Already Breaking Records: Opening Day - 2009 U.S. Women's Chess Championship

Opening day of the 2009 U.S. 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 chess boards and bounty blitz matches.

But the highlight of the event was the blindfold chess demonstration played by two-time champion Anna Zatonskih.  She called  out and remembered her moves on five boards against tough chess enthusiasts, including CCSCSL founder and board member Rex Siquefield.  Zatonskih's five wins set a record for female blindfold chess!

Be sure to get your tickets for tournament play, which begins today at 2:00 p.m. at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis: http://saintlouischessclub.org/US-Womens-Championship-2009/Schedule

When reusing images please credit: Betsy Dynako, Official Event Photographer