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91 Chess Players Attend the Holly Heisman Memorial Fundraiser Chess Tournament

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Chess In the Media: Chess Stories Across the USA and Around the World

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Chess In the Media

Students learn gamesmanship, strategy early with chess (Chicago Sun-Times)

There's a battle going on around town. The field of engagement is a chess board and the warriors are Chicago students. An increasing number are joining their school chess teams and deciding to take on the academic sport said to have widespread benefits for children.

Tom Larson, Chicago Public Schools chess coordinator, says chess helps students with focus, concentration and memory skills. Chicago Public Schools, as well as suburban school districts, sponsor tournaments for students throughout the year.

Wayne Smith, chess coach at Beasley School and chess trainer at North Kenwood Oakland Charter School, is currently heading the Nuts for Chess Summer Camp and says he has continuously seen the academic benefits of chess on his students."

Chess? Yes! (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Though spending money figures high on the list of priorities for weekend visitors to Eton, Chagrin Boulevard at Woodmere, it is not the only attraction this glitzy "lifestyle center" has to offer.

On a sunny Sunday afternoon, a group of people assemble on a wide patch of sidewalk in front of the Barnes & Noble bookstore.

They are not here to buy cheap wine from Trader Joe's or to grab a sandwich at the Stone Oven. No, these folks are here for their weekly alfresco chess lesson.

Kasparov Held Up at Domodedovo Airport (Moscow Times)

Garry Kasparov, the former chess champion turned opposition politician, said Monday that he was held up at Domodedovo Airport and that the Federal Security Service may have blacklisted him because of his criticism of President Vladimir Putin.

Kasparov was returning from Split, Croatia, at about 7 p.m. Sunday with 10 other people, including his family, when he was held up at passport control, he said by telephone.

Everyone else in his group passed through with no problems, "and suddenly I was stopped," Kasparov said. "The woman, the lieutenant, who took my passport recognized me. Suddenly, she looked at the computer and said, 'Wait a second.'"

Do you know of an interesting, humorous, or unique chess story published online? E-mail us at newsletter@uschess.org.