A passion for the pawn: Chess championship in Hendersonville

Posted on by Steve Shanafelt

Think you’re the Sultan of the Stalemate? The King of Castling? The Emperor of en passant? Prepare to have your illusions shattered as the North Carolina Chess Association presents their 2007 U.S. Masters Championship. This event brings top-rated players from around the nation to Hendersonville for nine days of fierce competition. With a $5,000 Grand Prize and a minimum rating of 2200 (or “National Master” level of play), expect the ballrooms at the Quality Inn & Suites to be filled with the kind of quiet, tangible tension that only high-level chess can provide. And, if you have the minimum rating and a $170 for the entrance fee, you just might be able to take home some of the glory for yourself.

Just in case you’re still working on your game, the N.C. Sub-Masters tournament takes place concurrent with the U.S. Masters Championship, allowing players with scores from 1600 and 2200 to compete for points and winner’s plaques. The entrance fee is $25.

But what if you’d like to brush up on your skills before you make a grab for all those glorious checkmates? The WNC Chess Association holds weekly meetings at the North Asheville Community Center (37 Larchmont Lane, behind the Asheville Pizza Company on Merrimon Ave.) on Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Or, if you live in Hendersonville, it might be worth paying a visit to the Hendersonville Chess Club, which meets each Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church on King Street.

— Steve Shanafelt, A&E reporter

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.