Notre-Dame team crowned at chess tourney

Collège Notre-Dame's chess team is thrilled with its golden win at the Franco-Ontarian Chess Tournament in Haileybury earlier this month.

Not only did the team take first place in the secondary school category, they brought home the team trophy, as well.

Team members Zacharie Gagné, Grade 12, Frédéric Rochon, Marc-André Huneault, Mathieu Girouard, all Grade 11, and Yannick Duhaime, Grade 10, competed against more than 200 student players.

Their skill in strategizing, memory and problem-solving were put to the ultimate test.

“The students’ enthusiasm for these tournaments is quite impressive,” said Collège Notre-Dame teacher Andrée Duhaime. “Chess is a game that unites players from four to 18 years of age.

“I see a bright future for these youths, who are acquiring polyvalent skills in problem-solving and concentration without even being aware of it, not to speak of the development of their concept of fair play and feeling of accomplishment.”

During the tournament, the players from Collège Notre-Dame had the unique opportunity to face Cuban grand master and former world junior champion Walter Arencibia.

The win at this tournament will send Duhaime, Rochon and Gagné to the 2014 Canadian Youth Chess Championship in Montreal in July.