Chess tournament quiet, but enthusiastic
Published: Sunday, April 13, 2008
By Matt Sutkoski
Free Press Staff Writer

RICHMOND — State championships in most school sports or events tend to be raucous affairs, with fans screaming, horns blowing, cheerleaders twirling and bands booming.

Except, that is, for the Vermont State Scholastic Chess Championships, held Saturday at Camels Hump Middle School in Richmond.

There, kindergarten-through-grade-12 competitors from all over the state leaned wordlessly over chess sets, brows furrowed. Small clots of spectators watched games in absolute silence. The only sounds came from competitors periodically punching table-top clocks to time their turns and a barely audible flock of birds chirping outside.

That’s not to say it was a sober, glum affair. Participants said they were having a blast and their enthusiasm was obvious: they traded tips, wore team T-shirts, and during breaks, sparred in quick practice sessions.

“It’s the most refined of board games. It’s just a really elegant game,” said Steven Tatum, 18, of Derby, a senior at North Country Union High School in Newport. His brother, Owen Tatum, 15, is equally taken by the game.

“The interesting part of it is the decision-making process. That’s sort of the big part of it. It tests your judgement really well,” Owen said.

The Tatum brothers and the two other students from the high school wore black T-shirts emblazoned with a picture of a falcon, the school mascot, and the words “North Country Chess Falcons.”

The 150 or so competitors fanned out into classrooms throughout the school. In each room several games progressed simultaneously.

Under tournament rules, each game could last no more than an hour, with each player given a total of 30 minutes to contemplate his or her moves. A double clock rested on each table. A player would turn his or her clock on when mulling a move, then shut it off as the opponent played. That way, players could track how far into their 30-minute allotment they were.

Here is the full article.

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