Greater Peoria Chess Foundation

Organizers

The following people served on the organizing committee to make this tournament possible. They put in long hours in the planning stages to be sure that this is the most successful GPO yet. Say thank you when you see them.

• Patrick Cohen, Novice Instructor
• Jim Efaw, Technical Support
• Vijaya Gurramkonda, Technical Support
• Michael Leali, Chief Organizer
• Murrel Rhodes, Advanced/Intermediate Instructor
• Ben VandenBerg, Peoria Academy Liaison

Greater Peoria Chess Foundation

• And to our local organization for undertaking the task of bringing high qualify chess into Peoria for all our players. Peoria was host to the 1945 US Open. GPCF has twice hosted the National Scholastics in 1989 & 1998. The Midwest Chess Camp began in 2005 and has been held every year since. The initial event was organized by Mike Leali. We have held the event every year since, hosting numerous players who have gone on to win recognition for their schools and themselves.
• The Greater Peoria Chess Foundation provides financial support for the promotion of chess locally. The foundation also provides support for the Hult K-12 Chess Club, now meeting 6:30pm Fridays at Schnucks Community Room, provides for workshops and private lessons and provides sets and boards to schools in our community for their chess club activities.
• If your School would like to start a chess club, please let us know and we will help you with a donation of Chess sets & boards and help you find a chess coach to assist you.
  

Peoria Academy

Peoria Academy has sponsored the annual Midwest Chess Camp for last 16 years and is happy to present our 2019 camp as well. Peoria Academy is a private school for children K-8 that promotes academic excellence where intellectual stimulation is high and where individual attention is given in a warm, friendly, and nurturing environment.

Coaches, Mentors and Parents

For making the time and effort to teach and pass on your knowledge of chess. We all know the wonderful things it does for the mind. We hope to spark further inspiration here to make your job easier going forward.

• Chess develops logical thinking.
• Chess teaches independence of thought and action.
• Chess develops the capability to predict and foresee consequences of actions.
• Chess inspires self-motivation.
• Chess shows that success rewards hard work.
• Chess develops the scientific way of thinking.

And finally thank you to all the players who honed their talents with us and displayed their abilities at this tournament. We're glad you are here. You will be rewarded with new knowledge and skills which you can put into play immediately. We hope you have a wonderful time and wish you chess success in your future tournaments.