Sitka chess club to host chess tournament

 
Wednesday, February 13, 2013 
Story last updated at 2/13/2013 – 2:48 pm 

Chess club to host nationally rated tournaments Capital City Weekly New in Southeast Alaska, the Sitka Chess Club is now affiliated with the United States Chess Federation (USCF) and will begin hosting nationally rated chess tournaments. 

The Sitka Chess Club is an organization devoted to extending the role of chess in American society. The Sitka Chess Club promotes the study and knowledge of the game of chess, for its own sake as an art and enjoyment, but also as a means for the improvement of society. It informs, educates, and fosters the development of players and potential players. 

Chess has long been considered a way for children to increase their mental prowess, concentration, memory, and analytical skills. To anyone who has known the game, it comes as no surprise that these assumptions were actually proven in several studies on how chess can improve the grades of students. Although chess has been shown to increase the mental abilities of persons of all ages, the main studies have been done with children. 

For people interested in learning the game of chess the Sitka Chess Club meets at the McDonald’s of Sitka every Sunday at 3 p.m. The Sitka Chess club also has a scholastic chess program which meets at Blatchley Middle School every Wednesday after school in Mr. Allison’s classroom (room 111). 

The first USCF chess tournament in Sitka will be held on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 10 a.m. at the Baranof Elementary School Library 305 Baranof Street Sitka, AK 99835. Everyone is welcome to compete in this event, however you must be a member of the USCF. Entry fee is $10 or $5 with the purchase of a USCF membership through the Sitka Chess Club. USCF memberships start at as low as $15 and will be sold on site. 

To register for this event or for more information contact Nicholas Pearson by phone: 907-738-2199 or email nicholastpearson@gmail.com or contact Alexander Allison by phone: 907-966-1428 or email allisona@sitkaschools.org 

Source: http://www.capitalcityweekly.com