USCL Week 8: Arch Bishops Shuffle Lineup for Pivotal Division Matchup
A weekend in Vegas is always a great way to relax and blow off some steam, but now it’s back to the grind for Grandmaster Wesley So. Two days after taking down the Millionaire Open and its $100,000 prize, chess’ hottest professional athlete is back to work — leading the Saint Louis Arch Bishops in […]
Saturday, October 11: National Chess Day
This column appeared on St. Louis Public Radio on Oct. 9, 2014 This Saturday, Oct. 11 is National Chess Day — though only unofficially, because nobody cares. That’s not from a lack of continued effort on the part of chess players, however, as plenty have cared about such a recognized holiday dating all the way […]
USCL Week 7: Marler on Hot Seat as Arch Bishops Look to Stop Skid
Under normal circumstances, a half-point from a match between Grandmasters wouldn’t be considered half-bad. But lately, those draws have been making Saint Louis Arch Bishops general manager Alex Marler break out in a full sweat. Marler finds himself square on the hot seat entering Saint Louis’ Week 7 matchup with the Boston Blitz, as the […]
On Chess: Eight Super Grandmasters Have Fun Skewering Each Other
It is a question commonly posed to Grandmasters — business-suit wearing giants with perennially furrowed brows, constantly wrinkled above troubled looks of genuine stress — can you still have fun? There were several surprisingly light moments between the kings of chess this past Monday afternoon, as part of a bonus event that came on the […]
2014 Sinquefield Cup Will Be Strongest Chess Tournament in History, Hosted by CCSCSL
SAINT LOUIS (July 29, 2014) — The 2014 Sinquefield Cup will be the highest-rated tournament in the history of chess, bringing six of the world’s top-nine Grandmasters together at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. Last year, the inaugural super-tournament thrilled spectators as the strongest chess competition ever held on U.S. soil. […]
On Chess: World Chess Hall Of Fame Brings Chess Concepts to Early Learners
This article was originally published on stlpublicradio.org on July 16. Bobby Fischer was the youngest-ever American Grandmaster, a title that took him 15 years, 6 months and 1 day to collect. That is, until Hikaru Nakamura came along, besting Bobby by three months and earning the title as the new youngest-ever American GM. That is, […]
On Chess: Role Models Abound For Saint Louis Girls
This article was originally posted on stlpublicradio.org on July 7. It’s a great time to be a St. Louis girl in chess, I think. Just look at what surrounds them: Webster University coach Susan Polgar is adding something new to her resume. Right there at the bottom of page 11. Already considered to be one […]
Sevian Scores; Troff, Xiong Lead U.S. Junior Closed After 3
SAINT LOUIS (June 23, 2014) — The U.S. Junior Closed is playing into its familiar theme: Guess what happens next. The 2014 national championship for players under 21, which began Friday at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, kicked off with several shocker upsets and has since proven extremely decisive — with […]
Big Wins for Williams, Colas in First Round of U.S. Junior Champs
SAINT LOUIS (June 21, 2014) — A day of decisive results marked the opening round of the 2014 U.S. Junior Closed Championship, the national title for players under 21, with all five matches finding their way to victory. Tallying first-day points were top-seed GM Kayden Troff and IM Jeffrey Xiong — two players in the […]
Troff Trounces, Sicilians Stomped in Round 2 of U.S. Junior Closed
SAINT LOUIS (June 22, 2014) — Historically, the Sicilian defense may be known as one of the best-scoring responses to the 1. e4 attack. But not today. In the second round of the 2014 U.S. Junior Closed Championship, four out of five games saw black answering in the classic resistance, though white was able to […]
