The dangers of playing outside

From "2 shot during South Side chess game" at the Chicago Sun-Times:

Two men are in stable condition early Monday after being shot while playing chess late Sunday in the Englewood neighborhood on the South Side.

An unidentified man shot two 23-year-old men playing chess in the 7100 block of South Paulina Steet about 11:05 p.m. Sunday...

Speaking of BCC players...

1. IM David Vigorito tied for fourth at the just completed NACA 4th North American FIDE Invitational in Chicago.


2. Kevin Croxen had a question of his answered at Susan Polgar's Blog.

Trouble By The Lake

It seems that things didn't go particularly smoothly at the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Chess Championship. Strange rules, not enough officials and lack of organization ultimately led to almost half the kids walking out by round 2. Here are two reports, ...:

• Tom Larson (Chicago Public Schools) Screws up the Elementary City Chess Championship (Again) - Chess 4 Chicago


• Meltdown at CPS Chess Meet - The Knights of Castle Kimbark

... a related "editorial," ...:

• A Chess Mom Speaks Out - The Knights of Castle Kimbark

... and a response from CPS:

• Chicago Public School Chess Coordinator Responds to Complaints Over Elementary Chess Tournament Problems - Chess 4 Chicago

I don't know much about the Illinois scholastic chess scene other than what I've read at The 64 Square Jungle over the years, but obviously there are issues that need to be addressed. I'm guessing it's all about adult egos, politics and power plays. How else can one explain why the CPS Championship took place the same weekend as the Illinois State K-8 Championship?

Let's all try to remember that scholastic chess is supposed to be about the kids.

Update (3/17): This story has made the front page (!) of the Chicago Tribune (Hat tip/related posts: Chess 4 Chicago & The Knights of Castle Kimbark)