Cook County Jail Chess Team Places Second in International Chess Tournament

 

COOK COUNTY, IL – Seven individuals in custody at the Cook County Jail competed this morning in an online international chess tournament against individuals in custody in Armenia, Spain and Russia, Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced today, May 11.

The tournament began at 8:30 a.m. with opening remarks from Sheriff Dart, FIDE President, Arkady Dvorkovich, and 12th World Chess Champion Anatoly Karpov. After a six-match, round robin competition, Russia was declared the victor with a total of three match wins. Cook County, representing the United States, came in second place with two match wins.

“Chess is more than an entertaining past time, the game teaches its players valuable life lessons,” said Sheriff Dart. “It requires these men to practice critical thinking and they consider the risks and rewards of their decisions, which are valuable skills they can take with them when they return to their communities.”

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NAYCC Announcement

 

With the relaxing restrictions and Chicago’s goal of reopening by July 4, the organizers of the 2021 North American Youth Chess Championship (NAYCC) are excited to announce they are moving forward with tournament in Chicago from August 16 – 21, 2021. The tournament will take place at the Hilton Chicago, a centrally located luxury hotel in downtown Chicago that overlooks Lake Michigan, Grant Park, and the Museum Campus.

The Renaissance Knights Chess Foundation, the International Chess School, the United States Chess Federation, the Confederation of Chess for America, and the International Chess Federation (FIDE), are pleased to invite players under 18 years old (as of Jan 1, 2021) from the USA, Mexico, Canada, and Bahamas to the 17th Annual North American Youth Championship. Players will participate in the following categories: Under 8 years old, under 10, under 12, under 14, under 16, and under 18; Open and Girls sections.

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Chicago and Ghana Form Online Academic Chess League

 

The Chicago Chess Foundation (CCF) and two partner organizations in Accra, Ghana have launched the Ghana-Chicago Chess Exchange, an online chess league uniting elementary and high school students on two continents for friendly competition and cross-cultural fellowship.

An inaugural cross-Atlantic competition is scheduled for Saturday March 20, hosting 30 Chicago students and 30 students attending various schools in Ghana. The five-round tournament will give students an opportunity for competition over the LiChess platform. More importantly, students will meet and bond in Zoom-facilitated breakout sessions.

The Exchange will continue with monthly tournaments for the rest of the academic year. Sponsors of the Exchange expect the size of the tournaments to grow over the next four months.

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ICA Election Results

 

Congratulations to the Newly Elected Officers!


The ICA recently held its regularly scheduled 2020 election of the Executive Board.

Officers elected, each to a two-year term:

  • President: Stephen Plotnick (23 votes)
  • Downstate Vice-President: Rachel Schechter (24 votes)
  • Metro Vice-President: Eric Ortega (22 votes)
  • Treasurer: Darren Erickson (24 votes)
  • Secretary: Joshua Flores (24 votes)

Patrice Connelly had recently announced that she was stepping down from her position as Secretary. The ICA would like to thank Patrice for her outstanding service for the last three years.

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Chess Vets Prez Mike Lenox Heads West

Written By: Rachel Schechter

Graphics: Megan Chen

 

 

Good Luck, Mike Lenox

 

Texas’ gain is Illinois’ loss.  After serving Illinois Chess for twelve extraordinary years, Chess Vets President Mike Lenox is taking his very class act west – to a small Texas town where he and his lovely wife Lia hope to advance Veterans’ Chess projects in the Lonestar state.  

For the few Illinois folks who don’t know, Chess Vets’ mission is to “improve the opportunities for veterans to learn, play, and enjoy chess”.  How?  Via Chess Education, Tournaments, Community Outreach, Chess Recreational Therapy, and Operation Play Chess.  Mike’s tireless efforts have improved the lives of countless brave men and women who’ve served our country.  In malls, in VA hospitals, at county courthouses—wherever vets want to play chess—Chess Vets is there.  

With OTB chess activities “on hold”, Chess Vets is focusing on their charitable activities.   Through Operation: Play Chess, Mike and his crew have teamed up with the nonprofit Help USA Troops to deliver magnetic checkbook size chess sets and chess rec therapy instructions to actively deployed troops—wherever they’re stationed—as well as veterans.  Chess Vets also fundraises for First Responder Organizations.  Interested?  Check out this multifaceted non-profit organization at www.ilchessvets.org.

 

Can Chess Save Lives?

 

Lenox—a certified TD, coach, player, former ICA board member and chair for our Veterans’ Committee & US Chess’ 2018 Co-Person of the Year—is also a retired US Navy Chief Petty Officer, who served his country for 20 years (1983-2003) during which time he played chess “with a Russian sailor in Thailand…on a Turkish submarine during a rescue shuttle…and in the North Pole on a nuclear sub”.

Interesting adventures?

But can chess save lives?

Yes and Yes.  In 2008, Mike suffered a major stroke which paralyzed his right side and triggered a 24/7 “brain haze”.  “It was chess,” Lenox claims, “the intense mental focus of chess that eventually lifted the haze.”  

After chess restored his life, his mental acuity—Mike realized it could do the same for other veterans struggling with physical and/or psychological challenges. Ergo, Chess Vets was incepted—as was Mike’s book:  Chess Vets, VA Medical Center, Chess Recreational Therapy Manual: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1686070691.

 

Chess Vets Future?

 

After the Lenoxes head west, will Chess Vets continue to provide veterans—and so improve their lives—with such invaluable chess opportunities?  “Yes,” says Mike, “Though I’ll continue to be involved after we move to Texas, Robert Stoltz and Michael Pedroza will handle all day-to-day Chess Vets activities.  Please contact them through our website.  And if you’re interested in contributing—in volunteering, we’re glad to welcome you on board.”  

Why Texas?

The totally-born-in-the-valley boy, traveled-the-seven-seas-navy-vet, and long-time Chicagoan laughs:  

“Well, my wife Lia and I have family out there.  And besides, I’ve always wanted to wear a 10-gallon hat.  They hold a lot of chess pieces—and then some.”

Thank you, Mike Lenox—for your past, present, and future chess efforts.  We, who love the royal game, salute you.