Saint Louis Showdown Press Release

For more information, please contact:
Nicole Halpin
314-309-099
nhalpin@saintlouischessclub.org

 For Immediate Release

America’s Best Set to Compete in Exhibition Games in Saint Louis

SAINT LOUIS (October 14, 2015) – American chess is getting stronger and is on the rise. This fall, Grandmasters Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana, the top two players in the United States, will visit the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis (CCSCSL) and compete in a series of games over four days: Thursday, November 12 through Sunday, November 15.

“The Saint Louis Chess Club always seeks to find innovative and exciting events to host. With players like Nakamura and Caruana, spectators should expect fireworks over the board,” said Tony Rich, Executive Director of the CCSCSL.  

Featured exhibition matches will include:

  • 4 games Fischer Random (Chess 960) at G/20 + 10 seconds

  • 4 games Rapid Chess at G/15 + 10 seconds

  • 8 games Blitz Chess at G/3 + 2 seconds

  • And more to come!

All games count towards the final score with a win counting as 1 point, a draw as a ½ point and a loss as 0 points. Players will be competing for $100,000 in prizes.

Former Women’s World Champion, GM Hou Yifan and GM Parimarjan Negi will also square off, following the same format. Hailing from China, 21-year-old Hou Yifan is the strongest active female player in the world; she is the only female currently ranked in the top 100. Indian GM Negi, at 22 years old, is a former Asian continental champion and currently attends Stanford University.

Each game of the exhibition matches will feature live commentary from GM Yasser Seirawan, WGM Jennifer Shahade and GM Maurice Ashley. The event will be streamed live via www.uschesschamps.com. Join us Thursday, November 12 through Sunday, November 15  to watch these champions battle it out.

For more information, visit www.uschesschamps.com.

About The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis

The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that is committed to making chess an important part of our community. In addition to providing a forum for the community to play tournaments and casual games, the club also offers chess improvement classes, beginner lessons and special lectures.

Recognizing the cognitive and behavioral benefits of chess, the Chess Club and Scholastic Center is committed to supporting those chess programs that already exist in area schools while encouraging the development of new in-school and after-school programs. For more information, visit www.saintlouischessclub.org.

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