News
Chicago and Ghana Form Online Academic Chess League
- Details
- Written by Chicago Chess Foundation Chicago Chess Foundation
- Created: 11 March 2021 11 March 2021
The Chicago Chess Foundation (CCF) and two partner organizations in Accra, Ghana have launched the Ghana-Chicago Chess Exchange, an online chess league uniting elementary and high school students on two continents for friendly competition and cross-cultural fellowship.
An inaugural cross-Atlantic competition is scheduled for Saturday March 20, hosting 30 Chicago students and 30 students attending various schools in Ghana. The five-round tournament will give students an opportunity for competition over the LiChess platform. More importantly, students will meet and bond in Zoom-facilitated breakout sessions.
The Exchange will continue with monthly tournaments for the rest of the academic year. Sponsors of the Exchange expect the size of the tournaments to grow over the next four months.
ICA Election Results
- Details
- Written by Eva Harrison Eva Harrison
- Created: 18 December 2020 18 December 2020
Congratulations to the Newly Elected Officers!
The ICA recently held its regularly scheduled 2020 election of the Executive Board.
Officers elected, each to a two-year term:
- President: Stephen Plotnick (23 votes)
- Downstate Vice-President: Rachel Schechter (24 votes)
- Metro Vice-President: Eric Ortega (22 votes)
- Treasurer: Darren Erickson (24 votes)
- Secretary: Joshua Flores (24 votes)
Patrice Connelly had recently announced that she was stepping down from her position as Secretary. The ICA would like to thank Patrice for her outstanding service for the last three years.
Chess Vets Prez Mike Lenox Heads West
- Details
- Written by Megan Chen Megan Chen
- Created: 26 September 2020 26 September 2020
Written By: Rachel Schechter
Graphics: Megan Chen
Good Luck, Mike Lenox
Texas’ gain is Illinois’ loss. After serving Illinois Chess for twelve extraordinary years, Chess Vets President Mike Lenox is taking his very class act west – to a small Texas town where he and his lovely wife Lia hope to advance Veterans’ Chess projects in the Lonestar state.
For the few Illinois folks who don’t know, Chess Vets’ mission is to “improve the opportunities for veterans to learn, play, and enjoy chess”. How? Via Chess Education, Tournaments, Community Outreach, Chess Recreational Therapy, and Operation Play Chess. Mike’s tireless efforts have improved the lives of countless brave men and women who’ve served our country. In malls, in VA hospitals, at county courthouses—wherever vets want to play chess—Chess Vets is there.
With OTB chess activities “on hold”, Chess Vets is focusing on their charitable activities. Through Operation: Play Chess, Mike and his crew have teamed up with the nonprofit Help USA Troops to deliver magnetic checkbook size chess sets and chess rec therapy instructions to actively deployed troops—wherever they’re stationed—as well as veterans. Chess Vets also fundraises for First Responder Organizations. Interested? Check out this multifaceted non-profit organization at www.ilchessvets.org.
Can Chess Save Lives?
Lenox—a certified TD, coach, player, former ICA board member and chair for our Veterans’ Committee & US Chess’ 2018 Co-Person of the Year—is also a retired US Navy Chief Petty Officer, who served his country for 20 years (1983-2003) during which time he played chess “with a Russian sailor in Thailand…on a Turkish submarine during a rescue shuttle…and in the North Pole on a nuclear sub”.
Interesting adventures?
But can chess save lives?
Yes and Yes. In 2008, Mike suffered a major stroke which paralyzed his right side and triggered a 24/7 “brain haze”. “It was chess,” Lenox claims, “the intense mental focus of chess that eventually lifted the haze.”
After chess restored his life, his mental acuity—Mike realized it could do the same for other veterans struggling with physical and/or psychological challenges. Ergo, Chess Vets was incepted—as was Mike’s book: Chess Vets, VA Medical Center, Chess Recreational Therapy Manual: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1686070691.
Chess Vets Future?
After the Lenoxes head west, will Chess Vets continue to provide veterans—and so improve their lives—with such invaluable chess opportunities? “Yes,” says Mike, “Though I’ll continue to be involved after we move to Texas, Robert Stoltz and Michael Pedroza will handle all day-to-day Chess Vets activities. Please contact them through our website. And if you’re interested in contributing—in volunteering, we’re glad to welcome you on board.”
Why Texas?
The totally-born-in-the-valley boy, traveled-the-seven-seas-navy-vet, and long-time Chicagoan laughs:
“Well, my wife Lia and I have family out there. And besides, I’ve always wanted to wear a 10-gallon hat. They hold a lot of chess pieces—and then some.”
Thank you, Mike Lenox—for your past, present, and future chess efforts. We, who love the royal game, salute you.
US Chess Names Panner TD of the Year
- Details
- Written by Maret Thorpe Maret Thorpe
- Created: 24 August 2020 24 August 2020
NTD Glenn Panner, a well-known tournament director both nationally and in Illinois, has received the 2020 Tournament Director of the Year award from the US Chess Federation. This award recognizes TDs who are both experts at directing and have served with distinction in the past year. Panner was chief TD at the 2019 National High School Championship held in Schaumburg, an event that was both successful and exceeded attendance expectations.
RIP John Porter
- Details
- Written by Eva Harrison Eva Harrison
- Created: 26 May 2020 26 May 2020
We are sad to announce that John Porter, Executive Director of the Chicago Chess Initiative (CCI) and one of the major promoters of chess in Chicago, died of a heart attack on 5/19/2020. He was only 58. Many knew him from the Chicago Cup tournaments that he ran in the South Loop. This is a great loss for the Chicago chess community. Rest in peace, JP!
There will be a visitation at Leak and Sons Funeral Home, 7838 S. Cottage Grove Ave., Chicago, IL 60619, on Monday, June 8, 6-8 pm.
IN REMEMBRANCE OF CHESS LEGEND JOHN PORTER
These words of inspiration and honor are attributed to our brother beloved John Porter, who made his transition to be with the MOST High God. Porter, as we called him, was the epitome of what love, high character, Integrity and friendship represents. In the wake of racial tension across American borders, Porter’s life was lived as an example of how people should live and interact with one another.