Chess Team Members Win Regional Tourney

Chess team members Kacper Drozdowski (left) and Zurabi Javakhadze (right) with Francisco L. Guadalupe, the chief tournament director.

Two UT Dallas chess team members recently finished in the top two spots of the 73rd annual Texas State Chess Championship in Fort Worth.

Kacper Drozdowski (left), a graduate student at the Naveen Jindal School of Management, and Zurabi Javakhadze (right), a senior in the School of Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication, defeated contestants from Texas to take first and second place.

Both students are international masters, which is the level right below grandmaster.

Jim Stallings, director of the University’s chess program, said team members are encouraged to play in noncollegiate tournaments year-round to stay in shape.

The tournament was sponsored by the Texas Chess Association. Players at the tournament included association members, as well as amateurs.

Whoosh!

–Phil Roth