News

Although it is winter, many of you make summer plans early.  Be sure to save the date for some upcoming summer chess camps that are great opportunities for kids to grow and develop their chess playing skills.  We cannot recommend summer camps enough for our students.  Most successful competitive chess players invest in some type of training outside of chess team practice in the form of private lessons and/or chess camps.

Mid-South Summer Chess Camp in Memphis - June 5-10

Mid-South Summer Chess Camp offers kids the opportunity to immerse themselves in chess instruction for a week.  This is an overnight camp in Memphis taught by GM Alex Stripunsky, among others.  Some of Madison's highest rated chess kids attend this camp, and the level of instructors who offer to teach at this camp for kids is unparalleled.  Follow this link for more information about the camp and how to register.

Summer Knights Chess Camp at Rainbow Elementary - Week of June 27th

Each year the Summer Knights Chess Camp at Rainbow Elementary grows bigger and better, and this year will be no exception.  Summertime is a great opportunity to study chess, and we are once again offering a local camp to meet the needs of all kids at all levels.  Returning this year to teach both Learn to Play and Recreation Chess camps June 27-29 (Mon-Wed) is Noel Newquist, chess coach for Heritage and Mill Creek Elementary schools.  For our competition chess players, we will also offer competition chess camps by USCF rating level taught by NM Sam Copeland and Rainbow Elementary competition chess coach Bill Nash.  We are also planning a longer chess camp week (June 27-July 1) for our higher rated players and an evening blitz tournament.  Online registration is available here.  MCCL members will be allowed to register first.  If you have not joined MCCL for 2016, you can do so by following this link.

Camp Options - Mon-Wed (June 27-29th)

Learn to Play Chess ($75) - 8:30-11:30 a.m. - camp will teach basics, how pieces move, point values, and rules.  Designed for students who want to learn how to play and who want to join school chess clubs. (workbook provided). 

MCCL Chess Instructor:  Noel Newquist, Coach for Heritage and Mill Creek Elementary

 

Recreation Chess ($75) – 1-4 p.m. - camp focuses on the player who wants to play chess for fun and has very little to no competitive chess playing experience.  Teaches basic chess rules, objectives and strategy, openings. Encourages kids to play against each other and have fun playing chess.  Great for getting kids ready to join a school chess club!  
MCCL Chess Instructor:  Noel Newquist, Coach for Heritage and Mill Creek Elementary

Beginner Competition ($100) (USCF rating below 600)- 8:30-11:30 a.m. - camp focuses on how to set and avoid opening traps, endgames, and tournament prep.  Designed for players who have competed in USCF chess tournaments.  
MCCL Chess Instructor: Bill Nash, coach for State and National Champions Rainbow Elementary

New This Year! - Blitz Clinic ($30) - for all competitive chess players with a USCF rating - 4:15-5:30 p.m. (Mon-Wed)  - this clinic focuses on how to think and prepare for blitz games with the option of campers and non-campers registering for the Summer Knights Blitz tournament on Thursday evening (6/30/16).

Guest Instructor:  NM Sam Copeland

Camp Options - Mon-Wed (June 27-29th) or Mon-Fri (June 27-July 1) 

Intermediate Competition ($100-3-day camp; $150--5 day-camp) (USCF rating 600–1000) 8:30-11:30 a.m. - Designed for players with tournament experience. 

Guest Instructor:  NM Sam Copeland 

Advanced Competition ($100 – 3-day camp; $150 –5-day camp) (USCF rating above 1000) 1-4 p.m. - Designed for players who frequently play in tournaments.  
Guest Instructor:  NM Sam Copeland

New This Year! - Blitz Clinic ($30) - for all competitive chess players with a USCF rating - 4:15-5:30 p.m. (Mon-Wed)  - this clinic focuses on how to think and prepare for blitz games with the option of campers and non-campers registering for the Summer Knights Blitz tournament on Thursday evening (6/30/16).

Guest Instructor:  NM Sam Copeland

Summer Knights Chess Camp and Tournament Schedule at a Glance

Time	Mon – June 27	Tues – June 28	Wed – June 29	Thur – June 30	Fri – July 1
8:30-11:30 a.m.				5-day option	5-day option
	Learn to Play Chess Camp	Learn to Play Chess Camp	Learn to Play Chess Camp
	Beginning Competition Camp	Beginning Competition Camp	Beginning Competition Camp
	Intermediate Competition Camp	Intermediate Competition Camp	Intermediate Competition Camp	Intermediate Competition Camp	Intermediate Competition Camp
1:00-4:00 p.m.				5-day option	5-day option
	Recreation Chess Camp	Recreation Chess Camp	Recreation Chess Camp
	Advanced Competition Camp	Advanced Competition Camp	Advanced Competition Camp	Advanced Competition Camp	Advanced Competition Camp
4:15 – 5:30 p.m.	Blitz Clinic	Blitz Clinic	Blitz Clinic
5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.				SK Blitz Tourney