History of Chess in Barrington, Illinois
1998
 Dr. Cindy Kalogeropolous asks Rishi Sethi, a fourth-grader
who has just won a national chess tournament, if he would like to start a
chess club at the Grove Avenue School where she is Principal. The Grove
Avenue Chess club is born, beginning a chess newsletter as well as playing
chess and volunteering to teach chess.
2000
The Hough Street Elementary School Chess Team
is born through the combined efforts of Ms. Margaret Gruber and the
parents of students in the 3rd and 4th grade self-contained gifted
program. Over the years, the program has had many wonderful coaches.
Tournament competition is an important ingredient of chess study for this
"travel team".
2001
Rishi Sethi asks his teacher, Mr. Moeller, if he can
start a chess club at his school, Prairie
Middle. Parents and chess students continue the activities started
at Grove Avenue School, playing, teaching chess, and volunteering at a
local nursing home where an elderly chess player is eager to play.
2002
A beginners' chess tournament is held at Whole Foods
grocery store in Barrington. Rishi Sethi asks the store to donate money
and space for the tournament. Money from the tournament buys chess sets for
Barrington.
During the summer of 2002
Rishi and his grandfather volunteer to teach
chess at the South East Asia Refuge Center in Chicago to children who are
new immigrants and speak little English. His sister was a volunteer
teacher for the summer at the center and she invited Rishi to teach chess
to her students.
The Governors Park Nursing Home Chess Tournament is
held in Barrington, with money and space donated by the nursing home.
November 2002
The Sherman Hospital Chess Tournament is held,
with money and space donated by the Elgin hospital. A grand sum of $1000
is donated for the new
BHS Chess Club.
2003
February 2003
The first Barrington High School Chess Tournament is held.
April 2003
Rishi Sethi, now a Barrington High School student, is
certified as a Tournament Director for the US Chess Foundation.
May 2003
The first grandmaster simultaneous chess match is held
at Barrington High School, 50 students challenging GM Pavel Blatny from
the Czech Republic. A sum of $400 is donated to buy chess sets for underprivileged
schools.
Rishi Sethi and other chess friends serve as Tournament
Directors for a chess tournament at Grove Avenue School. He occasionally
volunteers at his old school in order to help with the
club.
During the summer of 2003
Chess students volunteer at Governors Park
Nursing Home, and in August a tournament is held at the nursing home.
A chess art exhibit is held in collaboration
between the Barrington Area Art Council and the BHS Chess Club.
November 2003
The Heifer International Chess Tournament is held,
with several chess students volunteering at this event. A sum of $1500 is
donated to charity.
2004
January 2004
Five chess sets are secured for donation to the Spina Bifida Foundation with the idea of promoting chess among children in
wheelchairs.
The BHS Chess Club publishes a chess newspaper, “The Chess
Revolution”.
The BHS Chess Club secures a donation of 20 chess
sets for children in the Marshall Islands, located in the Pacific Ocean,
with the purpose of starting a chess club there in the local school, this
being done through a program run by Dartmouth College in New Hampshire and
the BHS Chess Club. A $240 donation is provided by Mr. Stevan Yacktman and $200
by the Alexian Brothers Hospital Network. Nina Sethi, a volunteer
through Dartmouth College runs the club.
Another International Grand Master Yury Shulman
originally from Belarus, is persuaded by Rishi Sethi to come to BHS, to hold a simultaneous chess match against 50 chess students.
The
chess club donated a portion of the entry fees ($100) to a local charity,
Citizens for Conservation in Barrington.
February 2004
The BHS Chess Club organized another elementary
school chess club in Barrington. Several high school students volunteer as
teachers and serve as role models for the elementary students.
March 2004
The BHS Chess Club initiated a "Learn and Earn"
program where chess students are paid to teach chess in the local schools.
A BHS Chess Coach Certification program is
initiated.
The Barrington High School Chess team wins the Mid Suburban League
Championship!
April 2004
Rishi requests GM Shulman to prepare lessons for the
Countryside Chess Club, which has 72 members, & in May 2004, a Countryside
chess tournament is held, with Rishi Sethi and Patrick Lacey as tournament
directors.
June 2004
Grandmaster Yury Shulman is invited to Countryside
where a blind chess match is held between GM Shulman and two Countryside
students.
GM Shulman holds his first Barrington summer chess camp. This Grandmaster Chess Camp
is held at BHS, and the BHS Chess Club and GM Yury Shulman donate $150 to
the international charity, Food Resource Bank.
Rishi Sethi from BHS wins 9th place at the US Junior Open Chess
Tournament in Kansas.
July 2004
Two high school students, Patrick Lacey and Rishi Sethi,
receive a Presidential Service Award for their volunteer work in the
community for promoting chess. They were awarded medals for volunteering
over 100 hours for chess related activities.
Mrs. Karen Armstrong, a community leader supporting the chess program,
donates an outdoor chess table to Grove Avenue Elementary School. Work
done by Bertacchi Builders at cost for the school and chess program. Total
cost approximately 900$.
August 2004
Chess sets are donated to the Elgin Crisis Center,
and a chess program is started there. Rishi and his friend David Kniesel
volunteer to teach and explain the rules.
The Alexian Hospital Network Chess Tournament is
held, with two high school boys as tournament directors, six high school
chess students training to become directors during the tournament, and a
portion of the entry fees donated to the local Adult Literacy Program. ($
100 donated)
September 2004
In September, local businessman Mr. Camacho hears of the
Barrington Chess Club combining philanthropy with learning and invites the
BHS Chess Club to teach chess at an orphanage in Mexico.
November 2004
The Countryside Chess Club has six high
school students volunteer as chess coaches. Parents volunteer to help the
student coaches.
2005
January 2005
The BHS chess team wins the MSL championship for the
second year in a row.
The second Countryside Chess Tournament is
held. Several fathers act as assistant tournament directors for High
School Chess Students.$ 1000 donated from Countryside Chess Program to
Countryside school for an outdoor chess table for handicapped students who
can play chess in wheelchairs during recess.
March 2005
The BHS chess team wins ninth place in the Illinois
State Tournament in Peoria amongst 125 teams.
From March 19 through March 25, 2005, 10 members of the BHS chess
club participate in a Spring Mission Trip to the Don Bosco Orphanage in
Leon, Mexico.
April 2005
The Countryside Chess Club donates money raised by
service for a meal and chess club to the Warne Baby Fold, an orphanage in
India. ($ 150 donated.)
May 2005
The BHS Mission Trip Chess Tournament is held, and $700 is
donated to the Don Bosco Orphanage in Leon, Mexico. Rotary Club of
Barrington, Harris Bank and Alexian Brothers Hospital Network donated
money in order to make this trip possible.
For the second year an International Chess Camp was held at
Barrington High School from June 20 to 25, 2005. A donation of $150 was
donated to the Adult Literacy Center in Barrington.
Cary Chess Club follows the example of Barrington Chess and donates
$5
per clock sold to Citizens for Conservation.
GM Yury Shulman will relocate his “Yury Shulman International Chess
School” from New York to Barrington. This will ensure continuity of the
chess programs, which have been prospering in Barrington. From 1998 the
number of students participating in chess programs rose from one or two to
over two hundred and fifty approximately.
Global Outreach Program is launched where any chess student or a
community member can donate a few chess sets to an impoverished school
anywhere in the world to start a chess school. Stephan Wulfe a BHS alum
was given 10 chess sets to start a chess club for American Indians in a
remote area in Chile in June 2005.
June 2005
Barrington Chess Mexican Trip is featured in the National
Chess Life magazine.
July 2005
BHS students win national tournaments. Rishi Sethi wins 1st
place at the Western Open in Milwakee, Ben Wang and Elliot Wu win at the
Chicago Open. Each of these three students wins prize money.
August 2005
BHS member Rishi Sethi donates a chess set to the Head
forest ranger Mr. Mohammed Abdullah at the National Orangutan Forest
Preserve in Borneo for developing their chess skills. Mr. Abdullah said
chess was popular amongst the rangers as it kept them mentally stimulated
and helped them learn independently.
BHS student Rishi Sethi wins 6th place in the highest division at the
National Chess Tournament for juniors in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
BARRINGTON CHESS PROGRAM IS THE WINNER OF THE GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR
2005.
The 2nd Alexian Brothers Hospital Chess Tournament is held.
60 chess students competed in the tournament with 10 students volunteering
as assistant tournament directors. $100 donated to the Food Resource bank
benefiting World Hunger. BHS student Rishi Sethi was the Head Tournament
Director.
GM Shulman volunteers with Rishi Sethi and teacher John Buky in Lloyd
School in Chicago.
September 2005
Sept 7th: Yury Shulman Simultaneous Tournament held at BHS to
benefit Hurricane Katrina victims. All proceeds went to the American Red
Cross. $ 100 donated.
District 220 Elementary Schools, Middle Schools and High
School begin chess programs with GM Shulman.
October 2005
Oct 1st: Grandmaster Shulman joined his students to continue the
tradition of volunteering. He will volunteer in Chicago Public Schools
from 9 to 12 on Sat Oct 1st at Lloyd School in Chicago. District 220
students and Lloyd school will work together to develop a relationship
through chess.
David Jewell and Grandma Jewell launch a book drive for
Lloyd School in Chicago. David Jewell, a 4th Grader from Dist 220 chess
club and his grandmother attended the Sat Chess Program at Lloyd School
and David was shocked to learn that his new friends at Lloyd have no books
at home. David returned to Barrington and served as an ambassador for a
book drive collecting books for every student at Lloyd School.
Mr. Jeff Doles and nine students are hosted for an awards banquet
at Springfield where the Barrington Chess Program is the finalist for the
Governor’s award. The Judges gave the program full marks for its
combination of education with social and global programs.
November 2005
Nov 19th: A Grandmaster’s Cup Chess Tournament is held at BHS and 30
students from Lloyd School in Chicago was invited with all expenses paid
to play in the tournament. Alexian Brothers Hospital Network, Bertacchi
Builders and Nexus Office Systems donated money for trophies. $ 1000
donated for transportation and entry fee for Lloyd students to play in
Barrington.
December 2005
GM Shulman competes in the World Chess Championships held in Siberia,
Russia. He took 16th place and the chess community was thrilled to see
their teacher do so well in Siberia.
Dec 10th: Barrington Chess Program and GM Yury Shulman deliver
1500 books to each student at Lloyd School through the book drive
conducted by David Jewell and his Grandma.
Ms Cotton, Chess Coach from the South side in Chicago hears about our
program and she brings her students to Lloyd School to meet GM Shulman.
BHS student Rishi Sethi wins the North American Open Chess Tournament
in Las Vegas in Dec 2005.
BHS Chess Team is the MSL Champion for the 3rd year.
BHS Chess Team places 8th at Illinois State Chess Championship out of
125 teams.
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December 2005 contd.
BJ Armstrong of the former Chicago Bulls joins Barrington Chess as a
volunteer to host the BJ Armstrong Yury Shulman Chess Tournament. Metcalfe
Students from Chicago will be guests at the tournament. Donation of 100$
made to SOTEC in India.
A book drive is launched by Barrington Chess Clubs to collect gently
used books for Metcalfe students. Students from each elementary school
take on leadership roles to begin collecting books.
2006
January 2006
The Daily Herald Sunday Newspaper has a headline featuring GM Shulman
and chess. The article is enclosed with documents provided for review.
Roslyn School enlists High School volunteers to introduce chess. GM Shulman volunteers with his students at Roslyn School.
Barrington Area Library invites GM Shulman and Barrington Chess to
organize a chess program in partnership with the library.
March 2006
March 2006 GM Shulman becomes Vice Champion of US at the US Chess
Championship held in San Diego. The chess community held their breath as
they watched their teacher lose the last championship match.
April 2006
Yury Shulman BJ Armstrong Chess Tournament held at BHS.
Over 120 students participated. $ 160 donated to buy chess sets for an
Native American Reservation in N. Dakota
Rishi Sethi, a junior at BHS is invited to play in the
Denker Tournament for HS Champions. The top 15 HS Chess players compete to
be the Illinois nominee for the national Tournament.
GM Shulman is awarded a President’s Volunteer Award for his volunteer
work with his students.
Women’s US Chess Champion visits North Barrington
Elementary School.
May 2006
May 12th: Grove Avenue Tournament held for District 220
Elementary School. $ 100 donated to Adult Literacy Program.
GM Shulman is selected to be the Coach for the US Women’s Chess Team
at the Olympics in Italy to be held May 2006.
June 2006
Jun 9th: District 220 chess students with GM Shulman visit
Metcalfe School to deliver books and learn chess together.
Jun 18th: 25th 2006 Summer Chess Camp held at BHS with 4
Grandmasters teaching at the camp. Donation of approximately 100 $ made in
form of chess sets and chess lessons made to the Warne Orphanage in
Bareilly, India from proceeds of the camp. 2 students were awarded
scholarships to study free of charge at the camp.
Jun 25th to Jul 17th: Chess volunteers under the
leadership of Rishi Sethi established a chess program at the Warne
Babyfold in Bareilly, India. Chess sets and chess lessons were provided by
donations from Bathhaus, a local business in Barrington and the Yury
Shulman Chess School. A meal was also provided to the residents of the
orphanage on the 15th of July. 10 volunteers provided over 100 hours of
service to the orphanage. $ 200 donated.
Carl Eiring, an 8th Grader at BMS, will be the coordinator for the
chess service programs. He will work with GM Shulman for his Eagle Scout
Project.
Barrington Chess clubs are featured in a National Chess and Education
Workshop at the USCF in Oak Brook, IL.
BHS Students participate in the US National Chess
Tournament in Oak Brook, IL.
August 2006
GM Shulman is the winner of the 2006 US Open Chess
Championship! Barrington chess enthusiasts gather to celebrate GM
Shulman's victory with him.
September 2006
CPS requests a presentation of the Barrington Chess Program at 3
schools in Chicago on Sept 15th 2006. GM Shulman and volunteers spend time
teaching in the Chicago Schools.
GM Shulman and chess students volunteer at the Grove Carnival on Sept
17th.
Book Drive started for Avondale School in Chicago.
BARRINGTON CHESS PROGRAM AND YURY SHULMAN CHESS SCHOOL WIN THE
GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR 2006.
November 2006
Countryside School Chess Tournament held on the 9th of Nov. A portion
of the profits benefits Asha – a non-profit program for children of slums
in Delhi, India and money given for support of families from Woodland
school. $200 donated to Asha.
Nov 10th: GMs Yury Shulman and Alex Onischuk visit Avondale School to
deliver thousands of books collected over four months by chess clubs.
Nov 12: Barrington Area Library Family chess program introduces GM Shulman to
the Barrington community. GM Shulman and Rishi Sethi
volunteer to teach chess to area families. Chess sets worth $100 donated
to the library.
Barrington Chess and Yury Shulman purchase a sheep from Heifer for a
$500 donation to a family in need.
Yury Shulman Chess School donated chess sets worth $150
to each elementary, middle and high school library at District 220 as well
as at Quest and Elgin Academy Schools.
2007
January 2007
Yury Shulman Chess School introduces a program at Sunny Hill
Elementary School sponsored by Rose and Countryside Schools and Harris
Bank. $1000 donated to launch a chess club at Sunny Hill School. Harris
Bank donates $300 for the program as well.
Chess Coach Program launched for students who have been attending the Yury Shulman
International Chess School for a year. The program helps reinforce learning
through
students teaching in their neighborhoods.
Book drive for Pablo Casals Elementary located at 3501 West Potomac
Avenue, Chicago, IL 60651. Student Leaders from each school lead the
program.
BHS Chess Team students Rishi Sethi takes 1st place individual trophy
and Zac Kasiurak takes 8th place at High School State Tournament. BHS
Chess Team is MSL Champion for the 4th year in a row.
Indykids a National Children’s newspaper invites GM Shulman students
to contribute their games and comments for a regular chess column.
The Rotary Club of Leon purchased two children’s
wheelchairs with money raised from chess matches by Barrington Chess
students held in downtown Leon last year ( $750 approx)
February 2007
Rose School Chess Tournament held at Rose Elementary School. Yury
Shulman Chess School donates $300 to District 220 school programs. Ten
students and adults volunteer and assist in running the tournament.
March 2007
Chess enthusiasts from the Barrington area visit the
chess club in Neuloelln School in Berlin, Germany which serves underprivileged immigrants
and delinquent teenagers. The group taught chess daily in the chess club at the school under the direction of James
Redfield a Fulbright Scholar.
Chess program honored by Prudential Spirit of Community
Awards, which selected Rishi Sethi as the top High School volunteer for
2007.
April 2007
US News and World Report announces that BHS Student Rishi
Sethi wins the $10,000 US News and AXA Scholarship for a combination of
grades, service, the work with Barrington Chess and GM Yury Shulman and
excellence in chess achievement.
May 2007
GM Shulman competes in the US Championship and ties for
3rd place with his friend, GM Kaidanov and GM Becerra, qualifying for
the 2007 FIDE World Cup slated for November 2007.
Half Price Book Store features a chess photography
exhibit with students from Yury Shulman Chess School. The store hears
about our book drive and donates 3 boxes of books for Pablo Casals School
June 2007
Jun 2: North Barrington Chess Tournament held on June 2.
A portion of the proceeds from the tournament ($100) benefit FISH a local
non profit in Barrington which helps families in need.
Jun 8: Volunteers visit Pablo Casals public elementary school in
Chicago to deliver book donations at a special school assembly and teach
chess with GM Shulman. Kristin Sheyka from Countryside is the speaker at
the assembly.
Jun 11-15: 4th Annual Yury Shulman Chess Camp held at
Barrington High School with GM Shulman and GM Onischuk as coaches. A
portion of the camp fees ($100) donated to Youth Services in Washington
DC, which is an Alternative School for special needs' children.
August 2007
Chess sets donated to Siem Reap High School in Siem Reap,
Cambodia. Curriculum and lessons will be provided through the Rotary Club
in Ipoh, Malaysia.
September 2007
Chess exhibition held by chess volunteers and GM Shulman at Grove
Carnival in Sept. Grant Wagner and other chess students volunteer with
GM Shulman.
Chess Photography Exhibit held at Akina’s Restaurant in Elgin.
October 2007
Project Leaders Jack and Joe Schmidt volunteer to raise funds to bring
chess to Sudan. Barrington residents visiting Sudan in Feb of 2008 will
deliver the chess sets.
2008
January 2008
Kasi and Obe Nkechi will deliver chess sets donated through Yury Shulman
Chess School to a school in Nigeria to set up a chess program there.
BHS Chess Team members are MSL Champions for the 5th straight
year in a row.
The Yury Shulman Chess School has made the gift of a goat to Heifer, an
international charity on behalf of students and volunteers.
World Champion Anatoly Karpov’s visit to District 220 Rose elementary
school arranged for Jan 11th 2008.
Karpov has problems getting into the country. Luckily the Jan 11th
event is held with Women’s World Champion Susan Polgar and is an
enormous success with 58 players competing. Proceeds from food and
beverages benefited the Women’s Cooperative in the Dominican Republic. $
100 donated.
February 2008
Sunny Hill Elementary School chess club begins Feb 21st 08.
This was made possible from a portion of the proceeds of the book and
efforts of the volunteers. Donation of $250 donation made by Arlington
Lexus for Sunny Hill is matched by Yury Shulman Chess School to bring a
chess program to Sunny Hill School.
Families donated chess textbooks for Metcalfe Chess Club and a School in
Malaysia. Proceeds from the book support a weekly chess lesson for 2
special needs players.
Dr Thomas Uiijeva donates $ 200 for chess textbooks to be distributed to
needy schools.
March 2008
World famous researcher Dr Jane Goodall honors youth service
programs from The Yury Shulman Chess Without Borders by inviting them to
a special reception to the Botanical Gardens to congratulate them for
their humanitarian work.
Rishi Sethi is a Finalist for the Harris Wofford Award.
The Yury Shulman’s Chess Without Borders Organization is selected
through Rishi Sethi, to present their work at the Youth Assembly at the
UN in NY August 11th through 14th 2008.
April 2005
Arnett Lines School Chess Tournament held on April 5th 2008.
$ 100 donated through sales of the food to Community Crisis Center in
Elgin, Il. and funds set aside for deserving students to attend
Grandmaster Chess Camp in summer. A textbook was donated to a special
needs student.
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