ONTARIO — Chess Bus recently celebrated the official release of its first published book while hosting a successful full-day Chess Day event at the Ontario Center, welcoming over 30 participants for a day of rated competition, casual play, instruction, and community engagement.
The event marked the launch of All Aboard The Chess Bus Workbook – Level 1, a Chess Workbook and Coloring Book created by Chess Bus Director Carl Boor, wife Kelly Boor, and a team of neurodivergent creators.
The book is designed to introduce chess through puzzles, activities, and creative exercises, making learning chess approachable and fun for young players. The workbook is now available on Amazon, with proceeds supporting the Chess Bus mission of expanding access to chess education in North Central Ohio.
In addition to the book release, the Ontario Center event brought together players of all ages and skill levels from Mansfield and surrounding communities including Shelby, Lexington, Ashland, Marion, and Van Wert. Many Mansfield-area residents competed in their first rated tournament and earned official chess ratings.
Among those earning ratings were Gabriel Dannemiller, a STEM school teacher from Shelby, and Jonathan Judd of Lexington, Ohio.
The rated main event was won by Akim Livinskyi of Van Wert, Ohio, widely regarded as one of the top 8-year-old chess players in the country. Second place honors went to Jordan Raiber of Ashland, Ohio, following a strong competitive showing.
Chess Bus also featured an Arena section, a fast-paced and innovative tournament format that allowed players to compete in as many 15-minute games as possible during a three-hour window. Unlike traditional structured tournaments, the Arena format is flexible and dynamic, making it especially welcoming for casual players and families. The Arena event was fully open to the public with no memberships required and was won by Chess Bus club veteran Stan Cook of Marion, Ohio.
The Ontario Center event emphasized accessibility and inclusion, offering multiple formats for both competitive and casual players. It was truly a full-day chess experience for families and individuals across all skill levels.
Chess Bus extends special thanks to Goyal Industries for sponsoring the Trophy Fund for this event, and to the Cleveland Chess Foundation for donating chess equipment that helped make the tournament possible.
Chess Bus is actively seeking additional corporate sponsors and community partners to support future events. Sponsorship opportunities are available at many levels, including in-kind donations such as gift cards, prizes, merchandise, and equipment. Even small contributions help expand access to youth and community chess programming.
The next Chess Day at the Mall is scheduled for Saturday, March 21st at the Ontario Center.
Additionally, Chess Bus will be rolling into the local library on April 11th for a special Chess Day at the Library event, featuring a simultaneous exhibition by Coach Carl Boor against up to 50 players, followed by open community play.
For more information about events, sponsorship opportunities, or programming, visit www.ChessBus.org or follow Chess Bus on social media at Facebook.com/chessbus