Be Someone Founder, Orrin Checkmate Hudson Claims Victory at 37th Annual World Open Chess Tournament
ATLANTA – July 7, 2009 – Atlanta resident and Be Someone founder, Orrin Hudson won top honors in the Under 1700 Game in Time 10 Minutes Blitz Tournament at the 37th Annual World Open, an international chess tournament, which took place in Philadelphia over Independence Day weekend. This important win provides a spotlight for Hudson to promote his non-profit organization, Be Someone, a crime prevention program, that uses chess to teach at-risk youth self-esteem, as well as responsibility and analytical thinking.
“Winning the Under 1700 Game in 10 minutes blitz tournament where the best in the world compete is a great feeling. It was exciting to be back in the game and to be able to use this opportunity to teach the youth of America that making the right choices can make you a champion at life and at chess,” said Hudson. “I’ve devoted more than a decade of my life to teaching children to push pawns, not drugs.”
The World Open brought together more than 1,300 players from across the world. Players competed in nine sections based on their current rating. Hudson, whose rating is 1690, competed against opponents in the Under 1800 and 1700 sections. It was in the Under 1700 section game in 10 minutes side event that he won 4 out of 5 games on the evening of Saturday, July 4.
“Orrin is a real champion because he is giving our children the greatest gift they could receive, the ability to think, act, and solve problems. It was a great honor to award someone who is truly making a difference,” said Brenda Goichberg of Continental Chess, the organization that organized the tournament. (more…)
