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Chess In the Media

UTD chess team loses first Pan Am match in six years (UTD Mercury, TX)

The University of Texas at Dallas' dreams of winning the Pan American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship, the most prestigious tournament of its kind held in the Western Hemisphere Dec. 30 for the third consecutive year were dashed by UTD's long-time rival, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

The four-day, six-round competition came down to the head-to-head match between UTD and UMBC. UMBC prevailed by the slimmest of margins over UTD with a 2.5 to 1.5 score in a very conservatively played match that was marked by an unusual game that ended with a "perpetual check."

It was the first time UTD had lost a match in Pan Am competition in at least six years. UTD had won the tournament the past two years and tied for first place in both 2000 and 2001.

Chess strategies sharpen study skills (Detroit Free Press, MI)

Heads down, engrossed by the playing board in front of them, these opponents were quiet, focused.

"Ha!" blurts out Kortni Figgins, 8, as she uses a bishop to capture one of her adversary's pawns in a game of chess at Eisenhower Elementary School in Southfield on Friday.

"Oh, wait a minute," said third-grade teacher Tori Ballard as she takes out Kortni's bishop using a knight.

Young chess players learn moves, strategies (Auburn Citizen, NY)

Before it all started, chessmaster Tom McKellop had some words of advice.

“A chess friendship is more important than a chess victory,” he said. “Win, lose or draw, it's still fun.”

With the message delivered, children shook hands with their opponents, put on a serious face and plotted out a plan to corner the king during a Saturday afternoon chess class at the Seymour Library.

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