The US Chess Center is an American non-profit organization that teaches at-risk youth in the Washington, D.C., area how to play chess.
The center runs chess tournaments and brings in high level chess players to speak to students. The Center is headquartered in Silver Spring, MD,Chess Life Magazine, Jan. 2019 and its president is David Mehler, an attorney.The Washington Post, March 3, 1998
Established in 1991,Articles of Incorporation, U.S. Chess Center Foundation (October 4, 1991) Government of the District of Columbia the Center opened in July 1992. In 1993, the Center brought the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame and Museum to Washington, D.C., from New Windsor, NY.The Washington Post, July 3, 1992 In 1995 the Center published Macon Shibut's The U.S. Chess Hall of Fame.U.S. Chess Hall of Fame, by Macon Shibut, Library of Congress Number 95-62185 In 2001, the hall of fame and museum moved from Washington, first to Florida and then to St. Louis, MO.
Programs The Center was created to teach at-risk youth to play chess as a means of improving their academic and social skills.USA Today, August 27, 1993 The Center has created chess programs in more than 130 locations, mainly public schools, in Washington, D.C., and its surrounding suburbs. These programs included before- and after-school chess clubs as well as classes for students during the academic day.U.S. Chess Center Annual Report, 2014-15 More than 30,000 students have been in the Center's classes, completing at least one 15-week program.
Competitions The Center has run chess competitions for players of all agesThe Wall Street Journal, July 9, 1993 and led discussions of top-level competitions.The Washington Post, November 1, 1992The Washington Post, September 11, 1995 It has hosted chess notables such as Garry Kasparov, Maurice Ashley,The Washington Post, October 12, 2011 and Rochelle Ballantyne.The Washington Times, April 16, 2013
The Center has hosted 11 national championship tournaments: It co-sponsored the U.S. Cadet Chess Championship (the official national championship for players under age 16) from 1993 through 1996The Washington Times, August 28, 1993Chess Life magazine, November 1994Los Angeles Times, July 16, 1995Chess Life magazine, April 1996 and sponsored the United States Armed Forces Chess Championship from 1994 through 2000.Chess Life Magazine, January 2016
Awards The Center received the 1996 Committee on Chess in Education Award and the 2012 United States Chess Federation Scholastic Service Award.
References
External links US Chess Center Website