Children make their move at MLK chess tourney
By Michele Steinbacher
NORMAL — Nearly 400 children spent the King holiday testing their best chess moves at Illinois State University’s Bone Student Center — many gearing up for the state’s chess championships March 10 and 11, set for the same spot.
“It’s our largest one ever,” said Garrett Scott, tournament director and founder, of the estimated 375 entrants.
The 20th annual Martin Luther King Day Celebration Chess Tournament was sponsored by Thomas Metcalf School.
All skill levels were represented, including some students who enjoyed their first tournament play and others with advanced U.S. Chess Federation ratings.
“The great thing about chess is that it’s almost ability blind,” said Scott.
“You can be a poor player and still enjoy the camaraderie of being on a team, and still enjoy the thought process,” he said.
Here is the full article.
Thanks Susan for the Link to the article and for all you do for chess. It was a great day of chess, and more. The article doesn’t tell about the opening speach given by Mr. Garrett Scott.
As Mr. Scott prepares the students to play, he also reminds them of why they are out of school on a Monday. He talks of being involved in the civil rights movement of the 1960s and he talks of how far the country has come, and yet he speaks of the fact that his generation and the generation of his parents hasn’t always done the best, that there is still a ways to go. He reminds the kids that it is their responsibility to finish the work that Dr. King started. He reminds kids to look around the room filled with people of different races and religions and to have a dream that some day….
Anyway, the day was a great day of chess and more. Thanks again.
You’re welcome. Rather than complaining that the USCF is not doing enough to expose the positive side of chess, I comb through the Internet daily to find things to share with our chess community.
It is important to keep pushing the positive aspect of chess ahead. There are countless people who care about this game and I hope to do my part to help unite everyone.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.PolgarChess.com