2003 U.S. Chess Championship Games Begin in Seattle Today; 58 of the Nation's Best Chess Players Compete for $255,000 in Cash Prizes.Entertainment Editors SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 9, 2003 For the third year running America's Foundation for Chess (AF4C AF4C America's Foundation for Chess (Kirkland, WA) ) plays host to the U.S. Chess Championships, as the country's top chess masters battle it out over nine rounds (Jan. 9-18) for the biggest national prize in chess history. The opening move will take place on Jan. 9, 1:30 p.m., in the Northwest Rooms of the Seattle Center Seattle Center is a fairground, park and arts and entertainment center in Seattle, Washington. The 74-acre campus is the site used in 1962 by the Century 21 Exposition. It is located just north of Belltown in Lower Queen Anne. Attractions
Seattle - a major port of entry and the largest city in Washington; located in west central Washington on the protected waters of Puget Sound with the snow-capped peaks of the Cascade . Playing Field Includes World's First African American African American Multiculture A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. See Race. Grandmaster The tournament's open-competition format has allowed for many young, non-titled players to earn a seat in the competition this year. Twenty top-rated players (12 men, 8 women) -- including the 2002 U.S. Champions Larry Christiansen Larry M. Christiansen (b. June 27, 1956) is a chess grandmaster who grew up in Riverside, California. He was U.S. champion in 1980, 1983, and 2002. He describes his playing style as "aggressive, tactical" and lists his favorite opening as Sämisch King's Indian. and Jennifer Shahade
He was born in Hirakata, Osaka Prefecture, Japan, to a Japanese father and an American mother, and at the age of two years old, he and Aaron Pixton -- were automatically seeded into the event. Also competing will be the 36 players (32 men, 4 women) who survived the qualifying matches. This includes the world's first and only black Grandmaster, Maurice Ashley Maurice Ashley (born March 6, 1966 St. Andrew, Jamaica) is a chess grandmaster. He is the first and only African-American grandmaster. In the October 2006 rating lists, he had a FIDE rating of 2465, and a USCF rating of 2520 at standard chess, and 2536 at quick chess. , whose inclusion in the games will make this the first year the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. has ever had an African American qualify. Men and Women, Brother and Sister, Husband and Wife to Compete as Equals Last year's new competition format, which allowed men and women to compete against each other for the first time in 157 years, will be repeated in 2003. There's even a chance that last year's women's title championship, 22 year-old Jennifer Shahade, will go head to head with her brother Greg. Prize Fund Increases by $50,000 since 2002 Championships With the help of sponsors including Chessmaster, Alaska Airlines, Starbucks and Chiropractors for a Healthy Mind and Body, America's Foundation for Chess, has boosted the prize fund by $50,000 to make this event the biggest annual prize for chess anywhere in the world. Grown to an unprecedented $255,000 pot, $25,000 is slotted for the winner -- a far cry from 1966 when Bobby Fischer took home only $2,500 after winning his record-breaking eighth US title. Public Invited to Watch Live Games in Seattle or on the Web Daily matches, which are free and open to the public, run from 1.30 - 7:30 pm on Jan. 9-18 (rest day: Tue., Jan. 14) in the Northwest Rooms of the Seattle Center. Live games can be accessed at ww.af4c.org/uschamps_games.asp A full playing field (including pictures and biographies) can be found at www.af4c.org. About America's Foundation for Chess Founded in 2000, America's Foundation for Chess (formerly the Seattle Chess Foundation) is committed to bringing chess into every U.S. classroom. By first making chess a larger part of America's cultural fabric -- accessible in schools and in popular culture -- AF4C hopes to elevate the profile of chess in America. To this end, AF4C is providing chess instruction materials and training to teachers, who have little or no chess background. In addition, by sponsoring high-level competitions such as the U.S. Chess Championships, AF4C is cultivating chess role models and a venue for chess excellence in America. By forging partnerships with schools and corporations, AF4C plans to make chess a part of every classroom experience. |
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