My first time in St Louis and also in the USA. I went to St Louis to play in the Susan Polgar Foundation Girls Invitational . I’ll post about this very soon. Right now I am missing my host family and want to say I had the best time with you, Margaret, John, Francis, Lizzie and John Patrick. Miss you guys so much. We had fun vising many places in the city. The Art Gallery was amazing, the City Museum crazy fun Francis, our lunch at Blueberry Hill restaurant, visiting the arch, the chess club and so much more.  I hope you don’t forget and I hope I see you again some day. Please continue playing chess. You are all super smart and learnt how to play so fast. Take care of yourself Margaret and John. Much love to you all!

Ashley and mom ♥

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A visit with my host family to the chess club was one of the most fun things I did in St Louis. It is in a hip place in the heart of most things, including the Botanical Gardens. The chess club is quite impressive. It’s across from the Hall of Fame that has the largest chess piece placed outside and giant size chess board. This club has quality decor from tables, floors to ceilings and walls with beautifully framed chess photos. I particularly noticed the classical music that was playing when I walked in. Staff were very kind and I received a tour of the building and was very lucky to be there during the US Junior Open 2015. Here are some photos and more on the Open a bit later.

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Took a quick trip to THASSOS Island from Kavala. A paradise island 20 mins by boat not far from the coast of Kavala.

We met up with our friends from Vancouver who are visiting their family who live in THASSOS. A paradise island in the Aegean Sea. They own the restaurant named ATHOS in the photos.

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Meeting Stavroula World Youth Chess Champion U14 Girls 2013 was a lot of fun. She is a really good chess player and fun too. Other friends there were Maria and her friend who just arrived from Italy, and our friend IM To Minh also just arrived from Budapest.

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What a beautiful climb this is. Not far from where we were staying we walked up visiting the small church on the top of the hill. The view was spectacular and we were followed  by a stray dog who then went ahead and showed us the way up!

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A really fun time! ♥ The adult chess players were around 2000 + elo.
(thanks John for introducing your chess friends to me., and Maria for taking me out afterwards)

  Παντελής Τσίρλης,  Theodora Hatzipanteli and Savvas Manelidis

 Maria Manelidou and Thanasis Emmanouilidis 

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I am having an awesome time in Kavala. I met many people who are very helpful to me. One person is Aris who is in these photos. Aris and I meet and go over my games and learn some chess togther. We are in the Kavala Chess Club.

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Thank you to our chess friend Ioannis (John), and club Kyokushin Karate Kavala  for inviting me to your class. John is a chess player and also a black belt Karate coach. It was an awesome workout.

I try hard to keep fit and especially when I am about to play chess in a tournament. Sitting for many hours to play chess takes a lot out of the body and mind! My next tournament is the International Open Kavala Aug 2-9.

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The chess tournament organiser Ioannis (John) invited me to attend the Kyokushin Karate Club in Kavala. John is a chess coach and also a black belt Karate coach. It was a great time and Jacob and I had a good work out. We are going to try to go regularly whilst we are here in Kavala. Staying fit is part of my routine for preparing for a chess tournament.

More photos: SELF DEFENCE for GOOD CHESS PLAYERS!! lol (Joke)

I think this training is going to help me be a more aggressive chess player and more confident with my moves!

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We had a great day at the beach! Thanks for the fun time John and your family!

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