Final Day of All-Girls Nationals (Reminder: Kasparov book signing today at 3 p.m.)

Mayor Emanuel meets U of C freshman Darrian Robinson (Photo Betsy Dynako for Chess Life Online)

 

Coverage at Chess Life Online.  The event is at the Swissôtel Chicago, 323 E. Wacker.  Former World Champion Garry Kasparov will be signing copies of his books from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Kasparov to appear at All-Girls Nationals

Story at Chess Life Online.  Kasparov's last Chicago appearance was at the same event in 2006.

"CCSCSL Partners with KCF on Elite Training Program"

Press release cut and pasted. Congratulations to the recipients, especially Midwesterners Awonder Liang and Kevin Cao!

SAINT LOUIS, June 18, 2012 The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis (CCSCSL) is partnering with the Kasparov Chess Foundation (KCF) on a five-year grant program to help develop several American chess prodigies from across the United States. The program, called Young Stars – Team USA, will begin with a kick-off training program in Saint Louis at the CCSCSL from June 18-20. Program participants range in age from nine to 15 years old.


The program’s players include:


• Awonder Liang, age 9, from Madison, WI – Won a gold medal in the under-8 section of the 2011 World Youth Chess Championship in Brazil.
• Ruifeng Li, age 9, from Plano, TX – Won the 2011 Arkasas State Championships and a silver medal in the under-10 section of the 2011 World Youth Championships.
• Jeffrey Xiong, age 11, from Coppell, TX – Recently, Xiong received a four-year scholarship to the University of Texas at Dallas.
• Sam Sevian, age 11, from Santa Clara, CA – Is currently the youngest-ever American chess master.
• Kevin Cao, age 15, from Saint Louis – Named to the 2010 All-American Team at the age of 12, participated in the Kings vs. Queens tournament in Saint Louis
• Kayden Troff, age 14, from West Jordan, UT – Troff participated in the Junior Championships at the CCSCSL in 2011.
• Sarah Chiang, age 15, from Southlake, TX – Tied for third place at the World Youth Championship in the girls U-14 division in 2011


“This inaugural group features some of the top young chess players in the country,” said CCSCSL Executive Director Tony Rich. “By fostering their talent now, we’re hoping to position the United States as a future chess super power.”


World Chess Champion and KCF Chairman Garry Kasparov personally coach the young players in the training program, which will be held at the CCSCSL every summer and in New York City each winter. The CCSCSL and KCF have established a five-year educational program for extraordinarily talented children to maximize their potential to achieve the highest level in chess and become members of the U.S. Olympiad Teams. The grant also provides individual coaching for each participant.


“The joint effort of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis and the KCF provides these promising players a tremendous advantage,” said Michael Khodarkovsky, president of the KCF. “Their time spent in these training sessions will help prepare them for the demands of a career in chess – and hopefully the demands of winning championship tournaments as well.”

"At Chicago chess tournament, girls rule the board"

Caeley Harihara of Rogers Park is a freshman at Payton 

Photo: Phil Velasquez, Chicago Tribune

Nice coverage in this weekend's Trib.

Local highlights:

Caeley Harihara (photo above) was playing on the top board in final round of the 16 & Under Section.  She lost to 16U winner Lilia Poteat of New York, and finished tied for third with 4-2.

Anjali Toly tied for second in the 12 & Under section, finished 5-1, and gained a bucket of ELO.

Miranda Liu (post-event rating 1675!) scored 5-1 in the 10 & Under Section, finishing tied for third in a 59-player field.

Shreya Managalm (already 1397!) "only" scored 4½-1½ in the 8 & Under Section: Shreya won her first four games, drew the second-place finisher in round 5, and lost to Maggie Ni of Texas in round 6.

Crosstables here.  The KCF All-Girls National Championship (organized by the Kasparov Chess Foundation and Renaissance Knights) drew 230 players in six sections.  And the event will return to Chicago next year!

All Girls National Championship at the Swissotel

The event (organized by the Kasparov Chess Foundation, the USCF, and Renaissance Knights) begins tomorrow at 6 p.m and continues through the weekend.  You still have time to save $5 by registering today. It's open to all girls who are 18 or younger as of April 1, 2012.

 The Swissotel (at 323 E. Wacker) is a VERY COOL location for a national chess event!

Greater Chicago Primary & Junior High Championships

This Saturday at the Hilton Northbrook.  Details on ICA website.

IS 318 in Chicago

Girls from Elizabeth Vicary's famous IS 318 team in Brooklyn came to Chicago to participate in the All Girls, and (not surprisingly) did rather well.  Read all about it!

Vicary analyzing with her student Mariah

Moya-Cogshell, Chicago 2011

White to play and win

Analyze forcing moves first!

Final results of All Girls National

...are on the Renaissance Knights website.

Congratulations to Penny Xu, who took 2nd place in Girls' Under 18, and to Adele Padgett, who tied for first (taking 2nd on the fourth tiebreak!) in Girls' Under 16.  Story to follow on Chess Life Online.

After three rounds of All Girls National Championships

Standings are on Renaissance Knights' website; play concludes tomorrow!

223 preregistered for All Girls National Championship!

Here's the current registration list for this USCF National Event, here in Chicago this weekend!

There's still time to enter: fortunately for the out-of-towners, the All Girls is at the Doubletree Mag Mile (and not some godforsaken suburban location, far away from tourist attractions and public transportation).

Greater Chicago K-12 Championships

Jeff Caveney reports!

180 in Greater Chicago Scholastic Championships!

Not bad for the weekend after a blizzard!

The final standings, day one photos, and day two photos are on the Renaissance Knights website.

The event was presented by the Kasparov Chess Foundation and Renaissance Knights.

Escape from Snowmaggedon, part 1 - Greater Chicago Scholastic Championships in Wheeling

Four one-day scholastic events in Wheeling this weekend presented by the Kasparov Chess Foundation and Renaissance Knights. 

Details on the Illinois Chess Association website!

Greater Chicago Scholastic Championships, Feb. 5-6, 2011

,Sponsored by the Kasparov Chess Foundation and Renaissance Knights.  Details on the ICA Tournament Calendar!

Enter the Dragon

 After 10...Rc8: a mainline of the Yugoslav Attack against the Sicilian Dragon

Jeff Caveney annotates Arjun Nandy's win against Rohan Mhaskar (Yugoslav Attack, Sicilian Dragon) from February's Greater Chicago Scholastic Championships.

And Jeff shares a nice story about another game....

Over 150 at Greater Chicago Scholastic Chess Championships

Jeff Caveney reports at Chess Life Online!

Greater Chicago Scholastic Championships this weekend!

It's the Greater Chicago Scholastic Championships (co-organized by Renaissance Knights and the Kasparov Chess Foundation) in Northbrook this weekend, February 27th and 28th!

Renaissance Knights hosts 50th Knights Quest

Again, look for the coverage on Chess Life Online!

And plan for the Greater Chicago Scholastic Championships (co-organized by Renaissance Knights and the Kasparov Chess Foundation) on March  February 27th and 28th