The Red and Black

Issue date: 3/3/09 Section: News

Media Credit: JIM DIFFLY Senior Will Campbell practices with the Chess Club Thursday night in the Tate Center. [Click to enlarge]

UGA Chess Dawgs made University history Saturday and Sunday, winning first place and the coveted title, "The Best College Chess Team in Georgia," after a two-day championship.

The Chess Dawgs took first place at the Georgia Open College Team Chess Championship at Emory University.

Patrick Graham, president and founder of Chess Dawgs, has been attending the tournament with his team for the past two years.

"The first year we attended the tournament, we got third, and last year we got second," Graham said. "This year, the Chess Dawgs took first place, so I now have with me the first place trophy for the only team chess championship in Georgia."

Graham said the tournament was a stressful experience for the club.

"It had been four rounds and there was still no clear winner. It was getting late and everyone wanted to know who the best chess team in Georgia was."

The results were decided by a final blitz round, which meant that each player would only have five minutes total to play the game.

"Blitz rounds are exciting," Graham said. "They aren't like the chess games that so many people are used to, that take all day."

The blitz round concluded with a 4-0 victory for the University.

"It really was an incredible experience," Graham said.

The tournament hosts chess teams from universities across the state, including Georgia Tech, Emory and Macon State.

The contest is open to everyone; there are no qualifications for teams who want to play.

Two teams of four from the University attended the tournament this weekend.

Femi Ogunyemi, a junior from Lithonia, went to the tournament for the first time last year.

"I like playing chess because it's mentally stimulating," he said. "I don't really do anything different to prepare for a tournament; just practice a lot and study."

Graham created Chess Dawgs when he was a freshman. He had played chess since he was a kid, and his love of the game carried though until college.

Continued...

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