The West Lions once again got to show their award-winning mastery of the ancient game of chess in the recent south Jersey Blitz Tournament, where approximately 90 players from all of south Jersey competed.

The type of chess played during this fast-paced tournament was a bit different than the game most are familiar with, with the King being able to be taken and the matches only lasting ten minutes or less. The games are clock-based instead of touch-based, meaning that moves end after the player has stopped their clock instead of the player being forced to move a piece if they touch it. Cherry Hill West’s own Parker McNaughton tied for first place, and both West and East were among the top schools competing.

The club is run by Mr. Herman, a tournament-level player who has a personal history with the game. He has been coaching for 23 years and harnessed his own skills through continuous playing, which motivated him to play even more. “[When I] started out, I wasn’t really good,” Says Mr. Herman. “Now I can give pretty sound advice to players on the team.”

The Chess Club at West meets after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 2:40 PM to 4:00 PM. If you have a passion for the game of chess, or if you’re just starting out and want some tips from professionals, give the West Chess Club a shot.