Penn State Chess Club Fundraiser

The Penn State Chess Club wants to send teams to the 2017 Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship, held December 27-30, 2017, in Columbus, OH. The club was founded in 1961 by 5 time US Olympic Chess Team member and Chess Hall of Famer Donald Byrne, who also coached the Penn State Chess Team, the first collegiate varsity chess team in the U.S.  After his untimely death in 1976, chess reverted to a club sport at Penn State, losing all financial support from the Department of Athletics. The club has remained active continuously since that time. Mirroring the chess community worldwide, the chess club is one of the most diverse clubs on campus. Club members meet every Thursday from 7 to 10 P.M. in the Hetzel Union Building on the University Park campus to play each other and all comers. In addition, we try to field teams to collegiate tournaments, and we hope to bring in strong players for exhibitions and lessons. The club is currently advised by Donald Byrne's son Eli, a mathematics professor, and James Johnson, an education professor. I, Hartzel Gillespie, am the treasurer of the club, and Alex Hu is the president.

Entering the 2017 Pan-Ams requires $225 registration per team of 4, if paid before December 1, as well as 3 nights at a hotel near downtown Columbus; the tournament hotel's rate is $110 per night (rooms to be shared as necessary). Prize money won at the tournament will be donated to the club for future events. Beyond this immediate fundraising goal, any remaining donations will also be added to the club's University account for future tournaments and other events as noted above.