Greetings from Fresno!

Greetings from Fresno, California, home of the fastest growing chess club in America!

When I arrived at the Fresno airport yesterday, I was quite amazed and totally impressed by the warm reception from members of the Fresno Chess Club. There were large welcome signs (one even in Hungarian!) by about 30 members of the chess club.

Earlier today I was on the “Great Day” morning show at Fresno’s KMPH local FOX network: http://www.kmph.com/

After that show, we then went to the K-Jewell radio station (KYNO) to be on the Alan Autry show (he is best known for playing Captain Bubba Skinner in the 80’s television hit show “In the Heat of the Night” [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094484/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Heat_of_the_Night_(TV_series)]. He is currently Fresno’s Mayor as well as hosting his radio show 10am-12pm Monday-Friday).

We were at these shows to promote tonight’s 64 board simul against the Fresno Chess Club members.

The Fresno Chess Club is proud to be the fastest growing chess club in the U.S. Having just about 15 members two years ago, they currently have over 225!

The Fresno Chess Club hosted a sponsors dinner last night in my honor at the wonderful Japanese restaurant Sakura Chaya. Fresno Chess Club President Mr. Bob Rasmussen, Mr. Ed Sasaki, Mr. David Brown (one of the main sponsors on behalf of Delphis software) and others are extremely warm and kind.

It is fun doing LIVE commentary of the World Championship for this blog and FIDE website, TV and radio appearance, then simul, among other things all on the same day. This is just a small part of what I do to promote the game I love.

Thank God for wireless technology though! I never leave home without my wireless gadgets. Now only if I can clone myself … Captain Kirk, beam me away 🙂