Giant Killer: Five-year-old chess whiz towels up kids twice his age
Local News7 Nov 11 @ 04:23pm
by Andrew Priestley

HE may be 120cm tall, but five-year-old chess player Hugo Pike is a giant killer.

Hugo beat competitors twice his age when he took part on the Northern Beaches Primary School One-Day Challenge chess tournament at Mona Vale Public School last week, with more than 220 competitors.

The youngest player in Balgowlah North Public School’s 20-pupil team, Hugo beat Year 4, 5 and 6 pupils at the tournament to win three of his five games.

The competition was Hugo’s chess tournament debut, after he started with the school’s chess club this year.

“I’m pretty happy. I’ve been playing chess for just a few months now,” he said.

Chess team coach Miro Nowak was astounded by Hugo’s performance.

“I think it’s nothing short of spectacular,’’ he said.

”He coped with the pressure beautifully. I can’t believe it. I’m very surprised.

“It is very rare.’‘

Mona Vale Public School’s B team won the tournament, scoring 13.5 out of a possible 15 points.

See journalist Andrew Priestley take on Hugo at chess in Wednesday’s Manly Daily.

Source: http://origin.manly-daily.whereilive.com.au

Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
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