Two weeks of international chess competitions in Naperville

By Mikhail Korenman
FIDE International Organizer

For the last four years the end of March is a traditional time to host an international chess activities that organized by the International Educational and Cultural Services 501-c3 non-for-profit organization.

A group of 32 students and parents from Moscow and St Petersburg of Russia visited Naperville March 21—April 1, 2013. On March 24th scholastic chess players from Illinois had a chance to compete at the international invitational scholastic chess tournament among with their Russian friends. Kevin Ho from Naperville Chess Club and Kolin Kras from Tinley Park shared the first place for the Under 1000 section. Nikita Vvedenskij from St. Petersburg and Bethany Simos from Naperville share the win for the Under 1400 section. Gleb Fridman from Moscow was clear first at the Open section.

During the week of stay in Chicago area the Russian group visited Keller Gifted Center in Chicago. This year 12 Keller students will participate at the SuperNational championship in Nashville and a friendly match with the Russian team was a great training opportunity for them. Some parents from the Russian team also enjoy the chess match with Keller students.

The 4th Intercontinental Scholastic Team championship was held in Naperville on March 30-31, 2013. 16 teams represented Illinois, Kansas, and 3 Russian teams competed in five different sections by age (Under 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18 years old). Five teams from the Naperville Youth Chess Club participated at the event.

The organizers discussed the plans to hold the 5th Intercontinental Team championship back in Naperville next year with more international participants represented different countries and submit the results to FIDE.

This year for the first time International Educational and Cultural Services hosted an international women tournament. 10 top female players - three WGMs, three WIMs, two WFMs, and two national master-level players from the United States, Russia, Sweden, Norway, and Belarus - competed in one of the strongest female round-robin tournament in the United States. The tournament winner - 16-years old Anna Styazhkina from St Petersburg who in 2012 became the World Champion Under 16 years old - won the tournament with 7 points and gained her first WGM norm.

We would like to thank you Country Inn in Naperville for hosting the chess events this year and providing great hospitality for the Russian group.

To check the next year international events visit http://www.intecsus.org/ and check the chess section.