ATLANTA – July 7, 2009 – Atlanta resident and Be Someone founder, Orrin Hudson won top honors in the Under 1700 Game in Time 10 Minutes Blitz Tournament at the 37th Annual World Open, an international chess tournament, which took place in Philadelphia over Independence Day weekend. This important win provides a spotlight for Hudson to promote his non-profit organization, Be Someone, a crime prevention program, that uses chess to teach at-risk youth self-esteem, as well as responsibility and analytical thinking.

“Winning the Under 1700 Game in 10 minutes blitz tournament where the best in the world compete is a great feeling. It was exciting to be back in the game and to be able to use this opportunity to teach the youth of America that making the right choices can make you a champion at life and at chess,” said Hudson. “I’ve devoted more than a decade of my life to teaching children to push pawns, not drugs.”

The World Open brought together more than 1,300 players from across the world. Players competed in nine sections based on their current rating. Hudson, whose rating is 1690, competed against opponents in the Under 1800 and 1700 sections. It was in the Under 1700 section game in 10 minutes side event that he won 4 out of 5 games on the evening of Saturday, July 4.

“Orrin is a real champion because he is giving our children the greatest gift they could receive, the ability to think, act, and solve problems. It was a great honor to award someone who is truly making a difference,” said Brenda Goichberg of Continental Chess, the organization that organized the tournament.

Hudson, two-time winner of the Birmingham, Ala. City Chess Championship, turned his focus from competitive chess to using the game as an educational tool after he learned of an incident in which seven Wendy’s employees were shot, five of whom died – for a mere $2,400. This tragic incident inspired Hudson to quit his job and use his life savings to found Be Someone in 2001.

Be Someone also offers inspirational programs for corporations and parents, designed to foster teamwork and encourage participation in the lives of children.

Today, Hudson is a nationally recognized advocate for helping at-risk youth and travels the country teaching children to value KASH – Knowledge, Attitude, Skills and Habits – over cash. Since its founding, Be Someone has touched the lives of over 20,000 students across the country. Hudson’s mission is to positively impact the lives of one million young people.

“People of every stripe can be a part of changing the world one move at a time,” Hudson says. “I want to remind kids to ‘Think it out, don’t shoot it out’.”

Visit www.besomeone.org to volunteer, donate, or learn more about Orrin Hudson and Be Someone. You may also register online for Be Someone’s Think Like A Champion Chess Camp, July 20-24, 2009.

Must see video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLFENGymr34

Continental Chess has organized chess tournaments in America, including the World Open, for more than 40 years. For more information, please visit: www.chesstour.com.

About Be Someone
Founded in 2001, Be Someone is a non-profit crime prevention program aimed at the youth of America. Be Someone teaches self-esteem, responsibility and analytical thinking skills to at-risk youth through numerous tools, including the game of chess. Be Someone also offers inspirational programs for corporations and parents, designed to foster teamwork and encourage participation in the lives of children. If you are interested in donating, volunteering or learning more about Be Someone, please visit http://www.besomeone.org.

Hudson was featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer this week:

Through chess, reaching out to at-risk youth

and on CBS Atlanta: http://www.cbsatlanta.com/video/19980965/index.html

Photo credit: Sarah J. Glover, Staff Photographer, Philadelphia Inquirer