USA
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Jessica Hyatt earns National Master title!
Jessica Hyatt can now add National Master to her name after waiting a long time to celebrate this moment. This past weekend at the FIDE Premier at the Marshall Chess Club, the 18-year-old Brooklyn native was able to push her rating to 2200 for the first time. In 2019, Hyatt…
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The story of Shama Yisrael, the first female African-American Chess Master
National Master Shama YisraelPhoto by Otis Wilson/954 Chess Club Shama Yisrael earned the title of National Master last weekend, becoming the first African-American woman to earn the coveted honor. After playing in several tournaments in a week’s time, the 20-year-old earned her last few points at the Pincrest Independence Open.…
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St. Louis Chess Club upgrading!
The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis (CCSCSL or St. Louis Chess Club) has been slowly expanding since its opening in 2008. The chess club is the home of the U.S. Championships, the Sinquefield Cup and Grand Chess Tour events. Since I have relatives in the St. Louis…
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HBCU Chess Spotlight: Alan Cowan
Alan Cowan was co-valedictorian of Morehouse College’s 2023 graduating class. He kindled an intense interest in finance and now works in venture capital for Mosaic General Partnership in San Francisco. Apart from his academic achievements, he executed one of the most potentially impactful ideas in American chess. In 2020, Cowan…
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HBCU Chess Spotlight: Spelman College
Jamila Thompson is a graduating senior at Spelman College. The native New Yorker was taught chess by her father and continued her passion as a collegiate. While at Spelman, she joined other chess players in the Atlanta University Center (AUC) to match wits. Morehouse College hosted the club meetings and…
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HBCU Chess Spotlight: Hampton University
Hampton University traveled 22 hours to the 2024 HBCU Chess Classic in Atlanta after a last-minute effort by the Hampton Alumni Association to fund their travel. As Breon McCray III described it, they nearly had to nix the trip when they could not raise the requisite funds to travel. They…
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HBCU Chess Spotlight: North Carolina A&T
North Carolina A&T Aggies, 1st place team (2024 HBCU Chess Classic)Photo by Daaim Shabazz/The Chess Drum Dressed in their North Carolina A&T gear, “Aggie Pride” was on full display at the 2024 HBCU Chess Classic. Currently the largest HBCU, the Aggies rode six hours from North Carolina to Atlanta to…
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Meet the Kings & Queens of HBCU Chess!
HBCU Chess has a long but largely undocumented history. During the 2024 HBCU Chess Classic hosted by The Black Odyssey, six Historically Black Colleges and Universities (known as “HBCUs”) gathered to participate in the 2nd annual event. Hampton, Howard, Morehouse, and North Carolina A&T, each fielded two teams. While Florida…
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FAMU’s Caleb Parker is 2024 HBCU Chess Champion!
Daniel Buckley (Engineering), Florian Dorleans (FAMU Alumnus), Caleb Parker (Computer Information Systems), Lee Parker (School of Allied Health), Dr. Daaim Shabazz (School of Business & Industry) At the 2nd HBCU Chess Classic, Florida A&M sophomore Caleb Parker won the individual event with 5/5. The event was held at the Georgia…
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Maurice Ashley speaks on new books!
Grandmaster Maurice Ashley has been busy lately despite taking a break from commentating. On the cover of the latest Chess Life magazine, Ashley strikes a menacing pose while clasping the black king, his right hand ever ready for defense or attack. This pose symbolizes everything that chess is. It is…
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