PRESIDENT, CHESS WEEKEND
2018 US CHESS ORGANIZER OF THE YEAR
2020 US CHESS TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

I started in chess when I was 13 years old, a painfully shy kid WHO found his people when I attended Fred Gruenberg’s “Put the Fun Back in Chess” tournament. There, in addition to the games, I found that it was easy to meet new friends when analyzing after the game with my opponents, and of course winning prizes was pretty exciting too…I was hooked. Later in my chess career, I became an expert, a teacher, a tournament director, an organizer, and even a chess parent (that is the toughest of all those roles!).

At age 14, I first started directing events, and even organized and directed a FIDE event at age 15! In Chicago, we are fortunate to have had some of the best directors and organizers in the country, who I took every opportunity to learn from, and was encouraged to try my own events, which I did. 

CO-ORGANIZER
Maret is a tournament director and co-organizer with Chess Weekend. She works at numerous rated and unrated local, state and national events, including the Illinois Open Championship, the US Amateur Team North, the Illinois State K-8 Championship, the National K-6 Championship, the US Chess Supernationals, the IHSA State Championship, the U.S. Open Championship, and many others. She is certified as a US Chess National Tournament Director and a FIDE National Arbiter.

Maret got her start in chess in 2001 when she volunteered for the Dewey Elementary chess club and her twins were in kindergarten. She got hooked on the game when someone showed her the two-rook checkmate. Maret continues to volunteer for chess at the local, state and national level.

TD GURU
CO-FOUNDER OF CHESS WEEKEND

Tim Just is the “80/20 TD”. He is a retired teacher residing in Gurnee, Illinois. He is an NTD who is the chief editor of the 5th, 6th, and 7th editions of the US Chess Federation’s Official Rules of Chess, co-author of My Opponent Is Eating a Doughnut. and author of Just Law. 

Recently Tim revised The Guide To Scholastic Chess, 11th edition. Additionally, he has been a member of the US Chess Rules committee for many years and was the longtime chair of the Tournament Directors Certification Committee. 

His TD Corner column was a mainstay in the printed version of the USCF Ratings Supplement plus his Rulebook Tactics column was a staple in the Illinois Chess Bulletin. Tim’s current column, “Just The Rules,” is exclusive to US Chess Online.

He has often facilitated TD Workshops at both the US Open Delegates Convention and at the National Open Chess Festival; furthermore, he facilitates Rulebook Tactics Workshops for players.

His vast directing and organizing experiences in chess since the 1980’s includes: stints as the longtime chief TD at the US Blind, a long-term staff member at the National Open, more than a few US Opens, countless stints as the Chief, Floor Chief, Section Chief and Backroom staff at scores of National Scholastic tournaments, many club, local and state tournaments, a Chess Life contributor, and a longtime service record as an Illinois Chess Association officer and US Chess delegate. In 2009 he received the US Chess Outstanding Career Achievement award. And in 2010 his TDCC committee received the USCF “Committee Of The Year” award. In 2012 he received the “TD of the Year” award. He is a valuable chess resource who enjoys helping others.