At age 11, Joey Qin is determined to become a chess Grand Master. He hopes to take a step in that direction at this week’s Canadian Youth Chess Championship, reports Suzanne Ma.
Suzanne Ma
The Ottawa Citizen
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Joey Qin is heading into battle.
On this night, he’s duelling a 46-year-old engineer named Saeid Sadeghi. He extends his little hand for a quick handshake, and then they begin.
At the RA Chess Club on Riverside Drive, the pair sit in a hushed room where two dozen players duke it out on their chess boards in serious, undisturbed silence.
Joey’s skinny arms are neatly folded in front of him on the table, his eyes moving from his bishop, to his row of pawns, and then to his knight. Mr. Sadeghi rests his chin in his palm, his brow furrowed. Others grasp the sides of their heads, some run harried fingers through their hair.
Playing at the club is good practice for the 11-year-old, who is preparing for the year’s biggest battle yet. The Canadian Youth Chess Championship begins today in Ottawa. So far, 162 players from across the country have registered to play. Joey, one of Ottawa’s youngest and brightest chess talents, says he is more than ready.
…For an 11-year-old with talent and intellect on his side, it doesn’t hurt to believe in a little superstition.
The Canadian Youth Chess Championship begins today and continue until Friday in the Adam Room at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel.
Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion Susan Polgar will be the Canadian Youth Chess Championship’s honorary chairwoman this year.
Ms. Polgar, who was born in Hungary and lives in New York, is a former chess prodigy. She is a renowned advocate for chess as a means to help children of all ages flourish in school and gain important life skills.
Ms. Polgar will give lectures and provide group instruction beginning at 1 p.m. today. At 7:30 p.m., she will play chess against dozens of players in a simultaneous chess exhibition. All events at the Chateau Laurier Hotel are open to the public and free.
Here is the full article.
Very nice of the organizer and sponsor.