World Chess Hall of Fame
Encyclopedia
The World Chess Hall of Fame is a museum
in St. Louis, Missouri
dedicated to honoring achievements in the game of chess
. It is run and organized by the United States Chess Trust, a charitable arm of the United States Chess Federation
. Its past locations include New York
, Washington D.C., and Miami, Florida
, but it moved to St. Louis on September 9, 2011. The World Chess Hall of Fame
was the brainchild of Steven Doyle
, the president of the United States Chess Federation from 1984 to 1987. The museum was founded in 1984, during Doyle's first year as U.S. Chess Federation president.
. Originally known as the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame, the small museum opened in 1988 in the basement of the Federation’s then headquarters in New Windsor, New York
. It contained a modest collection including a book of chess opening
s signed by Bobby Fischer
, a silver set awarded to Paul Morphy
, American chess player and unofficial World Champion, and cardboard
plaques honoring past grandmasters. In 1992, the U.S. Chess Trust
purchased the museum and moved its contents to Washington D.C. From 1992 to 2001, the collection grew to include the World Chess Championship trophy won by the U.S. team in 1993, numerous chess sets and boards, and the U.S. and World Hall of Fame inductee plaques.
In the late 1990s, Sidney Samole, former owner of Excalibur Electronics
, proposed a deal with the Trust to move the hall of fame to Miami, where it would be located in a rook
-shaped building constructed by Excalibur. Although Samole died in 2000, the US Chess Trust accepted the proposal the following year. It was renamed the World Chess Hall of Fame and Sidney Samole Museum, and has been located in Miami since 2001. The museum continued collecting chess sets, books, tournament memorabilia, advertisements,
photographs, furniture, medals, trophies, and journals until it closed in 2009. Rex Sinquefield
soon afterword agreed to fund moving the museum to the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis, Missouri
, as well as the renovation of the new location.
The World Chess Hall of Fame is located directly across the street from the club in Saint Louis’ culturally vibrant Central West End neighborhood. It features displays of artifacts from the museum’s permanent collection, and temporary exhibitions highlighting the great players, historic games, and rich cultural history of chess as well as the U.S. and World Chess Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame collaborates with the Chess Club and Scholastic Center to provide innovative programming, instruction, and outreach to a broad local, national, and international audience of novices and experts alike. The Hall of Fame’s collection includes pieces such as a 500-year-old piece from an Egyptian game called senet
, the earliest known board game; a custom-made set of chess furniture that
belonged to the American Grandmaster and World Champion Bobby Fischer
; the first commercial chess computer; and a silver service awarded to Paul Morphy
, American chess player and World Champion.
Engaging visitors by showcasing the cultural and artistic significance of chess is a priority for the institution, which presents innovative exhibitions of artistic and historical significance and offers interpretive programs that lend context and meaning to chess. For example, the grand opening featured Number Twelve: Chess Piano Concert in Three Movements, in which Dutch contemporary artist Guido van der Werve performed on a sophisticated, one-of-a-kind chess piano built by the artist. The piano sounded a note as each chess piece is played. The players were accompanied by nine string musicians from the Saint Louis Symphony, who played van der Werve’s original score.
Displays include rotating exhibitions featuring items from the permanent collection, as well as two temporary exhibitions per year. The Hall of Fame also commemorates the careers of its members.
, Bobby Fischer
, Frank Marshall, and Samuel Reshevsky
. It displayed the World Chess Championship
trophy won by the United States team in 1993 as well as numerous chess boards and chess piece
s. The museum gave visitors the opportunity to play against a chess computer.
There are 47 members in the U.S. Hall of Fame, including Bobby Fischer
, Jack Collins
, Larry Evans
, Benjamin Franklin, Sammy Reshevsky, Paul Morphy
, and Arnold Denker
. Two more are being inducted into the 2011 class.
There are 15 members in the World Hall of Fame, including Jose Capablanca, Anatoly Karpov
, Garry Kasparov
, and Boris Spassky
. Winner of the first Women’s World Chess Championship Vera Menchik
will be inducted into the 2011 class.
The 2011 inductions take place on Sept. 8 as part of the World Chess Hall of Fame Grand Opening celebration.
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
dedicated to honoring achievements in the game of chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
. It is run and organized by the United States Chess Trust, a charitable arm of the United States Chess Federation
United States Chess Federation
The United States Chess Federation is a non-profit organization, the governing chess organization within the United States, and one of the federations of the FIDE. The USCF was founded in 1939 from the merger of two regional chess organizations, and grew gradually until 1972, when membership...
. Its past locations include New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Washington D.C., and Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, but it moved to St. Louis on September 9, 2011. The World Chess Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame
A hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...
was the brainchild of Steven Doyle
Steven Doyle
Edward Steven Doyle was President of the United States Chess Federation from 1984 to 1987, the youngest person ever to be elected to that position. He is a chess tournament organizer, who is best known for organizing the annual U.S...
, the president of the United States Chess Federation from 1984 to 1987. The museum was founded in 1984, during Doyle's first year as U.S. Chess Federation president.
History
The World Chess Hall of Fame was created in 1986 by the United States Chess FederationUnited States Chess Federation
The United States Chess Federation is a non-profit organization, the governing chess organization within the United States, and one of the federations of the FIDE. The USCF was founded in 1939 from the merger of two regional chess organizations, and grew gradually until 1972, when membership...
. Originally known as the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame, the small museum opened in 1988 in the basement of the Federation’s then headquarters in New Windsor, New York
New Windsor, New York
New Windsor is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was estimated at 25,244 in 2010 by the US Census.The Town of New Windsor is in the eastern part of the county, bordering the Town of Newburgh and the City of Newburgh....
. It contained a modest collection including a book of chess opening
Chess opening
A chess opening is the group of initial moves of a chess game. Recognized sequences of opening moves are referred to as openings as initiated by White or defenses, as created in reply by Black. There are many dozens of different openings, and hundreds of named variants. The Oxford Companion to...
s signed by Bobby Fischer
Bobby Fischer
Robert James "Bobby" Fischer was an American chess Grandmaster and the 11th World Chess Champion. He is widely considered one of the greatest chess players of all time. Fischer was also a best-selling chess author...
, a silver set awarded to Paul Morphy
Paul Morphy
Paul Charles Morphy was an American chess player. He is considered to have been the greatest chess master of his era and an unofficial World Chess Champion. He was a chess prodigy...
, American chess player and unofficial World Champion, and cardboard
Cardboard
Corrugated fiberboard is a paper-based material consisting of a fluted corrugated sheet and one or two flat linerboards. It is widely used in the manufacture of corrugated boxes and shipping containers....
plaques honoring past grandmasters. In 1992, the U.S. Chess Trust
United States Chess Federation
The United States Chess Federation is a non-profit organization, the governing chess organization within the United States, and one of the federations of the FIDE. The USCF was founded in 1939 from the merger of two regional chess organizations, and grew gradually until 1972, when membership...
purchased the museum and moved its contents to Washington D.C. From 1992 to 2001, the collection grew to include the World Chess Championship trophy won by the U.S. team in 1993, numerous chess sets and boards, and the U.S. and World Hall of Fame inductee plaques.
In the late 1990s, Sidney Samole, former owner of Excalibur Electronics
Excalibur Electronics
Excalibur Electronics, Inc. is an American electronics company with headquarters in Miami, Florida. The company manufactures such items as chess computers, radio controlled cars, flashlights, fans, and many other handheld electronic games. Excalibur is a frequent supplier of products to Woot....
, proposed a deal with the Trust to move the hall of fame to Miami, where it would be located in a rook
Rook (chess)
A rook is a piece in the strategy board game of chess. Formerly the piece was called the castle, tower, marquess, rector, and comes...
-shaped building constructed by Excalibur. Although Samole died in 2000, the US Chess Trust accepted the proposal the following year. It was renamed the World Chess Hall of Fame and Sidney Samole Museum, and has been located in Miami since 2001. The museum continued collecting chess sets, books, tournament memorabilia, advertisements,
photographs, furniture, medals, trophies, and journals until it closed in 2009. Rex Sinquefield
Rex Sinquefield
Rex Sinquefield, 62, is a conservative businessman active in Missouri politics and philanthropic causes.-Background:Raised in in Saint Louis, Sinquefield received his MBA from the University of Chicago in 1972, his B.S. in 1967 from St. Louis University, where he is a member of the board of...
soon afterword agreed to fund moving the museum to the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, as well as the renovation of the new location.
The World Chess Hall of Fame is located directly across the street from the club in Saint Louis’ culturally vibrant Central West End neighborhood. It features displays of artifacts from the museum’s permanent collection, and temporary exhibitions highlighting the great players, historic games, and rich cultural history of chess as well as the U.S. and World Chess Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame collaborates with the Chess Club and Scholastic Center to provide innovative programming, instruction, and outreach to a broad local, national, and international audience of novices and experts alike. The Hall of Fame’s collection includes pieces such as a 500-year-old piece from an Egyptian game called senet
Senet
Senet is a board game from predynastic and ancient Egypt. The oldest hieroglyph representing a Senet game dates to around 3100 BC. The full name of the game in Egyptian was zn.t n.t ḥˁb meaning the "game of passing."- History :...
, the earliest known board game; a custom-made set of chess furniture that
belonged to the American Grandmaster and World Champion Bobby Fischer
Bobby Fischer
Robert James "Bobby" Fischer was an American chess Grandmaster and the 11th World Chess Champion. He is widely considered one of the greatest chess players of all time. Fischer was also a best-selling chess author...
; the first commercial chess computer; and a silver service awarded to Paul Morphy
Paul Morphy
Paul Charles Morphy was an American chess player. He is considered to have been the greatest chess master of his era and an unofficial World Chess Champion. He was a chess prodigy...
, American chess player and World Champion.
Engaging visitors by showcasing the cultural and artistic significance of chess is a priority for the institution, which presents innovative exhibitions of artistic and historical significance and offers interpretive programs that lend context and meaning to chess. For example, the grand opening featured Number Twelve: Chess Piano Concert in Three Movements, in which Dutch contemporary artist Guido van der Werve performed on a sophisticated, one-of-a-kind chess piano built by the artist. The piano sounded a note as each chess piece is played. The players were accompanied by nine string musicians from the Saint Louis Symphony, who played van der Werve’s original score.
Displays include rotating exhibitions featuring items from the permanent collection, as well as two temporary exhibitions per year. The Hall of Fame also commemorates the careers of its members.
Museum
At its Washington D.C. location from 1992 to 2001, the hall featured America's "big four" chess players: Paul MorphyPaul Morphy
Paul Charles Morphy was an American chess player. He is considered to have been the greatest chess master of his era and an unofficial World Chess Champion. He was a chess prodigy...
, Bobby Fischer
Bobby Fischer
Robert James "Bobby" Fischer was an American chess Grandmaster and the 11th World Chess Champion. He is widely considered one of the greatest chess players of all time. Fischer was also a best-selling chess author...
, Frank Marshall, and Samuel Reshevsky
Samuel Reshevsky
Samuel "Sammy" Herman Reshevsky was a famous chess prodigy and later a leading American chess Grandmaster...
. It displayed the World Chess Championship
World Chess Championship
The World Chess Championship is played to determine the World Champion in the board game chess. Men and women of any age are eligible to contest this title....
trophy won by the United States team in 1993 as well as numerous chess boards and chess piece
Chess piece
Chess pieces or chessmen are the pieces deployed on a chessboard to play the game of chess. The pieces vary in abilities, giving them different values in the game...
s. The museum gave visitors the opportunity to play against a chess computer.
There are 47 members in the U.S. Hall of Fame, including Bobby Fischer
Bobby Fischer
Robert James "Bobby" Fischer was an American chess Grandmaster and the 11th World Chess Champion. He is widely considered one of the greatest chess players of all time. Fischer was also a best-selling chess author...
, Jack Collins
Jack Collins
Jack Collins may refer to:In Australia:* Jack A. Collins , Australian rules footballer for Melbourne* Jack L. Collins , Australian rules footballer for Geelong* Jack C...
, Larry Evans
Larry Evans
For the football player of the same name, see Larry Evans .Larry Melvyn Evans was an American chess grandmaster, author, and journalist. He won or shared the U.S. Chess Championship five times and the U.S. Open Chess Championship four times...
, Benjamin Franklin, Sammy Reshevsky, Paul Morphy
Paul Morphy
Paul Charles Morphy was an American chess player. He is considered to have been the greatest chess master of his era and an unofficial World Chess Champion. He was a chess prodigy...
, and Arnold Denker
Arnold Denker
Arnold Sheldon Denker was an American chess player, Grandmaster, and chess author. He was U.S. Chess Champion in 1945 and 1946....
. Two more are being inducted into the 2011 class.
There are 15 members in the World Hall of Fame, including Jose Capablanca, Anatoly Karpov
Anatoly Karpov
Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov is a Russian chess grandmaster and former World Champion. He was the official world champion from 1975 to 1985 when he was defeated by Garry Kasparov. He played three matches against Kasparov for the title from 1986 to 1990, before becoming FIDE World Champion once...
, Garry Kasparov
Garry Kasparov
Garry Kimovich Kasparov is a Russian chess grandmaster, a former World Chess Champion, writer, political activist, and one of the greatest chess players of all time....
, and Boris Spassky
Boris Spassky
Boris Vasilievich Spassky is a Soviet-French chess grandmaster. He was the tenth World Chess Champion, holding the title from late 1969 to 1972...
. Winner of the first Women’s World Chess Championship Vera Menchik
Vera Menchik
Vera Menchik was a British-Czech chess player who gained renown as the world's first women's chess champion. She also competed in chess tournaments with some of the world's leading male chess masters, defeating many of them, including future World Champion Max Euwe.The daughter of a Czech father...
will be inducted into the 2011 class.
The 2011 inductions take place on Sept. 8 as part of the World Chess Hall of Fame Grand Opening celebration.
External links
- World Chess Hall of Fame official website
- US Chess Hall of Fame official website