Berkeley Bishops Compete in Annual Ranking Tournament
Top Finishers Battle it out in Four-Way Tie for First Place
Nearly seventy Berkeley Chess School students showed up at Hillside School in Berkeley on October 18 to match their chess skills against some of the strongest young players in the nation. All of the participants, members of the elite Berkeley Bishops, took part in the BCS annual ranking tournament in preparation for competition with other local and state teams later this fall.
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Newcomers and returning veteran team members faced their opponents over the board in the Swiss-style, five-round contest, which paired players according to the results of their individual matches. Players struggled for nearly five hours to best their rivals in an attempt to achieve the highest possible ranking among their team mates.
Competition for the coveted top spots was fierce, and many of the young players gathered between rounds in the skittles rooms to analyze recent games and consider the soundness of various opening strategies and material sacrifices. At some tables, chess pieces flew around boards in a blur as future masters held court, often demonstrating astonishing insights and imaginative combinations. Others watched from the sidelines, munching on snacks while they celebrated their most recent conquests or commiserated over still-fresh defeats.
“There are some very talented young players here,” said Marc Newman, BCS staff instructor-coordinator. “Of course, there’s a wide range of abilities. Many are just starting out in serious tournament chess, but some are ranked very high nationally within their age group.”
Elizabeth Shaughnessy, the driving force behind the Berkeley Chess School, first organized the Berkeley Bishops back in 1984. The team has a proud heritage of chess excellence that has produced a number of master-level players, and some who have gone on to win national junior championships. During this tournament, she and her staff were seemingly everywhere, making sure competitors knew where they should be, and generally keeping everything running smoothly. It can be difficult to keep order when dealing with a large group of excited young chess players, but after 26 years of running the Berkeley Chess School, she knows how to keep everyone in line.
Out in the hallway, parents and players crowded around lists of standings and pairings posted on the walls, sizing up the competition and hoping for a favorable outcome. During rounds, supportive mothers and fathers sat silently in secluded corners while they waited eagerly for sons and daughters to return with news from the tournament rooms. Between reports, they devoured tattered copies of standard chess titles like “Secrets of Practical Chess” or “Ideas Behind the Chess Openings.” Indeed, many of the adults seemed just as spell-bound by the game as their children.
“This is a really great program,” said Carole Cloud whose son Alex joined the Bishops eight years ago. His younger brother Cole has just been offered a spot as a Bishop.
“BCS provides a lot of positive reinforcement,” said Cloud. “There are certainly some exceptionally gifted kids involved with the program, but regardless of chess ability, every child is made to feel accepted. It’s not really about who is best, it’s about getting kids excited about the game.”
“It’s great for their concentration,” said Erik Larsen, whose eleven-year-old son, Joseph, competes as a Bishop. “He really enjoys it. Instead of watching television or playing video games, he’s trying to work out complicated positions on the chess board. Hopefully that kind of focus will carry over into other aspects of his life.”
At the end of the day, tournament organizers posted results which revealed a surprising four-way tie for first place – with each player winning four games and drawing one to score four and a half points. The top four finishers were Steven Cooklev, James Ren, Gabriel W. Lee, and Danny Stoll. The strong showing indicates that an exceptionally talented group of players will represent BCS this year.