Check Mate and Other Chess News

Check Mate and other Chess Club News

Many kids far and wide of the Western High School Panthers gather, of many different skill levels to Mr. Kim’s room. To do what, might you ask? To compete against one other person as they duke it out on a chessboard.

The history of chess can be traced back nearly 1500 years, although the earliest origins are uncertain. Chess is a game played between two opponents on opposite sides of a board containing 64 squares of alternating colors. Each player has sixteen pieces: a king, a queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights, and eight pawns. The goal of the game is to checkmate the other king. Checkmate happens when the king is in a position to be captured (in check) and cannot escape from capture.

Gathering every Thursday in Mr. Kim’s room are a few of your most problem-busting and skill-stretching men and ladies.

That’s right WHS has a chess club. Not many people know about it though because it hasn’t been talked about much. The ones who have heard about chess club likely heard it from someone already in the club and suffered to see the same reaction you might have while reading this. Trust me I was shocked to find out that not only we have a chess club, but that it has been with us here at WHS for well over five years.

Chess club is... Yes in Mr. Kim’s room but, he, in fact, does not lead the club. The club is led by Frank Ladwig who is the WHS chess club president. Though Mr. Kim does play occasionally. “Every week we’ll have between six to ten or twelve kids who come and participate,” Mr. Kim said.

This year the Chess Club is planning to possibly go head to head with the Lumen Christi Titans soon. Chess Club President Frank Ladwig is hoping to work out the details and face off on a future Thursday.

“Someone from Lumen, I’m not sure if it was kid or teacher but they reached out to Mr.Kim and were like ‘yo this would be cool if we could play against each other’.” said Frank Ladwig.

The Chess Club members hope to then take it a step farther to compete with other schools.

“We’d like to see if this works out with Lumen first and then if it does, play against other schools.” said Frank Ladwig.