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Gorbachev Visits Lindsborg, Kansas

US Chess needs a few more organizers like Mikhail Korenman. Wow has he done agreat job of promoting chess in the tiny town of Lindsborg, Kansas (pop. 3,000). First he brings the Anatoly Karpov Chess Academy there, then starts an International Chess for Peace program and most recently brings Mikhail Gorbachev to town - all in the pursuit of promoting chess! I was fortunate to be invited to the Gorbachev visit and Teresa, USCF Finance VP Joel Channing, Joel's wife Susan, USCF Executive Director Bill Hall and USCF Scholastic Director Jerry Nash attended as well. Without exception we all were impressed!
 
To have survived and thrived in the Soviet hierarchy of the days of the cold war, Gorbachev obviously had a side we did not see. My one day exposure to this man showed a man with feelings, a man who had pride in having altered the course of history with his initiatives to help end the cold war, a man and his daughter enjoying retirement. At Lindsborg, Mikhail Gorbachev also answered tough questions from Wall Street Journal Managing Editor Alan Murray. He answered those questions pointedly and always with a bit of humor thrown in. And after the final event he, with his entourage and security team, slipped into a bar to chat with the locals. 
 
World Champions Susan Polgar and Anatoly Karpov were, for a change, the supporting cast. Gorbachev praised GM Karpov again and again. As for Susan Polgar, Gorbachev had kisses and a big hug.
 
Super Photographer, Paul Truong, was always there recording the event with literally thousands of pictures.
 
Another star was Gorbachev's translator. I have seen many translators of leading international celebrities but Gorbachev's translator was easily the best. Gorbachev spoke fast on complicated delicate matters and generally spoke long. His translator listened intently, took no notes, and apparently missed nothing. I mentioned this to Anatoly and Susan and they agreed with my assessment of the translator.
 
The security for Gorbachev was very high. They started well before Gorbachev arrived with individual security checks. During the parade they were everywhere - up and down the streets, on rooftops, looking everywhere.
 
Special thanks to Wes and Mark and all the others who helped so much.
 
The Alan Murray interview with Gorbachev mainly focused on China and Russia both adapting to a western economy but one with a different political structure and the other with no change in its political governance. While they exchanged Q's and A's they played a game of chess. And when Murray asked President Gorbachev how it feels to once be one of two superpowers and then see the other emerge as thee superpower, Gorbachev picked up two castles and asked how would you like playing without these. Another Murray question was: "At the time of the coup when did you first realize you had a problem?" Gorbachev replied: "Well they came to me and wanted this and that; they were unyielding in what they wanted. So, I have these five phones with direct lines on my desk. I began to pick them up and nobody was on the other end of any of those lines. At that moment, I realized I had a problem!.
 
The costs of the event were somewhat offset with a black tie thousand dollar a plate dinner (USCF chess officials got a free ride on this - thank God!).

The follow on to the Chess for Peace programs will be a 200 player match between US children and Russian children in Russia in March and in june a 2,000 board Internet match between US and Russian children.

Thank you Mikhail Korenman for making this marvelous event happen!

 
Don Schultz

Here is a photo of Teresa and I getting ready for the parade::

 

Here is a photo of Gorbachev, World Champion Susan Polgar and yours truly on the reviewing stand.

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mikhail Korenman
August 30, 2005 (785) 227-2224
Press Release Korenman@chessforpeace.org
 
 

CHESS FOR PEACE
Former Kansas Senator Nancy Kassebaum Heads Chess for Peace Initiative
October 29, 2005 - Lindsborg, KS.

(CROSSVILLE, TN) Chess is often used as a metaphor for politics. On October 29, 2005, the two will come together in the small town of Lindsborg, Kansas, population 3,200. None other than President Mikhail Gorbachev, former leader of the Soviet Union, along with a host of other political and chess dignitaries, will kick off the yearlong Chess for Peace initiative. The day’s events will feature a chess parade, a scholastic chess tournament, a match between former World Chess Champions Susan Polgar and Anatoly Karpov, a formal dinner, and a keynote address that evening by President Gorbachev at Presser Hall on the Bethany College campus.

Former Kansas Senator Nancy Kassebaum, as chairperson, is overseeing the National Advisory Committee for the Chess for Peace initiative. The committee also includes former government officials Kansas Governor John Carlin , Kansas Senator Sheila Frahm, and Kansas Congressman Dick Nichols. Also on the Advisory Committee, are former World Chess Champions Anatoly Karpov and Susan Polgar and U.S. Chess Federation Vice President Don Schultz.

Gorbachev, a friend of World Chess Champion Anatoly Karpov, agreed to come to Lindsborg after receiving a call from Karpov. Gorbachev had only two conditions: (1) Karpov would accompany him to Lindsborg and (2) Karpov would play a game of chess with him.

“I think it’s wonderful that Gorbachev is coming to Lindsborg, because he is a humanitarian and is committed to peace,” said Dr. Mikhail Korenman, Director of the Karpov International School of Chess.

The yearlong Chess for Peace initiative will commence on October 29, and will be followed by a series of Internet matches between students from countries throughout the world. The winners of these matches will be invited to participate in the week long Chess for Peace Festival, which will be held in Lindsborg in June 2006. Students will play chess and share their respective cultures with other participants.

Prime seats for the Gorbachev address are $53.50 and general admission is $27. Tickets for the Karpov Polgar match are $10.50 for adults and $5.50 for students. All ticket prices include tax. Additional information and tickets can be obtained from the Karpov International School of Chess, 106 S. Main, Lindsborg, KS 67456, phone 785-227-2224, Web site http://www.chessforpeace.org or e-mail Korenman@chessforpeace.org. You can also contact Wes Fisk at (785) 227-4121.


 

 

 

VOTE for Don Schultz

“Don Schultz is the most experienced of the Executive Board candidates and has contributed many beneficial new ideas to American Chess . . . I support his candidacy.”
Bill Goichberg, President, USCF

Schultz with six world champions

Girls Under-10 Evelyn Moncayo, Ecuador, ; Under-14: Judith Polgar, Hungary

Boys Under-10 Nawrose Nur, USA; Girls Under-12 Corina Peptan, Romania  Girls

Girls Under 14 Diana Darcha, Soviet Union; Under 12 Boris Avrukh

 

NOTE:  Election ballots including mailing instructions, will be in the June issue of Chess Life. All USCF members whose membership are current on June 1, 2007 and who are also U.S. residents, and who are by June 30, 2007 eligible to vote.

 

Dr. BRADY
ENDORSEMENT

        

To: USCF Members


I write to you as a former Board member of USCF, a FIDE International Arbiter, and the founding editor of Chess Life magazine. The subject is Don Schultz, who is running this year for re-election to the Board.

I have known Don Schultz since we were both children, and in all of these many years I have never known anyone more dedicated to chess than Don. His credits in service of USCF, FIDE and chess in general, are so extensive that they could not be elaborated upon in the confines of a single letter. A few highlights might include his being former President of USCF, a current and long-time member of the General Assembly of FIDE (who serves on many international committees), and an organizer of many international and national tournaments.

Don devotes his fulltime activities to chess organization, and I know personally that it is not uncommon for him to work 16 to 18 hours a day in service of the USCF, year in and year out. Although he is very much his own man in voting for what he feels is the right thing to do for USCF, he is, above all, a great mediator and conciliator, and is able to work, often with compromise, within the many different factions of USCF that arise. He also seems to come up with new ideas for USCF every minute, and they are exciting, practical and cogent ideas. Everyone in the chess world speaks highly of his imagination, his hard work, his many accomplishments.


Aside from his organizational abilities, Don is one of the most cordial people in chess. He has had to dinner at his home more world champions, international grandmasters, and just plain woodpushers than any other chessplayer in the United States. He is thoroughly connected with virtually everyone in chess.
Don Schultz is quite simply the most successful and enduring chess organizer in the history of this country. Without question, he deserves to be re-elected. Not to do so would be a disservice to USCF.

When your ballot comes in Chess Life,
Please vote for the future of chess
Vote for Don Schultz!

 

RESUME

 

Personal:

Education: Manhattan College: BSEE, 1957.· Married childhood sweetheart in 1957, have three daughters and nine grandchidren. Celebrating 50th wedding anniversary this October in NYC. My wife Teresa has shared my chess life with me. She was voted chess spouse of the year in August 2004. It is highly likely that Teresa has cooked more dinners for chess people than any other person in the world.

Chess Player:


· Expert, played 4th Board for the Atlanta Knights in the National Chess League and 4th Board for both the Waterloo and Brussels Chess Club in the Belgium League and won the 1967 North Carolina Championship.

Tournament Director:


· In the first half of the 1960s possibly directed more USCF rated tournaments than any other person.

Organizer Major Events:


· The 1963 US 30/30 Championship, State Championships in New York, North Carolina.

 

 · Served as admin assistant to Bobby Fischer in his 1972 defeat of Boris Spassky for the world championship


· 1981 FIDE Congress in Atlanta, Only FIDE Congress ever held in US.


· 1985 US Open at Ft. Lauderdale (co-organizer)


· The 1990 World Youth (6 world champioships, boys and girls under 14, 12 and 10. Besides the Olympiad and the world championship, this tournament is the most prestigious chess tournament. I raised the money - over $60,000.


· 1993 Amateur Team Playoffs, this was the only face to face amteur team playoffs. I obtained sponsorship from the Baltimore Yacht Club (site, transportation and accommodations for 22 people, meals, etc.)


· 1994 U.S. Championship in Key West, Florida


· The 1996 NY Invitational, arguably the 3rd strongest round robin ever held in the USA (behind the two Piatigorsky Cup tournaments)

 

· The 2004 U.S. Senior Open


Other:

 

· Established the Cramer Awards for Excellence in Chess journalism


· As editor of floridaCHESS won numerous journalist awards including Best State Magazine.


· Established the Gallery of Distinguished Chess Journalists


· President of several chess clubs, four state associations (NY, North Carolina, Georgia & Florida) and the US Chess Federation


· Honorary Lifetime member Florida Chess Association Board of Directors Inducted into FIDE’s Golden Book, special award for support of scholastic chess from the North Broward School, USCF Lifetime Achievement award


· Together with Soviet Cosmonaut Vitaly Sevestianov met with UNESCO officials and raised funding to host a seminar for African TD’s and organizers


· Together with GM Lev Polugaevesky rewrote the rules for the world championship cycle


· Authored the first book on Chess Politics: “Chessdon” and a follow up titled “Fischer, Kasparov and the Others.”

 

Sample of Accomplishments in Last 3 to 5 Years

 

 

Together with USCF VP Finance, Joel Channing organized a Retreat of leaders of major national chess organizations.

 

Together with Joel Channing, Susan Polgar and Paul Truong organized a world record breaking simultaneous Exhibition by Susan.

 

Organized the 2004 and ran US Senior Open Chess Championship

 

Represented the USCF on the campaign team of Bessel Kok in his attempt to uns Kirsan Ilyumzhinov. While Bessel lost the election , the campaign led to the establishment of FIDE Global led by Bessel which is now responsible for commercial ventures of FIDE.

 

Established contact with TV dignitary Jeff Zahn and currently involved in planning a TV reality series on chess similar to what has happened in poker.

 

Performed duties of USCF VP and continued a very long string of never missing a Board meeting while a meber ofeither the FIDE or USCF Executive Boards.

 

Obtained commitment, though never invoked from friend Dato Tan Chin Nam to lend USCF whatever money they needed during the financial crisis of 2003/04.

 

Established the Gallery of Distinguished Chess Journalists that has been extremely well received by the US journalist community. Plaques of inductees are on display at the Marshall Chess Club in NY and the Mechanics Institute Chess Club in San Francisco.