News
Chess Camp at St. Ignatius College Prep, July 11-15
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- Written by Eva Harrison Eva Harrison
Chess Camp, Grades 5-9, July 10-July 14, 12:30 - 2:30 P.M.
Join the award-winning Saint Ignatius Chess Coach Hector Hernandez during this one week chess camp and workshop. Learn strategy, enjoy some friendly competition, and make friends! Chess camp participants will also meet and learn from current and former Ignatius Chess champions!
Galesburg Gambit Chess Club
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- Written by Eva Harrison Eva Harrison
The Galesburg Gambit Chess Club meets on Wednesday nights at 6 pm.
We meet in Henderson, Illinois, at the town hall building. Located at 215 S Main St., Henderson, IL 61439.
We offer live OTB Chess games. Complimentary soda and bottled water.
Guide to a Successful Chess Club
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- Written by Eva Harrison Eva Harrison
Thanks to the hard work of the US Chess Clubs Committee and Executive Board liaison Ryan Velez, US Chess is pleased to announce the updated Guide to a Successful Chess Club. It can be downloaded by clicking on this link. It gives needed insight and a framework for anyone to start a chess club from scratch
Says Abel Talamantez, Chair of the US Chess Clubs Committee: "The goal of this guide is to give resources to those wanting to start a chess club, be it a USCF affiliate or a local community chess club. We strongly believe in the power of chess clubs to help bring communities together, and with your help, give resources and guidance to those wanting help in doing that."
Which U.S President Played on Georgetown University’s Chess Team?
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- Written by Maret Thorpe Maret Thorpe
Trivia? Yes. But the President’s Day Chess Challenge hosted by Lodgic Everday Community in Champaign, IL was not. Complementing our local talent, chess players from Decatur, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal joined us for this 4-round K-12 Scholastic replete with Knights Tours, a Chess Arts Contest, and of course, a Prez Chess Trivia Drawing on 2/17/19. Here’s how it played:
2018 ICV Christmas and Awards Dinner
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- Written by Bill Whited Bill Whited
The Illinois Chess Vets (ICV), ICA’s Veterans committee operational organization, held its Christmas & awards dinner on Saturday, December 15 at Mabenka restaurant at S Cicero Ave in Burbank. 33 people were in attendance. Award recipients were:
- ICV 2018 Volunteer of the Year - Robert Stoltz of Forest Park
- ICV 2018 Player of the Year - Dr. Orlan Smith of Glenwood
Illinois Chess (ICV) Board Members in attendance were: Michael Lenox- President, Robert Stoltz-Vice President; Lia Lenox - Secretary; Martha Ortega - Treasurer, HR Ready Inc – Owner and Sam Henderson - Board Member, Silver+ Chess Club President.
Illinois Chess Association Board Members in attendance were: Stephen Plotnick- Upstate Vice President, ICA Youth Committee Chair; Eva Harrison - ICA Membership Committee Chair and Michael Lenox - ICA Veteran Committee Chair.
Other notable persons in attendance were: National Master Len Weber, Terry Lemke - USO Midway Supervisor and Bob Gusher - Worth Township.
Chess sets were provided. Eva Harrison, the ICA Membership Committee Chair, won the "Queen of the Hill" title at the party and a chess clock with her 5.5 - 0.0 Perfect score for this free G/5 d3 challenge.
Some of the highlighted ICA’s veterans committee accomplishments for 2018 included: USCF Rated Tournaments - 44 with 464 players, Community Chess Workshop - 1, Expos and Conventions booths manned – 5 and Donated Chess supplies to numerous veteran organizations.
To view pictures of the event please visit www.facebook.com/ilchessvets.org.
To volunteer for the ICA veteran committee in any capacity, please contact Michael Lenox at mdlenox @ comcast.net
Roselle Library Chess Club
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- Written by Bill Whited Bill Whited
We are now into 2019 and the Roselle Library has posted a schedule for upcoming tournaments and casual dates. They are planning for the first and third Thursdays of each month for rated tournament games. There will be a few exceptions to these dates so please check the ICA calendar for those exceptions.
There are casual games every Thursday night, including nights where there are tournaments. Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you desire to play a rated game directed by a US Chess Tournament director on a casual Thursday date.
There is no fee for rarted games, on either tournament dates or casual dates. Steve will only be at the library on casual weeks if he is contacted in advance to set up a firm committent for that date.
Games on tournament dates game 40 with a five second delay to accomadate the chess club staring time of 7:p.m. and the closing time of 9:p.m. For other requests just let Steve know if you desire a little longer time frame or even several rated blitz or quick rated games in an evening.
Steve is our current ICA Metro VP and is also reviewing options for him to meet with other clubs. If you would like him to direct a rated game or two at your location, please contact him at the above email address. Rated games do require membership in the US Chess organization. Steve is absorbing the cost of the game rating fee and is offering his services at no charge. He only asks that if you do contact him to direct a game that you show up or at least cancel with 24 hours notice.
Illinois Chess Vets Christmas and Awards Party
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- Written by Cindy Whited Cindy Whited
The Illinois Chess Vets NFP (ICV) Christmas and Awards party was held on December 17, 2017 at the 2 Volcanoes Seafood Boil Buffet in Chicago. There were 45 attendees, to include ICA Metro VP Steven Plotnick, ICA Board Member Michael Lenox, Life Master Len Weber, and Master Nikhil Kalghatgi, enjoyed dinner, a presentation, a gift exchange, a blitz challenge board and conversation.