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Minnesota teen chess master adds elite title to impressive resume
NORTH OAKS, Minn. — At the age of 13, Alice Lee put the chess world on notice, becoming the youngest U.S. female to earn the title of international master.
Her win last week, at the age of 14, might be even more impressive.
By winning the American Cup in St. Louis, the North Oaks teen joins a very short list that includes the famed Bobby Fischer to claim a major title at the age of 14.
In order to do it, she had a beat a grand master, Irina Krush, who also accomplished the feat at the young age.
“I wasn’t expecting it,” Lee said. “Especially because the first match I played against her this tournament, I lost.”
The loss meant that Lee had to work way back through the double-elimination tournament and then beat the 40-year-old, Krush, twice. A tall task considering Lee was competing against the eight-time U.S. Women’s champion, considered by many to be the best active women’s player in the country.
Lee: “I played against her four times in the two years previously and I lost all four matches, so for me, this year it was really great that I could overcome the bad results that I had against her in order to win the tournament.”
Erdahl: “How do you balance all of that pressure and your busy schedule with being a 14-year-old who is still in high school?”
Lee: “Now that I’m in high school, it’s become more of this task to balance more between school work and chess, so I’m doing online school. That means I can still do schoolwork even during tournaments, where I’m in another state or another place. For me it’s still very fun — especially when I win — but there is also a new level of responsibility and there is some stress involved when I play in tournaments because I am hoping for results that are based on my level.”
Erdahl: “Who got you interested in chess?”
Lee: “My brother (Linden Lee) was actually the one who got me interested in chess because when I was in first grade, he was in fifth grade and so he was going to the school chess club and my parents wanted to drop us off at the same time, so I tagged along also. Chess was really fun for me, especially when it started because it was all really new and I was just learning so much.”
Erdahl: “Do you remember when you first beat your brother?”
Lee: “Yeah, it actually took a long time because my brother is a really good chess player as well. He’s a national master as well. It was probably a couple years ago that I began to get better than him, although, of course, even now it’s still very hard for me to beat him.”
Erdahl: “I’m guessing he’s pretty proud of you, too.”
Lee: “Yeah, he is. He actually came for this American Cup tournament, because it was on his college spring break. He helped me sometimes with looking over my opponents and preparing for the next round.”
Erdahl: “Just for other kids out there, who are maybe really into it, and want to test themselves, how much of a commitment is it?”
Lee: “Typically I spend, probably one or two hours a day now. Previously, I spent a lot more. Of course, there is a lot of work that you have to do, and learning, but I think enjoying the game, and being persistent, even if you have bad or unfavorable results is something that is extremely important. Psychology is actually a huge part of chess, so being able to mentally deal with losses and really enjoy chess is something, I think, that is the most important thing for young players trying to improve.”
Kent: “Clearly you enjoy it, and clearly you’re good at it, which always helps, right?”
Lee: “Yeah, it always helps, when you enjoy an activity and you’re also good at it. I don’t get too stressed during chess games, or chess tournaments, which means I am able to think pretty clearly while I am playing.”
Winning also has it’s perks. For her American Cup win, Lee took home a $40,000 prize, a luxury chess set, and a Tiffany bracelet. when she won the American Cup. She says the bracelet is cool and so is the money, though she plans to save it for college and travel expenses to future tournaments.
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Gov. Tim Walz took a break from the campaign trail to watch his old football team in action.
MANKATO, Minn. — People poured into Blakeslee Stadium on the Minnesota State Mankato campus Friday to see a clash between crosstown rivals Mankato West and Mankato East. Added to the mix was an appearance by Governor Tim Walz, who came to take a stroll down memory lane.
“I was lucky enough to have both Mr. Walz and Mrs. Walz as teachers,” Jimmy Baker, a Mankato West alum told KARE. “They started at West my freshman year, so they just as much a part of this place as I am.”
Baker played linebacker and running back on the Scarlets’ 1999 state championship team, with Tim Walz as his defensive coordinator. Walz was a social studies teacher at the time and his wife Gwen taught English and literature.
“He just really loved football, and he really felt passionate about the gameplay, and he gets really pumped up by good plays, and he was really good at redirecting and getting everyone on the same page,” Baker recalled.
Baker was one of the Mankato alums who took the stage wearing their Scarlet jerseys during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. It was part of the DNC’s overall effort to reinforce the “Coach Walz” theme for their vice-presidential candidate.
“I don’t really follow politics as closely as some, but it was very surreal to be there on that stage,” Baker recalled.
“It was pretty amazing to do that and also be able to do it with some of my oldest friends was probably the best part.”
As soon as Walz joined the Kamala Harris ticket in early August many former students of Gov. Walz and First Lady Gwen Walz have come forward to share their stories with the media of what it was like to be in their classroom decades ago.
At a State Capitol press conference, former student and football player Nate Hood from the Class of 2002 said Walz made a point of ensuring second-stringers got some playing time.
“Coach Walz brings me over and he was like, ‘Hood, what’s’ the score?’ I said, ‘Zero to 34, we’re down.’ He goes, ‘Alright! You can get in there!”
Walz taught social studies at Mankato West for nine years and served as defensive coordinator and assistant coach for the Scarlets until retiring to run for Congress in 2006.
Not everyone was thrilled with Walz’s appearance at Friday night’s game. Former Rep. Jeremy Munson of Lake Crystal said the Secret Service security measures would be inconvenient for families looking to enjoy the game.
“It’s upsetting to a lot of the parents to have this turned into a political event, by bringing the Secret Service, and I understand that’s the position he’s in as a candidate he has to have that security.”
Munson and others have commissioned a plane to fly over the stadium before the game with a banner that read “Bench Coach Walz – Trump 2024.”
The plane never made it to its destination. Munson later explained that the plane with the banner took off but was instructed by the control tower to return to the airport a few minutes later.
Jimmy Baker, who now has children of his own at Mankato West, said he thinks it’s great to see Mankato’s big game in the spotlight. He said he believes Gov. Walz and the First Lady have every right to see the big game.
“They’re as much a part of the community as anyone else. Whatever they’re at, or whatever they’re doing, they absolutely belong here!”
Wendell Epps and Charles Hallman agree Thursday’s game was unlike anything they’ve ever seen… or covered.
MINNEAPOLIS — A security camera inside Minneapolis’ A Bar of Their Own looked as if it would fall from the ceiling on Thursday night, as Minnesota Lynx fans erupted in celebration during the team’s historic comeback in Game One of the WNBA Finals.
It was one of several fan reaction videos that spoke to the joy and pandemonium that unfolded in the final seconds of regulation and throughout overtime, as the Lynx clawed back from an improbable 15-point deficit with less than six minutes to play in regulation.
That joy wasn’t just coming from fans.
Wendell Epps, the 23-year-old, first-year play-by-play announcer for the Minnesota Lynx Radio Network, had some of the best seats in the house for all the unforgettable plays, and his selfie-style recording of his final calls captured the chaos that unfolded in New York.
“It was absolutely insane,” Epps said. “I mean, this is my first, big-boy play-by-play job and to have that opportunity was really cool and it was a surreal experience. I loved it.”
Just thinking about it made Charles Hallman, a Hall of Fame sportswriter for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, laugh.
“That young man… just think, this is his first year calling WNBA games and he’s in the Finals,” Hallman said, with a loud laugh.
Charles Hallman is on the other end of the spectrum… the basketball writer says it’s also one of the best games he’s ever seen… and he had to watch from his living room.
Charles Hallman: “I watched on an easy chair and I was on the edge of my seat.”
Kent Edahl: “I’m guessing you were NOT at the edge of your seat after that shot by Courtney Williams.”
Hallman: “Haha, no, I fell backwards! I fell backwards like she fell when she got fouled.”
Though he is no stranger to covering the Lynx in the WNBA Finals, Hallman said this run has stood out.
Hallman: “If they win this, this will be a very unique, unique championship.”
Erdahl: “What do you think makes this run special?”
Hallman: “This team, literally, just came together this year, that just shows you the great coaching job of Cheryl Reeve, who don’t get a lot of credit for what she does, and how these players grasp on to her. The chemistry of this team is just… for professional sports is very impressive. They just love to play together.”
“I just think we have a lot of players who have kind of flown under the radar,” Epps said. “Even Napheesa Collier, our best player, is probably the most underrated superstar in any professional sports league.”
And the fact that the Lynx were able to bite back in the Big Apple makes it even sweeter.
“Literally, every time out I would see a different celebrity pop up on the jumbotron,” Epps said.
“I’m glad that America got to see the Lynx play if they haven’t seen them play all year, that was a fantastic, an instant classic,” Hallman said. “I mean, to see the Lynx on the front page of the paper today. You don’t see that very often. For somebody that’s been covering the sport for as long as I have. That’s something that I love to see, and I’d love to see that more because women’s sports deserves to get that kind of praise.” added Epps.
MnDOT and airport officials say travelers should plan ahead if traveling on Interstate 494 this weekend.
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Whenever you see orange, you know road construction isn’t far away.
On Interstate 494 in Bloomington, orange cones are everywhere, warning drivers of what’s coming this weekend.
“My recommendation is to use our detour route and plan ahead,” MnDOT spokesperson Jesse Johnson says.
MnDOT says starting Friday night at 10, I-494 will be closed to eastbound traffic from Highway 100 to Highway 77.
MnDOT recommends taking the detour at Highway 100, going North to 62 and back down on Highway 77 before rejoining I-494 when the closure ends.
For westbound traffic, the closure on I-494 goes from 35W to Highway 100.
Once again, MnDOT recommends a detour of going up to 62 and then getting back on I-494 after the closure is over.
Michael Schommer with MSP says travelers who have flights this weekend should expect some delays.
He recommends getting to the airport early just in case.
“Generally, that means trying to arrive at the airport no less than two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight,” Schommer says.
A spokesperson with the Mall of America says despite the construction, they still expect to see a lot of visitors this weekend.
The Mall of America released this statement regarding the 494 closure this weekend:
Over the past three decades, we have experienced many road construction projects. We have found a little extra windshield time doesn’t stop our shopping and entertainment enthusiasts from coming to see us. There are multiple access points to the Mall from major roadways making it easy for everyone to get here. We have a lot of exciting events and activations throughout the season, and we look forward to welcoming our guests.
MnDOT says the closure this weekend is just one part of a multi-year effort to reduce congestion on 494.
In the short term yes, drivers will experience some slowdowns, but MnDOT is hoping to build a better commute that should benefit drivers in the long-term.
“It’s challenging in the moment, but certainly we will see those benefits when the project is done,” Johnson says.
MnDOT says an almost identical weekend road closure will happen two weeks from now.
The closure will begin at 10:00 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 25, and end at 5 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 28.
For more information visit 511mn.org
