The chess bond between father and daughter

Published on Monday, June 18, 2007.
Last modified on 6/18/2007 at 12:55 am
Father, daughter share love of queens and rooks

By LAURA TODE
Of The Gazette Staff

There’s always time for a game of speed chess between David Duke and his daughter Virginia, 18. A chess set is always at hand in the Duke home, and with a rolled up mat and full-sized pieces, they can take their game anywhere.

“She’s not beaten me – yet,” David said.

It could take a while. David is the 2007 state chess champion, and it’s the second time he’s earned the title, snagging his first win in 1999.”

Dad won’t let me win. I have to beat him fair and square,” she said, passing her father a sly smile as she slides her bishop across the board to take out her father’s rook.”

It can happen. It’s going to happen one of these days, but I’m going to put it off as long as I can,” he added, nabbing another one of her key pieces.

With a slight shake of her head and a smile, Virginia admits she wasn’t paying attention.

New game every time

The father and daughter share a love of chess. Virginia has played him since she was 5 or 6 years old, and each game is new every time.

In the past year, Virginia has taken her fondness for chess to the Boys and Girls Club and taught most of the students in the after-school program to play. She relied on her father for advice in starting the program because he used to oversee a chess club for children at the YMCA.

Virginia started the program as a service project for the Montana Junior Miss scholarship. She earned the title of Montana Junior Miss 2007 in August 2006, and the chess program was one of her initiatives for the year.

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