(MV) — The International Chess Club of Marianas High School on Saturday, May 1, is holding the island’s first chess event since the late 1990s — a blitz tournament with over 30 participants.
The venue is the MHS cafeteria, and the games start at 8:30 a.m. Covid-19 safety protocols will be observed, and these will include temperature checks and social distancing.
Joseph Zhang, the club president and an MHS senior, said the tournament will be a Swiss format event with elimination rounds.
“I chose to go with [5-minute] blitz with a 3-second delay because I want to keep it short, fun, accessible, and comfortable, where it won’t be so stressful and where good sportsmanship can be shown,” he said. “I want to keep the energy high and give students a chance to challenge many different players.”
Prizes include medals, trophies, certificates, 10 gift cards from Joeten and a gift certificate from Hyatt.
“Joeten is one of our biggest donors, giving us two chess sets and 10 gift cards. Hyatt also is a sponsor,” Zhang said.
The tournament was originally set for 2018, but then Super Typhoon Yutu happened.
It was reset for 2020, but the Covid-19 pandemic shut down the island.
“It’s been a wild ride since I created the International Chess Club,” said Zhang, a Saipan-born, 17-year-old resident of Chalan Piao. “There are about 10-15 members and we usually gather to play/practice chess, as well as learning openings/variations.”
He said his group is called the International Chess Club because “I want to include people regardless of ethnicity to be a part of this global strategic game, and I also wanted to include different types of chess from around the world (e.g., Chinese chess, Japanese chess). Interestingly, the literal translation of the chess we play from Chinese to English is called international chess.”
On Saturday, an inter-school team competition will immediately follow the individual rounds.
“Each school will have 3-5 players, and the school that tallies the most points, will win an award,” Zhang said.
After the tournament, he wants to do more for chess.
“Hopefully, before I graduate, I can do a chess workshop with middle schools and/or elementary schools to inform them of the benefits of playing chess and learn together.”
He said he has already reached out to other schools, including Saipan Southern High School, Saipan International School, Mount Carmel School, Grace Christian Academy, Kagman High School and Northern Marianas College.
“I think children and the youth should get involved and play chess because it’s all about the learning process and a link to reality,” Zhang said.
“Many aspects of chess can be applied to our everyday lives. In chess, you focus on your target while securing your defense. Everything is scattered across the board, so you learn how to think quickly and critically, like when to make a sacrifice or what decision you’ll make when your pieces are in danger. You will have that sense of responsibility and strategic planning in your life. I like to say that chess is not stressful, but a challenge; chess is not just winning, but improving and sportsmanship; chess is not just speed, but time management. Chess is for everyone. Instead of spending hours and hours in front of movies, videos, and games, chess can be an educational alternative to boost the mentality of the youth.”
Zhang said he plays chess online, “but if I do, I usually play it on an app (Lichess or Play Magnus) on my phone against [players at different] levels.”
He also consults a rule book and a book for chess openings and plays, “so I do enjoy studying chess, but a lot of times, I just play to improve, and to see how others play.”
His favorite chess players are the legendary American grandmaster Bobby Fischer and the current world champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway.
“They are two of the best chess players the world has seen, and I love their style of playing,” Zhang said.
As for “The Queen’s Gambit,” the extremely popular Netflix miniseries about a female chess prodigy, Zhang said he has heard a lot of people talk about it.
According to the Washington Post, the show “has fueled a chess renaissance.”
“I haven’t watched ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ fully though,” Zhang said.
Asked about his plan after high school, he said he intends to attend the University of Miami.
“There, I will continue to spread the art of chess and hopefully start or participate in tournaments. Though I won’t be here for the next annual tournament, I will still find ways to contribute to chess education in the CNMI.”
Joseph Zhang, International Chess Club president, makes his move. His club is holding a blitz chess tournament in the MHS cafeteria on Saturday morning.
Contributed photo
