New Ottawa chess tournament aims to grow the game with kids

Students from schools across Ottawa got the opportunity to compete in a chess tournament on Friday. CTV’s Josh Marano reports.

More than 150 students from across the city competed in the first ever annual Ottawa Scholastic Chess Team Championship.

Fifteen schools with kids from grades 1 to 8 were put on teams, playing against others for the chance to call themselves the Kings or Queens of chess.

The event was organized by the Ottawa Cavaliers Chess Academy and Kanata Chess Academy. Mike Sun, founder of the Ottawa Cavaliers, says normally they host individual tournaments, but having kids form teams with their friends adds extra enthusiasm to playing the iconic game.

“We find it it’s much cooler when the kids can form a team. So even if you lose individually, but your team wins, you can still win as a team,” Sun said.

“It’s nice to give these kids a chance to represent their school, to form a team and have fun with their friends.”

Some kids participating are either playing in their first tournament or are learning the game for the first time.

Zayd Almaki is a Grade 8 student from Abraar School. He plays chess almost every day with his friends, but this is first tournament.

“We have chess board in the school so on snack and lunch, you know, we’ll just play. If it’s too cold to go outside, we’ll stay in and play,” Almaki said.

“I love playing chess and to come here and play alongside my friends is great,” he added.

Organizers asked participants to bring a non-perishable food item with them. All of the donations are going to the Ottawa Food Bank.

“We want kids to not only expand themselves and develop in chess, but also in being a good citizen,” Sun said.

Sun says they hope to expand the tournament next year, with plans to invite high school students.

“We need to keep expanding chess in Ottawa. I think after the pandemic, especially, interest in chess has picked up a lot.”