APRIL 12, 2018 – FEBRUARY 24, 2019 IN5 International Saint Louis Campus

NICK DUNAEVSKY, OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER OF WORLD CHESS Fabi Wins! For the first time since 1972, an American contends for the undisputed

BY MAURICE ASHLEY won an epic match against two hours I could just forget 2016 at the last Candidates ago he asked for more and gold medal victory for an , author, and the Russian Boris Spassky in about chess, which is what I match held in , he more control of his career, American team in 76 years. commentator Reykjavik, Iceland. needed. The Shape of Water, was dealt a crushing blow in and now he is the boss. He Now he will represent the Caruana, 25, who was which was excellent.” the final round, killing all his has been on a long journey U.S. as he fights for the title American chess fans eve- born in Miami, raised in Park Caruana, who became a hopes of winning the event. and it has paid off.” of the best chess player on rywhere are cheering in the Slope, , and cur- Grandmaster just shy of his Two years later, he now sits The family decided to the planet. streets as their countryman rently resides in Saint Louis, 15th birthday, rose to promi- atop all his rivals for a shot at relocate to Europe when “We always knew we overcame Missouri, had to recover from nence when he won the the title. young Fabiano was twelve would come back,” said the game’s elite Grandmasters a potentially devastating loss prestigious “I know he deserves it,” so that he could play on the Santina, “to win it for the to win the recently concluded in round 12 of the marathon in 2014 with a performance said his mother, Santina more competitive European U.S. It’s just right to do it in 14-round event that took that is hailed as one of the Caruana. “It was too stress- circuit. He competed under back home.” Berlin, Germany. In doing 18 days to complete. After a greatest individual results ful for me to follow the his mother’s Italian flag so he qualified to play World rest day to collect his nerves, in the history of the sport. event, so I just didn't watch. until 2015, when he decided Champion the new challenger bounced His perfect 7-0 start, which I only found out yesterday to switch back to playing for his title in November back with two dominating included a victory against that he was leading and for for his home country. He 2018. It is the first time an victories to seal his place in the World Champion, cata- some reason we thought he became U.S. Champion in American will compete for history. pulted him into the limelight had won. We had to suffer 2016 and played 1st board the crown in over two dec- Asked how he got over with chess pundits predict- one more day, but he did it. for the U.S. team that ades with the last victory for the difficult loss, Caruana ing that he was clearly the My heart is pounding.” won the Originally published the United States coming in replied, “we watched a movie rightful next challenger “He runs the show,” added later that year in , on St. Louis Public Radio, 1972 when which was nice, because for to the throne. However, in his father, Lou. “A long while . This was the first March 2018 IN6 THE SINQUEFIELD EFFECT INTERNATIONAL APRIL 12, 2018 – FEBRUARY 24, 2019 THE SINQUEFIELD EFFECT INTERNATIONAL APRIL 12, 2018 – FEBRUARY 24, 2019 IN7

Universal Rating System™ Opens Doors for Global Chess

BY GRAHAM JURGENSEN The launch of the URS™ system new ratings are always self-consist- Technical Director, represents a quantum leap in the ent and do not depend on any prior Grand Chess Tour way that chess ratings are calculated rating list. and is a completely new approach The first URS™ rating list was January 2, 2017 may well prove compared to the historical systems published on January 1, and was to be a landmark day in chess that have been in use since the late accompanied by the launch of an BY GRAHAM JURGENSEN top players can share their experi- history as it marked the launch 1960s. It introduces the concept of official website, which explains the Technical Director, ence and inspire the children to date of the new Universal Rating a universal chess rating which is new methodology in detail. Grand Chess Tour play and study chess. System (URS™). This exciting new calculated by considering a players The rating algorithm was The GCT prize pool has grown system is expected to make it much results across all time controls. designed and developed by a When the first edition of the over the years and the participants easier for chess players across the The system recognizes that there research team which consisted of Sinquefield Cup was held in now compete annually for a prize world to achieve an international is useful information about a play- Maxime Rischard, J. Isaac Miller, September 2013, it featured just four pool worth more than $1 million. chess rating. er's strength in all games regard- Mark Glickman, and Jeff Sonas. players. At the time, no one could World Champion Magnus Carlsen Development of the new rating less of the time limit. As the speed This team conducted extensive have predicted the chain of events was the deserving winner of the system was co-funded by the Saint of play increases, less importance is testing before finalizing the rat- that would ultimately result in the inaugural Tour in 2015 while GM Louis Chess Club and the Kasparov allocated to the game results while ing algorithm and found that the creation of the Grand Chess Tour! dominated the 2016 Chess Foundation. Its launch follows older games are also given less URS™ consistently predicted game Another major -card of the amateur players to quickly achieve By 2014, the tournament had Sinquefield Cup on his way to more than two years of research. importance than more recent ones. results better than the existing ELO URS™ rating system is that it will a URS™ rating by simply playing in already expanded to 6 players and securing overall victory in the 2016 The URS™ has already had a major All games played within the last six system used by the World Chess be free to use for any local organ- their local events. it was suddenly the strongest tour- Tour. impact on many of the world’s top years are taken into account but Federation. The superior results izers or chess federations that wish nament in the ! Magnus was back on the Tour in players as the January 2017 rating list players' ratings are simultaneously were observed “on a consistent to make use of it. This is expected to Boasting a total prize fund of over 2017 and narrowly edged out GM heavily impacted the selection of the reassessed whenever a new rating basis, from year to year, and across be a major attraction as it will allow Originally published on St. Louis $300,000, the 2014 Sinquefield Cup Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and GM 2017 Grand Chess Tour wild cards. list is generated. In this way, the all three rating categories.” scholastic players and locally based Public Radio, February 2017 saw a truly historic performance. for overall honors. GM Fabiano Caruana recorded an The 2017 Tour events in Saint Louis incredible run of seven straight were especially memorable for wins on his way to securing the other players and other reasons. highest tournament performance GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave rating in the history of chess! secured what he considers to be The success of the 2014 tourna- the highlight of his career when he ment catapulted the city of Saint captured the 2017 Sinquefield Cup! Louis to the center of global chess. He was followed to the winner’s Saint Louis, the Chess Olympiad, The Saint Louis Chess Club was circle by GM Levon Aronian, who quickly recognized as a key institu- became the only player to secure tion and it deservedly served as the two GCT Tour titles in Saint Louis, host venue for the official launch adding the 2017 Saint Louis Rapid & of the Grand Chess Tour (GCT) in Blitz title to his previous triumph at and World Team Championships April 2015. the 2015 Sinquefield Cup. The first leg of the Tour took place Perhaps the greatest highlight early the following year and the in 2017 was the historic return to annual Sinquefield Cup has been a competitive chess of the legendary cornerstone of the Tour ever since. 13th World Chess Champion Garry GCT events have been held in loca- Kasparov. Garry came out of retire- tions as diverse as Stavanger, , ment after an absence of 12 years to Leuven, and London, and the Tour bravely fight against the best play- has spectacularly achieved its pri- ers of the modern game. He did this mary purpose of providing more to promote the Grand Chess Tour, opportunities for elite players. The and millions of his worldwide fans Tour has also attracted corporate found themselves captivated by sponsors like Vivendi, Canal+, and every move and grimace as he bat- Colliers International as well as tled over the board. non-profit organisations such as These incredible memories have “Your Next Move” in Belgium. all been created through the gen- By involving Spectrum Studio’s erosity of Dr. Rex and Jeanne and employing only the best com- Sinquefield who have been instru- mentators in the World, the Tour mental in founding and maintain- has opened doors for both Internet ing the direction of the Tour from and TV broadcasting. It has also the outset. They have gifted the introduced the concept of Pro-Am chess world with many memorable events, and there are always Tour moments as part of the chess legacy events involving school children. that they are still in the process of With simultaneous exhibitions and creating. photograph sessions, the world's SAINT LOUIS CHESS CLUB/AUSTIN FULLER

From top to bottom, 2017 Sinquefield Cup Winner Maxime Vachier-Lagrave; John Urschel challenges Rachel Lee during the 2017 BY JOHN DONALDSON , and Robert Hess to again sponsored by US Chess, the Ultimate Moves Match. International Master and Bursa, Turkey, where they finished Kasparov Chess Foundation, and Chess Historian second in the 2009 World Team the Saint Louis Chess Club. This Championship. Nakamura and backing was quite different from Aside from the World Onischuk led the way, winning indi- that of fellow contenders Russia, Championship, no event is more vidual gold on Boards One and Two. China, and Azerbaijan, all of whom important in the chess world than A similar situation occurred in were funded by their national is the biannual Chess Olympiad. 2013 when the United States needed governments. Held since 1927, this tournament to qualify to compete in the World The United States will attempt now attract over 170 countries Team Championship. This required to repeat as Olympiad Champions from around the world, with close winning the Pan American Team this September in , Georgia. to 1500 competitors competing Championship, an event the United This feat, accomplished only once in Open and Womens sections. States had never competed in. No (Armenia in 2006 and 2008) this On off years FIDE (Fédération money had been budgeted for it, century, will not be easy, but the Internationale des Échecs), the but once again the Saint Louis Saint Louis Chess Club will be governing body for international Chess Club stepped in and provided helping the American players to do chess, holds the World Team the funding. It proved to be a good their best. Championship where the top ten investment. teams in the world compete against The team won the event held each other in an all-play-all format. in Campinas, Brazil, ahead of Since its founding in 2008, the top-seeded Cuba, even without Saint Louis Chess Club has played the services of an important role in sending and , the top-two American teams to both of these rated American players at the competitions, held in a variety of time. This led to the United States locations from Tromsø, Norway, playing in the 2013 World Team to Ningbo, China. The Saint Louis Championship in Antalya, Turkey, Chess Club has not only been a where they finished fourth, just Clockwise from top left, sponsor alongside US Chess and half a point from the bronze med- Closing Ceremony at the 2016 the Kasparov Chess Federation; it als, and where they defeated the Baku, Azerbaijan, Chess Olympiad; has hosted training camps and sent first place Russian team 3-1, thanks GM , coaches to both the Olympiad and to wins by Hikaru Nakamura (over GM Hikaru Nakamura, IM John the World Team. ) and Ray Robson Donaldson, GM , In a few cases the Saint Louis (over ). GM Ray Robson, GM Wesley So, Chess Club has been the difference The United States team of Fabiano GM Fabiano Caruana at the between the United States sending Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, Closing Ceremony of the 2016 a team or staying home. With no Wesley So, Sam Shankland, and Baku, Azerbaijan, Chess Olympiad; other sponsors available, it stepped Ray Robson finished first for the Opening Ceremony at the 2016 in at the last moment and flew first time in forty years at the 2016 Baku, Azerbaijan, Chess Olympiad Hikaru Nakamura, Alex Onischuk, Chess Olympiad held in Baku, , , Azerbaijan. The team was once PHOTOS CHESS.COM/MIKE KLEIN SAINT LOUIS CHESS CLUB/LENNART OOTES IN8 THE SINQUEFIELD EFFECT INTERNATIONAL APRIL 12, 2018 – FEBRUARY 24, 2019 THE SINQUEFIELD EFFECT INTERNATIONAL APRIL 12, 2018 – FEBRUARY 24, 2019 IN9

WCHOF Exhibits Building an Exhibit: in Europe on Experiences Grand Chess Tour: Traveling a Chess A Trip of Firsts Exhibition

BY NICK SCHLEICHER I sourced some incred- BY JESSE NENNINGER The French Federation Exhibitions Manager, ible traveling display cases Senior Gallery Attendant, had many events on the World Chess Hall of Fame through Gaylord Archival for World Chess Hall of Fame grounds of the Chateau that this exhibition. These dis- drew people in and added The Grand Chess Tour: play cases come unassem- From June 20th to July a celebratory feeling to the Art of Chess 2017 travel- bled with assembly taking 4th, 2017, I was honored to event. On Saturday, there ling exhibition was the first roughly 10-15 minutes per help with the first inter- was a children's tournament overseas traveling exhibition case. Once each exhibition national pop-up exhibit which had 200 participants for the World Chess Hall of concludes, the cases can by the World Chess Hall of playing on top of boxes Fame as well as my first time then be fully disassembled Fame. I was excited for the outside the building. The traveling abroad. With stops for flat storage and ship- opportunity to work in two children visited he exhibit A Curator's Perspective: in Paris, , and Leuven, ping, including the UV pro- amazing places, The Chateau between rounds and seemed Belgium, this trip was filled tective plexiglas bonnets! d’Asnieres in Paris, France, particularly interested in the with many new and exciting This saved a lot of shipping and The Leuven Stadhuis in Asterix set, which was cur- GRAND CHESS TOUR learning experiences! space for the six additional Leuven, Belgium. rently featured in the POW! When traveling an exhi- crates we had containing I assisted the Exhibition Capturing Superheroes, Art of Chess 2017 bition to a non-museum the artifacts and tools. We Manager in preparation for Chess & Comics show at the location, the Exhibitions only needed one truck when this trip by helping to deter- World Chess Hall of Fame. Manager has many con- transporting the crates from mine what tools, and sup- There were also wo French siderations that need to be location to location. plies would be needed, and national tournaments on BY EMILY ALLRED well as their own stories about addressed beyond the choice While in the exhibition ensuring that all the needed Sunday, in addition to the Associate Curator, their connections to the game. of artifacts for display. What spaces, I was able to create a supplies would be on hand. Grand Chess Tour: the World Chess Hall of Fame Two of my favorite visitors displays, for example, will simple 3D rendering of each We had to anticipate for the Women’s Cup, and the were a woman and her five- house the artifacts? What space using SketchUp, so we unpacking of artifacts, the French Cup. Grand Chess Tour: Art of year-old son who visited two are the display location con- will have greater ability to Chess 2017 is the World Chess days during the Leuven instal- ditions and accessibility to plan the layout of each exhi- Hall of Fame’s (WCHOF) first lation. She said that not only the building when deliver- bition before our return vis- traveling exhibition, created had her son taught himself ing large crates? What is its. This further reduces the to accompany each of the to play chess, but he had also the usable display space in chances of any issues arising stops on this year’s Grand taught her! His favorite piece the exhibition and can it during installation. Chess Tour. Staging a show in the show was well-liked accommodate our displays? With these hurdles behind to accompany this elite cir- among many of our young- What tools will we need to us, we put ourselves in a cuit of chess competitions est visitors—the simple Asterix bring in the event of any very comfortable position was a natural choice for us. and Caesar’s Gift chess set, unexpected problems? Can to take on any installation Since 2013, the WCHOF has borrowed from our 2017 the location store our empty challenges that come our created mini-exhibitions of exhibition POW! Capturing crates during the life of the way while traveling future artifacts and photography Superheroes, Chess & Comics. exhibition without intrud- exhibitions abroad! during the Sinquefield Cup It was also very exciting ing on public space? at our sister organization, to see our artifacts exhibited the Saint Louis Chess Club in new venues. In Asnières- (STLCC), Kingside Diner, and sur-Seine, we set up the the WCHOF itself. exhibition in the Château For Grand Chess Tour: d'Asnières, a castle built Art of Chess 2017, I had the from 1750-1752 and recently Chess Collection great fortune to be part of a restored. The beautiful castle four-person team that trave- served not only as the setting led from June 19 to July 4 to for our exhibition but also Goes on the Road install the exhibition at the hosted a number of other Château d'Asnières in France activities for people watch- and Leuven Town Hall in ing video of the Paris Grand Opposite, from top to bottom: Exhibition team—from left Belgium during the first two Chess Tour. One of these was BY NICOLE TESSMER children. The simul was a to right: Nicole Tessmer, Emily Allred, Jesse Nenninger, and Grand Chess Tour events: a youth Registrar, great event. We passed out Nick Schleicher—at the Château d'Asnières, Paris, 2017; Jesse Paris Grand Chess Tour that took place on the lawn World Chess Hall of Fame World Chess Hall of Fame Nenninger, and Nick Schleicher pose with garden-size chess and Your Next Move Grand outside. pins and the children were pieces at the Château d'Asnières, Paris, 2017. Chess Tour. This team also The second venue, Leuven I was both nervous and instructed to put the pins included our Senior Gallery Town Hall, was also historic. excited as I arrived in Paris on prior to play. The visu- (1) Ball, Black, & Co. and Eoff & Sheppard, Paul Morphy Silver Attendant, Jesse Nenninger; Restored following damage for the first time in ten years. als were amazing, as the Service, 1857. Collection of the U.S. Chess Trust our Exhibitions Manager, during World Wars I and II, I had just stepped into the event was televised. Several Nick Schleicher; and the the Town Hall was originally position of Registrar a few children were interviewed (2) Leuven Town Hall exhibit space, 2017. newest member of our full- constructed in the 15th cen- months prior, and this was after they finished playing, time staff, our Registrar, tury. The facade was changed the first time I would be each proudly wearing their PHOTOS WORLD CHESS HALL OF FAME/LENNART OOTES (3) Nayler Brothers,Hamilton-Russell Cup, 1927. Nicole Tessmer. during the 19th century to traveling for work. WCHOF pins. Collection of the Fédération Internationale des Échecs As Assistant Curator, my add sculptures of prominent Early the next day we Once the simul ended, we assembly of the displays, as While the Paris exhibit role before the exhibition local citizens, which the headed to the Château set up the complete version well as any other issues that stop was separate from the (4) Château d'Asnières exhibit space, 2017. traveled was to assist in the city’s tourism website refers d’Asnières where the exhibi- of the exhibition that would may arise. Since we were playing hall, the Leuven selection of artifacts and to as its “hall of fame.” tion would take place. Once run throughout the course working in a foreign coun- Stadhuis was a different (5) Olympia, London exhibition space, 2017. artworks to display as well When we visited the the truck with our artwork of the tournament. Our try, it was vital to have these experience altogether. The as developing label text in M-Museum in Leuven, we arrived, we were ready to get main contact in Leuven was supplies, so we made sure exhibit was on the main (6) Emil Pott, Manufactured by Tiffany & Co.,Tiffany & Co. English, French, and Dutch learned that the town hall started. We spent the next Luc Englebos, and he was that we had many redun- floor of the building while Silver Chess Set and Board, c 1970s. Collection of the World for each of the pieces on view. had once hosted a collection several hours getting ready extremely helpful in a num- dancies. As things turned the game was played in the Chess Hall of Fame, gift of Bernice and Floyd Sarisohn However, during the trip to of artifacts related to local for the World Chess Hall of ber of situations. Luc was out, none of those redun- room directly above. The Paris and Leuven, I also got to history that later evolved into Fame’s (WCHOF) first inter- gracious enough to donate a dancies were needed. exhibit was displayed on help out with assembling dis- the museum. It was interest- national exhibition. 2016 Your Move, Grand Chess Because the facilities one side of the hall and the plays and installing artwork ing to learn that we were far The first things I noticed Tour signed board. He made themselves just as much other half featured seating and artifacts. from the first to present an was how warm the Château sure to get us a 2017 signed artifacts as the pieces we and commentary from GM My favorite of these “other exhibition there. In Leuven, was. Paris was unusually hot board, as well as a signed brought, mindfulness was and GM Maurice duties as assigned” was being we shared space with specta- and humid for that time of copy of ’s an absolute necessity as we Ashley. This arrangement a gallery attendant in our tors listening to commentary year, thoroughly reminiscent new book Deep Thinking for walked the cases and arti- allowed visitors (and myself) temporary exhibition spaces, by Grandmasters Maurice of Saint Louis in the summer. our collection. facts into the space. In both to view the exhibit while which allowed me to infor- Ashley and Nigel Short and As the temperature contin- The exhibition was well facilities, we were fortunate being more aware of the mation about our institution the tournament itself took ued to climb throughout the received by everyone in enough to easily store our tournament itself. and artifacts with visitors. place upstairs. day, my concern for the arti- both Paris and Leuven, and crates inside, but on one After the tournament was Each of the pieces included Of course, the World Chess facts grew. I carefully moni- we had over 2,100 people occasion our lack of pro- over in Leuven, we began in Grand Chess Tour: Art Hall of Fame team also spent tored the temperature and attend. The best part was ficiency in spoken French to take the exhibit down of Chess 2017 has been dis- time seeing historic sites and humidity within the vitrines. seeing the children’s faces nearly cost us! We inter- and crate all the supplies played in Saint Louis as part museums when we were To my amazement, I was able light up when they saw the rupted a group of French and artifacts. I was proud of a past or current exhibi- not working. While visiting to create a stable microcli- Asterix and Obelix chess set. Chess Federation staff who to have been a part of a suc- tion or installation. For most the Musée National Gustave mate within the vitrines over The main thing I will take were carrying supplies out cessful pop-up exhibit, and of our European visitors, it Moreau, we even noticed the next few hours, putting away from this experience is of the Chateau at the same proud to be connected with was their first opportunity a chess set! Can you guess my mind at ease. to always plan for the unex- time we were moving a crate the Grand Chess Tour. While to see historic treasures like what we spotted about the The next stop on the Grand pected and go with the flow. inside. None of us were able there, I enjoyed making Bobby Fischer’s Red Book setup of the set? Members Chess Tour was Leuven, We had a few unforeseen to explain what we were connections with the many from the collection of Dr. of the World Chess Hall of Belgium, a quiet, little col- circumstances come up and planning to do, outside of visitors. Some were familiar Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield Fame staff will travel again lege town. This was a wel- by remaining calm I was gesturing at each other and with the World Chess Hall of or the silver service pre- later this year to present come change of pace from able to handle them with around the room which cre- Fame but had not been able sented to Paul Morphy for his the exhibition during the the non-stop action of Paris, ease. I can’t wait for the next ated some confusion. That, to visit, while others were victory in the 1857 American London , but and I was eager to get started events on the Grand Chess fortunately, was only time just being introduced to the Chess Congress. we will first be setting it up installing the show in a new Tour. Each tournament is the language barrier was a Museum for the first time. It was such a pleasure to talk again in Saint Louis for the location. another great opportunity problem during this exhibit. For me, it was a very gratify- to our visitors at each of the Sinquefield Cup and the We decided to set up a for the World Chess Hall of ing experience. tournament venues and hear Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz. smaller version for the simul Fame to showcase its collec- new perspectives on artifacts that would take place with tion to the world! that we are so familiar with as grandmasters and the local Blogs originally published on worldchesshof.org, July 2017.

PHOTOS WORLD CHESS HALL OF FAME/LENNART OOTES IN10 THE SINQUEFIELD EFFECT INTERNATIONAL APRIL 12, 2018 – FEBRUARY 24, 2019 THE SINQUEFIELD EFFECT INTERNATIONAL APRIL 12, 2018 – FEBRUARY 24, 2019 IN11

Why Fortune 500 Companies Should Awards & Accolades, Facts & Figures (and Do) Support Chess In Saint Louis 2007–2018

BY LAUREN STEWART dreams to our city’s most valuable Development Manager, resource, our students. Saint Louis Chess Campus It turns out that Saint Louis’ philanthropic game is strong. Chess has had Saint Louis busi- Companies understand the value ness owners and executives talk- of investing now for a better future, ing since the Saint Louis Chess and the Chess Club’s Fortune Club opened in 2008. They under- 500 supporters continue to grow. stand that it takes hard work, per- Ameren, Edward Jones, Emerson, sistence, confidence and, most Graybar, and the Monsanto Fund importantly, strategy to run a busi- are among this growing list of ness. A successful business needs sponsors. a leader thinking 5, 10, or even Implementing chess in class- 15 moves ahead. Has chess influ- rooms throughout the city of Saint enced every mover and shaker in Louis has given educators a holis- Saint Louis? Perhaps not, but they tic way of teaching while inspir- do see the importance of the game ing cognitive thinking, teaching of chess for students starting at an patience and sportsmanship. All early age. these traits are highly valued by Chess has been on the Saint Fortune 500 companies. Investing Louis scene for 10 years, inspir- in our future leaders has long- ing Saint Louis’ Fortune 500 com- term benefits for both students and panies to give their philanthropic companies, on and off the board. dollars to a cause that is changing Together the Saint Louis Chess Club young lives and shifting the focus and our supporters are building a about a game that can seem highly better future for our beloved city! intimidating. Our hometown com- panies are investing in a game SAINT LOUIS CHESS CLUB/AUSTIN FULLER that brings new perspective and Community Day Event at Koch Elementary. THE WORLD IS WATCHING: Saint Louis Chess Club Dominates YouTube

Saint Louis SAINT LOUIS CHESS CLUB/AUSTIN FULLER Chess Club Media The Saint Louis Chess Club • The Chess Club is open 7 days Finally, the United States Chess Impressions (STLCC) was founded in 2007 and per week, 12 hours per day and Federation (US Chess) has rec- opened its doors in July of 2008. offers kids classes, adult beginner ognized both the Chess Club and 2009 It is a not-for-profit organization classes and intermediate classes the city for their extraordinary • 2009 U.S. Championships: 3,200,000 that is committed to promoting free for members on a weekly accomplishments with the follow- the game of chess both locally and basis. ing awards: nationally, with a specific focus on 2010 bringing the benefits of chess to • The Chess Club currently boasts • In 2009 and 2011, US Chess • 2010 U.S. Women’s & Junior Closed Championships: Saint Louis area schoolchildren. more than 1,000 active members awarded Saint Louis the title of 24,626,802 and has more than 100 tourna- “Chess City of the Year.” • 2010 U.S. Chess Championship: approx. 12M • On Monday, May 5, 2014, ments on the schedule for 2018. the United States Senate passed a • In 2010, the STLCC was named resolution that officially recog- • Membership is remarkably “Chess Club of the Year.” 2011 nizes Saint Louis as the Chess affordable at just $10/month or • 2011 U.S. & U.S. Women’s Championships: 44,000,000 Capital of the United States. $50/year for students and $15/ • In 2009 and 2010, Executive • 2011 Junior Closed Championships: 4,066,058 month or $100/year for adults. Director Tony Rich won • Located in the historic Central Family memberships are just “Organizer of the Year.” The 2014 West End District of Saint Louis, $150/year. award was given to the STLCC, as 2014 the STLCC is a three-level, a whole. • 2014 U.S. & U.S. Women’s Championships: 152,092,967 6,000-square-foot community • Saint Louis has hosted the U.S. • 2014 Senate Resolution: 45,371,073 center featuring a classroom, Championship and U.S. Women’s • From 2009-2013, and once • 2014 Chess Caucus: 31,793,978 library and world-class tourna- Championship each of the again in 2016, Club founder Rex • 2014 Junior Closed Champiionship: 2,681,851 ment playing hall. past 10 years (2009-2018) and Sinquefield has won the George • 2014 Congressional Tournament: 36,697,563 the U.S. Junior Championship Koltanowski Award, given to the • 2014 Sinquefield Cup: 607,264,019 • The Chess Club is widely recog- (2010-2018). These are the three person who does the most to fur- nized as the premier chess facil- most prestigious, invite-only ther chess in the U.S. each year. ity in the nation and one of the chess tournaments in the United 2015 best in the world. States. The U.S. Girls' Junior • In 2012 and 2013, club founder SAINT LOUIS CHESS CLUB/ERIC ROSEN • 2015 U.S. & U.S. Women’s Championships: 594,719,707 Championship was hosted in Jeanne Sinquefield also was • 2015 Grand Chess Tour: 195,066,040 • The Chess Club has established Saint Louis for the first time in awarded the George Koltanowski BY BRIAN FLOWERS from celebrated Grandmasters and events including the Sinquefield Cup • 2015 Fabiano Caruana Federation Change: 99,775,155 a partnership with the Kasparov 2017, and will return in July 2018. Award for her work in establish- Marketing Communications colleagues, the STLCC boasts the best and Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz, is a tes- • 2015 Junior Closed Championship: 39,054,862 Chess Foundation to seek out the ing the Boy Scouts of America Coordinator, World Chess chess tournament coverage around the tament of how this channel engages • 2015 Sinquefield Cup: 633,012,091 top young chess players in the • In addition to the Chess Club’s Merit Badge for Chess. Hall of Fame globe. Fan-favorite commentators like the masses. In fact, GCT live views • 2015 Ascension Partnership: 144,489,255 country and offer them intensive affordable student rates, it offers GM , WGM Jennifer alone jumped to 2.6 million in 2017— instruction. summer camps, field trips, On September 14, 2011, three years Shahade, and GM Maurice Ashley almost triple the number from the private lessons, and free classes after opening its doors in the historic keeping viewers on the edge of their previous year. 2016 • The Chess Club’s scholastic out- in an effort to make the game Central West End, the Saint Louis seats, move by move and play by play. In a world where YouTube is avail- • 2016 U.S. & U.S. Women’s Championships: 1,125,411,657 reach brings chess to thousands accessible to all students. Chess Club (STLCC) launched its chan- Following the STLCC coverage of the able, quite literally, at our fingertips, • 2016 Junior Closed Championship: 57,112,084 of students in more than 100 SAINT LOUIS CHESS CLUB/LENNART OOTES nel (@stlchessclub) on the world’s sec- 2018 Candidates Tournament, YouTube whether in the privacy of our homes • 2016 Sinquefield Cup: 668,372,255 different classrooms and com- • The Chess Club always has a full- From top to bottom, Round 1 of the 2017 Sinquefield Cup; Rachel Lee at ond largest search engine, YouTube. user @bwgolem commented: or on the bus to work, the Saint Louis • 2016 Other Coverage: 10,529,781 munity centers across the greater time Resident Grandmaster on the 2017 Ultimate Moves Match. A few months later, its first video was “This [channel] is easily the best Chess Club helps keep us connected to Saint Louis area. staff. This rotation of the coun- uploaded—a behind-the-scenes look out there for chess. Analysis on all the chess. All we have to do is press play. try’s top players is an invaluable at the 2011 U.S. Chess Championships, moves, looked at other elements of the 2017 resource for our members. These with a little more than 500 modest tournament. Interviews with key chess • 2017 U.S. & U.S. Women’s Championships: 1,031,731,246 top players give private lessons views. Presently, the same channel figures. This is the gold standard…” • 2017 Junior Closed Championship: 174,897,450 and present special lectures, free garners an average of 27,000 views… The reach and impact of the STLCC’s • 2017 Sinquefield Cup: 1,000,940,691 for members, multiple times per every single day! tournament broadcasts have pen- • 2017 Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz: 1,071,754,896 week. They also present a free What keeps the STLCC’s 150,000+ etrated audiences in all corners of the • 2017 Other Coverage: 222,813,087 kids’ class on Sundays. No other subscribers watching? In addition world. Coverage of the Grand Chess chess club in the U.S. has a full- to hundreds of lectures and lessons Tour (GCT), a circuit of international time Resident Grandmaster. IN12 THE SINQUEFIELD EFFECT INTERNATIONAL APRIL 12, 2018 – FEBRUARY 24, 2019

CELEBRATING

CHAMPIONSHIPS of APRIL 17–30 WATCH LIVE AT USCHESSCHAMPS.COM 4657 Maryland Avenue, Saint Louis, MO | (314) 361.CHESS (2437) @ STLChessClub      

# STLChessClub

# USChessChamps