Rohan Ahuja is a member of the UMBC Chess Team, which placed ninth at the 2019 Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess Tournament. Photo by Marlayna Demond, courtesy of the UMBC Chess Program.

Most students have walked by the plethora of trophies that overlook Commons Mainstreet, but few probably realize that they are the work of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County Chess Team. This past winter break, the team added to their accomplishments by placing ninth out of 63 teams at the 2019 Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The competition, which took place from Dec. 27-30, is the most important and competitive intercollegiate team chess championship in the Americas, said Rohan Ahuja, a junior computer science major on the team. Teams from universities, colleges and community colleges in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean gather together for four intense days of chess.

The tournament operates in a six-round Swiss System. Each team is made of four players and up to two alternates. In each match, four members from each team play each other, Ahuja explained. Teams get one point for winning a match, half a point for a tie, and no points for losing a match. Each match takes anywhere from three to four hours. The four highest-scoring teams advance to the Presidents Cup, or the Final Four.

Ahuja said that the UMBC team only narrowly missed qualifying for the Presidents Cup. Still, the team finished ahead of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania and other strong chess schools. However, this years success is not new to the UMBC team. UMBC has won the Pan-Am championship a total of 10 times, and qualified for the Presidents Cup 15 times.

The team members usually prepare for tournaments individually, said sophomore psychology major Mai Narva, noting that each team member has their own style of playing. Narva said that for smaller tournaments she forgoes any extra preparation, choosing to go and give [her] best. But for competitions like Pan-Am, she puts in extra effort.

Narva studies chess between three to seven hours each week in addition to practicing with her individual coach. She and her teammates also participate in a number of individual chess tournaments throughout the fall semester. In September, UMBC students are invited to compete in the UMBC Championship, an annual competition that helps the A and B teams select their members. Other individual tournaments occur throughout October and over Thanksgiving break. One weekend before the Pan-Am tournament, team members competed in the Maryland Action Rapid tournament in Rockville, Maryland. All of [the team members] tied for first place, Ahuja said. After the Rockville tournament provided much-needed playing practice, the teams were ready for Pan-Am.

This semester, the team will hold the 2020 Alvin S. Mintzes UMBC Open tournament in the Commons from March 7-8.

When the team is not gearing up for their next competition, they participate in chess-related community service. Team members hold chess lectures and partner with local schools for after-school chess initiatives. Im glad to share my chess knowledge that Ive developed over the years to motivate and teach children who enjoy the game, Ahuja said. UMBC also offers individual coaching sessions through the UMBC Chess Academy for community members to learn from the team.

Whether the team is representing UMBC at a tournament or in the community, Narva says the university has a reputation for its love for chess. The UMBC Chess Team hold[s] the chess flag of UMBC high, Narva said.

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UMBC Chess Team places among top chess teams in Americas - The Retriever

Tuesday, February 18, 2020 | 11:00 PM

Northern Tier Regional Library

Northern Tier Regional Library is at 4015 Dickey Road, Gibsonia. For more information about the library or to register for a program, call 724-449-2665 or email [emailprotected]

From 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. Feb. 25, Achieva will host a class on infant massage. This event is for caregivers and their babies. Experts will guide participants through massaging techniques for babies. Registration is required.

From 9:30 to 1 p.m. March 14, Northern Tier will be the site of the 47th Annual Library Chess Tournament. The competition has two levels: A Junior Division for grades K-4, and a Senior Division for grades 5-8. The winner in each division will represent the library in the Allegheny County Chess Tournament in late March. Registration is free.

This years annual used book sale will be from April 2 to 6. Volunteers are needed to help make this event a success. Anybody interested in helping in any capacity is encouraged to inquire at the library.

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Northern Tier Library hosting used book sale, chess tournament, more - TribLIVE

Hilarious and heartbreaking solo show 'First Time' comes to The Dukes, Lancaster tonight and tomorrow

Award-winning HIV+ theatre-maker Nathaniel Hall brings his show First Time to The Dukes in Lancaster this week, fresh from his critically acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe debut.

First Time is a hilarious and heartbreaking solo show about growing up positive in a negative world.

The show will be performed in Moor Space, The Dukes second site further up Moor Lane tonight and tomorrow.

Taking place in LGBT history month, First Time is crucial for raising awareness of HIV. Its both educational and moving, wearing its heart on its sleeve for all to see.

Tickets start at 8 form http://www.dukeslancaster.org.

Inspired by artworks in the Artful Line at The Harris, explore different techniques and media to create imaginative compositions you can take home. Theres two sessions, 11am for ages five to seven and 2.30pm for ages 12-16. Book via http://www.eventbrite.co.uk.

Chipping Local History Society

Chipping Local History Society meet tonight in St. Marys Community Hall at 7.45pm. Sir Peter Openshaw will be speaking on The dreadful murder of Anne Walne at the Joiners Arms, Ribchester in 1865. Visitors welcome. Call 01772 864289.

Chorley and District Gardening Society

Join Chorley and District Gardening Society tonight as speaker Gordon Malt presents a talk on Climbers. They meet from 7.30pm at Chorley Cricket Club on Sandringham Road, visitors 3 including refreshments. Call 01257 270371 for more.

Escape the February brain fog and exercise your grey matter with Lancaster Chess Club. They meet every Tuesday until early May, 7.30pm at the Reform Club, Great John Street/Stonewell, in Lancaster. Call 01524 884327 for more details.

Read the rest here:

From drawing to gardening, local history to chess, here's five things to do today... - Lancashire Post

Harold's Cabin hosts Chess Challenge with Charles Lee this Thurs. Feb. 20 Can you defeat a prodigy? Posted by Priscilla Vanartsdalen on Tue, Feb 18, 2020 at 10:03 AM Harolds Cabin hosts a Chess Challenge with Charles Lee, a long-time member of the Harolds Cabin family, this Thurs. Feb. 20 at 6 p.m.

Lee never turns down the opportunity to learn from a master or take on a challenger so he is welcoming all lovers of chess this week.

Many customers know Lee, nicknamed Charles in Charge, but do not know that he is a chess prodigy who began playing the game at the age of 11. During the challenge this Thursday Lee will play up to three opponents at once within a 20 minute time limit. Harolds Cabin will award a dinner for two to any player that can beat him.

Those interested in challenging Lee can contact Harolds Cabin at (843) 793-4440 for details on the event.

247 Congress St.

Downtown

Charleston, SC

(843) 793-4440

Mon.-Fri. 4-10 p.m. Sat. & Sun. 9 a.m.-10p.m. Brunch & dinner

American and Bar

Tags: Harold's Cabin, chess, Charles Lee, chess challenge, chess prodigy, Image

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Harold's Cabin hosts Chess Challenge with Charles Lee this Thurs. Feb. 20 - Charleston City Paper

UP-APO Patinikan sa Chess begins on February 24

By Marlon Bernardino PhilBoxing.com Wed, 19 Feb 2020

The biggest chess competition in the Philippines this year - the University of the Philippines-Alpha Phi Omega-Patinikan sa Chess (Invitational Tournament)-gets underway on February 24, 2020 (Monday) at the Magno Hall, UP DMST Ylanan Road, UP Diliman Campus in Quezon City.

This was announced in a statement issued on Tuesday by Project Director Raymond Linsangan.

"We expect this year's competition to be just as successful," Linsangan said, a former director of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).

"University of the Philippines-Alpha Phi Omega-Patinikan sa Chess is a chess cup dedicated to the memory of Brother Francis C. Cantre, 74-C, E Pluribus Batch. Brod Francis was a lawyer and expert level chess player," added tournament director International Master Ronald Bancod.

Coming off a winning performance at the Hong Bao Rating Tournament 2020 (Open division), at the Singapore Chess Federation Conference Room in Bishan, Singapore last January 25 to 27, 2020, Grandmaster Darwin Laylo is looking to follow-up that victory.

He also won the January edition of Asean Chess Academy (ACA) Rapid Chess Tournament last January 5, 2020 at the Bukit Timah Shopping Centre in Singapore.

Laylo, is one of the top players of multi-titled Philippine Army chess team playing under the banner of Usec Lieutenant General, AFP (Ret.) Arthur Tabaquero (AFP Presidential Adviser on Military Affairs) and Col. Dexter Macasaet (Director, SSC, IMCOM, PA).

Other Filipino talents expected for the contest in the Open category include 13-times Philippine Open champion Grandmaster Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr., International Masters Hamed Nouri, Ronald Dableo, Roel Abelgas, Yves Ranola, Rolando Nolte, Chito Garma, Daniel Quizon, Michael Concio and Eric Labog, Fide Masters Alekhine Nouri, Christopher Castellano, Leonardo Carlos and Randy Segarra, National Master Nick Nisperos, United States Chess Master Jojo Aquino and Candidate Master Christopher Rodriguez.

Country's youngest Woman Fide Master Antonella Berthe "Tonelle" Murillo Racasa, 12 year old and a grade 6 pupil of VCIS - Home School Global is heading the list of participants in the women's section.-Marlon Bernardino-

Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.

Excerpt from:

UP-APO Patinikan sa Chess begins on February 24 - PhilBoxing.com

Nirvana Travel & Tourism announced today that it has signed on to be a sponsor for the 90th International Chess Federation (FIDE) Congress that will be taking place in Abu Dhabi from February 26 to March 1, 2020.

Mr. Alaa Al Ali, CEO of Nirvana Travel & Tourism stated We are delighted to co-sponsor the 2020 edition of the congress in cooperation with the Asian Chess Federation. As a strategic partner, Nirvana Travel & Tourism will harness its organizing capabilities to catapult this global event to success, while also highlighting the UAEs role in supporting the sport on an international stage.

Al Ali praised the efforts of the Asian Chess Federation headed by Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Shakhbout Al Nahyan for organising the event. He added, I would also like to appreciate the contributions of Dr. Abdullah bin Salem Al Wahshi, CEO of the Asian Chess Federation for arranging a world class sports conference in the capital, as part of a strategy to develop the sport and for facilitating the resources required for its growth.

The event will mark Abu Dhabis debut in hosting a chesscongressofthis scale, one that will bring together delegations from more than 194 countries. The 90th FIDE Congress in Abu Dhabi is a qualitative leap for the future of chess in Asia. Moreover it confirms that Abu Dhabi is transforming into a global destination for sports, festivals, and specialized conferences, a feat attributed to the citys advanced infrastructure, quality services, and characteristically safe environment, concluded Al Ali.

See more here:

Nirvana Travel & Tourism Announced as Sponsor of the 90th International Chess Federation Congress in Abu Dhabi - Al-Bawaba

elevenFeb

Chess boxing, eukokanto, kabaddi or street luge are also names of sports disciplines. As rare as their names are, they are practiced by thousands of people throughout the world and although they do not currently make headlines as they do football or tennis, they have something in common with the most media sports: they have innumerable health benefits , hook and also treasure stories that deserve to be told.

Try typing sport on Google. Instantly, you will have almost two billion results. Yes, you are reading well: billions, with b. In the first positions, how could it be otherwise, are in addition to the best known and best positioned sports facilities, the most mediated and practiced disciplines. Soccer, basketball, tennis, athletics, rugby, Formula 1, golf, appear in the top positions with hardly any rivals.

Today there are a large number of disciplines that, despite not being on top of international sport and not having copious hobbies, are practiced in different parts of the world and, in some cases, with great success.

It is the case of minority sports that respond to such unpronounceable names as eukokanto, kabaddi, street luge, extreme ironing or chess boxing. If you want to discover them and, incidentally, climb a step in sports culture, check out the list of rarer sports we have prepared for the occasion. Who knows if, in addition to discovering who came up with it, how is the field where it is practiced or what its game rules consist of, in the end you end up getting hooked.

The asphalt sled or street luge is a variant of the Olympic winter Luge. In this case, the sleds are replaced by a scooter and snow, by asphalt. He was born in southern California, in the heat of other widely practiced disciplines, such as skateboarding or surfing. In 1975 street luge became an official practice, although it was not until the 1990s when it had its own rules and even federation. It is considered a high-risk sport and to practice it you need an elongated board or skateboard (measures around 2.40 m.). The skateboarder lies on his back and can reach speeds of over 100 km / h. The world record is held by Roger Hickey, who with 58 years managed to reach 161.4 km / h.

Of Hindu origin, it has more than 4,000 years old, hence it is considered one of the oldest known sports. It is currently very popular in Southeast Asia. In fact, in Bangladesh it is considered the national sport. With very simple rules, its practice is reminiscent of traditional games like pilla pilla or catches the flag. In order to play, there is no lack of many means. The pitch is a rectangle divided in half. In it two teams face, with seven players each. A single player must try to cross to the other side. The most important? He has to do it holding his breath and shouting kabaddi.

This sport combines chess with boxing. Its inventor was the French filmmaker and cartoonist Enki Bilal, who drew it in the comic Froid quateur, although it became a reality in 2003. Each game has 11 rounds, six chess (four minutes) and five boxing (three minutes). Whoever wins the victory in any of the two disciplines wins, but must endure both in the ring and on the board. One of his curiosities is that to participate you must be under 35 years old and you must have participated as a boxer in at least 20 matches. The first World Cup was held in Amsterdam in 2004.

Also known as carrying the wife is a sport in which participants compete running with a woman. The objective is to cross an obstacle course of 253.5 meters in the shortest possible time. The minimum weight of the wife is 49 kg. If it weighs less, the rules force you to carry a backpack on your back until you complete the missing load. There is only one category in their world championships and their roots go back to the local history of the Finnish municipality of Sonkajrvi, where there was a custom of wooing women running to their village, taking them and escaping with them in tow. The only equipment allowed in the case of men is a belt and in the case of the participants, a helmet. It is very popular in Finland, its country of origin, but also in Sweden, Estonia and the United States. In addition, it has its own category in the Guinnes Book of records.

It is, as its name implies, a mixture between cycling and football and was invented by the German-American Nicholas E. Kaufmann in 1893. Its operation is very simple: each player has to score the opposing team on a special bicycle. Fixed pinion with a particular geometry. The field, whose measurements are 1411 meters, is of hard ground similar to those of futsal. The ball, which weighs between 500 and 600 grams and measures between 17 and 18 centimeters in diameter, can only be thrown with the front wheel of the bicycle. Despite its uniqueness, it is widespread in Germany, Japan, Switzerland, Austria or Belgium and since 1929 has been holding world championships.

It is another of the oldest, although its name does not sound familiar. Also known as kick volleyball, its origin dates back to the time of the Sultanate of Malacca, in the 16th century, in Southeast Asia. Its operation is similar to that of volleyball, although in this one a rattan ball is used, a kind of cane, which can only be touched with the head and feet. At present, it is played with one with a better boat and that causes fewer injuries than the old one. It is widespread in Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines, Burma, Vietnam or Indonesia, where it adopts different names. At present, it is governed internationally by the International Federation of Sepak Takraw (ISTAF) and its World Cup is celebrated every damage in Thailand. It aspires to be an Olympic sport, although since the Beijing Asian Games in 1990 it has its own category.

Also known as extreme ironing is a discipline that was born in Leicester, England, in 1997, in which its participants take ironing boards to remote locations. Once there, they place the household utensil and are dedicated to iron clothes. Its creator was Phil Shaw, an employee of a knitwear factory. One day when he had several pending tasks, including ironing his shirts, he decided to do it while climbing, one of his favorite sports. It was thus that he combined both activities giving rise to a new extreme sport that has an international group inspiring, in passing, other activities such as that of the extreme Cello.

With certain similarities with basketball, korfbal or also known as balonkorf is a sport that is played in mixed teams consisting of eight players, four men and four women. Born in the early twentieth century, its operation is to make a ball in a special wicker or plastic basket that is attached to a tall stick. The court is divided into two halves called zones. During the game, which lasts an hour, two men and two women from each team are in one area and the others in the other. As a peculiarity, during the game you cannot change the zone. This practice has an international federation that organizes a world cup every four years since 1978.

Although these are just some of the most unknown and curious, in the world there are endless sports full of deeds and curiosities to discover. They say that there is a sport for every type of person.

Read more:

Chess boxing, eukokanto, street luge, korfbal Have you heard of these sports? - Sportsfinding

The River Chess Association is urging people to avoid the river downstream of the sewage treatment works in Chesham.

The Association believe that Thames Water have 'yet again' released sewage into the river from the sewage treatment works.

They stated that they received no notification from the company and are receiving limited information from them about whether a discharge event occurred.

Thames Water responded to the association and according to the group said: "We believe we discharged storm flows from site yesterday early morning [Sunday] and for some hours.

"We are not discharging storm flows this morning, but our storm tanks are full."

The group were frustrated that they couldn't advise people to avoid the river.

READ MORE: Coronavirus - Wycombe Hospital and Stoke Mandeville Hospital set up isolation pods

They've now advised dog walkers, volunteers, and the public to do so.

One Facebook user said: "I believe last year Thames Water were fined a huge amount of money for doing this, the Environment Agency should be notified and our local councillors should start to put pressure on Thames Water to stop this disgusting release happening.

"Is there no other hygienic method that they could install? This is a real health hazard."

Another commenter was also unhappy with the alleged incident, they said: "Thames Water should be fined and made to sort it all out. Nonchalant low-lifes."

Thames Water have responded, in a statement they said:The volume of sustained heavy rainfall meant that in order to prevent flooding to peoples homes, and once all our storage capacity at the works was filled, some heavily diluted wastewater was allowed to overflow into the river system.

"Of course this is undesirable, but we only do so when there is no other alternative.

"It is the way the system is designed to operate and is permitted by the Environment Agency under these circumstances.

Go here to see the original:

'Nonchalant lowlifes' - Thames Water accused of releasing sewage into River Chess - Bucks Free Press

Brothers Aaron and Abram Burnett are usually the first two to arrive at CPR Chess Club -- the CPR standing for Critical Thinking, Problem-Solving, Reading -- which meets from 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays at Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas in southwest Little Rock. They are in the advanced class.

A recent Tuesday finds Aaron, an 11-year-old fifth-grader at Scholarmade Achievement Place in Little Rock -- wearing multiple medals around his neck ... medals won in chess tournaments, which he's showing visitors. He has been part of the club for about five years.

"At first, I wasn't really interested" in chess, he says. Aaron's grandfather signed him up for it. "And then I just started coming and then I started to get interested in it. You know how in school some people don't really focus? It basically challenges you" to focus, he says.

CPR Chess Club member Aaron Burnett displays some of the medals he has won in chess tournaments. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)

Aaron got his first medal at his very first chess tournament.

"I just kept on doing chess tournaments. Like, the people that I play ... sometimes I used to hope that [beating them] would be easy. But then -- what's the point of playing 'em if you're just going to beat 'em? Usually when I play people ... that makes me better because I kinda see their strategies, and next time I know how to prevent it or use it against somebody."

Abram Burnett, 9, is in third grade.

"It's like life," he says of the game. "You have to strategize, out-think your opponent."

Tony Davis, nine-time Arkansas state chess champion, uses a hanging chess demonstration board to teach the movement of different chess pieces to young members of the CPR Chess Club. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)

In another classroom, nine-time state chess champion Tony Davis, a volunteer coach for the club, is teaching beginning players. He uses a vertical cloth chessboard with pockets to hold the pieces.

"The Queen always goes on the same color as her dress," he tells the students. "So the white queen goes on white. Black queen goes on black. ... Whoever has white always moves first."

Davis shows off a knight game piece.

"This is everybody's favorite piece. He's shaped like a horse, and he jumps over other pieces. He's the only piece that can do that. And when he makes his move, he makes a little L ... he can move over two and up one, or back two and over one. It can be a backwards L, a sideways L, an upside-down L ... Once you master how a knight moves, all the other pieces are easy because all the other pieces move in a straight line."

Davis demonstrates how the other pieces move ... pawn, rook, bishop, queen, king. In chess, the main goal is to capture, or checkmate, the opponent's king, so the direction in which each piece can legally move is vital to winning the game.

Going back and forth to make sure everything runs smoothly is Georgia Morris, the club's founder, who, ironically, doesn't play chess.

Georgia Morris, founder of CPR Chess Club, makes a few practice moves on the board with club member Hansika Ulaganathan, 7, a third-grader at Williams Magnet Elementary School. The club, which also has a Pine Bluff chapter, is a vehicle by which a diverse group of students learns life skills via chess. (Special to the Democrat-Gazette/Pradeep Parmer)

Morris, an Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield retiree, started CPR Chess Club in August 2013. Her idea for the club was born of a similar but simpler game: Morris' father, who raised her and her seven siblings as a single parent, showed them all how to play checkers.

As he taught, he was "telling [us] all this life-skills stuff, but I didn't really know it was life skills then," Morris says.

A dedicated community volunteer, Morris was pondering ways to work with youth when she met Davis at her former church, Hoover United Methodist. Davis' chess club, the Urban Knights, met across from Central High School. Morris visited the club gatherings to learn how to play. She never mastered the game but learned the basics and was intrigued by it.

"I started Googling, seeing how good [chess] was for kids," she says. "I know it was good for all this critical thinking and focusing and planning ahead -- everything that a child would need to kind of keep them on track," as well as help them in school. "So I decided that I was going to start a chess club."

Morris wanted the club to be near a church so that if the club kids wanted to go to church, they'd be within walking distance. That's what brought her to Mosaic, where she eventually became a part of the congregation. She asked church officials if they'd be open to hosting the chess club, and got a yes.

Morris asked for help from Davis, who did a youth program at Hoover and has worked with young people at several schools. "I've heard people for years talk about how they would [like to] learn to play chess and how they would like to do stuff like what [Morris is] doing," Davis says. "She's the first one I ran into that actually followed through."

She has done outstanding work, says Mark DeYmaz, founding pastor of Mosaic Church -- work "born out of Georgia's passion for young people and our community."

Morris' idea for the program fits in nicely with the church's mission, which was established not just to put on Sunday services but to "empower and free our members" to go after their callings during certain seasons of their life, he says.

"What might seem to be a limitation wasn't a limitation for her. It wasn't really about chess; it was about young people. Chess was a vehicle for their minds and their hearts."

This is evident on this particular Tuesday.

Tessa Vocque considers which chess piece to move during a meeting of the CPR Chess Club at Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas in Little Rock. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)

Settling at a table across from the Burnett brothers and three other boys is Tessa Vocque, a 7-year-old first-grader at Forest Heights STEM Academy. She has been coming to the club about four months.

She likes the fact that "it doesn't exactly matter who wins and loses," at chess, she says. Here, one doesn't lose. One learns.

"I also like that it's just fun to play," Tessa adds.

Her mother, Cindy Vocque of Little Rock, is just outside the classroom.

When she found out about the club, she felt it would be the perfect outlet for her daughter, Vocque says. "I thought this [would] be great to help her learn some self-control, planning skills, sitting still and just how to use strategies -- not only in a game, but ... in her community and her life."

She sees her strong-willed daughter learning to "self-regulate her emotions," Vocque adds.

Teaching the advanced class is Nate Martin, an architect with WD&D Architects in Little Rock and another of the club's volunteer coaches. Martin became involved with the club more than two years ago when he saw a segment about it on the evening news. He has been playing casually since he was a child.

"What I enjoy the most is when I see something click with a student," Martin says. "One minute they didn't grasp something, and another minute, they grasp it. ... And you see them build on that week after week.

"It's fun just watching the kids ... make some crazy moves and [seeing] what happens."

Darius McCree Sr. of Little Rock, a teacher and the chess coach at Dunbar Middle School, has been plugged into CPR as a coach for about two years. When his students graduated from middle school, he sought a way to keep them together despite them going on to a handful of different high schools. He got in touch with Morris and his former Dunbar students began to visit CPR, becoming members of the club's high-school team.

He uses chess to teach students about life, McCree says. "If you [want to] teach a kid discipline and maturity, chess is the greatest way I know to do that."

KenDrell Collins, a trial attorney at the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Eastern District of Arkansas, coaches young chess enthusiasts during a weekly meeting of the CPR Chess Club. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)

When he first came to CPR, McCree says, he was amazed at what he saw.

"I tell people all the time that I've been playing this game for 30 years but, I learned from a 5-year-old here. He was 5 when I met him but ... he talked like he was, like, 54."

Fellow coach KenDrell Collins of Little Rock also enjoys seeing the students learn life through chess. A federal public defender, Collins thought he was just going to be helping out here and there with the club. But now, he's teaching a beginner's class, populated primarily with children kindergarten age through second grade.

"In chess, if you make a wrong move ... it has consequences. You might lose that piece," he says. "I deal with people every day who made a lapse in judgment or ... didn't strategically think about an action, and then there was a consequence. So we kind of teach that on a small level, a micro level, to the kids."

Racquel Green of Little Rock is not only the mother of CPR member and trophy winner Kenneth Clay III, a 10-year-old fourth-grader at Pulaski Heights Elementary School, but she's also a volunteer parent.

Davis, Green says, recruited her son to come over and play chess, which he began doing in late 2018. "And ever since, he's been right over here. He does not miss a Tuesday ... If he's had a stressful week, he's looking forward to Tuesday ... 'I have got to go and take this strategy out on chess.' So I like to hear that."

The club has coaxed the once-introverted Kenneth out of his shell, Green adds. "Now, he's more sociable. Now, he's more outgoing. Now, he's more ... proud of himself."

And Green is impressed that Georgia "just knew what God wanted for her to do."

"She didn't wonder how she was going to get the resources. She didn't wonder who was going to support her. She didn't wonder if she was going to have a kid. She just did it."

And Morris was instrumental in getting the Little Rock School District to change its rules about chess.

The district hosts chess tournaments, but these were once open only to the schools that had chess clubs.

Siblings Mert and Nur Korkmaz learn the game of life while play chess during a Tuesday-evening meeting of the CPR Chess Club. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)

Most of the school-based chess clubs were under the schools' gifted and talented programs. On several occasions, Morris went to the district's former fund and budget coordinator and pleaded with him to allow her club members to participate in these tournaments. He finally relented. The club went to the tournament for the first time in 2017.

"She was doing something that was virtually undone -- in fact, not just virtually undone here, but virtually undone anywhere in the country," Davis says.

Today, CPR's teams are the only community-based teams that can compete in Little Rock School District tournaments. On Feb. 8, more than 20 children from the club participated in the district chess tournament. Members have racked up numerous medals and team trophies; the club itself has garnered such honors as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Service Award, KARK Pay It 4 Ward Award, and the Dunbar Community Award.

CPR didn't just grow bigger; it expanded outside Little Rock. Laverne Tyler of Pine Bluff is over the CPR Chess Club's Pine Bluff branch. Open to anybody and free of charge, it meets from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursdays -- and has an in-house tournament -- at the Trinity Annex Building, 2900 W. Sixth Ave. in Pine Bluff. The chapter currently has nearly 20 members ranging from first grade to junior high school. These children also participated in the Feb. 8 Little Rock School District chess tournament.

A member and past master with Cornerstone Lodge No. 1601, Prince Hall Masons in Pine Bluff, Tyler also coaches three youth football teams and shepherds a group of Junior Masons. Determined after a visit to a CPR meeting to take the program back to his own youth, he rounded up some of his football players, and invited a few more, to play chess. "They had never seen chess," Tyler says. "And probably about a month after that, they were playing chess like they'd been playing all their lives."

The game, he explains, "raised up their confidence level. All their teachers [are] saying their grades have come up, their attitudes have gotten better ... And then they're learning to work through difficulties."

CPR-Pine Bluff recently celebrated its one-year anniversary. "We've been competing and winning," Tyler says.

"For me to see them sitting and thinking -- it showed me the potential that exists within them."

Volunteers and donations are welcome at both CPR clubs (Tyler especially seeks male volunteers, whether or not they're chess players). Little Rock donations should go through Vine & Village, vineandvillage.org with the CPR Chess Program indicated. For more information, contact Morris at (501) 416-5348 or gmmorris.cpr55@att.net. For Pine Bluff, contact Tyler at (870) 329-4398 or lavernetyler1975@yahoo.com.

Style on 02/16/2020

Link:

Game changer: Volunteer creates chess club that gives kids all the right moves - NWAOnline

This is a variant from the game Nana Dzagnidze v Valentina Gunina, Cairns Cup, St Louis 2020. Black has the brutal threat of Rh8, Qxh2+ and Rxh2 mate. Can you find Whites only move to escape?

Guildfords stranglehold on Britains Four Nations Chess League (4NCL) is set to continue for an eighth consecutive season as the Surrey club steamrollered two more opponents at Daventry last weekend, while their sponsored rivals from Yorkshire and the Isle of of Man lost ground on the leaders. Guildford last lost a match, 3.5-4.5 to White Rose, on 5 May 2012, since when the teams unbeaten run stretches to 81 wins and two draws.

Each of two sections qualifies four teams for the championship pool. Guildford lead the A group with 8/8 ahead of Chessable White Rose and Wood Green 6/8. The B group has Chess.com Manx Liberty 8/8, Grantham 7/8 and Guildford B 6/8. Guildford have won all four matches by at least 7-1 so are already well ahead on game points.

A mix of experienced English and French Olympiad grandmasters form Guildfords core and it was a specially good weekend for Michael Adams. The seven-time British champion is aged 48 and has recently struggled to hold on to the England No 1 spot against his younger rivals Luke McShane, Gawain Jones and David Howell. But Howell had a form dip at Hastings while Jones has been held back by draws, whereas in the last few weeks Adams scored an unbeaten 7/10 at Gibraltar, then defeated GMs Stephen Gordon and Jon Speelman at the 4NCL.

The Cornishman has now recovered not only his England No 1 position but also a 2700 elite rating and is the second oldest 2700+ after Indias former world champion Vishy Anand. Matthew Sadler, the England No 2 four rating points behind Adams, is co-author of Game Changer, the acclaimed AlphaZero book, and an amateur GM who plays little apart from the 4NCL yet hardly ever loses. In his game against 3Cs Sadler won what he later described as his most AlphaZero-like game yet.

It was also interesting that Guildford fielded the Leicester GM Mark Hebden on bottom board. Hebden, who will be 62 on Saturday, played a key, though understated, role in the 1970s and 80s boom when England for a few years became the No 2 chess nation after the Soviet Union. Many opening novelties worked out then were developed on the weekend circuit where few games were published and where Hebden evolved a purpose-built repertoire which made him a prolific prize winner.

The Grand Prix, Barry and 150 Attacks were his weapons, with easy to understand strategies which attracted a host of followers and are still popular among online blitz players. Hebden was at it again last weekend, where his opponent seemed unfamiliar with the 150 Attack and was crushed in short order.

Blacks 7 a6? (better c6 to secure d5 for the f6 knight) was far too slow and could already have been met by 8 e5!, but Hebden preferred the classical plan of switching his queen to boost his K-side attack. Then 12Nbd7? put Blacks minor pieces in a tangle, and the position fell apart.

Mark Hebden v Aisha Benhamida (Guildford v 3Cs)

1 d4 Nf6 2 Nc3 g6 3 e4 d6 4 Nf3 Bg7 5 Be3 0-0 6 Qd2 Nbd7 7 Bh6 a6? 8 0-0-0 Nb6 9 h3 Be6 10 Qg5 c6 11 Qh4 Qc7 12 Ng5 Nbd7? 13 f4 Rfe8 14 Bxg7 Kxg7 15 e5 Nh5 16 g4 h6 17 Nxe6+ fxe6 18 gxh5 1-0

When Manx unleashed Hungarys world No 14, Richard Rapport, against Guildford in last seasons final match, it seemed this might be a foretaste of a sustained title challenge. This has not happened yet, as both Manx and White Rose have relied on their pre-sponsor squads. The challenging pair are expected to make their effort at the final league weekend in May when they will probably bring in some overseas heavyweights, but it will be a slim chance. White Rose have already lost a match while Guildford are already virtually assured of superior game points.

Irelands Gonzaga, newly promoted from Division Two, and Scotlands Alba, newly relegated from Division One, are both effectively national teams, though far from full strength. Both have the same basic problem.Their squads are expert level with a sprinkling of masters, and this formula is insufficient for consistent survival in the top division, so both may be in a pattern of yo-yoing between divisions.

A former world champion in action in Division Two is a rare sight. Chinas Tan Zhongyi, fresh from winning the 20,000 womens first prize at Gibraltar, played No 1 for Kings Head, the London chess pub team, and won two smooth strategic games.

On the international front,the central action this week is at the Prague Masters including six GMs from the world top 30. Chess fans will be watching Alireza Firouzja,16, in his second elite tournament following Wijk aan Zee, where he was wiped out 5-0 by the super-elite but scored well against others.

3658 1 cxb4! draws. If Rh8 2 Qc6+! Kg7 3 Qc3+! Kg6 4 Qd3+! when Black must repeat by 4..Kg7 since 4f5? loses to 5 Qd6+! when the BK must self-block by Kh5 or be mated. The Cairns Cup of 10 top women players is the female version of the elite Sinquefield Cup, and its final rounds can be watched free and live online this weekend.

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Chess: Guildford extend unbeaten run to 83 matches over nearly eight years - The Guardian