News

MCCL is celebrating National Chess Day in a big way by inviting GM Alex Stripunsky to conduct a simultaneous chess match on Friday October 9th with all campers registered for the weekend chess camp.  GM Alex Stripunsky headlines the Mid-South chess camp in Memphis each summer.  Now Mid-South comes to Space City with a reception at the US Space and Rocket Center, Davidson Center for Space Exploration and SIMUL under the Saturn V Rocket!  Campers will then participate in a two-day chess camp in Madison, AL targeted toward students in two USCF rating ranges:  800-1250 and those above 1250.  Class size is limited to 16, so reserve your spot now.

GM Stripunsky has gained great respect and recognition as one of America's Elite Grandmasters and is known as one of the Premier Chess Coaches in the US as well. He has been the coach to many of the top young chess players in the country including NM Joshua Colas, the 2010 7th grade National Champion, IM elect Parker Zhao, IM Teddy Coleman, and IM Jake Kleiman of Memphis. GM Stripunsky runs regularly and works out equally as hard on the chess board. Appreciating the aesthetic strength in chess, GM Stripunsky says, "The more you play, the more beauty you are able to see."

Some highlights in GM Stripunsky's career include: US Co-Champion 2005, Invitation to play in the World Championship, Coach of US Women's Olympian Team, Continental Open Champion 2008 and 2010, National Congress Champion, 1st Place, and Philadelphia Open 2010, 1st Place tie, Continental Open 2014 1st Place tie, Atlantic Open 2014 1st place tie, Manhattan Open 2014 champion.

Jake Kleiman is a Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude graduate of Rhodes College. IM Kleiman is very proud to have been invited to play in the US Cadets, the World Junior Olympics, the US Masters, and on the US World Youth Team. In 2005 and in 2006, he was invited to play in the US Championships. In 2006, he was runner-up in the US Junior Championship. In addition, he was recognized by the United States Chess Federation with its annual Scholar/ Chess Player Award.

Most recently, IM Kleiman took first place in the Millionaire Satellite Chess Tournament held August 2014 and was listed by the USCF in January 2015 as the highest rated player in Tennessee. No stranger to chess instruction, IM Kleiman has been coaching at Mid-South Chess Camp as well as in school settings for fourteen years. He is excited to instruct alongside internationally renowned chess players, coaches, and especially with his mentor and dear friend, GM Alex Stripunsky.