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On my most recent visit to Buffalo, NY I have been consulting with businesses, non-profits & community groups, helping them to achieve their missions. Most near & dear to my heart is the Archangel 8 Chess Academy (e-mail:arcangel8chess@yahoo.com).

Archangel Chess is a premier chess organization in Western NY, which is focused on growing the chess playing population-teaching chess in schools, libraries and even coffee shops. They are also providing top quality chess tournaments for players to compete in. In downtown Buffalo, NY, at the Main Place Mall on the 2nd floor you will find on the 3rd Saturdays of the month, chess players of all ages competing for prizes & enjoying the company of fellow chess players.

September 15th, 2007, 9am to 5:30pm,  42 players competed in the September Alliance for Quality in Educations’ Buffalo Open. A US Chess Federation Grand Prix event.

The beginners’ section, was won by 5th grader Julius Spence, while 2nd Place went to 1st grader Miles James and in 3rd place was Virginia McArthur, a 5th grader who traveled from Thorold, Canada to participate.

The beginners section was named in memory of long time chess promoter Sherman Thomas, the founder of the Inner City Chess Club. This organization nurtured the talents of youth,  helping them to attain their dreams.

I was one of those youth, but also in the ranks are college professer & National Chess Master Timothy Daniels as well as the 1st place finisher in the tournaments’ Open division National Master Lionel Davis. 2nd place in the ‘open’ was shared by chess experts Luka Glinsky an 11th grade student from Erie, PA and Tony Kimrough of Buffalo. Yes, adults and youth together, you don’t have to be over 18 to excell at chess!

Tied for 1st in the ‘adult intermediate’ division was 10th grader Evan Ashton of Clarence High School and Yakun Hu a 9th grade student at Amherst Central School. Adults John Johnson from Rochester, NY and David Biddle shared 3rd. 

Buffalo’s School Board President Mary Ruth Kapsiak sponsored the scholastic section which was won by 5th grader Ryan Madden, followed by Aaron McDuffie, 8th grade and Adam Schunk. Prize winning girls included 5th grader Bethany Cates, 8th grader Najalah Habeeb and 4th grader Dakaylah Winfield. The Greater Buffalo Savings Bank also provided ‘Buffalo Banks’ (coin banks shaped as a buffalo) which were given to all the children.  

The day before the tournament, on be half of and in conjuction with Archangel Chess, I gave a brief chess lesson and played 16 teens simultaneously at the “Kid’s Escaping Drugs” substance abuse re-hab facility in West Seneca, NY.

Good decision making skills are necessary to win at chess and also at life.

many continued blessings

pawnmaster