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Strong Field Set for 2009 US Women's Chess Championship

By on September 02, 2009 in

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 2, 2009 - The 10-player field for the 2009 U.S. Women's Chess Championship was set on Wednesday, and it's one of the strongest in championship history.

The tournament, which takes place Oct. 3-13 at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis , has 10 of the top 12 ranked women players in the country, including the top 6. The group includes four previous winners. This is the second major chess championship held at the Chess Club in 2009, with a third scheduled for next year.

"We think we have assembled the finest collection of players ever for the U.S. Women's Chess Championship," said Tony Rich, executive director of the Chess Club. "I can't wait to get the championship started. I'm sure we're all going to witness some memorable, high-caliber chess matches."

Topping the list at the U.S. Women's Chess Championship are defending champion and No. 1 ranked Anna Zatonskih, of Long Island, N.Y., and her chief rival, No. 2 ranked Irina Krush, of Brooklyn, N.Y. Both are two-time champions.

August Knights Final Standings

By on August 26, 2009 in

SwissSys Standings. August Knights: Open

#	Name	Rtng	Post	Rd 1	Rd 2	Rd 3	Rd 4	Tot	Prize
1	Joshua Frank	1940	1941	W6	W3	W5	L2	3.0
2	Daniel J Coryea	1807	1838	W12	L5	W8	W1	3.0
3	Paul J Goddard	1767	1766	W7	L1	W10	W6	3.0
4	William Nesham	1685	1722	H---	U---	W11	W8	2.5
5	Alex J Marler	1804	1810	W10	W2	L1	U---	2.0
6	William Thompson	1537	1532	L1	W9	W7	L3	2.0
7	Sean Trani	893	975	L3	B---	L6	W12	2.0
8	Kevin Dal Johnson	2000	1972	H---	W11	L2	L4	1.5
9	Ken P West	1160	1139	H---	L6	L12	B---	1.5
10	Don Harper	1074	1115	L5	W12	L3	D11	1.5
11	Terrence Clarkin	872	990	W13	L8	L4	D10	1.5
12	Lou Sarmento	1334	1277	L2	L10	W9	L7	1.0
13	Alekse Kazakevich	1709	1681	L11	U---	U---	U---	0.0

CHESS SCHOOL A SUCCESS AT CHESS CLUB AND SCHOLASTIC CENTER OF SAINT LOUIS

By on August 20, 2009 in

ST. LOUIS, August 20, 2009 -- Gregory Shahade figures things couldn't have gone much better for the 10th U.S. Chess School, an intensive camp for the nation's top young players held Aug. 11-15 at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis.

"The students were great. We go from 9 to 6 each day, and at the end of the day they still have plenty of energy," said Shahade, the founder and president of the Chess School.

The 10th Chess School differed from the previous nine because all eight students were female. They ranged in age from 12 to 19. It was an experiment that initially had Shahade concerned. "I wasn't sure about the symbolism" in separating one gender from the other.

SAINT LOUIS, REX AND TONY WIN PRESTIGIOUS HONORS FROM THE USCF

By on August 06, 2009 in

ST. LOUIS, August 6, 2009 -- Saint Louis was named Chess City of the Year by the U.S. Chess Federation, and two other Saint Louisans also were honored by the federation for their part in promoting chess.

Saint Louis will formally receive the honor at the federation's annual awards luncheon on Aug. 8 in Indianapolis. Typically, the Crossville, Tenn.-based Chess Federation honors more than one city each year, but Saint Louis was the sole honoree this year. That's happened only nine other times since the first Chess City of the Year was named in 1983.

SAINT LOUIS CHESS CLUB TO HOST ALL-GIRL CHESS CAMP FROM AUG. 11-15

By on August 05, 2009 in

SAINT LOUIS CHESS CLUB TO HOST ALL-GIRL CHESS CAMP FROM AUG. 11-15

ST. LOUIS, August 5, 2009 -- The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, site of the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship last May and the upcoming U.S. Women's Chess Championship in October, will host the 10th United States Chess School from August 11 through 15 at its world-class facility at 4657 Maryland Avenue in the Central West End.

July Knights Final Standings and Wall Chart

By on July 30, 2009 in

SwissSys Standings. July Knights: Open

#	Name	Rtng	Rd 1	Rd 2	Rd 3	Rd 4	Rd 5	Tot	Prize
1	Paul J Goddard	1761	W21	W23

Brad Schlosser will Serve as the MO Representative for the 2009 Arnold Denker Tournament of High School Champions

By on July 30, 2009 in

Brad Schlosser, of Chesterfield, Mo., will represent Missouri at the 2009 Arnold Denker Tournament of High School Champions.

The national tournament will run from Aug. 1 to Aug. 4 in conjunction with the U.S. Open in Indianapolis, Ind.

Brad, a student at Parkway Central High School, earned his invitation to the prestigious tournament by winning the Denker Playoff with a score of 3.5 out of 4 in March.

Personal pride and five $2,200 scholarships are at stake, and all of us at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis wish Brad the best of luck.

Teenager's skillful craftwork makes Chess Club tables stand out

By on July 29, 2009 in

Perhaps just as remarkable as the players and the games at the Saint Louis Chess Club and Scholastic Center are the tables themselves. Or, more accurately, Nate Cohen, the person who made the tables.