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Fischer Prize Extended to U.S. Women's; Krush, Foisor Remain Perfect


Irina Krush and Sabina Foisor each remained perfect after two rounds of play to lead the field. Image Credits: Lennart Ootes.


By Brian Jerauld 

SAINT LOUIS (May 9, 2014) -- In the 1964 U.S. Chess Championship, a 20-year-old Bobby Fischer rolled over the nation in jaw-dropping fashion, showcasing his dominance over the field with a perfect 11-0 score. In 2014, that monumental record celebrates its 50th anniversary having never been repeated - though not without a lack of effort by Rex Sinquefield.

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Eswaran Steals the Show in Round 1 of U.S. Champs

 

SAINT LOUIS (May 9, 2014) -- Lights! Camera! Quick-draw??

Eyes rolled on the first day of the 2014 U.S. Championship when the marquee matchup -- a fireworks-filled kickoff between top-seeds Timur Gareev and Gata Kamsky -- finished after 14 moves and only 40 minutes in a draw-by-repetition, starting a trend of half-points through an anti-climactic first round.

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Pairings Set for Round 1 of U.S. Championships


GM Irina Krush, the reigning U.S. Women's Champion, is interviewed by a local news crew.


By Brian Jerauld

Grandmasters Gata Kamsky and Irina Krush: Please return your crowns.

Time expired on both champions’ reign over the nation Wednesday night in St. Louis, with the opening ceremonies of the 2014 U.S. Championship and U.S. Women’s Championship ringing the bell for a new round of challengers to the national title.

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U.S. Senate Names Saint Louis “Chess Capital"

U.S. Senate passes resolution days before the start of the nation’s most prestigious tournaments
SAINT LOUIS, May 6, 2014 – On the eve of hosting the most prestigious chess tournaments in the nation, St. Louis received national recognition from the United States Senate, which passed an official resolution late Monday night naming St. Louis the National Chess Capital.

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On Chess: The Kings Converge On Saint Louis

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This story was originally published on stlpublicradio.org on April 30. 

By Brian Jerauld

In chess, conquering the center is a strategy nearly as old as the game itself.

It is a building block, a foundation, with centuries of theory backing the blueprint. American legend Bobby Fischer opened all but one of his myriad games by instantly striking into the center with 1. e4, famously referring to the first move as “best, by test.”

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Lecture with Sam Shankland: Sun., May 4

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GM Sam Shankland has agreed to divulge all his secrets just days before he competes in the U.S. Championship!

Sam will present a special lecture at Lester's Restaurant tomorrow on Sunday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m. called Attacking a Color Complex.

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New Champions Check Russia's Hegemony in Chess

Now India and Norway have powerhouse players, and in the United States, St. Louis is turning into a hotbed.

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By Yasser Seirawan

SAINT LOUIS, April 27, 2014 -- While he has taken over Crimea with relative ease, Vladimir Putin is presiding over the loss of an asset no doubt far dearer to the Russian people: hegemony in chess. To see the evidence, drop by the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis any Sunday afternoon—if you can squeeze in, that is.

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Four GMs, One NM Top Bill Wright Saint Louis Open

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By Brian Jerauld

Finally, the weather warmed and the sun said hello - but there were no walks in the park in Saint Louis last weekend. 

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On Chess: St. Louis Flexes Its Chess Muscle

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By Brian Jerauld

This article was originally published on stlpublicradio.org on April 23.

For six years, St. Louis has been steadily pumping its proverbial chess muscle.

There is, perhaps, no better way to gauge the strength of the city than to count the number of tough guys around here. The Chess Club and Scholastic Center opened in 2008 as a hopeful magnet to the game, and a year later GM Ben Finegold rode into town as the city’s very first Grandmaster. Today, backed by the murderer’s row of the Webster University collegiate team - including 2014 U.S. Championship-hopeful GM Ray Robson - St. Louis is home to 11 Grandmasters.

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