Chess league to host Summer Camp in June

MADISON – Madison City Chess League or MCCL will offer the 2024 MCCL Summer Chess Camp in June.

Registration for the camp is now open, for both members and players who are not MCCL members. The camp will open on June 10 and have sessions through June 14 at Journey Middle School, 217 Celtic Drive.

These half-day camps will have some sections in the morning, some in the afternoon:

* Learn to Play Camp — For students who will enter kindergarten through fifth grade in the fall. The camp will help anyone who wants to learn to play chess, basic rules, point values of pieces, checkmate patterns and strategy. The camper will receive a workbook. Joel Friedman will be instructor.

“The Learn to Play section is perfect for kids who are completely new to the game,” MCCL Executive Director Todd Guthrie said. Camp hours will be Monday-Friday, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

* Introduction to Competition Camp – Open to two sections, a section for grades K-5 and a section for grades 6-12. This section is suited for the student who has been playing chess less than one year or has not played in a tournament rated by U.S. Chess Federation and wants to get ready to compete in tournaments in the fall, Guthrie said. Instructors will be Will Stevenson and Jonathan Rasberry.

“The Introduction to Competition section is great for kids who want to move past the basics to playing in a tournament,” Guthrie said. The camp will meet Monday-Friday from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

* Beginning Competition Camp — For K-5 students who are rated under 500. The sessions focus on tactics, endgames and tournament rules and notation. This camp is intended for younger students who have competed in rated tournaments and have a USCF rating under 500.

Instructor will be Will Stevenson. The camp will meet Monday-Friday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

* Intermediate Competition Camp – Focuses for students in grades K-12 who have a USCF rating of 500 to 1,000. The instructor will be Joel Friedman. This camp will meet Monday-Friday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

* Advanced Competition Camp – These sessions will accommodate students in grades K-12 who have a USCF rating above 1,000. Jonathan Rasberry will serve as instructor. This camp will assemble Monday-Friday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

The fee for all camps is $150 per student. “Don’t wait until the last minute to register. Some sections will fill up,” Guthrie said. MCCL members will receive priority in securing registration slots.

To register, visit madisonchess.com, and click the “Events” menu and then click “Upcoming Events.” On the next page, click “2024 MCCL Summer Chess Camp.”

For more information, email mccl.director@gmail.com.