Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis

In case you missed these items earlier, here are a few videos giving you a peak inside the beautiful chess club in St. Louis, site of the 2009 U.S. Chess Championships:

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Club website: http://www.saintlouischessclub.org/

Jennifer Comes to St. Louis!

The wind chill in St. Louis has been below zero in recent days, but the city warmed up Thursday evening with the appearance of Chess Life Online editor WGM Jennifer Shahade. She was in town working on arrangements for the upcoming U.S. Championship, to be held at the sparkling Chess and Scholastic Center of St. Louis, and was kind enough to hold three clock simuls for the local chess crowd.

Out of the 15 games she played against both children and adults, she won 11, drew 2, and lost 2. "The kids were tougher!" she said. Joel Berez, president of the Internet Chess Club, was on hand and provided free World Chess Live memberships to all who were able to draw or defeat Jennifer.

Ten-year-old Michael Yin was one of the talented youngsters to draw Jennifer and is looking forward to his free WCL membership!

A pensive Jennifer
The clock is winding down on Jennifer's young opponent!
Club founder Rex Sinquefield, one of Jennifer's students

ICC President Joel Berez watches in the background

Thumbs down if you lost, thumbs up if you won. Notice there aren't too many thumbs up outside of Jennifer.

New Details Regarding 2009 U.S. Championship

The United States Chess Federation has released additional details about the upcoming 2009 U.S. Championship. Here is the press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

NATION'S BEST PLAYERS TO COMPETE IN MAY
AT 2009 U.S. CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP IN ST. LOUIS

Two dozen contestants will vie for $130,000 in prizes at new venue

ST. LOUIS, January 27, 2009 -- Two dozen of the nation's best chess players will be invited to participate in the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship, which will be held at the new Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. The tournament, which dates back to 1845, will take place from May 7 through 17, 2009 and will offer a purse of more than $130,000 in prize money.

The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, which Steve Goldberg of United States Chess Federation (USCF) Online calls "certainly one of the most impressive chess centers" in the country, opened in July 2008. Founded by retired investment fund manager Rex Sinquefield, it already has nearly 500 members, surpassing its original goal of 300 for its first year of operation by 67 percent.

The 24 invited players will include:


the top 12 American players by rating, using the April rating supplement;
the top two female players by rating, using the April rating supplement;
the 2008 U.S. Junior Closed Champion;
the 2008 U.S. Open Champion;
the 2009 U.S. State Champion of Champions;
a total of seven wild card spots, to be determined later.

The winner will receive $35,000, with additional cash prizes awarded to all participants, including $2,000 to the last-place entrant. Cash prizes will be divided equally among tied competitors. Additionally, top youths from throughout America will be invited to compete. Spectators will be welcome at the event.

The championship will be a 9-round event, using the Swiss system with one round per day and a rest day between rounds 5 and 6. Time controls will be the classical 40 moves in two hours, with one hour allowed for all remaining moves. Guest commentary will be provided by two world-class Grand Masters throughout the event.

"We are delighted to host the prestigious U.S. Chess Championship in our first full year of operation," said Tony Rich, executive director of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. "It is exciting and gratifying for us to bring together the nation's best players at our first-class facility."

More Good News for St. Louis Chess Club

On the heels of the announcements that both the U.S. Championship and the U.S. Women's Championship for 2009 are coming to St. Louis, the St. Louis Chess Club reports that Chess Life Online editor and Women's Grandmaster Jennifer Shahade is visiting St. Louis soon. Here's the notice from the club:

WGM Jennifer Shahade, two-time U.S. Women’s champion, will be visiting the club on Thursday, February 5th! We expect Jennifer to start playing skittles around 8pm, but you are welcome to hang out and play eachother beforehand. If there is enough interest that night, we may even start a blitz tournament around 6:30. The cost? Well, it’s FREE for members!

Jennifer’s style and opening repertoire are aggressive. She excels in open and attacking positions, and now is your chance to see how you stack up. So, come one, come all.

St. Louis Chess Club: 4-Minute Video

Here's a nice four-minute video about the new St. Louis Chess Club, which has been selected to host the 2009 U.S. Championship as well as the 2009 U.S. Women's Championship:



The video doesn't discuss these major events - it simply discusses the purpose of the club and illustrates the beauty of the club itself.

2009 U.S. Championship Coming To St. Louis !!!

Details are still being worked out, but it appears that the beautiful new Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis will be hosting the 2009 U.S. Championship. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

In the meantime, here is my photo montage of the ribbon cutting ceremony last month:

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Yet Another Musical Photo Montage!

After another Grand Opening of the St. Louis Chess Club and Scholastic Center, I've produced a new photo montage. This is getting addictive!

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Ribbon Cutting at St. Louis Chess Club

The St. Louis Chess Club and Scholatic Center held its second grand opening within the last week, this evening! This was a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by founder Rex Sinquefield, his wife Jeanne, the local alderwoman Lyda Krewson, liason from the mayor's office Robbyn Wahby, and USCF Executive Director Bill Hall, who came in from Tennessee for the event. In addition, the club's officers and staff were in attendance, along with dozens of other interested guests. Here are a few more photos:


USCF Executive Director Bill Hall

"St. Louis Chess Club Opens" at Chess Life Online

For more information about the beautiful new St. Louis Chess Club and Scholastic Center, see my article at Chess Life Online. It looks like the club has people drooling!

St. Louis Chess Club Montage

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Club website: http://www.saintlouischessclub.org/

More Photos from the new St. Louis Chess Club and Scholastic Center

The man behind it all, Rex Sinquefield


Jim Voelker
Bill Wright (left) and Frank Van Bree (right)

Magnificent St. Louis Chess Club Open for Business

The new $1,000,000 St. Louis Chess Club held a "pre-opening" gala event for the media and local chess afficionados Wednesday evening; the official opening is Thursday, July 17.

Folks, all I can say is "Wow!!"

When I catch my breath, I'll fill you in on more details. If there is a nicer chess club in America, I'd like to see it. In the meantime, here are a few photos.