U.S.championship 2009

Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis
Presents the 2009 U.S. Championship
Saint Louis, Missouri May 7-17, 2009
History of U.S. Championship
pride and soul of chess, Paul
It has also been a truly national
Morphy, was only the fourth true
championship. For many years
No series of tournaments or
chess tournament ever held in the
the title tournament was identi-
matches enjoys the same rich,
world.
fied with New York. But it has
turbulent history as that of the
also been held in towns as small
United States Chess Championship.
In its first century and a half plus,
as South Fallsburg, New York,
It is in many ways unique and, up
the United States Championship
Mentor, Ohio, and Greenville,
to recently, unappreciated.
has provided all kinds of entertain-
Pennsylvania.
ment. It has introduced new

In Europe and elsewhere, the idea
heroes exactly one hundred years
Fans have witnessed
of choosing a national champion
apart in Paul Morphy (1857) and
championship play in Boston, and
came slowly. The first Russian
Bobby Fischer (1957) and honored
Las Vegas, Baltimore and Los
championship tournament, for
remarkable veterans such as
Angeles, Lexington, Kentucky,
example, was held in 1889. The
Sammy Reshevsky in his late 60s.
and El Paso, Texas. The title has
Germans did not get around to
There have been stunning upsets
been decided in sites as varied
naming a champion until 1879.
(Arnold Denker in 1944 and John
as the Sazerac Coffee House in
The first official Hungarian champi-
Grefe in 1973) and marvelous
1845 to the Cincinnati Literar y
onship occurred in 1906, and the
achievements (Fischers winning
Club, the Automobile Club of
first Dutch, three years later.
debut as a precocious 14-year-old
Detroit. The U.S. Championship
in 1957, and his remarkable
has been held in the auditorium
But American chess fans knew as
perfect score of 11-0 in 1964, to
of a fundamentalist Christian
early as 1845 who their champion
his record-breaking eight title wins).
college in Pasadena and, in 1984

the Student Union Building of the
was: the little-known Charles

Stanley and many non-players
The championship has seen
University of California at
knew it, too, because the title
scandals and swindles, boycotts and
Berkeley, as well as the Seattle
match of that year was well publi-
brilliancies, bitter controversy and
Center in the shadows of the
cized. Twelve years later the
theoretical innovations. The games
Space Needle. The most recent
industrious American organizers
have been won and lost by
titles have been decided in
mounted their first tournament for
geniuses and drunkards, prodigies
Oklahoma in the 2007 and 2008
a national champion. And that
and migrs, college dons and
Championships.
event, New York 1857, won by the
coffeehouse hustlers.
U.S. Championship Facts
From 1905 through to 1936, the
In 2004, the U.S. Championship
title was decided by a match
had a big media presence, with
With a heritage line that includes
between the top two players in the
recorded figures showing we had:
great legends of the game, no
country; Frank Marshall holding the
series of tournaments or matches
title throughout.
sions from media clips double
enjoys the same rich history as

that of the U.S. Chess
The longest gap between title
Championships.
wins is 33 years when Sammy
The first player to be termed, by
The first championship to find a
that of 2002.
Revshevsky won his first title in
More than 445 stories came out
1936 and his last, in 1969.
in national print/online 50
popular acclaim, U.S. Champion,

was Charles Stanley in 1845.
More than 50 million impres-
percent more than we had in 2002.

The first U.S. Womens
Championship was held in 1938,
More than 25 local/national
and won by Gisela Gresser.
broadcast stories of the games

was tracked; this is up from the
true national champion was New

York 1857, won by Paul Morphy. It
The youngest winner of the title
was only the fourth chess
at 14 in 1957 was Bobby Fischer.
championship ever held.
He also holds the record for the
45 out of 50 states ran at least
most titles won with 8.
one story about the U.S.
previous years 14 broadcast clips.
Championships
The first official U.S. Champion

was Jackson Showalter (who is
The player with the best score is
also credited with the invention of
Bobby Fischer, who in 1964
the curve ball in baseball) in 1890.
recorded a perfect 11-0.
35 million website hits

110,500 unique visitors tracked
2009 U.S. Championship at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis
U.S. Chess Champions

Champions by
Tournament Champions
Tournament Champions
Acclamation from Past
after 1936
after 1983
1936 Samuel Reshevsky
1983 Walter Browne,
Larry Christiansen,
defeated Eugne Rousseau in a
Roman Dzindzichashvili
match in 1845
1984 Lev Alburt
1944 Arnold Denker
1985 Lev Alburt
rst American Chess Congress in
1986 Yasser Seirawan
1857
1948 Herman Steiner
1987 Joel Benjamin and
Years
1845-1857 Charles Stanley,
1857-1871 Paul Morphy, won the
1871-1889 George Henry Macken-
1951 Larry Evans
Nick de Firmian
zie, won the 2nd, 3rd and 5th
1954 Arthur Bisguier
1988 Michael Wilder
American Chess Congress
1957/8 Bobby Fischer
1989 Roman Dzindzichashvili,
Stuart Rachels, Yasser Seirawan
Match Champions
1959 Bobby Fischer
1990 Lev Alburt
1991 Gata Kamsky
1889 - 1890 S.Lipschtz
1992 Patrick Wol
1890 1890 Jackson Showalter
1993 Alexander Shabalov
1890 - 1892 Max Judd
1892 - 1892 Jackson Showalter
1994 Boris Gulko
1892 - 1893 S. Lipschtz
1968 Larry Evans
1995 Nick de Firmian,
1894 - 1895 Albert Hodges
1972 Robert Byrne
1996 Alex Yermolinsky
1973 Lubomir Kavalek and
1997 Joel Benjamin
1889-1935
1897 - 1906 Harry Nelson
John Grefe
and Alex Yermolinsky
Patrick Wol, Alexander Ivanov
1998 Nick de Firmian
1974 Walter Browne
1999 Boris Gulko
1975 Walter Browne
2000 Joel Benjamin,
1909 - 1935 Frank Marshall
1977 Walter Browne
Pillsbury
Alexander Shabalov, Yasser Seirawan
1978 Lubomir Kavalek
2002 Larry Christiansen
1980 Walter Browne,
Larry Christiansen,
2005 Hikaru Nakamura
Larry Evans
2006 Alexander Onischuk

2008 Yury Shulman
NATIONS BEST PLAYERS TO COMPETE IN MAY AT 2009 U.S. CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP IN ST. LOUIS
Two dozen contestants will vie for $130,000 in prizes at new venue
ST. LOUIS, Januar y 27, 2009 -- Two dozen of the nations best chess players will be invited to par ticipate
in the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship, which will be held at the new Chess Club and Scholastic Center of
Saint Louis. The tournament, which dates back to 1845, will take place from May 7 through 17, 2009 and
will offer a purse of more than $130,000 in prize money.
The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, which Steve Goldberg of United States Chess
Federation (USCF) Online calls cer tainly one of the most impressive chess centers in the countr y, opened
in July 2008. Founded by retired investment fund manager Rex Sinquefield, it already has nearly 500
members, surpassing its original goal of 300 for its first year of operation by 67 percent.
The 24 invited players will include:
the top 12 American players by rating, using the April rating supplement;
the top two female players by rating, using the April rating supplement;
the 2008 U.S. Junior Closed Champion;
the 2008 U.S. Open Champion;
the 2009 U.S. State Champion of Champions;
a total of seven wild card spots, to be determined later.
The winner will receive $35,000, with additional cash prizes awarded to all par ticipants, including $2,000 to
the last-place entrant. Cash prizes will be divided equally among tied competitors. Additionally, top youths
from throughout America will be invited to compete. Spectators will be welcome at the event.
The championship will be a 9-round event, using the Swiss system with one round per day and a rest day
between rounds 5 and 6. Time controls will be the classical 40 moves in two hours, with one hour allowed
for all remaining moves. Guest commentar y will be provided by two world-class Grand Masters throughout
the event.
We are delighted to host the prestigious U.S. Chess Championship in our first full year of operation, said
(continued) for us to
Tony Rich, executive director of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. gratifying
(continued)
NATIONS BEST PLAYERS TO COMPETE IN MAY AT 2009 U.S. CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP IN ST. LOUIS
Two dozen contestants will vie for $130,000 in prizes at new venue
It is exciting and gratifying for us to bring together the nations best players at our first-class facility.
The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis is a not-for-profit, 501(c)3 organization. The club,
which has welcomed nearly 500 members since its July 2008 opening, offers free classes for beginners,
discounted tournament entr y fees and discounted merchandise for club members. For more information,
please visit www.saintlouischessclub.org or call 314-361-CHESS.
The United States Chess Federation is the official, not-for-profit U.S. membership organization for chess
players and chess suppor ters of all ages and strengths, from beginners to grand masters. Founded in 1939
with the merger of the American Chess Federation and the National Chess Federation, USCF has grown to
more than 80,000 members and nearly 1,200 affiliated chess clubs and organizations. USCF sanctions 25
national championships award titles to both amateurs and professionals, ranging from elementar y school
students to senior citizens. For more information, visit www.uschess.org.
Gata Kamsky
Hikaru Nakamura
Alexander Onischuk
Overall ranking: 1
Overall ranking: 2
Overall ranking: 3
Rating points: 2798
Rating points: 2757
Rating points: 2736
Age: 34
Age: 21
Age: 33
Bir thplace: Russia
Bir thplace: Japan
Bir thplace: Ukraine
Residence: Brooklyn, NY
Residence: White Plains, NY
Residence: Baltimore, MD
Highlights: 2007 World Cup, 1991
Highlights: 2005 U.S. Championship,
2007 Nor th American Open Champion,
second in the 2007 Grandmaster
2007 National Open Champion
Tournament of International Chess
U.S. Championship
Bio: Gata Kamsky came to the U.S. in
Festival Biel
1989 and became a Grandmaster in
Bio: Hikaru Nakamura is a record-
1990 at 16. He played Karpov for the
breaking, blitz champion, medal-
Bio: Alexander Onischuk has placed first
World Championship in 1996.
earning phenomenon. He became the
in more than 20 tournaments, including
Although he lost the match, he was
youngest master in American histor y
the 2000 Ukrainian Championship. He
the first American since Bobby Fischer
at the age of 10, then broke Bobby
became a Grandmaster in 1994 at the
to go that far. After losing, he gave up
Fischers record by becoming the
age of 19 and relocated to the U.S. in
chess, attended and graduated from
youngest American Grandmaster at
2001. When he won the 2006 U.S.
law school. After a break of nearly a
15. In 2004, he advanced into the
Championship, he called it the happiest
decade, Kamsky returned to chess, to
sweet 16 at the World Championship
moment of his career to have his name
win the 2007 World Chess Cup just
in Libya. He also won his first U.S.
on a trophy alongside players such as
three years after his comeback.
Championship at the age of 16. Hes
Fischer and Morphy. Onischuk was key to
Kamsky lost his Februar y 09 match
racked up numerous championships
Americas bronze medal finishes in 2006
against Veselin Topalov and with it,
over the past decade, and despite his
and 2008 Olympiads. He has an
the chance to advance to the this
aggressive, individualistic style,
impressive international record: he
cycles World Championship, but he is
Nakamura has proven to be a great
placed second in the International Chess
as determined as ever. Kamsky
team player: He was a two-time bronze
Festival in Biel and also won the super
par ticipates in one elite event after
medallist in the 2006 and 2008
strong Moscow Open in January 2009.
another in Europe, making him the #1
Olympiad, playing for the USA team.
Onischuk is a member of the Chess Club
GM to watch in Saint Louis.
and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis

board of Grandmaster Advisers.
Yury Shulman
Larry Christiansen
Julio Becerra
Overall ranking: 4
Overall ranking: 6
Overall ranking: 7
Rating points: 2697
Rating points: 2681
Rating points: 2672
Age: 33
Age: 52
Age: 35
Bir thplace: Belarus
Bir thplace: Riverside, CA
Bir thplace: Cuba
Residence: Barrington, IL
Residence: Cambridge, CA
Residence: Miami, FL
Highlights: 2006 Florida Champion,
2006 U.S. Open Championship, tied
1983 U.S. Championship, 1980 U.S.
2006 U.S. Chess League MVP, 1995
for first in the 2001 World Open
Championship, 2001 Canadian Open
and 1998 Cuban Champion
Chess Championship
Bio: Yur y Shulman achieved the
Bio: Julio Becerra earned his
Grandmaster title in 1995 and
Bio: Larr y Christiansen was the first
Grandmaster title in 1997 and
moved to the U.S. four years later to
junior high school student to win the
decided to relocate to the U.S. two
become one of the top American
National High School Championship,
years later after attending the 1999
players. Shulman also uses chess
taking the title in 1971. He went on
World Championship in Las Vegas.
for philanthropic causes. He founded
to win three invitational U.S. Junior
Until 2005, however, he was unable
the Yur y Shulman International
Championships and three U.S.
to travel internationally to play chess
Chess School and consistently
Championships. He became a
because he had no American
contributes to not-for-profit entities,
Grandmaster in 1977 at the age of
passpor t. He since has become a
schools and camps. He holds a
21, skipping over the usual step of
U.S. citizen and has steadily
bachelors degree in computer
becoming an International Master.
increased his rating. Becerra is first
science and an MBA. Last year
Christiansen has won the prestigious
board for the Miami Sharks of the
proved to be a great year for
Linares tournament twice. He has a
U.S. Chess League and was league
Shulman: In addition to winning his
thrilling chess style that is always
MVP for two years in a row.
first U.S. Championship title, he was
fun for spectators. He even wrote
also par t of the bronze medal
two books on attacking: Storming
Olympiad team in Dresden, Germany.
the Barricades and Rocking the

Rampar ts.
Varuzhan Akobian
Gregory Kaidanov
Joel Benjamin
Overall ranking: 8
Overall ranking: 9
Overall ranking: 10
Rating points: 2664
Rating points: 2662
Rating points: 2650
Age: 25
Age: 49
Age: 45
Bir thplace: Armenia
Bir thplace: New York
Residence: Nor th Hollywood, CA
Residence: Lexington, KY
Residence: New Jersey
Highlights: 2004 World Open, tied
Highlights: 2002 U.S. Masters
for first place in the 2002 World
winner, 2002 Chicago Open Winner,
1997 U.S. Championship, 1987 U.S.
Open
1992 World Open Winner, 1992 U.S.
Championship
Open Winner
Bio: Varuzhan Akobian qualified to play
Bio: Joel Benjamin became a
his first rated tournament, the Arme-
Bio: Gregor y Kaidanovs first major
national master at the age of 13,
nian Junior Chess Championship in
win came in a Moscow tournament in
breaking Bobby Fischers record for
1992, earning 3rd place in the under
1987, and he was awarded the
youngest-ever master. A three-time
10 section, then went on to take 1st
Grandmaster title a year later.
U.S. Junior Champion, he became a
place the following year. He par tici-
Kaidanov moved to the U.S. in 1991.
Grandmaster in 1986. Benjamin also
pated in his first World Chess Champi-
Hes racked up a number of tourna-
goes into the U.S. Championship
onship in Czechoslovakia at the age of
ment championships. Kaidanov was
histor y books for playing in a record
9 and placed 8th. He won the Samford
a member of the silver Olympiad
22 consecutive championships. His
Chess Fellowship in 2002, which
team in Russia in 1998, won a silver
most-famous gig was helping the
allowed him to focus on chess for two
board medal at the Calvia, Spain
Deep Blue IBM Computer team
years. It paid off: Akobian reached his
Olympiad in 2004 and was a member
defeat Garr y Kasparov in 1997, a
first long-time goal of becoming a
of the bronze medal Olympiad team
win that was later featured in the
Grandmaster in 2004. Akobian is
in 2006. Kaidanov is one of
documentar y Game Over.
known for being a great team player:
Americas premiere chess coaches.
He was a member of the bronze medal
In 2008, he coached the U.S. team
Olympiad teams in 2006 and 2008. He
to a bronze medal finish at the
was also featured on MTVs True Life
Womens Olympiad.
series. Akobian is the highest-ranked

Californian player.
Jaan Ehlvest
Boris Gulko
Ildar Ibragimov
Overall ranking: 11
Overall ranking: 12
Overall ranking: 13(t)
Rating points: 2649
Rating points: 2631
Rating points: 2628
Age: 46
Age: 62
Age: 41
Bir thplace: Estonia
Bir thplace: Germany
Bir thplace: Russia
Residence: Baltimore, MD
Residence: Fairlawn, NJ
Residence: New Haven, CT
Highlights: 2008 Pan American-
Highlights: 2005 World Open, 2004
Continental Championship, qualifying
1994 U.S. Championship
U.S. Open, 2004 Continental Open
first in the A2 section of the
Bio: Boris Gulko earned his Grand-
Bio: Ildar Ibragimov tied for first in
Aeroflot Open, 2003 World Open
master title in 1976 and won the
the USSR Young Masters in 1991.
for the 2009 FIDE World Cup, tied for
USSR Chess Championship a year
Since moving to the U.S. in 2002,
Bio: Jaan Ehlvest rose to chess fame
later. His chess career took a
hes made a name for himself in the
quickly in the early 1980s, placing
backseat to his opposition to
American Open and is known for an
second in the 1981 World Junior
Communism. As a refusenik, he
aggressive style that keeps
Championship and first in the 1983
was arrested, beaten and forbidden
opponents guessing. He lost a
European Junior Championship. He
to par ticipate in top-level chess
memorable final round to Nakamura
became a Grandmaster in 1987 and
competitions. Gulko was allowed to
in the 2005 U.S. Championship. In,
two years later finished clear first in
come to the U.S. in 1986. He
2006 Ibragimov narrowly lost out on
the 1989 Reggio Emilia. Ehlvest won
qualified to play in the 2004 World
the chance to play the final match.
the Grand Prix title in 2006, the
Chess Championship in Libya but
same year he switched federations
withdrew along with other Jewish
from Estonia to America, making him
players.
eligible for the U.S. Championship for

the first time.
Melikset Khachiyan
Alexander Shabalov
Josh Friedel
Overall ranking: 15
Rating points: 2628
Rating points: 2625
Rating points: 2568
Age: 38
Age: 42
Age: 22
Bir thplace: Russia
Bir thplace: Latvia
Bir thplace: New Hampshire
Residence: Glendale, CA
Residence: Pittsburgh, PA
Residence: New York
Highlights: Frank K. Berr y 2007 U.S.
Highlights: 2007 Samford
Championship, tied for first in the
2003 U.S. Championship, tied for
Scholarship winner, 2006 2nd All
2006 American Open
first 2003 World Open, first in
Star Team: Board 1
Chicago and Nor th American Opens,

Bio: Melikset Khachiyan began
2003
playing chess at the age of 8, won
Bio: Josh Friedel just recently earned

his Grandmaster title after the 2008
the Baku Junior Championship two
Bio: Alexander Shabalov realized
U.S. Championship. He learned
years later and became a Soviet
chess would be his profession after
chess at the early age of 3 and
Candidate Master two years after
winning the Latvian junior champion-
began tournament play at age 6. In
that. He began coaching early in his
ship at the age of 11. He went on to
1995, he scored his first tournament
career and has brought up three
win the Under-16 Championship of
victor y, winning the New Hampshire
Junior World Champions. In 2001, he
the Soviet Union in 1982. The
State Amateur Championship at age
immigrated to the U.S., where he
three-time U.S. Champion is known
8. His first major tournament victor y
par ticipated in the National Open in
for no-holds barred chess and
was in 2001 when he won the Pan
Las Vegas. He earned his
thriving on wild moves.
Am Open. In 2007, Friedel earned
Grandmaster title in 2006.
the prestigious Samford Scholarship,

allowing him to focus on chess
full-time for two years.
Robert Hess
Enrico Sevillano
Ray Robson
Overall ranking: 37
Rating points: 2545
Rating points: 2542
Rating points: 2542
Age: 17
Bir th year: 1968
Age: 14
Bir thplace: New York
Bir thplace: Cebu City, Philippines
Bir thplace: Guam
Residence: New York
Residence: Tehachapi, CA
Residence: Largo, FL
Highlights: Tied for first 2008
Highlights: Tied for first in the 2008
Highlights: National Champion,
Foxwoods Open, 2006 U.S. Junior
U.S. Open
elementar y division, 2005 Super
Championship, 2002 Pan-American
Nationals, tied for first in 2005 and
Youth Championship in Argentina,
Bio: Enrico Sevillano won the Asian
2006 Pan American Youth Champion-
won 2009 National High School
junior crown in 1986 and took par t in
ships
Championship in Nashville with
the 1992 Manila Olympiad before
a per fect score
immigrating to the U.S. He was the
Bio: Ray Robson learned chess at
first Filipino ever to qualify for the
age 3 and has earned seven national
Bio: Rober t Hess was awarded the
U.S. Championship and has the best
scholastic titles since. For winning
International Master title in 2007
track record among Filipino players in
the Super Nationals, he will receive a
and achieved his first two
America. Hes won a number of
full scholarship to the University of
Grandmaster norms in 2008 at the
California championships and
Texas at Dallas. Robson finished in
Foxwood Open and 2009 at the
tournaments.
the top 10 at the World Youth
SPICE Spring Invitational in Texas.
Championship from 2004 to 2007.
Hess has earned his third GM norm
He defeated his first Grandmaster in
and is now a Grandmaster elect.
2006, the same year he earned the
Hes a junior at Stuyvesant High
USCF National Master title. Hes the
School in New York, where he also
youngest IM in the U.S. and is widely
plays football.
considered as Americas brightest

hope to become an elite GM since
Hikaru Nakamura. Robson studies
with No. 3 seed in the tournament,
Alexander Onischuk.
Anna Zatonskih
Irina Krush
Michael Brooks
Rating points: 2503
Rating points: 2496
Rating points: 2423
Age: 30
Age: 25
Bir th year: 1961
Residence: Kansas City, MO
Residence: Long Island
Residence: Brooklyn, NY
Highlights: 1994 Nor th American
Highlights: 2008 U.S. Womens
Highlights: 2007 U.S. Womens
Championship, 2006 U.S. Womens
Chess Champion, 1998 U.S.
Championship
Womens Chess Champion, 1998
Bio: Michael Brooks has been an
Pan-American Youth Champion
International Master since 1989 and
Bio: Anna Zatonskih is a three-time
Open
has been the Missouri state cham-
Ukrainian womens champion and
Bio: Irina Krush became the
pion six times, losing only five times
two-time U.S. Womens Champion.
youngest-ever to win the U.S.
since in tie-breaks. In 1982, Brooks
Anna moved to the U.S. in 2002. She
Womens Championship in 1998 with
tied for first place in the Midwest
was a member of the 2004 silver
the astounding score of 8.5/9. Three
Masters Tournament in Chicago and
medalist team in Calvia, Spain, and
years later, she won the Mayors
tied for second in the event in 1989.
second board on the 2008 bronze
Cup, an international round robin
In 1994, Brooks won the Nor th
medalist team in Dresden, Germany.
held in New York, despite being the
American Open in Las Vegas.
She took a gold medal for second
lowest-rated player invited to par tici-
board per formance at the 2008
pate. Shes been a valuable team
Dresden Olympiad and is the reigning
member at Olympiads and was par t
U.S. Womens Champion.
of the silver medal team in 2004 and

the bronze medal team in 2008.
Krush also won the 2007 U.S.
Championship and lost the 2008 title
in a controversial playoff against
Anna Zatonskih.
Sam Shankland
Charles Lawton
Tyler Hughes
Rating points: 2477
Rating points: 2358
Rating points: 2272
Age: 17
Bir th year: 1953
Age: 17
Bir thplace: Berkeley
Residence: St. Louis
Bir thplace: Colorado
Residence: California
Residence: Colorado
Highlights: Information unavailable
Highlights: 2008 World Under 18
Highlights: 2008 U.S. Junior
co-champion, 2009 Champion of
Bio: National Master Charles Lawton
Championship, 2005, 2006, 2007
State Champions
has been a steady fixture in Missouri
and 2008 Colorado High School
chess, known for an aggressive style
Champion, 2004 U.S. Exper t
Bio: Sam Shankland, a
and playing offbeat lines. Hes a
Champion.
self-proclaimed typical teenager,
two-time Missouri Open Champion.
racked up more than 200 points in
Bio: Tyler Hughes won the 2008 U.S.
just over a year, picking up his IM
Junior Chess Championship and
title along the way. He claimed the
represented the U.S. at the World
last spot in the U.S. Championship
Junior Chess Championship in
after winning the final match of the
Turkey. Hughes, who is home-
State Champion of Champions. The
schooled, studies under coach GM
match went all the way down to the
Petr Kiriakov. He learned chess at 5
wire, with he and opponent
and became more interested after
Mackenzie Molner splitting the rapid
reading his first chess book and
and blitz matches. Although hes one
realizing study would improve his
of the lower-rated players in the
game.
tournament, its anyones guess how

far hell go.
Famous People Who Played
Anatole Lenin
Frank Sinatra
Chess
Winston Churchill
Bill Cosby
Chess isnt just for scholars
Ben Affleck
some ver y famous people
Bono [U2]
loved chess, too!
Bob Dylan
Barbra Streisand
Leaders & Politicians:
Bjorn Ulvaeus
[ABBA]
John Adams
Sting
James Monroe
Thomas Jefferson
Show Business:
Humphrey Bogar t
Charlie Chaplin
Lauren Bacall
Dave Barr y
Will Smith
Others:
Alber t Einstein
Billy Graham
Napoleon Bonapar te
Ben Franklin
General Rober t E. Lee
Sports:
Abraham Lincoln
Larry Bird
Grover Cleveland
Theodore Roosevelt
John Wayne
Queen Victoria
Marlon Brando
William H. Taft
Katherine Hepburn
Woodrow Wilson
Marilyn Monroe
Bill Clinton
Madonna
Henr y Kissinger
Woody Allen
Spiro Agnew
Henr y Fonda
Fidel Castro
John Lennon & Yoko Ono

Willie Nelson
Dominic Hasek
Lennox Lewis
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Evander Holyfield
Anna Kournikova
Barry Sanders
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Wednesday, May 6, 2009 Saint Louis
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Public
Saturday, May 2, 2009 Saint Louis
University Museum of Art Event at Saint
2:00pm 8:00pm Round 5
Science Center Event - Public
Louis University Invite & Public
11:00am 2:00pm WGM, Jennifer

Shahade, Simuls with local Chess Players
Opening of Marcel Duchamp: Chess Master
Wednesday, May 13, 2009 - Public
at Saint Louis University Museum of Art
5:00pm Preview for VIPs Invitation Only

Sunday, May 3, 2009 Arts In Transit Event
Thursday, May 14, 2009 - Public
6:00pm 8:00pm Grand Opening - Public
Thursday, May 7, 2009 U.S. Championship
Saturday, May 16, 2009 - United States
12:00pm 4:00pm Outreach to
Opening Event at Saint Louis University
Chess Federation Board Meeting at Chase
Community to Paint Bus (STLPS)
Museum of Art
Park Plaza Hotel, Boardroom - Public
Invitation Only
9:00am 5:00pm
at Chess Club and Scholalstic Center of

Saint Louis - Invitation Only
Monday, May 4, 2009 Tournament and

Panel Discussion Set Up Day
9:00am 5:00pm Set Ups
Drawing of the Colors

First Round Pairings
7:00pm Opening Remarks and Program
Sunday, May 17, 2009 - United States
Heavy Hors de oeuvres and Cocktails
Chess Federation Board Meeting at Chase
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 Panel Discussion
Park Plaza Hotel, Boardroom - Public
at Chess Club and Scholastic Center of
2009 U.S. CHAMPIONSHIP
Saint Louis Invite & Public
at Chess Club and Scholastic Center of
6:00pm 7:00pm VIP Reception
Saint Louis - Opening Day of the Tournament
Friday, May 8, 2009 - Public

Marcel Duchamp, Art and Chess

The evening will include a signing of Marcel
Saturday, May 9, 2009 - Public
Duchamp: The Art of Chess by Francis M.
Naumann, Bradley Bailey with annotations

by Jennifer Shahade.
7:45pm 8:30pm - Book Signing and
9:00am 5:00pm
10:00am 4:00pm Round 9 (Final)
5:00pm 7:00pm Possible Tie Breaker
Invitation Only
7:00pm 7:45pm Panel Discussion on
11:00am 5:00pm Round 8
Sunday, May 10, 2009 - Public

Reception
Monday, May 11, 2009 - Public
7:00pm 9:00pm Closing Ceremony and

Reception at Chase Park Plaza Hotel
Zodiac Room
Monday, May 18, 2009 GM Advisory

Board Meeting - Private
Time and Location TBD
Our Beginnings
Mr.Sinquefields donations have
Our Goals
The building selected for the
gotten the club off to a promising
Elevate the game of chess
club was built in 1897 by A. M.
star t.
throughout the Saint Louis

community and introduce chess
Eeinke. The renovation took

seven months to complete.
Club goals include providing
to thousands of Saint Louis
ample oppor tunities for existing
children and adults.
players to play as well as

introducing newcomers, including
students, to the game.
Our Mission
Visitors and members alike
The Chess Club and Scholastic
appreciate the sophisticated
Center of Saint Louis is the most
environment as well as the
beautiful and technologically
technology.
advanced chess club in the nation.

It is a new destination for chess
Recognizing the cognitive and
The Chess Club And Scholastic
players, both beginning and
behavioral benefits of chess, the
Center of Saint Louis was
advanced, to enjoy a game of
Chess Club and Scholastic
founded in 2007 as a not-for-
skill more than 1500 years old.
Center of Saint Louis is
profit organization to promote the
committed to suppor ting those
game of chess, with emphasis on
chess programs that already
promotion of scholastic chess
exist in area schools, while
across the greater Saint Louis
encouraging the development of
area. Impetus for creation of the
new programs within regular
club came largely from
school curricula.
Rex Sinquefield, a retired

investment fund manager with
strong interests in both chess
and helping people.
Technology at the Center

The Boards
The nine 46 screens are used
The Amenities
The Center features eight DGT-
for the DGT-brand chessboards
The Center offers free wireless
brand chessboards.
and the 52 screen is located in
Internet access for members.
the lecture area, so lecturers can

display their presentation in front
of the whole class. There are an
additional eight plasma TV
screens displaying three
These state-of-the-ar t chess-
permanent ar t installations.
boards connect to a computer
Tech specs: a state-of-the-ar t
and automatically relay the
The Website
security system that gives
moves, position, and time of the
The Centers website,
members card access control to
game to a computer, which then
www.saintlouischessclub.org,
the building, an overhead zonal
is able to display the game on
includes:
paging system so announce-
one of the plasma TVs. There is
ments can be made during
one Saitek digital clock for ever y
tournaments to specific areas of
chessboard.
the building, including the front

patio, and an automated system
The TVs
that controls the lighting,
The Center has nine 46 plasma
televisions and sound system for
TVs and one 52 plasma TV.
the entire facility.

the ability to manage your
membership, register and pay for
tournaments and events; a retail
sales storefront; and training
materials for chess students;
FISCHER MEMORIAL PRIZE, JACKPOT BONUS ADDED TO PRIZES FOR 2009 U.S. CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP
BEING HELD IN ST. LOUIS
ST. LOUIS, Februar y 18, 2009 -- A $64,000 bonus in memor y of late chess champion Bobby Fischer and a
jackpot bonus for a clear first-place winner have been added to the prizes being awarded at the 2009 U.S.
Chess Championship. The tournament, which will be held May 7-17, 2009 at the new Chess Club and
Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, will offer a purse of more than $130,000 in prize money.
Any player who scores a 9-0 sweep will be awarded the Fischer Memorial Prize, a $64,000 bonus in addition
to the first-place award. The prize is in remembrance of the late American world champion Bobby Fischer,
who died in 2008 at age 64. Fischer scored an 11-0 victor y in the 1963-64 U.S. championship, the only
per fect score in the events histor y.
Additionally, a jackpot bonus of $5,000 will be awarded to the first-place winner. If there is a tie for first,
the jackpot will be awarded in a playoff for the title of U.S. champion, to be contested on May 17, after the
final round and before the closing ceremony. Up to four players will contest a series of one-game rapid
matches designed to guarantee a decisive result (draw odds games).
Two dozen of the nations best players will be invited to par ticipate in the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship.
The 24 players include:
the top 12 American players by rating, using the April rating supplement;
the top two female players by rating, using the April rating supplement;
the 2008 U.S. Junior Closed Champion;
the 2008 U.S. Open Champion;
the 2009 U.S. State Champion of Champions;
the 2008 defending U.S. Chess Champion;
a total of six wild card spots, to be determined later.
The winner will receive $35,000, with additional cash prizes awarded to all par ticipants, including $2,000 to
the last-place entrant. Cash prizes will be divided equally among tied competitors. Additionally, top youths
from throughout America will be invited to compete. Spectators will be welcome at the event. continued
FISCHER MEMORIAL PRIZE, continued

The championship will be a 9-round event, using the Swiss system with one round per day and a rest day on
Friday, May 15 between rounds 7 and 8. Time controls will be the classical 40 moves in two hours, with one
hour allowed for all remaining moves. There also will be a five-second increment added to each players
clock after ever y move. Guest commentar y will be provided by two world-class Grandmasters throughout the
event.
We are excited to be able to provide these extra bonuses to the top-tier contestants who will be par ticipating at the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship, said Tony Rich, executive director of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. It is fitting to honor the fiercely competitive late chess legend Bobby Fischer in
such an environment.
The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis is a not-for-profit, 501(c)3 organization that opened in
July 2008. Founded by retired investment fund manager Rex Sinquefield, it already has nearly 500 members, surpassing its original goal of 300 for its first year of operation by 67 percent. The club, which Steve
Goldberg of United States Chess Federation (USCF) Online calls cer tainly one of the most impressive chess
centers in the countr y, offers free classes for beginners, discounted tournament entr y fees and discounted
merchandise for club members. For more information, please visit www.saintlouischessclub.org or call
314-361-CHESS.
In 1939 with the merger of the American Chess Federation and the National Chess Federation, USCF has
grown to more than 80,000 members and nearly 1,200 affiliated chess clubs and organizations. USCF
sanctions 25 national championship award titles to both amateurs and professionals, ranging from elementar y school students to senior citizens. For more information, visit www.uschess.org.
2009 U.S. WOMENS CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP TO BE HELD OCTOBER 2-12

AT CHESS CLUB AND SCHOLASTIC CENTER OF SAINT LOUIS
ST. LOUIS, March 28, 2009 -- The 2009 U.S. Womens Chess Championship will be held from October 2
through 12 at the sparkling, new Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, which opened in July
2008. The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis also is the site of the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship, which will take place from May 7 through 17.
The U.S. Womens Chess Championship dates back to 1937. The tournament is a 9-round event using the
Round Robin pairing system, in which ever y player plays ever y other player and the highest score wins. Time
controls will be the classical 40 moves in two hours, with the remaining moves in one hour.
There will also
be a 5-second increment per move.

Invitations will be sent to the top nine U.S. women players by ranking based on the August 2009 United
States Chess Federation rating list. An invitation will also be sent to the defending champion, Olympic gold
medalist Anna Zatonskih. The championship will have a purse of $64,000, with $15,000 awarded to the
winner, the highest first prize in its histor y. In case of even scores, prize funds will be evenly divided
between winners.
We are delighted to have the oppor tunity to host this major event in the world of competitive chess, said
Rex Sinquefield, a retired investment fund manager who founded the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of
Saint Louis. We are honored and most for tunate to ser ve as the official site in 2009 of two of the premier
chess championships.
Steve Goldberg of the United States Chess Federation (USCF) Online calls the new St. Louis club cer tainly
one of the most impressive chess centers in the countr y. While ser ving as host club for the U.S. Womens
Chess Championship and the U.S. Chess Championship, Sinquefield notes, It is the goal of the Club to
encourage all of St. Louis young people to learn chess. We believe that bringing the best chess players in
the countr y to our city will help achieve that goal. Chess Club to encourage all of St. Louis young people to
learn chess. We believe that bringing the best chess players in the countr y to our city will help achieve that
goal.
We would like to thank the following sponsors for making it possible

to bring the 2009 U.S. Championship to Saint Louis!
Internet Chess Club - ICC

RCGA
Pelopidas
Slay and Associates, Inc.
AT&T
Interchange Technologies
St. Louis Beacon
R.G. Ross
RKL Consulting
AF4C - Americas Foundation For Chess
Chase Park Plaza
Chi Chi, LLC
Carmody MacDonald
Rosenblum, Schwartz, Rogers & Glass
Arcturis
Ken and Nancy Kranzberg
Philip Slein Art Gallery
Law Offices of Eleanor Maynard
Vanessa Antoniou
Waxman Associates
MediaQuest
Josh Schindler
Schlafly
Paul and Susan Sauer
Michele Duffe
Caesar Consulting, LLC

U.S.championship 2009

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U.S.championship 2009

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Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis

Presents the 2009 U.S. Championship

Saint Louis, Missouri May 7-17, 2009

History of U.S. Championship

pride and soul of chess, Paul

It has also been a truly national

Morphy, was only the fourth true

championship. For many years

chess tournament ever held in the

the title tournament was identi-

matches enjoys the same rich,

fied with New York. But it has

turbulent history as that of the

also been held in towns as small

United States Chess Championship.

In its first century and a half plus,

as South Fallsburg, New York,

It is in many ways unique and, up

the United States Championship

Mentor, Ohio, and Greenville,

has provided all kinds of entertain-

ment. It has introduced new

heroes exactly one hundred years

Fans have witnessed

of choosing a national champion

apart in Paul Morphy (1857) and

championship play in Boston, and

came slowly. The first Russian

Bobby Fischer (1957) and honored

Las Vegas, Baltimore and Los

championship tournament, for

remarkable veterans such as

Angeles, Lexington, Kentucky,

example, was held in 1889. The

Sammy Reshevsky in his late 60s.

and El Paso, Texas. The title has

Germans did not get around to

There have been stunning upsets

been decided in sites as varied

naming a champion until 1879.

(Arnold Denker in 1944 and John

as the Sazerac Coffee House in

The first official Hungarian champi-

Grefe in 1973) and marvelous

1845 to the Cincinnati Literar y

onship occurred in 1906, and the

achievements (Fischers winning

Club, the Automobile Club of

first Dutch, three years later.

debut as a precocious 14-year-old

Detroit. The U.S. Championship

in 1957, and his remarkable

has been held in the auditorium

But American chess fans knew as

perfect score of 11-0 in 1964, to

early as 1845 who their champion

his record-breaking eight title wins).

college in Pasadena and, in 1984

was: the little-known Charles

The championship has seen

knew it, too, because the title

scandals and swindles, boycotts and

Berkeley, as well as the Seattle

match of that year was well publi-