Beginners' Chess Lecture Video by GM Yasser Seirawan at St Louis Chess Club
Video Chess Class at Saint Louis Chess Club: Yasser Seirawan Lecture on facing 1.c4
Sinquefield Chess Cup: Jennifer Shahade on Reaching St Louis for power-packed Commentary
Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013
Hi everyone,
Guess where's former American Women's Chess Champion, writer, commentator and poker player Jennifer Shahade? She's in Saint Louis where America's most high-powered chess event yet is set to take place from today! She is at the Sinquefield Chess Cup waiting for the games to start and her commentary. Here is her update from Chess Life Online of which she is the editor:
"I just arrived in Saint Louis for one of the most exciting events in US chess history, the Sinquefield Cup. The fun here kicked off Saturday with a drawing of the lots, where each player picked a custom designed DGT enabled House of Staunton set to determine pairings. In round one, Hikaru Nakamura (white) plays Levon Aronian while Magnus Carlsen (white) faces Gata Kamsky.On Sunday, the players hosted a Meet and Greet for photos and autographs at the Chess Club, which was naturally packed. Afterwards, all four players went to the Rams game.
It was Magnus Carlsen's first American football game, so GM Maurice Ashley kindly explained the rules to him and concluded, "He catches on quick." No doubt! At the end of the exciting game, the Saint Louis Rams edged out the Arizona Cardinals 27-24. Aronian and Carlsen were both high-fiving and cheering, clearly getting into the Saint Louis spirit. As an organizer and commentator, I predict that game is a premonition of how thrilling the tournament will be!
Be sure to tune into my commentary at http://uschesschamps.com/live with GMs Maurice Ashley and Yasser Seirawan--between Maurice's energy and "Yaz's" eloquence, you're in for a treat! The coverage begins Monday at 1 local time/2 EST.
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Labels: gata kamsky, Hikaru nakamura, Jennifer Shahade, levon aronian, Magnus Carlsen, maurice ashley, sinquefield chess cup, yasser seirawan
Nation's Chess Capital: U.S. House, Senate Recognize Saint Louis as 'the city'
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013
Hi everyone,
(L-R) Irina Krush, Sarah Chiang, Jennifer Shahade, Yasser Seirawan, Sam Sevian and Kayden Troff attend a special event held at United States Capitol Building on April 18, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis)
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 18, 2013 – Representatives William “Lacy” Clay (D-MO) and Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO) and Senators Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) introduced resolutions in the U.S. House and Senate today recognizing Saint Louis as the Nation’s Chess Capital. The resolutions also recognized the success of chess after-school programs and the benefit for students, including fostering problem-solving skills, and improving math and reading test scores.
(L-R) Jonathon Cosby, Dannielle Henderson, Rep. William "Lacy" Clay (D-MO), Donnie Henderson and Cynthia Gill attend a special event held at United States Capitol Building on April 18, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis)
“Saint Louis is definitely America’s Chess Capitol. I’m very proud to have the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis in my congressional district,” said Representative William “Lacy” Clay (D-MO). “I thank my Missouri congressional colleagues for joining me in introducing this bipartisan resolution.”
“Chess provides our young people with the kind of reasoning skills they need in an ever-complicated world, and I am proud to have the opportunity in Congress to support Saint Louis’ designation as our nation’s chess capital,” said Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO). “This resolution is also an opportunity to recognize the region’s ongoing commitment to the development of our young people’s minds and spirits.”
“Excellence in this game requires the combination of creativity and intellect—skills our Saint Louis students are most certainly known for,” said Senator Claire McCaskill. “Making Saint Louis the nation’s chess capital would rightly highlight our state’s commitment to strong education, and our nation’s brightest young minds.”
“Chess is a way to promote problem solving, critical thinking, and self-esteem, which are important to the development and education of our nation’s young minds,” Representative Blunt said. “I’m proud to recognize Saint Louis as the ‘National Chess Capital’ and to applaud the success of our local chess scholars. I’ll continue to support chess programs in our schools and community centers in Missouri and nationwide.”
The introduction of the bipartisan, bicameral resolutions were announced during a morning reception on Capitol Hill where GM Yasser Seirawan, IM Irina Krush, WGM Jennifer Shahade, IM Kayden Troff, IM-elect Sam Sevian and WFM Sarah Chiang gave chess lessons to Members of Congress and their staff.
Women's FIDE Master Sarah Chiang (L) shares chess tips with Rep. Anne Wagner during a special event held at United States Capitol Building on April 18, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis)
“We appreciate the leadership of Representatives Clay and Luetkemeyer and Senators McCaskill and Blunt recognizing Saint Louis as the nation’s chess capital,” said Tony Rich, executive director of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. “Their commitment to expanding the successful chess after-school programs is a tremendous example of how our nation can come together on a bipartisan basis to help our students.”
Woman Grandmaster Jennifer Shahade (R) shares chess tips with Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA) during a special event held at United States Capitol Building on April 18, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis)
International Master Kayden Troff (R) and Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT) attend a special event held at United States Capitol Building on April 18, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis)
Also in attendance were students who have benefited from chess after-school programs led by the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. These students played chess with Members of Congress and shared their personal stories of the educational benefits of chess. Saint Louis, Mo., will host the 2013 U.S. and Women’s Chess Championships May 2-13, 2013 at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, the fifth consecutive year the nation’s top players have come to Missouri to compete in the national championship. - Report by Mile Wilmering for US Chess Federation.
Labels: chess club and scholastic center, jen shahade, kayden troff, sam sevian, senate, St Louis, us chess city, us house, yasser seirawan
Beginners' Chess 48-Minute Video Lecture with GM Yasser Seirawan
St Louis Chess Club Gets New Acting Resident GM - Yasser Seirawan
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Grandmaster Yasser Seirawan will arrive in Saint Louis on September 3 to serve as the acting Resident Grandmaster of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. Seirawan, a four-time U.S. Champion and former World Championship contender, came out of retirement in 2011 to play in the U.S. Championship, which was held in Saint Louis. He cited the exciting developments of the Saint Louis chess scene as a contributing factor for his renewed interest in competitive chess and the U.S. Championship.
“First, it is a great event, and I wanted to thank the good folks at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis for all their wonderful work,” he said. “Secondly, I got bored watching the young lions at play and felt the urge to join them.”
Seirawan followed the 2011 U.S. Championship with a stunning performance at the 2011 World Team Championship, where he finished with a 2773 performance rating, which was almost 140 points higher than his rating at the time. This move will allow him to have a direct impact on the rapidly growing chess movement in Saint Louis.
On 16th August Grandmaster Ben Finegold has resigned his position as the Resident Grandmaster at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. (For more information on the CCSCSL, visit www.saintlouischessclub.org.)
From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
Labels: st louis chess club, yasser seirawan
Summer Chess Prize Draw - Listen to Full English Breakfast Radio Show
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Have you been listening to the super chess radio show Full English Breakfast? They have just released their latest episode which is also giving you the last chance to buy the fantastic Chess King training software with $49 discount coupon BREAKFAST and support the show! Once you do, e-mail ChessKing@TheFEB.com to enter their summer prize drawing.
The latest episode #23 is well depicted by the graphic. The chess radio show segments include Magnus and McShane, 60 Tomashevsky Seconds, Fix Yasser Seirawan's Wiki and more. The graphic includes [clockwise from left]: Anatoly Karpov, Magnus Carlsen, Luke McShane, Yasser Seirawan, Evgeny Tomashevsky. (Credit: SaintLouisChessClub.org, and Macauley Peterson)
You can hear The Full English Breakfast in the flash player below or visit their website here.
Labels: Anatoly Karpov, Chess King, chess radio show, evgeny tomashevsky, luke mcshane, Magnus Carlsen, the full english breakfast, yasser seirawan
Karpov-Seirawan Chess Exhibition: Karpov Pulls Off Win in Blitz Section
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012Hi everyone,Former World Champion Anatoly Karpov defeated four-time U.S. Champion Yasser Seirawan in a match held from June 10-13 at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. In the first three days of play, two classical and two rapid games were drawn, increasing the tension as the players headed into a 10-game blitz match held on June 13.  Karpov-Seirawan Karpov drew first blood in game one when he prevailed in a razor-sharp pawn endgame. But the match was far from over, as the two traded victories. Seirawan won a particularly nice game in round five, highlighting the weakness of Karpov’s second rank.But after a half-time break, Karpov came back sharp and hungry, and he won three games in a row to clinch the match victory and $10,000 first prize.The final score of the blitz match was 6-4 in Karpov’s favor while the overall match score (one point for each of the four draws in the classical and rapid) was 10-8.At the post-game press conference both players spoke highly of the overall quality of the blitz match and the playing conditions. The tournament concluded with a cocktail party and tandem chess exhibition at the World Chess Hall of Fame. Karpov was inducted into the World Chess Hall of Fame in 2004, while Seirawan was inducted into the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame in 2006.The blitz games with commentary by GM Ben Finegold and WGM Jennifer Shahade. From Alexandra Kosteniuk'swww.chessblog.comAlso see her personal blog atwww.chessqueen.com Labels: Anatoly Karpov, Ben Finegold, Jennifer Shahade, saint louis chess club, World chess hall of fame, yasser seirawan
Legends' Chess Rapid - Time Squeezed Karpov Accepts Seirawan Draw
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Grandmasters Anatoly Karpov and Yasser Seirawan moved to their rapid matches after drawing the classical section. In the first game, Karpov achieved a dominant position in the same line of the Slav that they played in round one of the classical match. In the post-game commentary, Karpov and Seirawan agreed that Yasser's main hope was Karpov's time deficit. In the end, Karpov accepted Yasser's draw offer in a better position due to his rapidly dwindling clock. He also pointed out that even though black was worse in the final position, he had no active plans, so Seirawan's position was easier to play quickly.
Chess is Fun: Anatoly Karpov and Yasser Seirawan
In the second game, Karpov chose the Lasker Defense of the Queen's Gambit Declined. This surprised Yasser, and he did not get much with the white pieces. The game was drawn after 34 moves.
A 10-game blitz showdown will determine the winner of this tight match. Tune in to livestream.com/uschess starting at 1 p.m. local/2 EST for live commentary by GM Ben Finegold and WGM Jennifer Shahade.
The players are also scheduled to host an extended live press conference via Livestream at 4:30 p.m. local time today, and chess journalists, bloggers and fans worldwide are encouraged to visit the Chess Club's Livestream channel and log in using Facebook or Livestream to submit questions. Questions can also be submitted using the hashtag USChess (#USChess) on Twitter.
The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that is committed to making chess an important part of our community. In addition to providing a forum for the community to play tournaments and casual games, the club also offers chess improvement classes, beginner lessons and special lectures.
Recognizing the cognitive and behavioral benefits of chess, the Chess Club and Scholastic Center is committed to supporting those chess programs that already exist in area schools while encouraging the development of new in-school and after-school programs. For more information, visit www.saintlouischessclub.org.
From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
Also see her personal blog at
Labels: Anatoly Karpov, Ben Finegold, Jennifer Shahade, saint louis chess club, yasser seirawan
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