Checkmates Galore: ACC Chess Team Update

ACC’s chess team is having one of its best years yet.

“We’re 2-5 in the conference, but we’re 5-10 overall in matches, and we’re 70- 88 in games played. So we’re actually doing very well,” explains ACC’s longstanding chess coach, Mr. Scarbeary. As a team, they finished seventh out of nine in the conference.

The team currently has eleven players from an interesting spectrum of classes. “We have all sophomores and juniors—no seniors and no freshmen, so it’s different,” Coach Scarbeary told me. While this “in-between” level of experience has improved upon the underclass-majorities of the past two years, it will show its true strength next year when the players approach their combined pinnacle of experience. Beyond that point, however, things may be rough as the team loses its well-weathered arsenal.

“As one of the sophomores on the team noticing…how many juniors we have on the higher boards, we really want a lot of new students and some of the upperclassmen to look into the team,” says Tyler Kennel, who returned this year to play on Board 4. “Because once all of the people who are [now] juniors…graduate, we’re going to be short a lot of people.”

“That means you…freshmen!” interrupted a vehement Mark Brouch. Mark has been on the team since his freshman year, and is now one of its strongest players. But with great power comes tough competition, which he sees plenty of on Board 1. At the match against Glendbard South this past Thursday, he had a nail-bitingly close game that was just a few moves away from an astounding win against one of his most aggressive opponents yet. “He won first place in [our] conference… which is arguably the second best conference in the state,” says Mark of his challenger.

It was just a simple oversight in the endgame that led Mark to this disappointing defeat, but such mistakes at this stage of the game (no pun intended) aren’t uncommon in the world of chess. “Unless you play a lot of endgame, it takes a long time to learn it,” says Coach Scarbeary. However, as a whole, the coach has seen a lot of improvement in the players throughout the season. “They’re pretty good with time management now, and they’re getting out of the opening…[and] into the middle game in a pretty good position. It’s just [a matter of whether or not] they can do the end game.”

It’s this precarious segment of the game that Board 3 player, junior Phil Karafiat, can’t get enough of. “I prefer the endgame, when most of the pieces are gone,” he explains. “It’s more [about] pushing your pawns forward to the other side, [and] upgrading them to whatever pieces you might need, like a queen or maybe a knight.” However, that’s not to say that he particularly enjoys games with long and drawn out conclusions. “My favorite endgame would definitely be the Scholar’s Mate just because it’s only four moves and it’s always fun to do that,” he says.

Many of the players have been busy developing their playing methods. “My strategy has kind of been changing a lot,” says Tyler, “but a lot of times I try to focus on the middle of the game and…take out as many pieces as I can.”

Jacob Niemiec, a junior who’s new to the team this year, is similarly experimenting with his tactics. “I’ve really been in limbo because I’ve gone through so many different openings,” he said. “I’m trying to find one that works.” The Ruy Lopez opening, a popular strategy that has been around for centuries, is his current favorite.

Phil, on the other hand, recommends a simple approach: “Keep it even, trade fair trades, and if you get a piece up, trade down.”

While the chess season is drawing to a close, know that new members are always welcome. Tyler believes that the team is an appealing alternative to other extracurricular activities. “You’re using strategy instead of physical skills,” he says, which makes for a unique and ultimately challenging experience.

Meanwhile, Coach Scarbeary has high hopes for the future. “This year, I’m still hoping for 4-3 at state. And next year, I’m hoping…we’ll go 5-2 or 6-1.” Time will tell, but no matter what, these players love what they do, and they definitely have some fun times ahead of them.