Grand Falls-Windsor student wins Newfoundland chess championship

A Grade 12 Student from Exploits Valley High has been crowned this year's provincial chess champion.

Arrick Chaulk from Grand Falls-Windsor took home the gold medal for his category at the Newfoundland and Labrador final of the Canadian Chess Challenge in St. John's earlier this month.

He told the Central Morning Show that his path to the top meant he had to cross one of his long-time foes, whom he had never been able to beat before.

This year, he managed to do it twice.

"It was kind of like an unbelievable feeling the first time," he said.

"I couldn't believe that I actually managed to do it."

Starting Early

Chaulk said he started playing chess in Grade 4, in the program at Sprucewood Academy in Grand Falls-Windsor.

"Starting in around the fifth or sixth grade, I started being able to beat the teacher who taught me, Mr. Derek Riche," he said.

"I just kept playing and playing, getting better as time went on."

His junior high school did not have a chess program for him, but Chaulk kept playing opponents online, and kept his skills sharp.

Although the online game helped him prepare for his win this year in St. John's, Chaulk said he prefers the thrill of in-person play.

"You get to see the board a lot better, and you have a better view of it compared to online," Chaulk said.

"And there's a different environment, too, the competitive setting in person is a lot higher because there's different rules in place."

After his win earlier in March, Chaulk will travel with team Newfoundland and Labrador to the national championships in Regina, Sask., on May 24.

He's also going to look for ways to keep his love of chess alive when he leaves school for University, and he said he would recommend Chess to any of his younger classmates.

"The mental stimulation, it kind of rivals that of some video games today," he said.

"It keeps me thinking, and I love the challenge of trying to do the best I can and beat people who are better than me."