Saint Louis Chess Conference, an Innovative Educational Chess Event, to be Held in America’s Chess Capital

Educational Chess Event to Feature Renowned Chess Experts, Educational Workshops and Community Engagement Opportunities This Fall

SAINT LOUIS, February 9, 2024 – The Saint Louis Chess Club, US Chess and Kasparov Chess Foundation today announced an innovative educational chess event – the Saint Louis Chess Conference, which will bring together the leading voices in chess with chess educators, researchers and enthusiasts to learn best practices, to explore the latest research, and to celebrate the game of chess.

The Saint Louis Chess Conference will be held October 24-26, 2024 at the Chase Park Plaza in Saint Louis, Mo., and will feature leading keynote speakers including:

• Garry Kasparov, legendary World Champion and founder of the Kasparov Chess Foundation
• Judit Polgar, the strongest female chess player of all time
• Maurice Ashley, the first African American in chess history to earn the Grandmaster title

In addition to Keynote sessions, the conference schedule will include both plenary and concurrent sessions focused on chess research and education. A full schedule will be released in the summer, but illustrative sessions are:

• Findings from rigorous studies investigating the educational benefits of chess
• Gender and chess: data, policy, and practice
• Chess instruction and programming in unique contexts: senior citizens, prisons, and students with disabilities

“Chess is a life changing endeavor that can take people to heights they never dreamed of – whether professionally, scholastically or even personally,” said Kasparov. “I am honored to speak at the upcoming Saint Louis Chess Conference as we work collectively to harness the power of chess through the lens of education and advancing the sport we all love so much.”

In addition to hearing these world-renowned keynote speakers, attendees will learn from and contribute to presentations about chess instructional models, best practices, and resources, as well as hear about recent and current research projects exploring the impact of chess in schools and other topics.

“In collaboration with US Chess and Kasparov Chess Foundation, we are proud to bring together chess thought leaders for dynamic discussions and learning opportunities centered around education, research and the broader impact our beloved sport has on individuals and communities,” said Professor Michael Podgursky, Saint Louis Chess Club Board Member and Conference Chair.

While in Saint Louis, attendees will have the opportunity to visit the world renowned Saint Louis Chess Campus, including the Saint Louis Chess Club and World Chess Hall of Fame. Further, attendees can make plans to attend the closing ceremony of the 2024 U.S. Championships to recognize the 2024 Champions, as well as the opening ceremony for Chess 9LX.

Attendees can also visit the US Chess Federation headquarters located at the Union Station office plaza, right next to the St. Louis Aquarium and the St. Louis Wheel.

Call for Speaker Submissions

From beginners to Grandmasters and researchers to coaches, chess has a varied and vast role in society. Organizers of the Saint Louis Chess Conference invite interested parties to submit proposals for an opportunity to speak during the event. Speakers interested in delivering empirically-based presentations that use quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methodological approaches to demonstrate the impacts of chess, as well as educational, theoretical, and practitioner-based approaches connected to chess education are encouraged to apply. Single presentation and panel submissions will be accepted through April 5, 2024.

To learn more about the event, including speaker submissions and event registration, please visit https://stlchessconference.org.

About the Saint Louis Chess Club

The Saint Louis Chess Club is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that is committed to making chess an important part of our community. In addition to providing a forum for the community to play tournaments and casual games, the club also offers chess improvement classes, beginner lessons and special lectures.

Recognizing the cognitive and behavioral benefits of chess, the Saint Louis Chess Club is committed to supporting those chess programs that already exist in area schools while encouraging the development of new in-school and after-school programs. For more information, visit www.saintlouischessclub.org.

About US Chess

The US Chess Federation (US Chess) is the official governing body and nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization for chess players and chess supporters in the United States. Our mission is to empower people, enrich lives, and enhance communities through chess. Our vision is that chess is recognized as an essential tool that is inclusive, benefits education and rehabilitation, and promotes recreation and friendly competition.

US Chess represents the United States in the World Chess Federation (FIDE), connecting our members to chess players around the world. Founded in 1939 with the merger of the American Chess Federation and the National Chess Federation, US Chess has grown to serve over 100,000 members and 1,000 affiliated chess clubs and organizations today.

Every year, US Chess sanctions and rates over 10,000 tournaments and over half a million games. We host over 25 National Championships and award titles to both amateurs and professionals, ranging from elementary school students to senior citizens.

About Kasparov Chess Foundation (KCF)

Founded by World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov, KCF’s mission is to bring the many educational benefits of chess to children worldwide by providing a complete chess curriculum and enrichment programs. The Foundation promotes the study of chess as a cognitive learning tool in curricular classes and after-school programs for elementary, middle and high schools, both in the public and private school sectors. The not-for-profit Foundation also organizes and sponsors regional, national, and worldwide tournaments, programs for talented students, and promotional chess events.

SAINT LOUIS (September 21, 2023) – The nation’s top chess players are set to compete in the U.S’. most prestigious events – the 2023 U.S. Chess Championship and 2023 U.S. Women’s Chess Championship. Hosted by the Saint Louis Chess Club (STLCC) at the World Chess Hall of Fame, two fields of 12 players will face off over the board October 5 – October 18, 2023 as they compete for a total purse of more than $400,000.

“Being invited to participate in the U.S. and U.S. Women’s Chess Championships is considered one of the ultimate goals for elite chess players in the United States,” said Tony Rich, Executive Director of the Saint Louis Chess Club. “We are thrilled to announce the impressive fields for these two over the board events, who will once again compete in Saint Louis – the nation’s Chess Capital – for more than $400,000 in prizes.”

Field of Dreams in the U.S. Championship

The U.S. Championship field boasts an impressive roster including Grandmaster (GM) Fabiano Caruana, who is currently ranked No. 2 and the returning U.S. Championship winner, three-time U.S. Chess Champion GM Wesley So and GM Sam Sevian who recently delivered an outstanding performance to win the 2023 Chess 9LX event. It will also feature debut performances by GMs Abhimanyu Mishra and Andrew Tang. The complete field includes:

2023 U.S. Chess Championship Field

Legends and Rising Stars to Headline U.S. Women’s Championship

The U.S. Women’s Championship promises exhilarating matches across the board with legends like eight-time U.S. Women’s Champion GM Irina Krush and returning 2022 U.S. Champion Woman Grandmaster Jennifer Yu, as well as up and coming stars like Alice Lee. The international master-elect, Lee, won the 2023 U.S. Junior Girls Championship and an individual gold medal in the FIDE Women’s World Team Championship earlier this year. The Women’s Championship will also feature a debut performance by WGM Atousa Pourkashiyan, who also earned an individual silver medal in the FIDE Women’s World Team Championship. The complete field includes:

2023 U.S. Women’s Chess Championship Field

*Invitational ratings are calculated based on the September US Chess rating supplement, with bonuses for being at or near peak rating and penalties for inactivity.

How to Watch

The 2023 U.S. Championship and U.S. Women’s Championship will consist of 11 rounds of classical chess, in a round-robin format and will be streamed live daily starting at 1:20 p.m. CDT. Coverage will feature play-by-play and analysis from the world-renowned commentary team of GM Yasser Seirawan, GM Cristian Chirila and Women’s GM Katerina Nemcova. Fans can follow all of the action live on uschesschamps.com and on the Saint Louis Chess Club’s YouTube and Twitch.tv channels.

About the U.S. Championship & U.S. Women’s Championship

The U.S. Championship as a tournament dates back to 1936, and its victors include luminaries of the game, including Bobby Fischer, Yasser Seirawan and Hikaru Nakamura. The Saint Louis Chess Club hosted its first U.S. Championship in 2009 and has been honored to organize each edition since. Awarding more than $2.5 million in prizes and elevating the national championships, the Saint Louis Chess Club promotes the game of chess at all levels.

The U.S. Championship is a tournament open to men and women, boys and girls. It represents the very best talent in the United States. The path to qualify for the U.S. Championship is daunting; players compete for a select few rating invitations, a qualifier spot or the coveted wildcard. With just 12 players in 2023, the U.S. Championship is the pinnacle of American chess.

The U.S. Women’s Championship is the premier event in America featuring the very best women and girls of chess. Past champions include Diane Savereide, Irina Krush and Anna Zatonskih. Since its first U.S. Women’s Championship in 2009, the Saint Louis Chess Club has awarded more than $1 million in prizes to U.S. Women’s Championship competitors.

In addition to the thrilling chess action, the 2023 tournaments also mark a significant milestone – the 15th anniversary of the formation of the Saint Louis Chess Club and as the host of these top-tier competitions. Saint Louis, often referred to as the Chess Capital of America, has been the backdrop for countless memorable moments in the world of chess, and this year promises to be no different.

Chess Legends to be Inducted into U.S. Hall of Fame

The chess festivities will kick-off with the public opening ceremony for the 2023 U.S. Championships, with the 2023 U.S. Chess Hall of Fame Inductions for GM Yury Shulman, chess problemist William Shinkman and women’s chess pioneer Lisa Lane. The public opening ceremony will be held at the CITYPARK Ultra Club from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The tournament will conclude with U.S. Chess & U.S. Chess Championships Closing Ceremony on Wednesday, October 18 from 5:30pm – 10:00pm at the Chase Park Plaza Sonesta. To find additional event information or purchase tickets, visit uschesschamps.com.

About the Saint Louis Chess Club

The Saint Louis Chess Club is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that is committed to making chess an important part of our community. In addition to providing a forum for the community to play tournaments and casual games, the club also offers chess improvement classes, beginner lessons and special lectures.

Recognizing the cognitive and behavioral benefits of chess, the Saint Louis Chess Club is committed to supporting those chess programs that already exist in area schools while encouraging the development of new in-school and after-school programs. For more information, visit www.saintlouischessclub.org.

About the World Chess Hall of Fame

The World Chess Hall of Fame (WCHOF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to building awareness of the cultural and artistic significance of chess. It opened on September 9, 2011, in the Central West End after moving from previous locations in New York, Washington, D.C., and Miami. Housed in a historic 15,900 square-foot residence-turned-business in Saint Louis’ Central West End neighborhood, the WCHOF features World Chess Hall of Fame inductees, United States Chess Hall of Fame inductees selected by the U.S. Chess Trust, artifacts from the permanent collection and exhibitions highlighting the great players, historic games and rich cultural history of chess. The WCHOF partners with the Saint Louis Chess Club to provide innovative programming and outreach to local, national and international audiences. For more information, visit worldchesshof.org and on social: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube channels.

SAINT LOUIS – June 29, 2023 – Top American junior and senior chess players will return to Saint Louis for the 2023 U.S. Senior, Junior, and Girls’ Junior Championships hosted by the Saint Louis Chess Club. From July 15-25, 2023, the top 10 players across three divisions – juniors, girls, and seniors, will travel to compete for more than $130,000 in prizes.

“We are excited to once again kick off this summer’s national championships by bringing together the top chess players from across the United States,” said Tony Rich, Executive Director of the Saint Louis Chess Club. “We’re proud to again host the future of chess with the U.S. Junior, U.S. Girls’ Junior and U.S. Senior Championships.”

The three 10-player fields will tie together chess past and future for a celebration of the best of chess. 

U.S. Junior Championship

The U.S. Junior Championship will feature a field of new and returning prodigies. Headlining players include last year’s U.S. Junior Champion GM Christopher Yoo, as well as GM Brandon Jacobson and GM Abhimanyu Mishra, the youngest player to become a Grandmaster in the history of the game at the age of 12.

With five of the players currently ranked within the top 50 juniors in the world, this year’s U.S. Junior Championship pits some of the most talented and brightest young minds in the game against each other.

Along with winning the title, players will be competing to win a piece of the more than $20,000 prize fund and the coveted invitation to the U.S. Championship later this year. Thanks to the generosity of the Sue & Dewain Barber Foundation and US Chess, the winner of the U.S. Junior Championship will also be awarded a $10,000 scholarship to the university of their choice. 

U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship

The future of women’s chess in America is bright and will be on full display during the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship. 

This tournament features a field of rising stars, including FM Alice Lee, who recently qualified for the international master title (pending FIDE approval) at just age 13, becoming the youngest female player in American history to earn the title. In addition, IM Carissa Yip headlines the field. Yip, a sophomore at Stanford, has already earned a place in chess history as she works toward becoming the seventh-youngest woman to reach grandmaster.

Along with winning the title, players will be up for the chance to win a piece of the more than $10,000 prize fund and an invitation to the U.S. Women’s Championship to be held later this year. Additionally, the winner of the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship will be awarded a $10,000 scholarship, jointly supported by US Chess and the Sue & Dewain Barber Foundation.

U.S. Senior Championship

The Saint Louis Chess Club created the U.S. Senior Champion five years ago, and for the fifth consecutive year, the U.S. Senior Championship will be held alongside the country’s junior national chess championships, where they will compete for a $75,000 prize fund. The 2023 field boasts legendary chess players, including every winner of the tournament since its inception including GM Alex Shabalov (2019, 2022), GM Joel Benjamin (2020) and GM Gregory Kaidanov (2021). Many of the players are also U.S. Chess Hall of Fame inductees: Grandmasters Gregory Kaidanov, Joel Benjamin and Alex Shabalov.

The expert commentary team of GM’s Yasser Seirawan, Katerina Nemcova and Cristian Chirila will call the action live. The team will be providing game analysis daily online starting at 1:20 p.m. CT.

Fans can watch all the action live on www.uschesschamps.com and on the Saint Louis Chess Club’s YouTube and Twitch.tv channels. 

Saint Louis Chess Club Celebrates 15th Anniversary

During the tournament, the Saint Louis Chess Club will recognize its 15th Anniversary. Over the past 15 years, co-founders Rex and Jeanne Sinquefield, alongside its staff and extended team, have impacted nearly every aspect of the game of chess. From establishing Saint Louis as the Chess Capital of the United States, to building the most elite tournament venue and hosting some of the most influential chess tournaments around the world, the Saint Louis Chess Club is among the leading chess organizations in the world. 

Outside of competitive chess, the Saint Louis Chess Club is responsible for establishing extensive educational and scholastic programs – reaching over 80,000 students and spanning in-person, online after-school classes to help encourage participation in chess. 

In addition, the Saint Louis Chess Club first introduced the Chess Merit Badge in 2011. Since then, it has become one of the most popular badges in the Scouts BSA merit badge catalog, with more than 300,000 scouts earning their Chess Merit badge. The Saint Louis Chess Club designed workshops provide a dynamic program of learning and adventure that builds critical thinking, forward thinking, and proper sportsmanship in young people.

Further, the organization has also pioneered innovative community outreach programs ranging from C.H.E.S.S. Cops, a program that works to build relationships between kids and police, to the Corporate Chess League that provides a venue for business professionals to join competitive leagues to help strengthen their focus, encourage strategic thinking and creativity.

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Saint Louis Chess Club

The Saint Louis Chess Club is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that is committed to making chess an important part of our community. In addition to providing a forum for the community to play tournaments and casual games, the club also offers chess improvement classes, beginner lessons and special lectures. 

Recognizing the cognitive and behavioral benefits of chess, the Saint Louis Chess Club is committed to supporting those chess programs that already exist in area schools while encouraging the development of new in-school and after-school programs. For more information, visit www.saintlouischessclub.org.