All the king's men

Chess-loving New Hope Academy students waved a checkered, black-and-white flag of victory after earning second place in this year’s Pennsylvania Scholastic Chess Tournament, held March 7 and 8.

During the state tournament, New Hope Academy ninth-grade student Lucas Knight won the title of ninth-grade co-champion, and Academy sophomore Carl Bannwart won the tenth grade champion title. Team coach Lorand Bela Kis won the open division Pennsylvania chess championship title.

The team also recently attended the Super Nationals chess competition in Nashville, Tenn., where over 5,000 students between kindergarten and twelfth grade from across the United States competed.

The competition was coordinated by the United States Chess Foundation and was held April 1 to 3.

New Hope Academy student Dylan Ruggiero placed 30th nationally by winning five games and losing two games.

Kis said the Nashville tournament was the biggest of its kind for students in the United States, and that he was proud of his students for their participation.

Kis, also the school’s chess teacher, said New Hope Academy is one of few schools in the United States that offers chess as an in-school elective class.

“The students are graded and tested on their skills in chess just like any other class,” Kis said.

Most chess team members are part of the private school’s chess class, and Kis said the top five chess players in the class qualify to be on the team.

Currently, the school has two five-student team groups that compete against other schools regularly.

Kis said the academy is always willing to help kids who struggle to find funding for overnight competitions and that the parents of the team members are very supportive. Kis said students learn skills such as focus, time management, strategy and sportsmanship. In class, students learn how to manage the chess pieces and recognize strategies and make decisions

“A lot of people may not know many things about chess, and some may think that chess is for nerds,” Kis said. “In reality, the benefits that come along with learning the game of chess are huge, and I can see the change in the kids as they learn the game.” Kis said the team has been the Suburban One Scholastic Chess League champions for the past three years and brought home about 30 trophies in that time.

“I try to teach them to be successful and set up a winning mentality. In the last three years, they have been champions in the local scholastic league,” Kis said.

Nick Tecker, a sophomore at New Hope Academy and first-year chess team member, said he decided to join to follow in his brother’s footsteps, after Kis asked if he was interested in chess.

“I knew I could have fun with it and do a little bit of traveling, so I thought about it for a while and decided to join and go to the tournaments,” Tecker said. “I got to go to Tennessee, and, so far, being on the team [is] going pretty good.”

While competing in his first national tournament, Tecker won three games and tied two times.

“It feels good to know that I am a part of a team that does really well and is successful,” Tecker said.

Tecker said he learned how to play chess about three years ago, but never took it seriously until joining the team. He said it’s all about strategy.

“I think it’s a way to show that if you are determined to do well, and put your mind to it, you can definitely accomplish anything,” Tecker said.

 

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