Rockets players Trevor Ariza, Troy Daniels try their hands at being different type of ‘pawn stars’
Posted on September 15, 2014 | By Jenny Dial Creech
Photos from Clutch City Checkmate Challenge: https://picasaweb.google.com/116302832360230031699/ClutchCityCheckmateChallengeHoustonRockets
Before Monday, Rockets G/F Trevor Ariza didn’t know much about chess.
But after a visit to Ryan Middle School’s Baylor College of Medicine Academy for the Rockets’ Clutch City Checkmate Challenge, he is more confident in his game.
Ariza, along with guard Troy Daniels and general manager Daryl Morey attended the event at the middle school where Morey spoke about strategy to the school’d chess club and then all three joined the players to play against American Chess Grandmaster Susan Polgar.
Ariza was the last Rocket standing as he and his partner, Amanda, made it deep into the competition. Ariza was visibly enjoying the intense game, high-fiving his partner, making game-face expressions at Polgar and drawing a crowd.
“I feel like I learned a few things today,” Ariza said. “I had a great partner. She definitely carried us.”
Full article here.
They have a good team.