Congratulations to 9 Queens Co-Founder Jean Hoffman on her new position as Executive Director of USCF!
The US Chess Scoop goes to Parsippany for the 2014 US Amateur Team East, also known as the World Amateur team. Among the interviewees were new Executive Director Jean Hoffman, young SM Joshua Colas & Elizabeth Spiegel of Brooklyn Castle.
Jennifer’s TedX 2014 Talk can be viewed here:
In honor of the release of Brooklyn Castle this week, the October puzzle of the month comes from a game between IS 318k teacher Elizabeth Spiegel and former IS 318k student Rochelle Ballantyne. In the position below Elizabeth is playing black.
Can you find a way for black to win a piece?
Bring the solution to this puzzle to our October Family Chess Night and win a prize!
If you haven’t seen the trailer for Brooklyn Castle yet, watch it here.
“The first time you stick it to a boy that’s when you really get inspired to get going.”
-St Louis chess coach Carrie Lax
This US Chess Scoop video interviews female chess players and coaches talking about how they learned to play chess, why they love the game, and how we can get more women involved. I love this piece not only because there is a nice plug for our book Play Like A Girl, but also because it features a diverse group of women talking honestly about their experiences in the chess world.
For the last four years, 9 Queens has partnered with Philadelphia non-profit ASAP (After Schools Actvities Partnerships) to host 9 Queens all girls chess academies led by co-founder Jennifer Shahade. The latest edition on February 11th featured a lecture by Jennifer on openings, a blitz tournament and a screening of the second episode of the Extreme “X Chess” Championships. Zayonna Brown won the blitz tournament with a perfect 3-0 score and won the first place medal and a copy of Play Like a Girl!
The Extreme Chess Championships is a made for TV single-elimination knockout that showcases the drama of chess competition and the diversity of its top practitioners. Watch the “Battle of the Sexes” episode below, which features Philly based law student and chess master Alisa Melekhina, who also teaches at 9 Queens academies.
9 Queens is the fiscal sponsor of X Chess.
9 Queens instructor Amanda Mateer earned her first WIM norm at the Philadelphia Open. Watch this video on her victories.
9 Queens is dedicated to empowering individuals and communities through chess by making the game fun, exciting, and accessible.
“I became interested in chess when I was about four. I like chess bc you get to have fun and learn some things. You get to be more patient. You get to focus and concentrate. ”