World Chess Hall of Fame Exhibit  Honors the 80th Anniversary of the US Chess Federation

SAINT LOUIS (Feb 21, 2019)—A new chess history exhibition, US Chess: 80 Years—Promoting the Royal Game in America, will open at the World Chess Hall of Fame (WCHOF) on March 6, 2019, and will be on display through October 27, 2019.

US Chess: 80 Years celebrates the US Chess Federation (US Chess), the official governing body of American chess, and its many accomplishments since its 1939 founding. The exhibition will include audio clips, video interviews, photographs and never-before-exhibited artifacts to remember the past and look towards the future as US Chess continues to promote the game to all through its mission to empower people, enrich lives and enhance communities through chess. “It’s an honor to recognize and reflect on the many contributions made by US Chess as we celebrate their important milestone,” says WCHOF Associate Curator Emily Allred, curator of the show. “It’s fascinating to see how the organization has evolved over its 80-year history and continues to thrive with the resurgence of American chess.” US Chess: 80 Years will also feature personal touches with penned remembrances by past editors and contributors to Chess Life, the official magazine published by US Chess; video interviews with commentators from the inaugural 2019 Cairns Cup, an elite tournament for the top female players from around the world, hosted by the Saint Louis Chess Club; and will debut an oral history project collaboration with the Chess Journalists of America. Video footage of Grandmaster Timur Gareev parachuting with a chess set from an airplane, as well as an endearing photo of Rachael Li—the top-rated eight-year-old player in the United States—cracking her knuckles before delivering defeat to former Baltimore Ravens football player and MIT mathematician John Urschel, provide something unexpected while promoting empowerment and inclusivity. “US Chess is a place for anyone, regardless of gender, national origin, age or special circumstances,” explains Carol Meyer, executive director of US Chess. “As a boundless, universal game, chess truly is a uniting enterprise for all.” Additionally, the show will connect visitors with the WCHOF’s new interactive World and U.S. Chess Halls of Fame in the same gallery, expanding on images of U.S. Chess Hall of Fame inductees including Bobby Fischer (1986), Frank Marshall (1986), Gisela Gresser (1992) and Herman Steiner (2010). Media interviews with the curator can be scheduled by contacting Brian Flowers at (314) 243-1571 or brian.flowers@worldchesshof.org.