UFC Fighters Jeff “The Snowman” Monson and John Fitch Clash with Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA and GZA at Celebrity Chess Benefit
Hip-Hop Chess Federation Matches Rappers and Martial Artists to Square Off at 1 st Annual Chess Kings Invitational
October 10th 2007, San Francisco, CA- The Hip-Hop Chess Federation (HHCF), a non-profit organization that uses music, chess and martial arts to promote unity, strategy and nonviolence is proud to announce the participation of UFC fighters Jeff “The Snowman” Monson and John Fitch at the 1 st Annual Chess Kings Invitational.
The 1st Annual Chess Kings Invitational is a celebrity chess tournament that matches various martial artists and rappers in head-to-head matches for a title belt. Participants include the upcoming event include UFC Veteran Jeff “The Snowman” Monson and John Fitch, Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA and GZA, DJ Disk, MMA fighter Ralek Gracie, Casual from Hieroglyphics, Paris, Amir Sulaiman, Sunspot Jonz and many other surprise guests. Rakaa from Dilated Peoples will host the event.
Later in the daylong gala, world renown DJ QBert will play the United Kingdom’s 10 year old Jr. World Champion Emma Bentley in a 1 minute “bullet” match.
Additionally, the HHCF Scholarship Invitational will take place the same day. Two local high schools and two youth organizations will play for $10, 000.00 worth of scholarships. A scholastic tournament with kids from local schools will also take place.
The 1st Annual Chess Kings Invitational will begin with a panel entitled “Life Strategies: The Blueprint for Victory.” This panel will feature Chessmaster Josh Waitzkin, RZA, Attorney Dean Johnson and Jeff Monson about how lessons learned through the pursuit of music, chess and martial arts can be applied in other areas of ones life. A limited number of attendees will get free copies of the bestselling Art of Learning and Ubisoft’s Chessmaster 10th Edition video game.
“The HHCF is committed to helping young people learn the positive options they have in life regardless of the situation they may be in today, ” said CEO of Hip-Hop Chess Federation, Adisa Banjoko. “To have such a fantastic blend of rappers, martial artists and chessmasters donating their time to underserved communities will have a profound impact on American youth. Chess has never looked cooler than right now .”
Sponsors include Ubisoft, Chesspark.com, On The Mat, Jimi Hendrix Energy Drink, HHNLive.com, and AllHipHop.com . For more information visit: www.hiphopchessfederation.org or www.hiphopchess.blogspot.com