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National News:
2000+ Young Chess Competitors Expected To Converge On Denver

Veterans' Chess Outreach Has Great Growth, But Needs Added Funding

US Chess Seeks Senior Art Director

2006 Burt Lerner National Elementary (K-6) Program Book now available!

USCF Seeks Endorsements, Sponsorships and Strategic Partnerships

American Chess Players Go For Olympiad Gold

World News:
Anand Takes Early Lead at Mtel Masters

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

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National News

2000+ Young Chess Competitors Expected To Converge On Denver

The U. S. Chess Federation (USCF), will hold its 31st National Elementary (K-6) School Chess Championship May 12-14, 2006 in Denver, Colorado at the Hyatt Denver Convention Center located at 15th Street and California Street. This year’s event (as well as for 2007 and 2008) will be re- named in honor of longtime supporter of scholastic chess since 1972, Burt Lerner, on behalf of his family.

This seven round event will begin Friday, May 12 at 1:00 pm. The event concludes Sunday evening, May 14 with an award ceremony at 7:00 pm. The time control for players above the K-1 section will be G/120 for each of their seven games. This allows players two hours each to make their moves. Those competing in the K-1 level each get 90 minutes on their chess clock to complete their games.

The National Elementary School Bughouse Championship will start Thursday, May 11 at 11:00 am and the National Elementary School Blitz Championship will start Thursday evening at 5:00 pm. These two events are unique in that each side receives 5 minutes per game!

On Saturday, May 13, another interesting event will begin at 10:30 am – Parents & Friends Tournament. Coaches, parents and other siblings of players are encouraged to join this fun tournament.

MyChessPhotos.com, official photographer for this event, is offering a $250 scholarship to the player with the greatest upset!

Grandmaster Susan Polgar will do a simultaneous exhibition Friday, May 12 at 9:00 am and give a lecture on Saturday, May 13 at 4:30 pm.

Additional details, advanced entrants and program book can be found at: http://www.uschess.org/tournaments/2006/elem/. So far 1779 players have entered!

Veterans' Chess Outreach Has Great Growth, But Needs Added Funding

Now in its second year, the U.S. Chess federation’s Chess for Vets program has reached 146 Veteran hospitals in the United States, as well as providing chess sets, books, and supplies to active duty military personnel in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Africa.

Spearheading the effort since its inception is the New Jersey State Chess Federation, and striving to make the program available wherever veterans and active duty military personnel are stationed. Across the nation, in 146 Veterans’ Hospitals, burn and spinal injury veterans are provided with computer stations to facilitate their active participation in chess, and even Braille chess sets have brought the challenging game to blind veterans. Eight of the Veterans’ Hospitals have volunteer chess players who visit on a regular basis to teach and play chess with these American heroes.

The program, called, ‘Sets for Vets’, is financed entirely by contributions from the public with every dollar donated going directly to purchase chess equipment. Initial funding provisions are, however, nearly spent, and the program cannot continue to grow, even short term, without new infusions of cash donations.

Aetna Insurance, an initial corporate contributor, The NJ State Chess Federation along with USCF members across the country, raised $13,750 in the program’s first year. That amount at the very least is needed in order to keep those troops currently involved in the program adequately supplied, plus the need to expand the program to all points of the globe.

You may go to www.uschess.org/setsforvets.php to get additional information. All donations, large and small will be appreciated.

US Chess Seeks Senior Art Director

The U.S. Chess Federation (USCF) announces that Kathleen Merz, who has worked for the organization for the last six years, has resigned her position as Senior Art Director to take a position as Creative Director with Inside Out Hudson Valley. Kathleen has been a valued employee, so we are sorry to see her go but wish her success in her new endeavor.

The USCF is now accepting applications for the position of Senior Art Director. This position is responsibile for all art in Chess Life and Chess Life For Kids as well as all of the other publications the USCF produces. A detailed job description will be posted soon. Send resumes to Director of Publications Daniel Lucas at dlucas@uschess.org. Online portfolios preferred, but mailed portfolios will be accepted at US Chess, Attn: Daniel Lucas, P.O. Box 3967, Crossville, TN 38555.

2006 Burt Lerner National Elementary (K-6) Program Book now available!

USCF Seeks Endorsements, Sponsorships and Strategic Partnerships

If you have chess related products or services, please contact us with your proposal.

The USCF is seeking endorsements, sponsorships and strategic partnerships from the chess community.

Over the next few weeks please email, Joan DuBois, at the USCF office in Crossville, TN.

American Chess Players Go For Olympiad Gold

The United States Chess Federation recently announced its teams for the 37th World Chess Olympiad, which will be held May 20 to June 4, 2006 in Turin, Italy. GM Varuzhan Akobian of Los Angeles, California, GM Ildar Ibragimov of Stratford, Connecticut, GM Gata Kamsky of Brooklyn, New York, GM Gregory Kaidanov of Lexington, Kentucky, GM Hikaru Nakamura of White Plains, New York, and GM Alex Onischuk of Baltimore, Maryland are the members of the US Olympiad Team, with IM John Donaldson, of Berkeley, California, serving as Captain. "The Olympiad in Turin promises to be the largest and strongest in the history of the competition, with almost all of the world's top players in attendance", says Donaldson.

This will be the strongest American team ever assembled. Our newly crowned American champion Alex Onischuk, "the invincible" is in excellent form and World Champion contender Gata Kamsky will be rejoining the team for the first time in over a decade. But probably the most exciting addition to the team is 18 year old Hikaru Nakamura. He's the highest rated player in America and this will be his first appearance in an Olympiad. Hikaru's fighting spirit is already legendary and he'll add a lot of energy to the squad. He even told a reporter: "There is no point in taking draws."

The US Women's Team is comprised of WGM Camilla Baginskaite of Richmond, California, WGM Rusudan Goletiani, WGM Irina Krush, and WGM Anna Zatonskih (newest U.S. Women’s Champion), all from New York State. "I'm excited about Turino. If we play at top form, then we can defeat any team there", says WGM Krush. GM Yuri Shulman of Chicago, Illinois, is the Captain of the US Women’s Team.

The United States is coming off its best overall results in almost 80 years of competing in the Chess Olympiads, finishing fourth in the overall competition and second in the Women's Olympiad in 2004. The team hopes to improve on these results in Turin. More than 1,000 competitors from over 140 countries are expected for the 14 round competition which will be held in the main venue used for the Winter Olympic games earlier this year.

Official Sponsor, Kasparov Chess Foundation (KCF) is the primary backer of the team with the USCF and the Internet Chess Club (ICC) also serving as supporting sponsors. Donations received so far: KCF $30,000; ICC $5,000; Joel Channing $2,000; National Open (Fred Gruenberg/Al Losoff) $500; Steven Doyle $500.

Donations are tax deductible if made payable to the US Chess Trust; write "Olympiad" on your check and send to Olympiad Appeal, c/o USCF, PO Box 3967, Crossville TN 38557. Thanks for your support!

For additional information and bios see http://www.uschess.org/americansgoforthegold.php.