Interscholastic chess tourney set for May 1

International Chess Club president Joseph Zhang hold up the two kings. Having already been delayed by Super Typhoon Yutu and the COVID-19 pandemic, the Interscholastic Chess Tournament is happening this Saturday, May 1, at the Marianas High School Cafeteria. (Contributed Photo)

The International Chess Club is holding Saipan’s first-ever Interscholastic Chess Tournament at the MHS Cafeteria this Saturday, May 1, starting at 8:30am.

Prizes will include a brunch gift certificate from Hyatt Regency Saipan, 10 Joeten Enterprises gift cards, and much more.

Marianas High School senior Joseph Zhang leads the chess club and he said the tournament was originally slated for 2018, but was canceled because of Super Typhoon Yutu and canceled anew last year amidst COVID-19 concerns. He is hopeful that the tournament will jumpstart the long dormant sport’s future among Saipan’s youth.

In line with COVID-19 guidelines, upon entrance judges, spectators, and competitors will have their temperatures checked and will be required to use hand sanitizers. The chess setups will be properly spaced to maintain social distancing, and the boards and pieces will be wiped down at the end of every match.

The tournament will have five to six rounds with possible eliminations, and the time format will be g/5 d/3— five minutes of total playing time with a three-second delay before the clock begins counting down. There will be 10 chess boards allowing for 10 games to happen simultaneously with volunteer judges supervising every game and enforcing chess rules.

Boards and chess clocks were mostly sourced through the International Chess Club’s own funds with some help from Joeten Enterprises, which provided the event with two additional chess sets aside from the aforementioned 10 gift cards.

“After three years of hard work, with freshmen year being fundraising to buy chess materials, sophomore year trying to create a school tournament but failed because of [Super Typhoon ]Yutu, junior year with the tournament failing because of COVID-19, and now, I finally have the chance to make the tournament happen,” said Zhang.

Zhang was introduced to the game of chess in the 8th grade by a staff member from Dandan Middle School, and quickly fell in love with the game. Surprised that there were no chess activities at Marianas High School when he entered his freshman year, Zhang took initiative and created the International Chess Club. Today, the group has 15 MHS student members, and Zhang has expressed interest in expanding the club’s outreach and forming ICC branches at other schools on island.

Like many chess enthusiasts, Zhang enjoys watching chess content creators like Agadmator and Ted and Tedx videos on chess. Although he has not watched The Queen’s Gambit to completion, he acknowledges the show’s impact on chess and mentioned how people bring up the Netflix Original show any time he talks about ICC or the tournament. More information about the tournament, and registering to compete can be done by emailing Zhang at internationalchessclub@gmail.com.

Joshua Santos
joshua_santos@saipantribune.com
REPORTER