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Select Chess Training Program

The Saint Louis Chess Club offers its Select Chess training program to qualified students with the objective of training them into titled chess players. Under professional instruction from Grandmaster Yuniesky Quesada, accepted scholastic players will receive in-person weekly group training sessions, individual lessons, tournament preparation, and camps.

Training sessions span an entire school semester, and will have a set roster. Students that wish to join must apply before the application deadline for the semester. Qualified applicants will be screened and selected by a selection committee. Personal information and tournament history will be evaluated to select the best students for the program.

Fall 2024 Semester

General Information

Location: 10th floor of the Chase Park Plaza Hotel
Cost: Red Group – $450 | Blue Group – $450 | Green Group – $850
Orientation (ALL Groups): 8/28, 6-8 pm (10th floor)

GROUP INFORMATION

Red Group

Lesson Day/Time: Mondays, 6-8 pm (10th floor)
Individual Lessons: 6 hours total for the semester

Green Group

Lesson Day/Time: Tuesdays, 6-8 pm (10th floor)
Individual Lessons: 1 hour per week

Blue Group

Lesson Day/Time: Wednesdays, 6-8 pm (10th floor)
Individual Lessons: 6 hours total for the semester

Office Hours

Day/Time: Saturdays, 2-5 pm @ Chess Club
Expectations: Students are expected to regularly attend Saturday Office Hours and participate in Saturday Rated Games.

OVERALL SCHEDULE

WEEK NO.	RED GROUP (MONDAYS)	GREEN GROUP (TUESDAYS)	BLUE GROUP (WEDNESDAYS)	OFFICE HOURS (SATURDAYS)
	Orientation 8/28
1	LABOR DAY	9/3	9/4	9/7
2	9/9	9/10	9/11	9/14
3	9/16	9/17	9/18	9/21
4	9/23	9/24	9/25	9/28
5	9/30	10/1	10/2	10/5
6	10/7	10/8	10/9	10/12
7	10/14	10/15	10/16	10/19
8	10/21	10/22	10/23	10/26
9	10/28	10/29	10/30	11/2
10	11/4	11/5	11/6	11/9
11	11/11	11/12	11/13	11/16
12	11/18	11/19	11/20	11/23
13	11/25	THANKSGIVING
14	12/2	12/3	12/4	12/7
15	12/9	12/10	12/11	12/14
16	12/16	12/17	12/18

WINTER CAMP

As part of the Select Chess program, students will have a three-day Winter Chess Camp (which is included in the cost of the program).

Winter Camp Schedule (12/20, 12/21 & 12/22)
Arrival	8:45 AM – 9:00 AM
Breakout Session	9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Morning Lecture	11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Lunch	12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Afternoon Lecture	1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Afternoon Training Game (G/45; d3)	2:00 PM (sharp) – 4:00 PM
Afternoon Game Analysis	3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Departure	4:45 PM – 5:00 PM

Requirements and Application (Please Read Carefully)

Please download and complete the PDF Application and email it to [email protected] with the title Select Chess Application 2024 – Name – Date of Submission.

Application Deadline: August 20th, 2024. Please submit by this date.
Application for Fall 2024: Must be submitted by Thursday, August 20th, 2024. Fill out the PDF Application HERE and email it to Richard Pointer or Caleb Denby at [email protected].
Tournament Requirement: All students must play in at least 1 Standard Rated tournament per month.
Office Hour Requirement: All students must attend 1 Office Hour Session per month (Students should play at least one ladder game and seek out one-on-one analysis from GM Quesada).

Payment Information

Red and Blue Groups: $450 for the semester (Non-refundable if withdrawn or dropped from the program).
Green Group: $850 for the semester (Non-refundable if withdrawn or dropped from the program).

Note: Not all qualified applicants will be accepted due to limited space.

Please review all requirements before applying.

OUR MISSION It is the mission of the Saint Louis Chess Club, an educational organization, to maintain a formal program of instruction to teach the game of chess and to promote and support its educational program through community outreach and local and national partnerships to increase the awareness of the educational value of chess.

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY

Wheelchair access is available in the rear of the STLCC building. Please proceed through the parking lot to our east and around to our back door. If you need additional assistance, please contact us at 314-361-2437 .

The STLCC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, disability, and any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws or regulations in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, events, programs, or activities.

The Saint Louis Chess Club complies with the Internal Revenue Service’s guidelines regarding publication of its non-discrimination policy in its brochures, catalogs, advertisements and otherwise making it known to the general community.

Any violation of this policy should be reported the General Manager, Joy Bray, [email protected] – 314.361.2437, Administrative Director, Tad Middleton, [email protected] -314.361.2437 and/or the HR Manager, Cathy Gallaher, [email protected] – 314.332.5582.

POLICY ON RELATIONSHIPS AND INTERACTIONS WITH MINORS

The integrity of Saint Louis Chess Club’s relationship with minor players is paramount to the Chess Club’s educational mission and success. All individuals employed by or working under the direction or authority of the Saint Louis Chess Club are expected and required to maintain appropriate boundaries and relationships with minors and are strictly prohibited from engaging in sexual misconduct, hazing and harassment.

UPDATED POLICIES COMING SOON

We encourage any victim or other persons with information regarding inappropriate conduct to contact Cathy Gallaher, Saint Louis Chess Club HR Manager at [email protected]. You may also make a report confidentially, and if you wish, anonymously, through our ethics reporting hotline managed by Navex at (833)221-3624.