A4

By KRIS MCDAVID
mcdavid.kristofer@dailygleaner.com

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About 30 cerebral assassins came together on the weekend to engage one another in a battle of wits at one of the region's most prestigious chess tournaments.

Enlarge Photo

The Daily Gleaner/James West Pho

THInking ahead: Alexandre Robichaud, 8, makes a move while playing against his brother Nicolas at the Maritime Chess Tournament held this weekend at St. Thomas University.

The Maritime Open chess tournament kicked off at St. Thomas University on Saturday and wraps up today.

Tournament director Charles Graves said the annual tournament attracts chess players from around the region.

"This is the biggest tournament in the Maritimes annually and there's a lot of prestige that goes along with that."

Competitors in the six-round tournament are vying for the coveted Colpitts Trophy, which has been awarded to the winner since the 1940s.

The top three winners will also receive cash prizes.

Graves said that so far, the tournament hasn't been without its share of drama.

"We've had one young lad from the Moncton area upset the top two seeds, which was totally unexpected because he's ranked No. 8 and he's already beaten No. 1 and 2," he said.

"He beat two of the best players in the Maritimes, who have been playing the game for decades now, so that's just huge."

Graves said part of the appeal of chess is that people of all ages are capable of competing at a high level.

"It's always a treat for those of us who have been around for a long time to see somebody so young playing at this level, because it's another person who's committed to the game and who might make it a life-long activity."

Graves encourages local chess players of all skill levels to get involved with one of Fredericton's chess clubs.

He said for advanced players, there is a Monday night club that takes place at Centre Communautaire Sainte-Anne, as well as a more informal Tuesday night club at STU's James Dunn Hall.

UNB student James LeBreton said he's been playing chess since middle school, when his math teacher introduced him to the game.

LeBreton has been hooked since then.

"It's such a competitive game, nobody in this room likes to lose," he said.

"Over the chess board, it's completely equal, there's no bias so you can really go out there and test yourself against someone else."