As a relative newcomer to the world of chess, I expected silence when I arrived at my first ASAP chess tournament. But when I entered the halls of Community College of Philadelphia a few weeks ago, I was surprised that the chess playing was audible. Inside the divided main room, the sounds of over 200 children shuffling, sighing, coughing and whispering created a low, hushed hum of noise. The occasional chess piece even let out an audible thwack when triumphantly placed in the perfect position. ASAP staff and volunteers move deftly among the tables, settling debates and keeping things moving along.
In the halls and classrooms off to the side, the noise levels rose. Parents and coaches congratulated students who had won, and comforted those who had lost. One young player walked straight to his mother after losing and buried his face in her lap. “You never really lose,” she reminded him, “Because you learn something every time.
Competitors between matches and their siblings sat in the hallway, playing cards, reading books, and chatting with friends. Two brothers were playing chess – this time, electronically through their iPods.
Other students ran straight back to coaches to strategize and reenact the meet they had just played. Those who have learned notation were able to recreate their game, move for move, for a coach. The furthest classroom from the competition had become headquarters for an ASAP chess club, the Kings and Queens Chess Club in North Philly. As the final round of competition died down, a chess player raced back to the classroom, announcing breathlessly, “I won!” The room exploded, and parents began high-fiving him. “That’s what I’m talking about!” the coach crowed.
Curious, I poked my head in to ask what the celebration was about. I met the coach, Coach Craig, who explained that all of his player were officially going home with medals, meaning they had won two or more games. “Even babies come home with medals” in the Kings and Queens Chess club. “We are trying to show people that North Philadelphia is more than just the ghetto,” Coach Craig continues, “We have minds.”
Marshall Bright is ASAP’s Communications and Scrabble Coordinator. She has lost to at least 10 ASAP chess players in the past.
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