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First Moves / news from around the U.S.

AT THE SINQUEFIELD FACES CUP! ACROSS THE BOARD By AL LAWRENCE RUSSELL WILSON CINCINNATI, OHIO No overseas trip required

Wilson sat outside the front door of the Saint Louis Chess Club at one of its street-side stone chess boards. “I wanted to see an elite international tournament for the first time—without having to travel to Europe.” Russell first learned chess on an overnight Tom Nordeman with a group from the Masterman chess team at a surprise birthday party for him held at his assisted living with a grade-school chum. “At the time, it was not facility in . (Top, l-r): Yuva Gambhir, 8th grade; Torin Kuehnle, 8th grade. Bottom: standing in the back row from a lot different from learning Parcheesi or any other left to right are Zach Kingsley, 8th grade; Nalin Khanna, 9th grade; Manas Narula, 8th grade; Torin Srisa Changolkar, 10th game.” But Wilson got master-serious when Bobby grade; Angel Hernandez-Came, 10th; and Beckett Sanderson, 8th grade. Seated next to Nordeman is Yuva Gambhir. Standing in front is Adam Serota (not a Masterman student). Fischer struck a national nerve. Now an attorney in Cincinnati, he helps organize the annual Queen City Classic (QCC) as part of the Cris Collinsworth ProScan Fund. The K-12 tournament, held at Paul Brown Stadium, attracts 700 school kids from eight states with the mission of empowering children by fostering self-esteem, sportsmanship, and critical thinking. GM Maurice Ashley, one of the commentators doing the live broadcast from the Sinquefield Cup, has dazzled the kids at the massive QCC simul. “So have GMs Gregory Kaidanov and U.S. Women’s Champ .

KAREN BOYD & ARCHER WATSON ROSWELL, GEORGIA Mother and son team Archer learned chess when he was just three. Mom Karen followed up by arranging for Life Master David Vest to tutor Archer and seven other homeschooled students. At his first rated event, the kindergarten JULIA R. MASTERMAN SCHOOL section of the 2014 National K-12 Championship in Orlando, Florida, Archer turned in the best performance of any unrated player, tying for fourth The Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School was established in September place. Now six, he easily makes the US Chess top- 1958 as an academic magnet school for elementary school students in grades 4, 5 and 6. A 100 under-seven list. Mom followed son by diving junior high school program was initiated in 1959, and a senior high school was added in into the ratings pool in March. She’s already chalked 1976. In 1990 Masterman was re-organized as a middle school (grades 5-8) and a high up a dozen tournaments, including two side events school (grades 9-12). Masterman is ranked highly in the school district of Philadelphia, and with Archer at the Sinquefield Cup. Earlier in August, is considered one of the best college-preparatory public schools in the tri-county area. The Archer attended the Club’s one-week summer camp. school has twice been named a national blue ribbon school of excellence. U.S. News & World “We were coming into St. Louis for an Epsilon camp Report ranked it as the top public school in in 2014, and as the 52nd in the at Washington University for Archer’s older brother nation. It is the alma mater of two-time U.S. Women’s Champion Jennifer Shahade and Holden, who excels in math,” Karen said. “So we her brother IM Greg Shahade, who currently coaches the chess team that has won many took advantage of the time here to enroll Archer at national championships. Stephen Shutt continues to coach the team as he has since 1998. the Club. Except for the double-blitz tournament, See more at mastermanschool.org. he won every event!” PHOTO CREDIT: COURTESY OF STEPHEN SHUTT

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