting hotline managed by Navex at (833)221-3624.

If you or a loved one were abused, the Saint Louis Chess Club is offering free, confidential counseling services. Please contact cgallaher@saintlouischessclub.org for more information about accessing these services.