Chess For All

According to an article in The United States Chess Federation, a new multi-purpose chess club has opened its doors in St. Louis. Come to find out, the creator is the same Rex Sinquefield that has been creating news in Missouri. Many people criticize issues he takes or how he goes about them, but I have always felt he truly believes in his causes and wants to make a difference. People who say he is only out there for his own benefit make no sense. He wants to help education in Missouri, and while some may disagree with his methods, how would be benefit from it at all? He has no children in school anymore but has been through the rough and tough in his own childhood. Helping children in need is his main agenda and that is indisputable.

Now, he has used his own money to create a state of the art chess club that will not only be a place for chess players to convene, but it will also serve as a medium to encourage school age children to take up the game or to continue it. Chess is a strategic game and can help children with all areas in school. What will the critics come up with now?

The club’s existence is primarily due to the generosity and passion of one man, Rex Sinquefield. Known in Missouri for his dedication to the advancement of educational initiatives, he explained his reason for opening this beautiful chess and scholastic center. “Kids who get into chess benefit in all sorts of ways,” he said, noting that the main purpose of the center is to support scholastic chess. However, “St. Louis has lacked a centralized resource to teach kids and to teach teachers.”

The First Move program of America’s Foundation for Chess has begun to be utilized by a few schools in St. Louis, and it is the goal of the St. Louis Chess and Scholastic Center to increase this presence. Part of the club’s mission statement notes that the group “is committed to supporting those chess programs that already exist in area schools, while encouraging the development of new programs within regular school curricula.”

Check out St. Louis' new chess club on Maryland Ave. in the Central West End. The Chess Club and Scholastic Center is beautiful and working toward bringing more chess programs to the local schools. Beginner or Grand Master, stop by and get involved in this movement!