Missouri History Today March, 27 2017: For the fifth straight year, Webster University’s Chess Team wins the National Championship.
Colleges in Missouri have had some amazing runs when it comes to national championships, from Saint Louis University’s 10 soccer titles to Northwest Missouri State’s six football titles. But only Webster University has won the President’s Cup in chess five consecutive times. The Gorloks eventually won seven straight titles, tying the collegiate record.
St. Louis has become a world center of chess over the past two decades, thanks to the opening of the World Chess Club Hall of Fame in the Central West End neighborhood. The 2023 American Cup chess tournament was held at the club March 17-26, drawing players from throughout the country who vied for $300,000 in cash prizes.
Webster University will host the President’s Cup for the first time in St. Louis on April 1- 2, 2023. Known as the “Final Four of College Chess,” the competing teams for this year are Webster University, Saint Louis University, the University of Missouri and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
Much like the NCAA, this tournament brings together the “best of the best” in college chess for a final showdown to decide which team takes home the grand prize – the President’s Cup, a trophy listing the names of previous winners. All four teams are stacked with grand masters and rated among the top 100 chess players in the world.
Based upon content from the book Missouri 365: This Day in Missouri History by John W. Brown, broadcaster and Missouri historian. Get your copy at Reedy Press.
Image from Unsplash
