Responsible leaders in the future

San Benito chess tournament a hit with youths
July 13, 2008 – 12:05AM
By AMANDA HARRIS/Valley Morning Star

HARLINGEN – Chess players of all ages gathered at the San Benito Community Center on Saturday for the 5th Annual San Benito Community Chess Tournament.

The event was open to anyone who could play chess, event organizer Edward Guetzow said.

Guetzow said he helps organize the event in hopes of encouraging young students to continue playing the game and hopes to encourage adult players to spend time teaching younger players.

“I’d like to see these kids continue to play chess – even if it’s not professionally,” Guetzow said.

“Hopefully, it will make them a better person, better citizens and will lead them to be responsible leaders in the future.”

Darren Lozano, a 10-year-old from McAllen, and Danny Deleon, a 10-year-old from Corpus Christi, were some of the first players to finish their game in round two.

“I started playing chess because I had heard about it and I started playing when I was five years old,” Darren said. “My dad plays a lot on the computer and I wanted to be as good as him.”

Danny had a hidden agenda when he started playing, he said, but enjoyed the game and continued to play.

“My mom started up a chess team at school and they were going to the national championships in Florida and I wanted to go,” Danny said. “She said I had to play if I wanted to go.”

The boys both said they’ve traveled to many cities in the state to play in tournaments.

Another group of players sat near their mothers inside the community center.

Elena Nortera, from Brownsville, said she’s glad her daughter, 9-year-old Elena, enjoys playing the game.

“We as parents are very supportive of our kids,” Nortera said. “We love that they get smarter in every subject. They pay more attention in class and it keeps them calm and focused.”

Nortera said she doesn’t mind spending her Saturdays at chess tournaments with her daughter.

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