By Tiffany Hamilton
Wu-Tang Clan's RZA, GZA and DJ Qbert will be among the celebrity rappers taking part in the Hip-Hop Chess Federation's 1st Annual Chess Kings Invitational tournament being held this October in San Francisco.
The Hip-Hop Chess Federation (HHCF) announced the 1st Annual Chess Kings Invitational, which will include a celebrity chess tournament and emcee battle.
The HHCF is an organization that uses music, chess and martial arts to promote unity, strategy and nonviolence. The HHCF teamed with gaming giant Ubisoft to present the 1st Annual Chess Kings Invitational.
The event will be hosted by Rakaa of Dilated Peoples and will feature appearances by Wu-Tang members and multi-platinum artists RZA and GZA, chess master Josh Waitzkin, DJ QBert and other surprise guests, who will discuss how music, chess and martial arts have guided them in their paths to success.
Guests will enjoy multiple events, including open chess gaming, Kung Fu films and information sessions regarding educational opportunities.
Other events will include an auction featuring items donated by various celebrities and chess-inspired graffiti art created by legendary artists.
All proceeds collected from the auction will directly benefit schools in local underserved communities.
The 1st Annual Chess Kings Invitational, which is scheduled to be held at the San Francisco Design Center on Saturday, October 13th , will kick off with HHCF's Life Strategies All-Star Panel.
"We are amazed by how well we have been received since our first event earlier this year," HHCF cofounder Adisa Banjoko said "By celebrities donating their time, it really sends a message that they care about the state of our communities. Their presence will greatly assist us in raising money to provide scholarships to local schools."
The Hip-Hop Chess Federation was founded by award-winning lecturer and author, Adisa Banjoko and Leo "Blast" Libiran, to focus on giving urban youth effective life strategies to scholastic and financial success.
"Hip-Hop has always been about more than bullets and bling and the fact that so many fantastic rappers, chessmasters, martial artists and graf writers have donated their time to the children is proof of this in itself," added HHCF cofounder Leo Libiran.
The 1st Annual Chess kings Invitational takes place at the San Francisco Design Center on Saturday October 13 from 1pm and 5pm.
For more information, visit: www.hiphopchessfederation.org.