YMCA Chess Tournament

YMCA Chess Tournament, March 2008

Welcome to our first Chess Tournament of 2008. It was held at Dr. Raynor Browne School in Baltimore. I rode with the students of Chinquapin Middle School to the Tournament since we needed an adult riding with them. This is a requirement. Plus I am also a chess coach for the Y.

Every employee of the Y has to go through a background check and be finger printed. I was happy for this opportunity and I also informed the Parish Council of my church about this.

The tournament was a big success. Mr. Walter Sallee, specialist, Comprehensive Planning & Ed-Fox for the Maryland State Department of Education attended and gave out the awards. He was very much impressed by the students and adults.

I will not be able to participate in the April tournament because it is the same night as Presanctified Liturgy at my church and that has to come first. Those of us who have attended [or served at] a Presanctified Divine Liturgy really enjoy them. They are very prayerful and beautiful. Although I enjoy the chess tournament, I prefer to be at the Liturgy, especially now that I am an ordained deacon.

One girl was in tears after losing her first game quickly and her coach sat down with her and chatted and when it came time for the second game, she was ready and went on to win three out of the next four. One of her opponents was a boy a few years old and he kept complaining about losing to her.

I also played two games. One was against one of the students who thought that he will win easily. I did not say a word. After the second move, I knew that I would win the game easily since he pulled out his queen and I just kept her moving as I developed my pieces and captured some of his. I lost my second game to one of the coaches. But we all had a great time.

More important, we are helping the students to learn to think and sportsmanship. We are helping them to build up their own self esteem and character.