FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 6, 2009
For more information contact:
Slay and Associates
Michelle Kubot, (314) 324-5165
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SAINT LOUIS, REX AND TONY WIN PRESTIGIOUS HONORS FROM THE USCF
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.
The Chess Federation said it chose Saint Louis not just because it was the site of the U.S. Chess Championship, but because the city has worked hard to create, sponsor and promote chess in the community.
The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis hosted the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship, which was won by Hikaru Nakamura. It also will host the 2009 U.S. Women’s Chess Championship from Oct. 3-13. The club, which opened in July 2008, already has more than 500 members.
Tony Rich, executive director of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center, will receive the award for “Organizer of the Year,” at the federation’s annual luncheon.
Finally, Rex Sinquefield, founder the Chess Club and a member of the board of directors, will receive a gold Koltanowski Award from the federation. The Koltanowski Awards were established in 1979 to recognize outstanding contributions to or supporting chess, from patrons at the national level (Gold) and/or local level (silver).
The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis is a not-for-profit, 501(c)3 organization that opened in July 2008. Founded by retired investment fund manager Rex Sinquefield, it already has more than 500 members. The club, which Steve Goldberg of United States Chess Federation (USCF) Online calls “certainly one of the most impressive chess centers” in the country, offers free classes for beginners, discounted tournament entry fees and discounted merchandise for club members. The Chess Club will host the U.S. Women’s Chess Championship October 3-13, featuring 10 of the top women players in the country. For more information, please visit www.saintlouischessclub.org or call 314-361-CHESS.
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