Checkmate
Zack Johnson handed Kazek Bachorz his first loss at St. Clair District Catholic School Board’s annual chess tournament.
The Grade 6 student at St. Philips Catholic School in Petrolia was among 245 students competing at the event Tuesday at Holy Trinity Catholic School in Sarnia.
Bachorz, a Grade 6 student at St. Peter Canisius Catholic School in Watford, had cruised through the tournament with four straight wins before suffering the loss.
Both boys have played chess for two years. Johnson, who hails from Oil City, had compiled a record of three wins, one tie and one loss throughout the day so far. When The Independent asked Johnson what he liked best about the tournament he said, “You go against people you don’t know. You see if you can beat them, if you can’t, it is just a game. It is not worth crying over.”
When Bachorz was asked what the secret of winning in chess, he just kept it simple. “Just move the pieces.” There were 13 Sarnia-Lambton schools competing Tuesday said Tournament Convenor Chris Vaillant. Students from local French Catholic schools were also invited.
Students from Grade 1 to 8 participated including a category for girls.
Vaillant said chess tends to be male dominated so the girls’ category encourages more participation.
, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Independent
