Wydown just misses state chess title

Weixiao Li

Wydown Middle School's 8th grade chess team just missed capturing the Missouri state chess title. But, they did get their long-time coach back from military duty in the Middle East war theater.

The four-member Wydown team finished second, just half a point behind a team from St. Joseph's School in Jefferson City.

But, this year, teacher Napoleon Carter was able to go with them to the state meet. He has coached the Wydown chess club since 1991. Since they began tournament competition, Wydown has won 11 state championships and finished second four times.

Last year, Carter met them at the team bus heading for the state meet. He was there in his military fatigues. Carter said, "They thought I was dressed to do battle in the chess wars."

Ka-chuan Suen

But, he was there just to wish them luck. That same day, Major Carter shipped out with his 932nd Medical Squadron to participate in the Iraq war. He's medical administrator for the unit, stationed at Scott Air Force Base.

His unit was sent to Germany to support a planned northern invasion of Iraq. Luckily for Carter, the Iraqi armed forces collapsed under pressure from a southern invasion.

There was no need for the northern invasion. But, he and the 932nd remained in Germany for six months. He didn't return to teaching until the start of the 2003-2004 school year.

Actually, Wydown's chess club and Middle East warfare have been linked since 1991.

Dakin Sloss

That's when Carter began coaching chess after service in the first Iraq war. "When I got back the first time, I started to coach chess," he said.

In the state tournament, the top four players have their counted to make up the school's team. Wydown's four top finishers were 13-year-old Weixiao Li, 13-year-old Ka-chuan Suen, 13-year-old Dakin Sloss and 13-year-old Chung-Rok Lee.

Li finished fifth in individual ranking. Suen was 10th; Dakin, 14th, and Lee 16th.

Suen was on the 8th grade team a year ago that finished 2nd in the state. Lee was on last year's 6th grade team, which finished first.

Weixiao Li said he started playing chess when he was 11. "I asked my mother about playing chess and she said, 'Okay.' She got me a Yahoo Chess account and I played against people all over the world," he said.

Li said he has the most fun in chess "when I play against others and am winning.," However, he added, "Sometimes losing is better. You learn more."

Chung-Rok Lee

One thing he's learned is to play fast in tournaments. In tournaments, each player starts with 30 minutes on his or her individual timer. The game ends when one player gets checkmate or one timer expires. If your timer expires, you lose even if you were ahead.

Li ended his state tournament play with five wins and one loss.

Ka-chuan Suen said he started playing chess in elementary school. "My gym teacher started a chess club that played after school," he said.

He said this was his third year on the Wydown club. He said his father plays a Chinese version of chess. He explained some differences. "The Chinese chess pieces aren't as powerful and only some can 'cross the river' which runs through the board. And, if you lose those attack pieces, it's pretty hard to win."

Suen's state meet record was also five wins and one loss. But, he finished lower than Li because of a variety of tie breakers.

Dakin Sloss said he learned a little about chess when he was in 4th grade but didn't start to play seriously until 6th grade. "I met Mr. Carter in 6th grade but it was too late in the year to join the chess club. I joined in 7th grade," he said.

Coach Napoleon Carter

In the state meet, he finished with a record of four wins, one loss and one draw. It was his first time in the state tournament.

He said he serves as "keeper of the records" for the Wydown chess club. He said he keeps track of each players' tournament scores and helps arrange for tournament travel.

Chung-Rok Lee said he started playing chess "half-way through 6th grade." He said, "A few of my best friends were playing." Lee's state tournament record was 4-1-1.

"My one loss was to the guy who finished first in the tournament," he said.

This year's 8th grade team is certainly a diverse one. Li and Suen are Chinese; Li was born in China while Suen was born in the U.S. Lee was born in Korea.

Sloss is the son of a former U.S. diplomat and was born in Vienna, Austria.

They all ended up at Wydown and helped keep that school at the top in Missouri chess.