The UTRGV Chess team placed first place for the second time in a row at the Final Four National Competition. This event was hosted by the Marshall Chess Club in New York. Grandmaster and Accounting junior Vladimir Belous tells UTRGV Radio how the moment felt for him and the team.
[su_quote] “Of course, it was a kind of pressure, and I was nervous during the tournament. It was my second time that I was in New York, so I didn’t even leave my hotel room, and I was just preparing all the time for my games. It was just super super serious and time consuming.”
-Vladmir Belous, grandmaster [/su_quote]
Students across UTRGV have expressed their support for the team and have recognized their achievements. Biological Studies junior Melissa Machaca tells UTRGV Radio she senses the chess team’s tunnel vision.
[su_quote] “They are determined to either get the same result or get higher. Like, they are just determined to do that.”
Mellissa Machaca, Bio-Studies major
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While students understand the difficulty and pressure of these critical thinking games, Belous believes that it is important for the team to stay consistent with this win.
[su_quote] “I don’t know what we can do more, but I think just that we can keep the same level and try to do our best in each competition that we participate in.”
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The next tournament for the chess team is slated for the same time next year. For future updates and developments regarding the Chess team visit utrgv.edu/chess.
