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Chess In the Media

Ouwinga leaves chess legacy (Escanaba Daily Press)

For the past 33 years, Stewart Ouwinga has spent his Tuesday nights during the school year teaching chess at Escanaba High School.

Not to mention countless hours organizing and directing tournaments, driving players to events throughout Michigan and Wisconsin, and promoting chess to three decades of players.

Ouwinga, who lives in Bark River, announced his retirement from teaching and as advisor of the Escanaba chess club this past February. In recognition of Ouwinga's retirement, and in conjunction with the 2005 Upper Peninsula Chess Championship held in mid-August, there was a reunion for all Escanaba chess alumni.

Learning all the right moves (Asbury Park Press)

Mark Stafurik, 10, sat and stared at the chess board before him with a mixed look of concentration and frustration on his face.

His friend, Tyler Mechura, 11, stood next to him, engrossed in his own match, but showing frustration in a much more animated way as he jumped up and down and waved his fists in the air.

Neither seemed to be having any luck with their opponent, chess guru Jim Mullanaphy of Freehold Township, but as soon as the boys each heard the dreaded word — "checkmate" — they were already setting up the board for another go at it.

$250,000 OK'd for City Plaza chess area, mural (Chico Enterprise Record)

A chess-playing area and a large mural, totaling nearly $250,000, soon could grace Chico's downtown City Plaza.

The City Council voted 3-2 Tuesday to approve the money for the project.

Artist Elizabeth Devereaux and landscape architect Greg Melton are set to design the chess area, to be situated mid-block on the Broadway side of City Plaza. The area could include permanent tables and seating, and a sculpture carved out of wood from elm trees that shaded the plaza until the city cut them down in 2003 because the trees were old and unhealthy.

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