02/03/2005

   The Philadelphia Masterminds become the 3rd USCL team


  Philadelphia, the site of the biggest annual American open tournament in the World Open, is now a member of the United States Chess League. Philadelphia hopes to bring some old school flavor into the league, as they will play their matches at what is often said to be the oldest chess club in the nation, the Franklin Mercantile Chess Club. The team will be managed by FM Michael Shahade, an integral part of the Philadelphia Quakers, who competed in the National Phone Chess League all the way back in the late 70s! In those days Philadelphia was one of the strongest chessplaying cities in the nation, and they hope to prove that they still have what it takes to compete with the biggest cities in the United States.
   Spearheading the Philadelphia squad, will be IM Luis Chiong, rated 2462. On top of his over the board strength, Chiong is also a fantastic blitz player is often rated above 3000 on the Internet Chess Club (Where he plays under the handle Bingcoy). Four other players have already been accepted onto the squad, and they the Philadelphia veterans, IM Richard Costigan, FM Norman Rogers and player/manager FM Michael Shahade. Also joining the squad is National Master Elvin Wilson, whom at 33 years old is currently the youngest member of the team. Philadelphia still has three empty spots on it's roster, but those spots are expected to be filled very soon.
    "I can't beat my daughter anymore one on one, but her team is another matter.We could beat New York 25 years ago, and we can beat them today!"  said manager Michael Shahade, in reference to his daughter and manager of the New York Knights, WIM Jenn Shahade.
  The Masterminds logo was revealed today:



  Philadelphia decided on the name Masterminds to show respect to the Masterman Chess Team. Masterman has won many National High School Championships in the past decade, and now the Masterminds are hoping to bring home a different kind of championship to the city of Philadelphia.



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