Grand Masters Gregory Kaidanov and Alex Lenderman, to prepare Detroit scholastic chess players for National Tournaments.
DETROIT – City of Detroit youth are being afforded a rare opportunity to learn chess with two world-renowned chess Grandmasters, Gregory Kaidanov and Alex Lenderman. UAW-Ford National Programs Center and local organization, Detroit City Chess Club (DCCC), will make this unique opportunity possible to any youth between 5- 17 years of age during the Detroit Thinkers Chess Challenge tournament on Saturday, April 12, 2014 at 8:30am at the UAW- Ford National Programs Center located at 151 W. Jefferson in downtown Detroit. Grandmasters Kaidonov and Lenderman will be on hand to provide helpful tips to tournament attendants on mastering the game of chess. Grandmaster is the highest title a chess player can attain and to be given personal instruction from two world champions is definitely a treat for any youth looking to elevate their game and strategy. The game of chess is not a common activity offered within many school districts as an extracurricular activity but the game of chess has been proven to be beneficial in developing young minds. Studies have proven that chess helps to develop analytical and decision making skills in which they can transfer into real life. “In many ways, our partnership with the Detroit City Chess Club (DCCC) offers the most immediate reward. You can literally see a change in these young people the moment they first sit down at a chess table and it grows with every match and every tournament,” said UAW Vice President Jimmy Settles. The UAW- Ford National Programs Center is uplifting the community by supporting the arts, sports and music in local schools and by helping feed the less fortunate. Sponsoring this event coincides with their mantra of supporting communities in which their members live and work. The Detroit Chess Club is a local organization, in conjunction with non-profit Young Detroit Thinkers, consists of more than 400 students from the various Detroit area schools and chess teams. The organization was founded by native Detroiter, Kevin Fite, after being challenged to a friendly game of chess by one of his elementary students. Please visit http://www.weplaychess.webs.com to register. Deadline to register to compete in the tournament is Thursday, April 10th 9pm.