US Chess Center

The US Chess Center is a non-profit educational charity based in Washington, D.C. Established in 1991,[1] the Center opened its doors in July 1992 and housed the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame and Museum from 1993 – 2001.[2] In 1995 it published Macon Shibut’s The U.S. Chess Hall of Fame.[3] The President of the U.S. Chess Center since its inception has been David Mehler, an attorney.[4]

Created to teach at-risk youth to play chess as a means of improving their academic and social skills,[5] the Center has run chess competitions for players of all ages,[6] led discussions of top-level competitions,[7][8] and hosted events featuring chess notables such as World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov, Maurice Ashley, the first African-American grandmaster,[9] and Rochelle Ballantyne from the champion Brooklyn Castles.[10]

The Center has created chess programs in more than 130 locations, mainly public schools, in Washington, D.C., and its surrounding suburbs. These programs included before- and after-school chess clubs as well as classes for students during the academic day.[11] More than 30,000 students have been in the Center’s classes, completing at least one 15-week program.

The U.S. Chess Center has hosted 11 national championship tournaments: It co-sponsored the U.S. Cadet Chess Championship (the official national championship for players under age 16) from 1993 through 1996[12][13][14][15] and sponsored the United States Armed Forces Chess Championship from 1994 through 2000.[16]

The Center received the 1996 Committee on Chess in Education Award and the 2012 United States Chess Federation Scholastic Service Award.

References

  1. ↑ Articles of Incorporation, U.S. Chess Center Foundation (October 4, 1991) Government of the District of Columbia
  2. ↑ The Washington Post, July 3, 1992
  3. ↑ U.S. Chess Hall of Fame, by Macon Shibut, Library of Congress Number 95-62185
  4. ↑ The Washington Post, March 3, 1998
  5. ↑ USA Today, August 27, 1993
  6. ↑ The Wall Street Journal, July 9, 1993
  7. ↑ The Washington Post, November 1, 1992
  8. ↑ The Washington Post, September 11, 1995
  9. ↑ The Washington Post, October 12, 2011
  10. ↑ The Washington Times, April 16, 2013
  11. ↑ U.S. Chess Center Annual Report, 2014-15
  12. ↑ The Washington Times, August 28, 1993
  13. ↑ Chess Life magazine, November 1994
  14. ↑ Los Angeles Times, July 16, 1995
  15. ↑ Chess Life magazine, April 1996
  16. ↑ Chess Life Magazine, January 2016
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