Chess enthusiasts are invited to take part in a tournament in Chilliwack this weekend.
The ninth annual Stan Rogers Memorial Tournament, hosted by the Chilliwack Chess Club, is set for Saturday, May 11. It was named after Rogers, a former member who died in 2014 at the age of 65.
“He was quite inspirational,” said member Lorne Kay. “He was such a lively person to the chess club that we named our annual tournament after him.”
READ MORE: Chilliwack remembers Stan Rogers
The memorial tournament is a Chess Federation of Canada event and is open to club members and the general public. All levels are welcome from beginner to grand master.
Fellow member Ryan Poole said while learning chess, he developed an appreciation for the “beauty” of the game.
“Any person, regardless of age or gender or socioeconomic position can play a game and either play a beautiful series of moves or witness a beautiful series of moves and have the same feeling as viewing a piece of art that really speaks to you,” Poole said. “I understand for people who do not play chess this would be difficult to understand, but it is completely attainable by anyone.”
The tournament format will be 20-minute games with five-second increments. The schedule is: Round 1 at 10 a.m., Round 2 at 11 a.m., lunch at noon, Round 3 at 1 p.m., Round 4 at 2 p.m., Round 5 at 3 p.m.
Spectators are also welcome. They are expected to follow the guidelines and etiquette including: maintaining silence, avoiding distractions, refraining from communicating with players during their games, and not using electronic devices in the playing area.
To compete, the entry fee is $40 for adults, and $20 for juniors (birth year of 2004 or later). Onsite registration closes at 9:30 a.m. on the day of the tournament. Participants need to apply for a Chess Federation of Canada membership or obtain a one-tournament membership ($8 for adults, $4 for kids). This can also be paid on May 11. People are asked to bring sets, boards and clocks.
There will be prizes for first, second, third, top woman, and best junior in each section.
“No human can beat a decent computer at chess. But playing ‘perfect chess’ is not the goal; it is to enjoy the game,” Poole said.
The Stan Rogers Memorial Tournament is Saturday, May 11 from 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. at the Salvation Army Community Church (46420 Brooks Ave.). To register, sponsor the event, or for more info, email ChilliwackChess@gmail.com or contact Lorne Kay at 604-819-2100.
The Chilliwack Chess Club meets twice a week and they welcome players of all ages and backgrounds to join. For those new to chess, the experienced members will guide beginners through the basics. For seasoned players, the club provides a challenging arena to refine skills and compete with like-minded individuals. They meet on Fridays from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Starbucks across from Real Canadian Superstore (45750 Luckakuck Way) and Sundays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Salvation Army Church on Brooks Avenue. Everyone is welcome.
Looking for more events taking place in and around Chilliwack? Check out What’s happening Chilliwack in our community section.