News
Helen Warren Honored at ICA Banquet
- Details
- Created: 09 November 2010 09 November 2010
More than 40 ICA members from near and far gathered Sunday to celebrate Helen Warren, for her decades of contributions to Illinois and United States chess. While Warren is best known among current ICA members because her name is attached to the state program she founded for Illinois’ top junior players, her contributions over the years were much broader and far-reaching.
She served as the longtime editor of what at the time was the highly regarded Illinois Chess Bulletin, and held numerous leadership roles in the United States Chess Federation. Past ICA president Fred Gruenberg, the banquet’s keynote speaker, praised her organization and running of the Midwest Masters tournaments in the 1980s, which brought top chess players from around the country and the world to Chicago. “Those tournaments were run to perfection, as was everything she did,” Gruenberg said.
Chicago Blaze Headed to Playoffs
- Details
- Created: 28 October 2010 28 October 2010
The Cubs and White Sox couldn't make it happen this season, but thanks to the Blaze, Chicago can boast at least one team that's clinched a playoff spot this month. Wednesday night's crucial victory over the Dallas Destiny in the last week of regular season play not only nabbed a postseason spot for Chicago's beloved internet chess squad, but it clinched second place in the Western Division, which means that in next week's matchup with the Miami Sharks, Chicago will have coveted draw odds. In the Dallas matchup, IM Florin Felecan at board 3 and NM Trevor Magness at board 4 both had exciting wins, while at Board 1 GM Dmitry Gurevich held IM Sal Bercys to a draw, to come out ahead 2.5-1.5. Fans are encouraged to come support the team in person at next week's playoff match on Wednesday, Nov. 3, at the Blaze's home, the newly opened North Shore Chess Center, 5500 W. Touhy, Suite A, Skokie, Illinos. Rumor has it there may even be prizes for some lucky fans.
For complete coverage of the match and for all the latest Blaze news, check out the Blaze blog. And see the U.S. Chess League site for news and info about its 16 teams across the country.
See Bill Brock's analysis of the games at the new ICA Chess Blog.
In the Shadow of the Arch: The 2010 US Championship
- Details
- Written by Jim Egerton Jim Egerton
- Created: 27 October 2010 27 October 2010
St. Louis has always been the gateway for those seeking their fame and fortune by going west. Now the city is leading a revival of one of the oldest competitions known to man. For a fortnight in May, twenty-four of the best American CEO’s (Chess-playing Executive Officers) competed against each other to determine a champion. The CEO’s implemented their strategies with astute planning and ruthless tactics. They rallied their employees (pieces), evaluated and undertook projects, attacked the competition, defended their enterprises, engineered fortresses and even invested when necessary with timely sacrifices, all in the pursuit of the championship.
Blaze Win Season Opener
- Details
- Created: 24 August 2010 24 August 2010
The Blaze, Chicago's chess team, won its season opener Monday night against the Seattle Sluggers. This is the team's third season playing in the U.S. Chess League, which has teams in 16 cities across the country, and is the first time it won its opening week match. GM Dmitry Gurevich made his team debut at Board 1, coming up with a clutch win to put the Blaze on top, with 2.5 points to 1.5 points. Go to the Blaze blog to read more about the match. Regular season play will continue for the next 9 weeks at the brand new North American Chess Association North Shore Chess Center, at 5500 W. Touhy, Suite A, Skokie. Spectators are welcome to come watch, or better yet, to participate in a G15 fundraising tournament held in conjunction with every Blaze match. Go the the official Blaze website for more information.
2010 World Amateur Chess Championship
- Details
- Written by Mark Parnaby Mark Parnaby
- Created: 28 April 2010 28 April 2010
Around 120 chess players gathered in the Holiday Inn Skokie for the 2010 World Amateur Chess Championship. As indicated by the name, only amateurs were eligible to participate--players with no FIDE rating (the great majority of the contestants) or a FIDE rating below 2000. A player's national rating also had to be commensurate with his/her amateur status.
Not surprisingly, most of the contestants were from the US, but the event had an international flair nonetheless, with countries from Canada and Colombia to Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia represented, among others. A number of languages could be heard, and some international players handed tiny replicas of their country's flags to their opponents.