CHESS WORLD CUP - QUALIFIED - YET DENIED

AGE – 13

My Sister had taught me how to play chess.  I really hated losing (especially to my sister) so I really worked hard at it. I even read and worked though some chess books. After a time I got quite good and started winning at chess.  To motivate me Mom had offered to buy me an electric toy car if I win the school championship.  I was in grade 5, and the school champion was in grade 7.  Unfortunately I had only been playing for 1 year, so I lacked the experience.  I simply just couldn’t beat him.  Also he couldn’t really beat me; but he was more experienced. 

We had 3 draws in a row, and due to time running out.  It was decided that if we reach another draw, then the last points will be counted.  And in the end it was another draw but he did win.  In Grade 6, I won the school championship and also in grade 7.  In Grade 7 we went on and played in the National championship and I won 1st place.  Of course I had to go to High School for Grade 8.  That year we went back to the National School Board, and I was one of the top 3 in our High School Team.  I simply cannot remember how high in the national rank our school was, it was because I was so upset after speaking with the chairman of the board.  He approached me and asked me why didn’t I go to Disney World for last year’s World Tournament?  Confused and disappointed, I asked him why he didn’t tell me. He said he personally phoned my school and asked them to contact me, he claimed that he spoke a lady, possibly the principal’s secretary, and she promised to phone my parents. So what might have happened, she looked up my information and saw I left the secondary school to go to high school.  I had been at that school for 9 years, and she should have phoned me.  I couldn’t believe that I had the opportunity to go to World Cup, but that someone at the school had simply ignored or thrown away the invitation.  Very disappointing.  And what happened later in the year was also very bad.  Along came the high school championship.

The aim of the championship was to determine who would win the school trophy for chess that year.   I ended third the last year, so I decided to put my disappointment behind me and work hard to try to do well at the championship.   I worked really hard and won the High School championship in grade 8.  That year I would have received my 3rd school trophy.  During prize giving, I was excited.  When it came to the chess trophy, I got ready to stand up and walk to the announcer.  Imagine my shock and dismay when the teacher announced the person who came 2nd in the tournament.  He got the chess trophy. He got it because it was his last year in school.  He was second year in A-Levels and I was Grade 8.   

But he didn’t win it; he was simply given it due to his seniority, not due to the school’s chess tournament.  I don’t think the school realized just how hard I had worked to reach that goal of mine.  I was very angry and disappointed.  And what happened the year after.  I left the school, and went to Europe.  Either way, I think it is valuable for boards, and schools to look after their students, even their ex-students.  I probably wouldn’t have gone far in the world cup, but at least I could have tried, since I qualified.