Sam Shankland won the American Continental! | Issue 56 | MM Chess
The best monthly chess newsletter you receive.
It’s the 56th Issue of the MM Newsletter, this time, we're not only diving into how our local tournaments in Chicago are shaping up, but we're also taking you on a whirlwind tour of the global chess scene. Get ready for updates on young phenoms challenging the GOAT, major tournament victories, and even chess making a splash on Broadway! But, before we start, there’s a little favor I’d like to ask you🙏. We’re in the process of growing and improving our service, and we need to hear from you first, so if you don’t mind, please fill out this form and help us grow!
🏙️ We’re running the NexChamp Camp at the Chicago Chess Center! Each row has PM/AM/Full Day registration, and we will be having advanced and beginner groups.
https://nexploreusa.com/camp
Let’s welcome the newest MM students: Nathan, Dan, Tim, and Dominic.
Student Success🏆
Every month, we highlight some of our students' successes. Proud of something chess-related? Send me photos!
Congratulations to Rory, Yeison’s student, who scored 5 out of 7 points and got 18th place in her category in the Super Nationals!
“You may learn much more from a game you lose than from a game you win”
– Jose Capablanca
My story 🖼️
It’s the end of the year, and Highlands Elementary PTO opted to have a SECOND tournament this year. I couldn’t have asked for a better group!
“There are times when a well-placed pawn is more powerful than the king.”
– Benjamin Franklin
Monthly Tournaments♟️
📅 Summer is almost here, but the chess action at MM is just heating up! 🔥 We're thrilled to announce we'll be hosting TWO fantastic tournaments this month, giving everyone a chance to jump into some friendly competition. The first one is this Wednesday, June 4th at 7:00 pm EST (6:00 pm CT, 5:00 pm MT, 4:00 pm PT). This is your perfect opportunity to sharpen your skills before the summer break.
The second tournament will be held on Thursday, June 20th, at 7:00 pm EST (6:00 pm CT, 5:00 pm MT, 4:00 pm PT). In both cases, most of the players will be rated from 500-1800. Both kids & adults are allowed to play the tournament!
To Play: Reply to this email or press the big green button here. If you haven’t already, you must join the MM team and press the “MM June Arena.” The Zoom for the tournament is here.
“You have to have a fighting spirit. You have to force moves and take chances”
-Bobby Fischer
Chess News 📰
🏆 Crowned King of the Americas! Sam Shankland Conquers Continental Championship! What a triumph! American Grandmaster Sam Shankland has stormed his way to victory, capturing the prestigious American Continental Championship title! He finished tied for first among a seven-way tie, claiming the gold on tiebreaks after an intense 11-round battle in Brazil.
🥇 18 years old World Champion takes down the GOAT, Magnus Carlsen. Hold onto your rooks, chess fans, because the chess world just got a major shake-up! Our very own 18-year-old World Champion, D. Gukesh, achieved a monumental victory by defeating the undisputed GOAT, Magnus Carlsen, at Norway Chess! This wasn't just any win; it was Gukesh's first ever classical victory against Carlsen, and it sent shockwaves through the tournament.
While Carlsen is still fiercely holding onto a shared lead with American superstar Fabiano Caruana, Gukesh's incredible triumph has propelled him up to 3rd place! Relive every jaw-dropping moment of this historic game with Gotham Chess. You won't want to miss it! Check out their video explaining the masterpiece
🥇 Sharjah Masters Shines! Giri Victorious, Assaubayeva Makes GM History. Grandmaster Anish Giri clinched the Sharjah Masters 2025 title! But the real highlight? Bibisara Assaubayeva delivered a sensational performance to achieve her Grandmaster norm! At just 20, she's on her way to becoming one of the youngest female GMs ever. What a fantastic display of both seasoned brilliance and rising star power!
🎭 Chessboard to Broadway! "Chess" Musical Returns! The iconic cult musical, "Chess," featuring music by ABBA's Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, is making a grand comeback to Broadway! This high-stakes show brings a Cold War-era chess tournament to life with political intrigue and a captivating love triangle. It's set to open this Fall, proving how deeply chess has woven itself into popular culture.
👑 Carlsen Claims Another Crown! Wins CCT Chess.com Classic. The GOAT strikes again! Magnus Carlsen just dominated the 2025 CCT Chess.com Classic Playoffs, adding another major title to his collection! He proved once more why he's the player to beat, conquering the competition with his signature brilliance.
🍿 Human vs Machine historical match Lands on Disney+. The highly anticipated series "Rematch," which dramatizes the epic 1997 showdown between Chess World Champion Garry Kasparov and IBM's supercomputer Deep Blue, is now available on Disney+ in the US! Relive the tension of man versus machine in this gripping series. It's a must-watch for any chess fan! Check
“Mother's words resonate deeply with me. Success in life is incomplete if one isn’t kind and humble”
– Gukesh Dommaraju
Fun Facts💡
🏆The first international chess tournament was held in London in 1851. It was organized to coincide with the Great Exhibition, a massive industrial technology showcase. This connection highlights how chess was seen as a significant intellectual pursuit of the time, worthy of being presented alongside cutting-edge innovations.
♔The word checkmate comes from the Persian phrase "Shah Mat" which translates to "the king is dead".
🤯In 2016, Timur Gareyev set the current world record by playing 48 blindfold games simultaneously in Las Vegas. This is an awe-inspiring modern-day feat. What made it even more unique was that he did it while riding an exercise bike, which showed a great deal of mental and physical stamina.
📴In the late 19th century, before widespread telephone communication, chess matches were played via telegraph! Imagine the suspense of waiting for each move to be transmitted across vast distances.