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Checkmate

BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW [email protected] Young Joel Rouleau isn?t searching for Bobby Fischer. He?s looking to stake out his own claim in the highly competitive world of chess.
BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW

Young Joel Rouleau isn?t searching for Bobby Fischer. He?s looking to stake out his own claim in the highly competitive world of chess.

Joel Rouleau is making a move towards the 2005 Canadian Youth Chess Championships in British Columbia.
Joel has always wanted to test his chess ability against better players, and now he will finally get his chance at the 2005 Canadian Youth Chess Championships.

The tournament runs from March 21 to 24 in Victoria, B.C.

Recently, Joel received a registered letter from the Chess Federation of Canada (CFC) acknowledging him as one of the top young chess players in
Canada and inviting him to participate at this year?s Canadian championships.

Joel, 12, hails from Chelmsford and has been a bit of a phenomenon in the Sudbury area with his board prowess and penchant for defeating almost any challenger.

According to Joel and his father, Michel, the youngster has yet to be defeated by an opponent his same age.

?Joel has played kids from his school, but nobody has beat him,? said Michel. ?To get better competition, we would have to travel down south all the time. I am very proud of my son to be going to the Canadian championships. It?s hard for him because there?s no one his age he can play, and he mostly just plays adults at local tournaments.?

Joel is anxious to get his first real taste of chess masters his own age.

?I am a little nervous,? said Joel. ?It will not be easy, but I think it will be a lot of fun to play people my age. It?s a dream come true for me.?

Joel will compete in the 12 and under category. The winner gets an all expenses paid trip to France later in the year to compete in the World Youth Chess Championships.

Even though a trip to France to test his mettle against the best in the world would be extraordinary, Joel isn?t using it as his underlying motivation.

?Chess is fun,? said Joel. ?It?s a passion I have ? to be as good as Bobby Fischer, who?s my hero. Bobby was really good at chess. He defeated a grand master at the age of 14 by sacrificing a queen.?

Despite the fact he hasn?t had tough competition due to where he lives, Joel has a strong mindset toward the competition in Victoria.

?I will just try my best and have fun whether I win or lose, and learn from my mistakes,? said Joel. ?I think I can do well because I have confidence. No kids my age have ever beat me before.?

Joel also spends time practicing with his father, who knows his kid has incredible potential.

?No, I have never beat him,? said Michel. ?It?s hard. It?s more of a teaching thing for us. He?s better at chess than I was when I was 12. We have played tournaments at Laurentian University before, and the adult chess players call him a young Bobby Fischer.?

Joel has a solid ranking with the CFC.



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