Checkmate

When a fifth-grade student approached Tommie Barfield Elementary’s Molly Skudnig about holding a chess tournament at the high-achieving grade school on Marco Island, she probably felt checkmated. The energetic reading coach didn’t know much about the game.

“When William Bakx approached me with an idea about a chess tournament,’ said Skudnig, "my first thought was I don’t know how, so I don’t think I can help make it happen.”

With the fighting spirit of a good chess player, Bakx stayed focused and confident.

"I continued to ponder the idea,” Skudnig said. "William continued to inquire. I decided I would designate William as the leader of this idea and follow his lead.”

Bakx was rewarded for his persistence as he finished second in the tournament he initiated. He lost in the final to Cordell Masse.

As for Skudnig, it was a great learning experience for the educator.

"He taught me about chess timers,” Skudnig said, "helped sort players into game rounds and a tournament round and he also taught me some very high-level chess strategies when he beat me in a chess game in less than five minutes."

Tournament day saw 64 student players. Fellow students and staff were very impressed with the chess knowledge and strategies on display, according to Skudnig. Two chess experts, Wade Keller and Irv Pavlov were on hand to help the students.

Skudnig said an interest in chess has been stoked.

"Students are already making plans for a monthly Chess Club,” Skudnig said. “They’re eager to make the chess tournament an annual event."