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Chess Board

Promoting Chess Among All Age Groups

UKNIGHTED
CHESS

About Me

Merric Hu, USCF National Master

Hello, my name is Merric Hu. I am the Founder of UKnighted Chess, and am a USCF National Master with a peak rating of 2295. My best wins include a win against the former highest rated female player in the U.S and 2021 & 2023 U.S Women's Champion, Carissa Yip. Additionally I have beaten the world's youngest grandmaster, Abhimanyu Mishra, when he was younger, as well as several other grandmasters.

 

I started playing chess when I was at the ripe age of 5 and fell in love with it at first sight. It has led me to make many new friends and connections that I would never have made without chess. Even now, I see every chess game as a fighting and strategy-making experience, but also as an opportunity to bond with other people.

As such, my goal with UKnightedChess has been to connect people with chess, promote social interaction, and build a positive community for everyone who likes to play chess.

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Our Mission

The mission of UKnighted is to promote chess among all age groups with an emphasis on the young and elderly. We want to use chess to build bridges among people, encourage social connections, lower rates of anxiety and depression, and higher self-esteem. Chess brings friends together and creates a trusting society. 

Our team

Dedication. Expertise. Passion.

Meet our team of talented individuals from a variety of states, ages, and skill level.

Upcoming Events

  • Delbarton Chess Summer Clinic
    Delbarton Chess Summer Clinic
    Mon, Jul 17
    Morristown
    Jul 17, 2023, 10:00 AM – Jul 21, 2023, 12:00 PM
    Morristown, 230 Mendham Rd, Morristown, NJ 07960, USA
    Jul 17, 2023, 10:00 AM – Jul 21, 2023, 12:00 PM
    Morristown, 230 Mendham Rd, Morristown, NJ 07960, USA
    July 17-21 TIMES: 10:05AM - 11:50AM GRADES: 5-12 ENROLLMENT FEE: $350
  • Board Meeting
    Board Meeting
    Fri, Jun 23
    Zoom
    Jun 23, 2023, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM EDT
    Zoom
    Jun 23, 2023, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM EDT
    Zoom
    Future meeting plans
  • Classes at Somerset Hills YMCA
    Classes at Somerset Hills YMCA
    Multiple Dates
    Thu, May 04
    Somerset Hills YMCA
    May 04, 2023, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
    Somerset Hills YMCA, 140 Mt Airy Rd, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920, USA
    May 04, 2023, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
    Somerset Hills YMCA, 140 Mt Airy Rd, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920, USA
    The first of many!
  • First Class at McAuley Hall Health Care Center
    First Class at McAuley Hall Health Care Center
    Wed, Apr 05
    Watchung
    Apr 05, 2023, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM EDT
    Watchung, 1633 US-22, Watchung, NJ 07069, USA
    Apr 05, 2023, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM EDT
    Watchung, 1633 US-22, Watchung, NJ 07069, USA
    We will have our first class at McAuley Hall Health Care Center on April 5th. We are really excited to have this opportunity to share our passion for chess with the seniors there. The class will be free of charge and taught by our team! Any volunteers are welcome to come.
  • Board Meeting
    Board Meeting
    Mon, Mar 13
    Zoom
    Mar 13, 2023, 5:20 PM – 6:18 PM
    Zoom
    Mar 13, 2023, 5:20 PM – 6:18 PM
    Zoom
    Discussing t-shirt designs and expanding our nonprofit to other senior centers and educational centers. In particular, we are planning on teaching at The Chelsea senior center and at McAuley Hall at Mount St.Mary's. We are planning to expand to libraries such as Bernards Township Library.
  • Photoshoot and Meeting at Ridge Oak Senior Center
    Photoshoot and Meeting at Ridge Oak Senior Center
    Thu, Feb 02
    Ridge Oak Senior Center
    Feb 02, 2023, 2:00 PM – Feb 03, 2023, 3:00 PM
    Ridge Oak Senior Center, 150 Manchester Dr, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920, USA
    Feb 02, 2023, 2:00 PM – Feb 03, 2023, 3:00 PM
    Ridge Oak Senior Center, 150 Manchester Dr, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920, USA
  • Delbarton November Swiss Tournament
    Delbarton November Swiss Tournament
    Sun, Nov 13
    Delbarton School
    Nov 13, 2022, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
    Delbarton School, 230 Mendham Rd, Morristown, NJ 07960, USA
    Nov 13, 2022, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
    Delbarton School, 230 Mendham Rd, Morristown, NJ 07960, USA
  • Delbarton Chess Clinic Tournament
    Delbarton Chess Clinic Tournament
    Fri, Jul 22
    Delbarton School
    Jul 22, 2022, 10:00 AM – Jul 23, 2022, 12:00 PM
    Delbarton School, 230 Mendham Rd, Morristown, NJ 07960, USA
    Jul 22, 2022, 10:00 AM – Jul 23, 2022, 12:00 PM
    Delbarton School, 230 Mendham Rd, Morristown, NJ 07960, USA
  • Teaching at Koo Chinese Academy
    Teaching at Koo Chinese Academy
    Tue, Jun 07
    Koo Chinese Academy
    Jun 07, 2022, 5:05 PM – 6:05 PM
    Koo Chinese Academy, 564 Allen Rd, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920, USA
    Jun 07, 2022, 5:05 PM – 6:05 PM
    Koo Chinese Academy, 564 Allen Rd, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920, USA
  • Delbarton April Quads Chess Tournament
    Delbarton April Quads Chess Tournament
    Sun, Apr 24
    Delbarton School
    Apr 24, 2022, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
    Delbarton School, 230 Mendham Rd, Morristown, NJ 07960, USA
    Apr 24, 2022, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
    Delbarton School, 230 Mendham Rd, Morristown, NJ 07960, USA

Why Chess?

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1

Chess for Students

Chess training and practice support the development of higher-order thinking skills—like problem-solving, decision-making, critical thinking, planning, and even creative thinking. Chess training and exercise also help improve general cognitive ability and academic achievement—especially in mathematics.

2

Chess for Seniors

Chess training and practice support the development of vigilance and awareness. Chess can involve many traps and tricks, and seniors can learn to deal with them, which may help them avoid scams and deception in everyday life. Training and practice promote the development of mental sharpness and cognitive vitality among seniors that can help slow the onset of dementia.

3

Chess for Everyone

Chess reinforces affective attributes such as patience, prudence, and perseverance. Two prominent virtues of chess are fairness and honesty. The international chess community promotes civil behavior and respect for the opponent but punishes players found to have cheated. Chess is a civil game with an ethical code that predisposes players to play respectfully with other individuals.  

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