Hip Hop Chess Tourney Kicks Off in SF This Weekend

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Hip-Hop Chess Federation Adds “All Queens” Panel to  West Coast Kings& Queens TournamentRappers, Scholars and Artists Gather to Inspire SF Youth

Sept. 22nd 2009, San Francisco, CA- The Hip-Hop Chess Federation is proud to announce the West Coast Kings & Queens Tournament. TheHip-Hop Chess Federation is the world’s first organization to fuse music, chess and martial arts to promote unity, strategy and non-violence. There will be a traditional rated chess tournament, people can learn chess basics, watch graffiti art battles, b-boy ciphers, celebrity chess matches, martial arts exhibitions, prize giveaways and more! It all takes place Oct. 10th 2009 at JohnO’Connell High School from 9AM to 6PM at 2355 Folsom St. @ 19th in San Francisco, Ca. ADMISSION IS FREE FOR ALL AGES.

Celebrity guests inculde Rakaa Iriscience from Dilated Peoples, rap legend Ray Luv, Traxamillion, Casual from Hieroglyphics, Balance and Big Rich, Conscious Daughters, T-KASH, DLabrie and others to be announced. The event will be DJ’ed by KMEL Street Soldiers DJ MalcolmMarshall. There will also be a special All Queens Life Strategies Panel where Birth of the Chess Queen author Marilyn Yalom, ConsciousDaughters, rapper Melina Jones and Jean Hoffman of 9 Queens will discuss how young girls can step forward with positivity and confidence into the future.

“It was time for the HHCF to do something specifically to celebrate the power and impact of the artists from the west coast,” said HHCF founder and CEO Adisa Banjoko. “We always provide safe, family friendly environments for people to discover their true potential in life and have fun. So many young girls out there love the game of chess. We wanted to set something up just to celebrate the queens. We wanted to give these girls direct access to women of knowledge and strength, in hopes that these young ladies will follow their lead.”

“We are enthusiastic and grateful to all the celebrities, kids and educators coming together for the Kings & Queens Tournament,” said Banjoko. “This organization has been hurt badly by the failing economy. Yet by forging strong strategic alliances we’re still pushing ahead. These are tough times for many of America’s youth. Nevertheless the HHCF remains unflinching in our goal to share the countless educational and artistic life options for them in this world. We are grateful for all the rappers, chess masters and martial artists who have donated their time to teaching kids healthy alternatives to violence on the streets. Since our explosive beginning there have been many imitations, but there is only one Hip-Hop Chess Federation! See you all there.”

All who wish to compete in the Kings & Queens Tournament can sign up today at:http://www.bayareachess.com

Partners for the West Coast Kings & Queens Tournament are Bay Area Chess and WuChess.com. Other sponsors include JW Foundation, 9 Queens, www.thechesspiece.com, www.thechessdrum.net, 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu SF, www.mikerelm.com.com, Heroes Martial Arts and Upper Playground. For more information on how to participate visit www.hiphopchess.blogspot.com WATCH KINGS & QUEENS VIDEO: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xadbnk_hiphop-chess-w-rakaa-traxamillion-t_lifestyle Media Contact |    Meko Gaborski (323) 335-4497 gaborski@shinkenpublicrelations.com