Age does not matter

Check their ages, mate
Children make markin ancient game of chess
By DEBORAH CIRCELLI
Staff Writer

DAYTONA BEACH — With his elbows on the table and hands pressed against his cheeks, Ray Robson focused sharply on the black and white game pieces.

His opponent was just as intense.

But there was a major difference between the two master chess players — his opponent was about 45 years older.

That didn’t deter Robson. He won the round that lasted more than three hours and was set to face a grandmaster, the highest designation in chess, Sunday night and then play two other rounds of competition today.

Robson, 12, who lives near Clearwater, was 3 years old when his dad taught him how to play chess. When he was 4, he started beating his father and at 8 was beating other adults in chess tournaments.

Robson was one of about 45 youths playing in various levels at the 2007 Florida State Championship at the Plaza Ocean Club Hotel. The majority played against about 100 adults, though some played against other youths. Prior to the three-day competition, Robson’s score ranked him third among the players in the competition that ends today.

Those playing in the adult competition, which included six rounds, could win from $75 to $1,500. The amount for all the prizes totaled $10,000.

Robson was quiet and eager to study prior to his first round Sunday. Before each competition, he looks up on the Internet his opponent’s moves in previous tournaments and develops his strategy.

“I like everything about it,” said Robson, who is headed to Turkey soon to represent the U.S. in the world youth championships for the fourth time. “It’s a challenge.”

Heather Vargas of Port Orange was holding her 6-year-old son, Diego, in her arms before he was set to compete with other children Sunday after playing adults on Saturday. Organizers say he was the youngest child playing in the adult competition.

Diego Vargas started playing chess last year. He held his own for three hours against one adult player Saturday night, but then lost that round.

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