Monday, May 23, 2005
HB Global Chess Challenge
We are very proud of our son Jonathan too. This past weekend, he participated in the HB Global Chess Challenge in Milwaukee, MN. He competed in the under-1400 group, with his tournament rating at 1307. There were 215 entrants in his division, and he came in 22nd place (which means he also won a little $$$!), and his record was 6-2-1, not too shabby for our boy from Tennessee. He's been playing since he was in junior high, and he tries to enter tournaments every chance he gets.
These national tournaments draw a wide variety of participants, ranging in age from kindergarden students to the very elderly. Marvin and I took Jonathan to an World Chess Federation tournament a few years ago in Philadelphia. The hotel meeting rooms were filled with tables and table of people playing chess. Tournament play uses chess timers, which means a game has to be played within a certain time limit. Jonathan actually won a game during this current tournament because his opponent ran out of time. During the Philadelphia tournament, I actually got to see Josh Waitzkin (of the movie "Searching for Bobby Fisher" fame) play. He was in the Grand Masters division, a very impressive room.
I admire anyone who has the patience to learn the strategy involved in chess. There are so many different approaches to the game, that I was amazed when I visited the gift shop at the WCF tournament. There are books and books written on the subject. I guess that you could say that chess is another one of those games that takes just a few minutes to learn but a lifetime to master. Salute!
These national tournaments draw a wide variety of participants, ranging in age from kindergarden students to the very elderly. Marvin and I took Jonathan to an World Chess Federation tournament a few years ago in Philadelphia. The hotel meeting rooms were filled with tables and table of people playing chess. Tournament play uses chess timers, which means a game has to be played within a certain time limit. Jonathan actually won a game during this current tournament because his opponent ran out of time. During the Philadelphia tournament, I actually got to see Josh Waitzkin (of the movie "Searching for Bobby Fisher" fame) play. He was in the Grand Masters division, a very impressive room.
I admire anyone who has the patience to learn the strategy involved in chess. There are so many different approaches to the game, that I was amazed when I visited the gift shop at the WCF tournament. There are books and books written on the subject. I guess that you could say that chess is another one of those games that takes just a few minutes to learn but a lifetime to master. Salute!
