This is a painting from my sister Sofia
A new team has been formed for the US Chess League! It is the Queens Pioneers and the home of this team will be at the Polgar Chess Center!
The team members are:
1. Ildar Ibragimov
2. Alexandr Stripunsky
3. Jake Kleiman
4. James Critelli
5. Teddy Coleman
6. Parker Zhao
7. Michael Thaler
Let’s welcome the Queens Pioneers and all its team members!
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
None in Chicago. That is not fair. Chicago is a big chess center. How come Chicago does not have a team.
Go Chicago Go,
I hope Chicago gets going faster than the Cubs.
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She gets things accomplished.
Nice going Susan.
I became a Chicago Cub fan back in 1947 or 48. Everyone told me the Cubs were the best and they were going to win the next World Series and I better jump on the Cub bandwagon fast before it was too late.
Well in my 59 years cheering for the Cubs they have not won like I was told. But I still believe.
Go Cubs Go.
Due to the nature of the league which plays during weekdays, most teams have to draw on players who live nearby, so New Jersy and the greater New York City area makes sense – they have a lot of strong players nearby and also enough activity and interest to draw sponsorship and fans coming out to watch.
Very cool news. I think that this could generate a lot of interest in the New York scholastic chess community as Parker Zhao and Michael Thaler are products of the New York scholastic chess scene. I live in Manhattan but grew up in Queens so I may have to root for both New York area teams until they face eachother in the finals. My husband is a long suffering Cubs fan but that’s another story . . .
This is a very exciting new team! Thanks Susan for hosting them at your club and to Alexander and Ildar for leading the team. One thing that strikes me: Jake Kleiman? He lives in Memphis now- guess he’s moving to NYC.
I went onto the U.S. Chess League website and it looks like there is a new team from New Jersey as well. Good for us chess fans in the tri-state area.
I gather young Mr. Thaler moved from Canada.