Grandmaster’s Corner
By GM MICHAEL ROHDE

Since chess is now recognized as a beneficial educational endeavor across the United States, with an increasing percentage of the US Chess Federation membership being made up of students, it is an opportune time for professional chess in America to take a major step forward as well. Such was the thinking of the Seattle Chess Foundation(www.seattlechessfoundation.org) in guaranteeing a $200,000 prize fund for the U.S. Championships (a 56-player invitational event), to be held in Seattle from January 4 through 13, 2002. The SCF mission statement explains this as follows:

“We believe that this event will inspire young people to pursue chess and the active development of their minds. We will encourage and promote chess for every child. Chess is accessible to all people regardless of age, gender, race or physical ability. Specifically, we will focus on encouraging young women and minorities to fully participate in this activity.”

But for hundreds of chess players and chess masters nationwide, the immediate upshot will be attendance at the US Open in Framingham, Massachusetts, August 4 through 12, thanks to the SCF sponsorship. The top ten finishers in the Open will qualify for the United States championship.

In New York City developments, the Kids’ Chess Network chess camp resumes August 20-24 and August 27-31 at the Marshall Chess Club in Greenwich Village. The June edition of the camp was a great success, with many of our campers going on to play in the traditional July 4th mega-event, the “World Open” which was held at the Adam’s Mark Hotel in Philadelphia. This year, KCN teacher Donny Ariel made an International Master performance, and is well on his way to being awarded the coveted International Master title. For more information on the camp, visit www.KidsChessNetwork.com#

Write Michael@KidsChessNetwork.com or call (646) 765-7278. Michael Rohde is an International Grandmaster of chess, and a frequent contributor to chess publications.

Education Update, Inc., P.O. Box 20005, New York, NY 10001. Tel: (212) 481-5519. Fax: (212) 481-3919. Email: ednews1@aol.com.
All material is copyrighted and may not be printed without express consent of the publisher. © 2001.