News from THE WALLACE GROUP
P.O. Box 21303, Eagan, MN 55121
3750 Pilot Knob Road, Eagan, MN 55122
(651) 452-9800 (651) 452-3504 fax
For further information, contact:
Roy Wallace, The Wallace Group, 651-452-9800
Brian Molohon, HB Foundation, 651-209-3067 HB Global Chess Challenge
Hold for release 9/17, 3:30 p.m.

PLANNED FOR MINNEAPOLIS IN MAY 2005; WITH TOP PLAYERS PARTICIPATING

More than 4,000 players from around the world expected to participate
in the
HB Global Chess Challenge, with its $500,000 prize fund


A new international chess tournament has been announced for May 2005 in
Minneapolis that will attract more players and have larger cash prizes
than any open chess competition ever held. Called the HB Global Chess
Challenge, the event is expected to set new standards for the world of
chess in player satisfaction and being "fan friendly," while the
winners will receive cash prizes that more than double any previously
awarded in open competitions.

Endorsed by the U.S. Chess Federation and the Association of Chess
Professionals, the HB Global Chess Challenge is sponsored by the
nonprofit HB Foundation, which focuses on bringing the benefits of
chess to children in the schools and through community programs.
Organizing the major event is Maurice Ashley, the first and only
African American Grandmaster and the head of Generation Chess.

"An event like the HB Global Chess Challenge has been the dream of
players for years, a tournament that will offer very substantial cash
prizes and be 'fan friendly' for both the professional and amateur,"
said Ashley.

The executive director of the Minnesota-based HB Foundation, Brian
Molohon, said the $500,000 prize fund for the tournament has already
been guaranteed and is not dependent on revenues from registrations.

"We are proud to be making chess history and most pleased that we will
be helping to build awareness of how children benefit from chess," said
Molohon, as plans were disclosed in a news conference at the Mall of
America. "We believe our role in staging this historic event will help
provide a platform for promoting the cognitive and academic benefits
that children and youth gain from learning and playing chess."

Joining in the announcement was Randy Bauer, a member of the U.S. Chess
Federation (USCF) executive board and budget director for the State of
Iowa. "The federation is really excited about this event. It certainly
will attract new interest in the game," he said. Welcoming the
foundation's interest in carrying the message to youth, Bauer said he
"certainly can attest to how these opportunities are helpful to kids in
school and something they can be involved in all their lives."

Beatriz Marinello, president of the USCF, has said, "This tournament is
a fantastic idea. This is a very, very positive and encouraging
initiative that could do a lot for chess in the U.S."

The tournament, to be held at the Minneapolis Convention Center, is
expected to draw thousands of competitors from around the world,
shattering all previous records for participation in a chess
tournament. Grandmaster Ashley calls the HB tourney "a massive step
forward for chess," explaining that more than 300 players will receive
cash prizes for their winning performances.

The HB Global Chess Challenge will have multiple side events, including
a children's chess competition on the Saturday of tournament week. In
addition, this historic chess event will include lectures, simultaneous
exhibitions, autograph signings by leading grandmasters, live game
analysis of the top boards, musical entertainment, silent and live
auctions, drawings, and gift memberships in the U.S. Chess Federation.
In addition, there will be a chess competition for children on the
Saturday of tournament week.

"The whole world of chess needs to get behind this effort," says
Ashley, who will be providing some ESPN-style commentary at the event.
"The HB tournament gives us all a chance to come together and play the
game we love in a way that respects all chess players, and it will help
kids. How can you beat that?"

The entire Twin Cities area is prepared to welcome the visiting chess
competitors, and the array of restaurants, sporting events, theaters,
music venues and shops are sure to please, said Molohon, adding that
visits to the Mall of America, the nation's largest shopping center,
are also planned.

"The entire area will be ready to welcome our visiting chess players,
throwing the doors wide open to welcome the participants and their
families." said Molohon.

In urging wide participation in the HB Global Chess Challenge, Ashley
says "there will never again be another first. This is the tournament
that you will be telling your grandkids about."
# # #


For more information, visit www.hbfoundation.org
www.generationchess.com

Welcome to the HB Global Chess Challenge registration process. Please
read through this page of information completely as it contains
important information to help you get registered quickly.

You can register online by clicking the REGISTER NOW button below or by
calling the HB Global Chess Challenge registration center at
1-800-964-2448 or 205-941-4448.

If you are under 18 years old, you will need to have a parent or
guardians permission in order to play in the HB Global Chess Challenge.
You can still register today for the tournament, simply mail in the
permission forms afterwards. Please go to the FAQ/Policies section and
print out the Recording Authorization Form and the Release of
Liability/Parental Consent Form; both forms must be signed by a
parent/guardian and returned to the HB Foundation prior to the start of
the first round of the tournament.

By registering for the HB Global Chess Challenge all players agree to
abide by all of the stated policies under the FAQ/Policies section. By
registering for the Tournament you also agree that you will sign the
Release of Liability Form at the Tournament Check-in Booth at the
Minneapolis Convention Center.

Important items to know:
You can register online or via phone at the call center. Payments
accepted include Visa, MasterCard, Discover or a check (payment in U.S.
dollars only).


Check payments must be received within 15 calendar days of registration
or the registration will be cancelled. Check payments should be made
payable to HB Foundation, and mailed to: HB Foundation, 3140 Neil
Armstrong Blvd., Suite 311, Eagan, MN 55121.


You will receive a confirmation number after you have registered.
Please retain this for your records.


You will be asked to create a password during the registration process.
This password must be a minimum of 4 characters long and it is case
sensitive. Please write down your password in a safe place where you
will remember it.


You must be a member of the USCF to play in the HB Global Chess
Challenge. You can still register today for the tournament, but you
will need to supply your USCF membership I.D. # prior to the start of
the tournament. Please visit the USCF at uschess.org to purchase your
USCF membership.


You will receive a $50.00 discount off the registration price of
$345.00 if you register with a friend. There is no limit to how many
friends you can register with, every one of you will still receive the
$50.00 discount, making your final entry fee only $295.


If you choose to register with a friend and each of you wants to pay
separately simply enter the promo code "FRIEND2" when prompted, along
with your friend's name. As long as you enter your friend's name, you
each will receive the $50.00 discount even though you are registering
separately. Each person should only select a quantity of one ( 1 ) when
registering for the tournament.


If you choose to register with a friend and want to have only one
person pay all of the entry fees for everybody; the person paying will
still need to enter the promo code "FRIEND2" when prompted, along with
the friend's names. The person paying should select the appropriate
quantity for the number of people they are registering. The
registration system will then prompt you to enter all of the specific
information for each of your friends.


Please complete all of the required information in the online
registration form and follow the stated directions.