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Chess team goes undefeated in regular season, prepares for tough playoffs ahead

Chess—the game of patience, strategy, and skill. A timeless classic. And for a group of Jr. Bills, their livelihood, as the SLUH chess team closed out their regular season and prepare for their playoff quest.

In dominating the East Conference, the SLUH chess team has won every match by good margin. A big reason for this success is an extremely well-rounded team. Every one of the five boards on the SLUH Chess A team has great depth.

The masters of tactics and the prodigies of a timeless game, the SLUH chess team has recently sealed their position in the playoffs, which has proved to be no easy feat.

 “We have won every match so far by a good margin, 15 to 20 points,” said junior Luke Conran. 

Completely undefeated, the team is a force to be reckoned with this year, plowing through anyone that has been placed in front of them. Within this undefeated season, there have been many highlights so far.

“We did have a queen sack from our Board Two last match. He ended up winning the game, it was a phenomenal point for him,” said Conran, referring to a move giving up the queen in exchange for an advantage.

The playoffs this year will consist of four teams playing each other to decide the victor. 

The chess team is looking to nail down some wins and become a great chess team that attracts attention and rivals the skill levels of the 2019 and the 1973 teams, along with many other outstanding teams throughout the years. 

“There was a dynasty here, right before I started attending SLUH,” said chess coach and Latin teacher Rich Esswein, who graduated from SLUH in 1979.  

However, their quest for a championship will not be easy. Being the No. 1 chess region in the country, St. Louis features a number of strong teams. Although it may be tough, with a line up of five boards consisting of Luke Conran, Brody Nester, Robert Mize, Christopher “C.J.” Elam, and Henry Narkiewicz, the SLUH chess team believes it can handle anything the chess capital of the world throws at them. 

“We’ve relit the torch,” stated Brody Nester, board two for the chess playoff A team. 

Many prospective chess players have felt discouraged during the pandemic because it is very difficult to meet via Zoom and other various means of alternate communication. This year, with a completely in person school experience, the chess club and team has experienced better attendance and more enthusiastic participation from chess club members and players. 

Unfortunately the playoffs are not likely to be viewable by the public unless matches themselves are hosted virtually, in which it is plausible that the match could be streamed.

 “I just want to say thank you to our team,” said Conran. “We’re doing really well. We’re practicing really hard.”

 

 


 

 

 

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