Howard University Chess Team Makes Moves

By Ed Hill WI Contributing Writer

The Howard University Chess team served notice that it is becoming a force in the world of chess. The club dominated the inaugural HBCU Chess Classic on April 22 with first place wins in the individual and team categories, while Team B took third place. Hampton University, the other HU, took second place.

The event was held at Morris Brown College and featured students from Spelman College, Texas Southern and Morehouse College. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens was in attendance.

Howard Chess President Malik Castro-DeVarona, a sophomore political science major from Los Angeles grabbed the first-place individual trophy after beating two other Howard students who were in a three way tie for first place.

DCIAA and DCSAA state championship.

"It is an honor to be selected to coach in the Capital Classic," said Battle. "Several of my friends and mentors played in this game. And the fact that it is the 50th anniversary adds even more to the mix."

The DMV team will be coached by Carlos Pointdexter, highly successful head coach at Hayfield High School. Poindexter has led his school to backto-back state championships.

"I am thrilled to be able to coach this team," said Pointdexter, who has lost only one game in the past two seasons. "Being from the DMV, bragging rights will be on the line and we expect to represent well."

Goings said that this is the first time that the game has been televised since James, now a record-breaking basketball star, played many years ago.

"We are excited about the game being streamed," said Goings. "The fans who are not able to attend will get a chance to see these outstanding young players perform at a high level."

Goings added that there will be an alumni reception for former players who played in the game.

"We want to bring the game back to the prominence it once held," added Goings."That is why it is important to honor the past players." WI

Azandria Hudson, a junior computer science major, was also competing in her first tournament.

Each of the three had won all five games. Howard’s Team A were the top ranked five players in the tournament.

"For me, winning is a culmination of the time that I spent with chess,” he told the Informer. "All of the excess chess I committed myself to can be justified. It is good to see the reward of that investment. I think the biggest success of this classic was the bringing of everyone together. Getting a chance to see everyone. We are connected."

“This was my first tournament,” commented Sagid Mohamed, a junior finance major from the Bronx. “I started chess when I was very young, playing with my father but I dropped it for a while. I decided to pick it back up recently. I had a favorable result at the tournament and that is encouraging. It is good to see the advancement of Black chess and to be a part of it."

“I recently came out and became more involved in the chess club," said Hudson, who is from Colorado. "My main motivation was to support our mission to get more Blacks involved in chess."

The team was coached by Jerald Times, 2021 Chess Educator of the Year. The HBCU Chess Classic was organized by the first Black Chess Grandmaster Maurice Ashley and The Black Chess Odyssey Society.

The club’s slogan is “Black Moves First.” Their goal is to be instrumental in paving a path for more Black youth, particularly girls, to excel at chess, become grand masters and eventually tournament directors.

"We feel that we are creating a path for other Blacks and HBCU students to bring diversity to chess. We are creating a space for Black students,” Castro-DeVarona said. Read the full story on washingtoninformer.com. WI