Young N.O. chess players rise to challenge
Vegas tourney puts two boys on map

Thursday, June 26, 2008
By Nina Wolgelenter

New Orleans has a long history with the game of chess, dating back to the Civil War, when 9-year-old chess prodigy Paul Morphy challenged visiting Gen. Winfield Scott, beating the general and bruising his ego. Morphy achieved international acclaim.

Audubon Charter School pupils Eli Karp, 7, and Charles Korndorffer, 8, are not seeking international fame, but they both participated in the U.S. Chess Federation’s Susan Polgar Boys and Girls World Chess Open in Las Vegas in early June.

Both boys played well, with Eli taking home the honors of International Champion in Speed Chess after the blitz for boys in the under-8 division. He also placed 11th in the general tournament. Blitz chess, or speed chess, allows each player five minutes to make all their moves. During this competition, each game lasted no longer than 10 minutes.

“It was cool,” said Eli, with Charles nodding in agreement. Both boys are members of Audubon Charter’s chess team and spent a few weeks this summer at the Louisiana Scholastic Chess League at De La Salle High School. Eli and Charles “have native ability,” said David Pierson, who founded the local chess league 25 years ago and remains active today. Pierson says young chess players have strong math and language skills in addition to musical interests.

Eli said he was first introduced to chess by a baby sitter around age 3. “She taught where to put the pieces and how to move them,” he said. He was about 5 when his uncle started teaching him how to play.

Leila D’Aquin, Eli’s mother, said she appreciates the life lessons her son learns through chess.

Susan Polgar was one of the first female chess grand masters and sponsor of the recent tournament named for her. “Her approach teaches bigger life lessons through chess,” D’Aquin said. “The kids learn how to compete and still be friends, and that you need to pay attention to your moves because each action has a consequence.”

Here is the full story.

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