Karpov visits Chicago school

Chess legend Karpov visits with Stevenson High School team
By Russell Lissau
Daily Herald Staff

In what one coach called a “once-in-a-lifetime wonder,” seven-time world chess champion Anatoly Karpov met with Stevenson High School’s state-champion chess team this morning.

Some of the young players seemed star-struck by the legendary Russian, who was in the Chicago area to develop local chess programs.

Coaches and other adult visitors asked most of the questions, which covered topics such as strategies for opening moves and dealing with the pressure of a big match.

Karpov advised the players to consider each game a new, separate contest and to forget past victories or losses — especially the losses.

“This is very important,” Karpov said during his roughly half-hour visit at the Lincolnshire campus. “If you forget, it’s much better for your chess career.”

The Stevenson chess team won the state title last month. Karpov congratulated the squad on its victory.

Freshman team member Justin Feng said it was exciting and a shock to meet Karpov.

“He is a role model because he wins a lot of tournaments,” said Feng, 15. “He knows how to concentrate and focus.”

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