Defending U.S. women’s chess champion WGM Anna Zatonskih is using her versatility to keep her opponents off balance at the 2009 championship at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis . After two games, she was the only player to move to 2-0, reflecting two victories. Zatonskih played a solid opening variation that she seldom uses to frustrate the aggressive style of Battsetseg Tsagaan.

Opening day of the 2009 US Women’s Chess Championship yesterday definitely proved how much fun chess could be! The Contemporary Art Museum of Saint Louis was filled with hula chess games, life-sized chessboards and bounty blitz matches.

The opening round of the 2009 U.S. Women’s Chess Championship gave a taste of the combative play that will come over the next 8 days. The championship will take place at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, from Oct. 3, 2009. The first day’s action gathered 10 of the highest-rated women in the country as they faced off in five duels, with four ending in victories.

The preliminary events for the 2009 U.S. Women’s Chess Championship have the Saint Louis community and chess-enthusiasts worldwide anticipating the tournament, which begins 2 p.m. today at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis.

Kevin Burroughs-Neely (KBN) will sing the national anthem for Opening Ceremony of the 2009 US Women’s Chess Championship on Saturday, October 3 at the Contemporary Art Museum. He is a Steller Award winner, which is equivalent to a Grammy award in Gospel!

Sure, there will plenty of great chess at the 2009 U.S. Women’s Chess Championship, which will be held Oct. 4-13 at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. But thanks to a variety of partnerships involving the arts, cultural and health care communities, the tournament offers much more.

Chess players often complain about distractions in the tournament hall. But squeaky chairs and jiggling change take a back seat for some competitors. Amidst the intense focus required of top-level players, one subgroup must add another item to the list of complications – motherhood.

Singer, songwriter and Tony-nominee, Ann Hampton Callaway will perform at a kick-off concert for the 2009 U.S. Women’s Chess Championship, Friday, October 2, 2009 at the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, 3750 Washington Boulevard in Grand Center. The kick off event entitled, “Queens of Jazz” will include special guest, Denise Thimes.

The Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine will offer a chess playing program designed to brighten the lives of patients and caregivers during treatments. Called “Chess for Life,” the program was developed in conjunction with the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis.

A “Queens of Jazz” Concert will kick-off the 2009 U.S. Women’s Chess Championship on Oct. 2 in a 12-day marathon of chess matches involving 10 of the best female players in the nation, and a variety of related events open to the public. The championship and the events are hosted by the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis.