Media Stories
-
Coming to America: The Queen of Katwe
Phiona Mutesi speaking at New York’s Marshall Chess Club with coach Robert Katende. Photo by Latisha Ballard.Phiona Mutesi has had a whirlwind experience since participating in the 2010 Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. This is not Prince Akeem’s fictitious “Coming to America,” but a true story of a Ugandan schoolgirl who…
Read More » -
Big Chair CC celebrates 30 years
Big Chair Chess Club at the Cosmos Club. Eugene Brown (bottom left) is the founder. GM Lubomir Kavalek on the right. Recently The Big Chair Chess Club was featured in the Huffington Post after having made a voyage to the Cosmos Club in Washington, DC. The Cosmos Club is a…
Read More » -
2012 Jamaica Open
The Jamaican Chess Federation is promoting a chess extravaganza in the famous tourist haven of Negril! The event will take place at the Negril Escape Resort and Spa. This six-round Swiss will be held on November 17-18, 2012 in three sections… Open, Intermediate and Amateur. It will also be FIDE-rated…
Read More » -
Mutesi graces cover of Chess Life
Perhaps the cover of Phiona Mutesi gives a compelling picture of how chess serves as a universal agent for social change. Jamaal Abdul-Alim recounts Mutesi’s story from Tim Crother’s stirring book titled, “The Queen of Katwe”. It describes the hardships of a slum in Uganda and her chess journey. The…
Read More » -
Dereque Kelley @ chessopenings.com
When you think of Seattle, what comes to mind? Maybe Starbucks, Microsoft and the space needle, right? Well… it is a nice city with a lot of great places such as the Fisherman’s Wharf and the birthplace of famous icons such as the legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix. However, there have…
Read More » -
Asanga puts West Africa on FIDE map
WFM Nsisong Asanga (right) with reserve player Oluchi Alexis at the 2012 Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey. Photo by Daaim Shabazz. Dr. Nsisong Bassey Asanga went to Istanbul unsure of what her travels would bring. With a very busy schedule as a medical doctor, a wife and mother, she has little…
Read More » -
Black at U.S. Chess School
James Black, Jr. at attention.Photo by Elizabeth Spiegel. Riding on his incredible wave of popularity from the movie, “Brooklyn Castle,” James Black, Jr. recently attended the U.S. Chess School founded by IM Greg Shahade. GMs Alejandro Ramirez and Aleksandr Lenderman took part as instructors. Players like Black, Arthur Shen, Deepak…
Read More » -
New in Chess (2012/7)
The Olympiad issue brings an exciting array of articles, but the cover speaks volumes. Never has New in Chess shown this much diversity on its cover or in its pages. Usually reserved for the top brass of chess the magazine has some interesting snapshots covering a myriad of nations. The…
Read More » -
African Lounge launches TV Show!
African Chess Lounge (ACL) recently held a successful qualifier which was publicized on their TV show. The organization was launched last November as an all-purpose chess entity with TV programming, training and chess equipment sales. Reuben Salimu is the pioneer leading the South African initiative and is located in Western…
Read More » -
Phiona Mutesi: The Queen of Katwe
In a chess world where players are obsessed with the exploits of Magnus Carlsen or the latest intricacies of the Sicilian Najdorf stands Phiona Mutesi, a Ugandan player of very humble beginnings and one whom most have never heard of. Normally a story like hers would not get any mention…
Read More »