Posted in Media Stories, North America, USA on Feb 3rd, 2012 No Comments »
After five years of success at Texas Tech, Grandmaster Susan Polgar is taking her chess institute called “SPICE” to Webster University in St. Louis. The program was built into a chess powerhouse with eight Grandmasters and two International Masters hailing from a variety of countries. The ten players will transfer to Webster University and continue [...]
Posted in England, Europe, Tournaments, USA on Jan 12th, 2012 6 Comments »
WFM Sabrina Chevannes of Birmingham, England penned an article for ChessBase about her American chess experience. Late last year, Sabrina told me she was coming to the U.S. for a visit. I had been covering her chess activities since she was around 13. Unfortunately, she would be too far away for an overdue face-to-face meeting, [...]
Posted in Media Stories, USA on Jan 8th, 2012 1 Comment »
The chess scene at 16th Street Mall in Denver. Photo by Wally Gobetz. This story has been told many times from coast-to-coast. New stories covering chess playgrounds in major cities have occurred for decades… even in controversy. Recently another story about the adage, “chess is life” reports a story in Denver, Colorado where the homeless [...]
Posted in Media Stories, USA on Nov 28th, 2011 3 Comments »
Back in December 2001, I drove eight hours from Tallahassee, Florida to the grand opening of the Chess Hall of Fame in Miami. It was a wonderful day of activities and the castle-themed building adorned with a rook tower was a perfect backdrop. It was a wonderful day. This is how I described it: “Conceived [...]
Posted in FIDE, Media Stories, Netherlands, Opinion/Editorials, Tournaments, USA on Aug 23rd, 2011 3 Comments »
GM Hikaru Nakamura, 2770 ELO on FIDE list. Photo by Daaim Shabazz. The pairings of the first round of the FIDE World Cup were released in July and after a couple of changes will commence on August 26th in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. Russia will bring a delegation of 26 players. China will bring nine players; the [...]
Posted in Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, Egypt, Hungary, India, Israel, Russia, Tournaments, Ukraine, USA on Jul 23rd, 2011 No Comments »
Armenia has garnered great success in the past several years in team play and hope to continue the trend today as the 2011 World Team tournament goes into its final four rounds. The Olympiad champions from 2006 and 2008, Armenia has always had tremendous team chemistry which helps when trust is needed in crucial moments. [...]
Posted in Armenia, Asia, Azerbaijan, China, Egypt, Hungary, India, Israel, Russia, Tournaments, Ukraine, USA on Jul 15th, 2011 51 Comments »
The bienniel World Team Championships will commence with round one on Sunday, July 17th. The ten teams are comprised of host China, Russia (defending champion), Ukraine, Israel Hungary (2010 Olympiad finishers), Azerbaijan, Egypt, India, USA (the continental champions) and Armenia (nomination from FIDE President). The field will prove to be very challenging and represent some [...]
Posted in Tournaments, USA, World Open on Jul 6th, 2011 No Comments »
Lerrenzo Davis may be the only player in recent times to win two different sections in consecutive years at the World Open. Last year, Davis scored 8/9 in the under-1600 (beating out Khalee Ward) and this year he repeated the same 8/9 in the under-1800 to take home hefty $13,881. What is interesting is that [...]
Posted in Tournaments, USA, World Open on Jul 6th, 2011 No Comments »
Gata Kamsky has been on a roll lately and continuing his onslaught by winning the 2011 World Open in Philadelphia. The two-time US Champion has had a nice run including defending his U.S. title, and a strong showing in the recent Candidates tournament defeating former World Championship contender and world #1, Veselin Topalov. He lost [...]
Posted in Tournaments, USA, World Open on Jul 3rd, 2011 No Comments »
Despite a disappointing turnout in this year’s World Open , excitement has not abated in the annual festival. Michael Adams has attended this tournament the past couple of years and seems to have found a hospitable climate. Currently Adams shares the lead with Loek van Wely of the Netherlands. After beating Jaan Ehlvest and Gata [...]
Posted in Tournaments, USA, World Open on Jul 1st, 2011 15 Comments »
America’s premier chess tournament has begun! More than 1,000 participants will gather at the Sheraton Center City for the 39th Annual World Open. US Champion Gata Kamsky is in the field along with GM Michael Adams and a host of other strong players and young talent. US Champion Gata Kamsky facing FM Kassa Korley England’s [...]
Posted in Chicago Open, Tournaments, USA, World Open on May 23rd, 2011 No Comments »
Summertime is certainly a busy time for U.S. chess. Next week will kick off a run of major summer tournaments. 20th Chicago Open May 26-30, 27-30, 28-30 or 29-30 National Open June 10-12 or June 11-12 4th New York International June 17-21 8th Philadelphia International June 24-28 39th World Open June 28-July 4, June 30-July [...]
Posted in U.S. Championship, USA on Apr 16th, 2011 15 Comments »
The U.S. Chess Championships have begun and a strong field is in St. Louis vying for the titles. There are two groups in the open section with eight players each. Defending Champion, GM Gata Kamsky Photo by CCSCSL. While Hikaru Nakamura will not participate in this year’s tournament, a new addition to the field will [...]
Posted in Europe, Netherlands, Tournaments, USA on Jan 30th, 2011 7 Comments »
GM Hikaru NakamuraPhoto by Chessvibes.com. In his biggest win of his career, Hikaru Nakamura won the 2011 Tata Steel Chess Tournament held in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands. This tournament featured the top four highest-rated players in the world including World Champion Viswanathan Anand and the world’s highest rated player in Magnus Carlsen. Seeded in the [...]
Posted in Scholastic, USA on Sep 24th, 2010 27 Comments »
U.S. National Master Justus Williams After making strides in the past year to make National Master, Justus Williams has accomplished this feat smashing the age record for African-American master for almost three years! The 12-year old Bronx native has had a spectacular year winning the National K6 Championship and traveling to Brazil and Canada to [...]
Posted in Tournaments, USA on Sep 7th, 2010 4 Comments »
GM Julio Becerra The Florida State Championship was held at the picturesque Rosen Shingles Creek in Orlando, Florida. Players from the length and breadth of the state came to compete in the tournament traditionally held during Labor Day weekend. The beautiful hotel complex sit adjacent to a golf course and includes a nature trail. The [...]
Posted in Canada, North America, Scholastic on Aug 21st, 2010 17 Comments »
Michael Song getting set to play Joshua Colas. Justus Williams on top board against William Graif. Photo by Guy Colas. Justus Williams and Joshua Colas recently returned from their first international trips to Brazil and Trinidad, respectively. Both had credible results and were intent on using the experience as preparation for the World Youth Championships [...]
Posted in Drum Majors, USA on Feb 19th, 2010 1 Comment »
Theophilus Thompson Theophilus Thompson is recognized by most as the first Black player of note in the U.S. Born in 1855 in Frederick, Maryland, Thompson took to chess after seeing two gentlemen playing. He learned the moves from observing and was soon kibitzing in the games. It was interesting to note this interaction was possible [...]
Posted in Opinion/Editorials, USA on Feb 19th, 2010 14 Comments »
Baraka Shabazz’s demure pose is a testament to her confidence and poise. This photo was featured in Chicago Metro News, December 4, 1982 as part of Tony Brown Journal segment. Baraka Shabazz (pronounced ba-roka sha-boz) is a famous name is Black chess lore and a name that exudes power. Her arrival on the scene was [...]
Posted in Scholastic, USA on Feb 17th, 2010 39 Comments »
Shaun Smith, Chess-in-Schools (CIS) has organized a training match between two of the brightest stars in the U.S. chess scene. Both Justus Williams (2141) and Josh Colas (2114) are well-known here at The Chess Drum, but the world will see both talents on display at the Internet Chess Club on February 17th and 18th. Below [...]
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