Eleven-year-old Will Noel has some winning advice. "You must have a good strategy and take a lot of time to think." That advice could be true about many things, but particularly about playing chess. He should know. He's been practicing it, with the help from his father, since age 3. "And you must always protect your king," Will added. On March 2, Will won first-place in the sixth grade and under elementary division of the New York State Chess Championships at the Four Points Sheraton in Rochester. With more than 600 students across New York State attending the open competition, the Brockport Hill Elementary School fifth-grader came in first out of forty-three others in his division. Each player was given one hour to complete each game, which was important to Will since it gave him plenty of time to think about his moves. After playing six games in the competition, all Will felt was relief. "I was really glad the pressure was off," he said. Instead of sleeping the night before the competition, Will practiced most of the night with his cousin, who traveled from Buffalo to attend the competition. He also played his digital chess game. Not only does he practice with his Dad a lot, he also plays with the Chess Nuts Club at the Fred Hill School on Monday mornings, plays third board on the high school chess team, and he and other students play chess with seniors at the Sweden Senior Center on Tuesday mornings. "This is our third year with a formal chess club at Brockport. The High School team took first place in the league last year, they are currently undefeated this year, and now Will is a state champ. Wow!" said Chess Nuts Club Advisor Buck Noble, enrichment specialist at Fred Hill School. "It's been astonishing to watch Will's skills develop over the past three years." Noble also points out that the success of the chess program is due to the efforts of many people that mentor students: James Fallon, school superintendent and avid chess player, Chess Coach Larry Bradt, Frank Rakoski, community member, and most of all, supportive parents who play chess and encourage their children. Will's goals are to help the high school team to an undefeated season and to put in a good showing at the Monroe County Schools' competition this spring. |
