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.
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
- Mon, Jul 17MorristownJul 17, 2023, 10:00 AM – Jul 21, 2023, 12:00 PMMorristown, 230 Mendham Rd, Morristown, NJ 07960, USA
- Multiple DatesThu, May 04Somerset Hills YMCAMay 04, 2023, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PMSomerset Hills YMCA, 140 Mt Airy Rd, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920, USA
- Wed, Apr 05WatchungApr 05, 2023, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM EDTWatchung, 1633 US-22, Watchung, NJ 07069, USAApr 05, 2023, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM EDTWatchung, 1633 US-22, Watchung, NJ 07069, USAWe 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.
- Mar 13, 2023, 5:20 PM – 6:18 PMZoomDiscussing 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.
- Thu, Feb 02Ridge Oak Senior CenterFeb 02, 2023, 2:00 PM – Feb 03, 2023, 3:00 PMRidge Oak Senior Center, 150 Manchester Dr, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920, USA
- Sun, Nov 13Delbarton SchoolNov 13, 2022, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PMDelbarton School, 230 Mendham Rd, Morristown, NJ 07960, USA
- Fri, Jul 22Delbarton SchoolJul 22, 2022, 10:00 AM – Jul 23, 2022, 12:00 PMDelbarton School, 230 Mendham Rd, Morristown, NJ 07960, USA
- Tue, Jun 07Koo Chinese AcademyJun 07, 2022, 5:05 PM – 6:05 PMKoo Chinese Academy, 564 Allen Rd, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920, USA
- Sun, Apr 24Delbarton SchoolApr 24, 2022, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PMDelbarton School, 230 Mendham Rd, Morristown, NJ 07960, USA
Why Chess?
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.