MISSOURIAN BROOKS CONTINUES TO SHINE AT CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

For more information contact:
Laura Slay, Slay and Associates
314-504-0081 or lslay@slayandassociates.com
or
Jack Naudi, Slay and Associates
636-751-4965 or jnaudi@slayandassociates.com

For immediate release:
 

 
Saint Louis, May 13, 2009 -- After five rounds of the U.S. Chess Championship, Michael Brooks of Kansas City, Mo., has an impressive three points, putting him just one point out of first place. Brooks, of Kansas City, has defeated two grandmasters with ratings higher than 2600, including the seventh- and 15th-ranked players in the country. 
 
Brooks went into the tournament with a rating of 2423. In addition to the two wins, he also has two draws. His only loss came in the first round to Jaan Ehlvest of Baltimore, the 11th-ranked player in the country with a 2649 rating.
 
If Brooks continues to rack up points, his rating is sure to climb.

"If he finishes the tournament with a performance rating still over 2,600 he will get one of the three norms required to attain the grandmaster title," said Jim Voelker, a board member of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, which is hosting the championship. "I don't think there has ever been a grandmaster from Missouri."

Round 6 of the nine-round championship is today. The tournament concludes Sunday.

For a live update of tournament play on Twitter, go to www.twitter.com/ccscsl. Results of all matches are available at www.saintlouischessclub.org.

The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis opened in July 2008, and has over 500 members. The club also will host the 2009 U.S. Women's Chess Championship from October 2-12.