The Lethbridge Junior Chess Club members came head to head with each other in a tournament at the Lethbridge Family Centre.
The kids ranging ages 5 to 16 are competing in what is for some their first tournament. Executive Director of Family Centre Peter Imhof acted as head judge.
“Today our youngest contender is 5-years-old. It’s not hard to learn the basic rules of chess. To play it very well that’s very difficult,” said Imhof, “Chess is a great opportunity to experience learning, to become very strong, very good at it.”
In one match Cassy is played against 5-year old Matias. Both Matias and Cassy are new to the game but with a 6 year age gap. Their experience as chess players however, is nearly equal.
“Just a few months ago we found the chess board we dusted it off. So I’ve only been playing for a couple months,” explained Cassy, “My dad he plays chess and he started teaching my brother and I, how to play it. I like Chess because I like thinking, I like thinking games, and I just like playing it.”
At this level of competition a match can last from 10 to 60 minutes between the children, at professional levels a match can last up to 6 hours.
The youth chess tournament is put on by the Alberta Chess Association and Lethbridge Family Centre annually.
The winners of this year’s tournament received $100 worth of coaching and entry to the Alberta Provincial tournament.
