Do you want to be invited to the US Chess School?
Currently there is a 2 man committee that decides which players are
deserving of invitations. The committee is comprised of the following:
IM Greg Shahade (USCS founder)
FM Aviv Friedman (Has coached the US Team at youth events numerous
times and is familiar with almost all of our young talent)
We will also listen carefully to the input of the any of the previous
USCS trainers and their impressions of the players who have attended
and whom they have met in their travels.
The following are our selection
guidelines and what we are looking for in young chessplayers:
1. Passion
and Work Ethic:
Although it's nice to have a lot of talent and a
high rating, these alone won't get you anywhere without the drive and
willingness to work. Those whom have shown a tremendous fighting spirit
and aptitude for the game may be favored over others with higher
ratings. Players who show a strong desire to attend the USCS will be
favored.
2. Talent + Youth
Of course your chess talent and playing strength
is important as well. If you are a hard worker but hundreds of points
lower rated than your competition, it's unlikely an invite will be
extended. For the most part, if two players are equally rated yet two
years apart in age, the younger player may be more likely to get the
invite.
3. Lack of Oppurtunity
We will favor those players who live in areas far
away from major chess activity and strong players. It's easy to find a
coach and some chess action in NYC, but it's not as simple in Nebraska.
4. High Recommendations from very
strong players and coaches
The committee may be unfamiliar with some of the
players that are being considered for an invitation. In these cases we
will contact as many strong players as possible whom are familiar with
your chess abilities, talent and attitude and use these recommendations
to help us make our choices.
5. Rating isn't everything
Just because you have a high rating doesn't mean you are
entitled to be invited to this School. The committee doesn't simply
start at the top of the rating list and scroll down. Everyone who has
been involved in the chess world for any extended period of time
understands the unreliablitity of the rating system. If you are rated
as one of the absolute top players in the nation, it's likely you will
be invited. However if you are not at the top you should have a strong
work ethic, intense hunger to succeed, or be signifigantly younger than
the competition.
There are no politics or obsessions over a rapidly fluctuating 4
digit number at the USCS. We are willing to gamble on players whom may
not have the credentials of other players, and if you feel that you
deserve to be one of these players, you should contact us at
admin@uschessschool.com.
6.
# of Invites (Updated)
There will be exactly 8 students at each training session. For
training sessions involving younger students, a minimum of four of
these students must be first time attendees. This means that once you
have attended the camp, it's not so easy to get invited back. For camps
involving stronger and older players, there are no minimum number of
first time attendants.
7.
Age Groups (Updated)
Right now we plan to have 2 groups, one comprised of
players whom are 14 or older and the other group comprised of players
from 9-14 years old. If you are exceptionally strong (ie rated above
2300 yet only 12 years old), you may be invited to the older group
instead. We expect that 65-75% of our programs will be for younger
students.
