Battling on the Board
By WBNG News
Story Created: Feb 22, 2009 at 3:57 PM EST
Story Updated: Feb 22, 2009 at 7:14 PM EST
Some of the top chess players from across the state competed in a United States Chess Federation tournament in Binghamton.
Action News reporter Landon Sears tells us about one player from Vestal who’s just as good…but a little younger than his competitors.
Chess Legend Bobby Fischer once said…”It’s just you and your opponent at the board and you’re trying to prove something.”
13 year old Jimmy Zhou tries to prove he can beat anyone in chess…even guys who are 5 times his age like at Sunday’s tournament at Cordisco’s Market in Binghamton.
“I’m not nervous at all,” said Jimmy Zhou of Vestal
He was only 6 when he began playing….
“Well I was at a boys and girls club, looking around for something to do. My dad was like, ‘Come over. Play chess,” said Zhou.
And Jimmy was a natural….
He’s ranked in the top 100 nationally for his age group. Jimmyy has won several tournaments, many against players much older than him.
“I’ve lost to Jimmy a couple of times now. When you play a game like this you start worrying about the skill level of the player and not the age or size of the player,” said Stanley Lacomb of Conklin.
“Age, experience, and a lot of those things–once you sit at a chess board, those all go away,” said John Cordisco of Binghamton.
“Jimmy’s opponents say he’s a master at seeing the board ahead of time. He’s really good at visualizing their moves and seeing moves and seeing moves happen before they actually do,” said Action News reporter Landon Sears.
Here is the full article.
Go Jimmy!