US Chess, Trump and The Russians

A cool article I did for US Chess site. I think you will dig it

              International Master John Donaldson L and Grandmaster Nick de Firmian

Chess for American kids is on a huge roll, with US Chess just hosting the largest tournament in history at the SuperNationals. At the top, we have 90 Grandmasters, and the gold medal Olympic team. Earlier this year, I caught up with Grandmaster Nick de Firmian and International Master John Donaldson of the Mechanics Institute in San Francisco to get a sense of why chess is so hot in the US right now.

Mechanics Institute is the oldest continuously operating chess club in America. Nick played in numerous chess Olympiads and picked up plenty of tournament victories along the way. John Donaldson is many time Captain of medal earning Olympic and World Team squads, leading to a career highlight in captaining the 2016 Gold Medal Olympic team.

FULL STORY

HHCF Chess Club Visits America's Oldest Chess Club!

Recently the HHCF chess class at John O'Connell HS in San Francisco had the honor of being given a tour of the Mechanics Institute Library and Chess Club. We were warmly greeted by GM Nick de Firmian and Paul Whitehead.

For those that do not know Mechinics' is the OLDEST chess club in America.

I wanted to share a quick clip of Nick talking with me after teaching a lesson to the HHCF kids

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNuuiPJgYcr/?taken-by=realhiphopchess

and then a short two part piece of Paul showing a nice counter to Queens Gambit.

Part 1: Queens Gambit

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNvRVYlgPPE/?taken-by=realhiphopchess

Part 2: Queens Gambit

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNvSL7Zgt4U/?taken-by=realhiphopchess

I cannot thank them enough for their kindness, open minds, hearts and of course- their technical knowledge.

For more on Mechnics' visit www.chessclub.org