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Chess Life Online 2008 January Chess Without Borders Finalist for 2009 Chicago Innovation Award
Chess Life Online 2008 January Chess Without Borders Finalist for 2009 Chicago Innovation Award | Chess Without Borders Finalist for 2009 Chicago Innovation Award |
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| By Betsy Dynako | |
| October 16, 2009 | |
Yury Shulman introduced to the crowd, Photo Betsy Dynako
Chess and business innovation are not two subjects that do not naturally seem to go together. However, the fine people of the 2009 Chicago Innovation Awards do not see it that way and named Yury Shulman’s Chess Without Borders one of 40 nominees for this year’s award. To qualify for a nomination one must be a Chicago area business who has come up with a unique product and/or service that is making an impact on the world. Nominees range from 3Dinternet, a company producing online virtual training and simulations for clients like Green Planet Bottling who makes bottles of earth and people friendly materials. 
A cocktail party honored nominees of the Chicago Innovation Awards,
Photo Betsy Dynako Chess Without Borders was singled out for the unique way they promote education through combining learning chess with service and philanthropy. CWB is also unique in that a 9-year-old, Rishi Seth started the first chess program that later spawned Chess Without Borders. See the full description of the program on the Chicago Innovation website, and see a full index of nominees here. 
Rishi Seth and Yury Shulman explain CWB.
On September 16, a cocktail reception was held at the University of Chicago Innovation Center. Shulman, Rishi Sethi and other Chess Without Borders supporters mingled with fellow nominees and promoted their love for the game. Shulman was singled out towards the end of the ceremony and introduced to the crowd. He spent the rest of the night surrounded by chess fans. See more information on Chess Without Borders in an earlier CLO article on Chess and Philanthropy. The Chicago Innovation Award winners will be announced on October 20th at the Goodman Theatre during a formal ceremony. See more information in the press release. Update: See the final list of winners here in the final press release (pdf). Yury Shulman was not among the final winners but congrats for his nomination. |