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Chess In the Media

Students test their best strategies (Daily Pilot, California)

Every Wednesday at Harbor View Elementary, the members of the after-school chess club learn the ins and outs of one of the world's greatest strategic games. But they also learn an important rule: Chess is a gentleman's sport.

Last week, the club's instructors -- director Al Massip and assistant Brett Strunk from the Chess Center in Costa Mesa -- led a seminar on how to move and capture pieces. They prefaced it, though, with a talk on board etiquette, beginning with a simple rule.

"When you capture a piece, you don't kill a piece," Massip told the room of about 15 students as they sat with boards in front of them. "Nobody gets killed in chess."

Chess tournament open to all (Soo Evening News, Michigan)

The Sault Chess League, which sponsors all the scholastic chess in Sault Schools, will host its inaugural Soo Fall Open Chess Tournament on Saturday, October 29 at the Sault Middle School Library.

The non-rated chess event is open to all players no matter their age or skill level. It's a fun tournament with loads of prizes, food and friendship.

The Sault Chess League (SCL) is currently looking for sponsors to provide scholarships for youth players that cannot afford the entry fee. The SCL seeks to provide opportunities for all children to play chess and reap the benefits it provides. For nine years, the SCL has offered school chess programs, free chess lessons, chess tournaments, EUP Winter Games chess events, elementary school team championships and chess simultaneous exhibitions with a Grand Master and an International Chess Master in the EUP.

Q & A: Susan Polgar (Memphis Flyer)

Chess -- it's not just a man's game anymore, and, ladies, you have Susan Polgar to thank.

Polgar paved the way for women in the once male-dominated game. In 1986, she broke the gender barrier by qualifying for the Men's World Championship. Then, in 1991, she earned the Men's Grandmaster title, the highest honor in chess.

Last weekend, Polgar was in Memphis to teach and demonstrate simultaneous games at Lausanne Collegiate Schools' chess camp. Since chess instills discipline, focus, and critical-thinking skills in its players, we couldn't let the opportunity pass without learning from a Grandmaster.

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