RANDOLPH – Several hundred young chess devotees gathered Saturday at Vermont Technical College for the first Youth Chess Day, a celebration of the cerebral board game arranged by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
The day-long event began with “Learn to Play” sessions for elementary- and middle-school age students followed by a recreational tournament that included high school students.
Garth Kurts and Asher Goodwin, both 12 of Middlesex, played an impromptu game as one of the day’s programs wound down and another was about to start. The Rumney Memorial School classmates have been playing chess for a year or two.
“What I like about it is the strategy,” Garth said. “A good way to beat your opponent is to limit their ability to move.”
