The RZA Takes on Prodigies in Team Speed Chess

9Queens, a non-profit organization started last year by an Ivy League grad and a former National Chess Champion, hosted a team speed chess tournament Saturday, July 5th in New York City at the Chelsea Art Museum.


Teams of two squared off in 10-minute timed matches with teammates alternating moves.


Rap impresario and chessmaster the RZA came through, and teamed up with Jennifer Shahade - two-time Women's National Chess Champion and co-founder of 9Queens - to take on two N.Y. prodigies. Check it out:



9Queens is a national organization dedicated to providing chess education in low-income and impoverished communities. Also on hand was Wuchess.com, a social network for chess players that was launched earlier this year by RZA, and donates proceeds to the Hip-Hop Chess Federation.

Check out more photos from the 9Queens Knockout Invitational on flickr.

Chess players from I.S. 318, the 2008 Girl's National Chess Champions

Adisa Banjoko, founder of the Hip-Hop Chess Federation

Links:

• Tucson Q&A with Jean Hoffman
• Website for New Non-Profit, 9Queens, Launched
• Brooklyn Public School is Big Winner at National Championship
  

The RZA to Host Speed Chess Tournament in NYC, Saturday, July 5

Toad style Chessmaster The RZA will be at the Chelsea Arts Center in Manhattan on Saturday to host and take part in a fast-paced, single elimination speed chess tournament.


Other celebrities (Wu-Tang members?) are expected to play, as well as two-time American Women's Chess Champion Jennifer Shahade. The Wuchess.com blog claims that the 'Wuchess Team' will making an appearance.

Jennifer Shahade

Also participating will be 2-3 scholarship chess players from local schools. All proceeds go to benefit 9queens - a national nonprofit organization dedicated to extending the benefits of chess to under-served and under-represented populations.

I used to wreck house in Battle Chess on original Nintendo. There is no question I would get it handed to me here.

It's happening from 3-6 on Saturday. Go here for more info: Chelsea Art Museum 9Queens Knockout Invitational

Check out some pics from the 9Queens Wuchess Fest that happened in NYC on June 17th (photos from the 9Queens.org blog)




Additional Links:

• ChelseaArtMuseum.org
• Hybrid Nation - Wu Chess Coming to New York City for 9 Queens Knockout Invitational
• Wuchess Blog
• Hip Hop Chess Federation
  

Wuchess.com goes live...

On WashingtonPost.com, Michael Arrington (founder of TechCrunch) writes:

"WuChess, a partnership between Wu-Tang Clan's RZA and ChessPark, a social network around online chess playing, launches today. It's the "world's first online chess and hip hop community" and will also include exclusive videos and mp3 of the "hottest cats in hip hop."

Like most people of inconsequential intelligent who grew up in the mid or late 90s, I celebrate the catalog of the RZA, the GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard (may he rest in peace), et al.

In the same vein, I think I speak for most of the these people when I say that if it comes down to paying $48 bucks a year I'm content to stick with playing Scrabulous on Facebook.

Can't say I envy anyone trying to launch a niche social network these days.

RZA says he'll donate a large part of the revenue to the Hip Hop Chess Federation. Adisa Banjoko (CEO, HHCF) posted on the HHCF blog that they are currently looking for donations and sponsorship to hold the second annual Chess Kings Invitational.

The RZA himself currently holds the title. check it out: