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I thought Sam was cheating...

I first met 10 year old Sam Schmakel 4 years ago on the Internet. If you're doing the math in your head (and calling the police at the same time), yes, Sam was 6 at the time, so why on earth was I interacting with a 6 year old on the Internet?

At the time, I was coordinating the qualifying matches for the 2003 CPS MVP Tournament on US Chess Live. I set up an online tournament, and 18 participants joined in. Into the chat room came Sam S. The games started, and at the end, this Sam S., a "first grader", tied for 2nd place with a 9th grader from Jones Prep. I naturally questioned Sam as to his age, school, etc. He didn't respond, which caused me to be a bit suspicious. Is this really a first grader winning games on the Internet, or is someone doing it for him? I continue questioning, but no responses came back. I find out later what happened from Sam's mom, Eileen:

"After Sam played a few games, you asked him how old he was and what school he went to. Sam yelled to me from the other room, "Mom! Some guy is asking me questions!" Sam was new to the Internet and I specifically told him not to answer any questions. When I realized it was you and that you were trying to find out if it really was a kid playing and not an adult, we thought it was hysterical. Luckily, we had friends in common who could vouch for the fact that Sam could really play chess fairly well and that I was not a cheating, overbearing parent!"

After that match, Chessville.com picked up the story from the old site's newsletter and dubbed Sam a "Prodigy in the Making", and Sam became the first Chess Kid of the Month 4 years ago. A follow-up article was done a year later by Chessville.

Sam began playing chess in May of 2002 (5 years ago this month!) while he was still in Kindergarten. He saw some other children playing, and they taught him how the pieces move. From that day on he has been HOOKED on chess! Back in the day, Sam was fascinated with Josh Waitzkin on Chessmaster 9000. Now, 5 years later, he has another person that he looks up to: Grandmaster Dmtiry Gurevich. For the last five years, GM Gurevich has been Sam's teacher, friend, mentor, and adopted uncle. Sam's mom remarked that they both have grown over the last five years and each is richer for having known the other. Sam has introduced Dmitry to video arcades, Little League baseball, Pee Wee Football, Dance Dance Revolution (I have to see GM Gurevich do that), Professional Wrestling, and Guitar Hero II. Dmitry in turn has continued to challenge and inspire Sam in his chess education. At age 10, Sam is currently USCF rated 1748, and is showing no lack of interest or motivation in improving his game.

During the past few years, Sam has become an Illinois State Champion twice, and a National Champion once. Also, this past year Sam won his division in the CPS MVP and Championship Tournaments. Last year, Sam qualified and was named to the World Chess Team in the Boys Under 10 Division that was held in Batumi, Georgia (between Turkey and Russia). Sam and his family (including GM Gurevich), chose at the last minute not to attend due to the unsafe environment in the region at the time (a hijacking and tourist bombings in Turkey).

Sam attends the Decatur Classical School on Chicago's north side, and his mother started the chess club there 5 years ago. An interesting fact that I learned is that Sam has basically taken over the teaching part of the club, and this year the club has a record breaking 82 members! Sam teaches at 7:30am on Tuesday mornings. I think this is a fantastic learning experience for Sam. I've always believed that you learn something better by teaching it to others, and he's proving that on a weekly basis.

Sam and his family have enjoyed their journey in the world of chess. They have wonderful experiences from meeting people from all over the world. Chess has taken Sam to places that he never would have experienced, and he has met people that he never would have otherwise.

It's been great to watch Sam on this journey for the past 4-5 years, and it will be interesting to see what the next 5 years will hold for him. Congratulations to Sam Schmakel, Chess 4 Chicago's Chess Youth of the Month for May 2007!

Special thanks to Eileen Schmakel, along with David from Chessville.com for supplying background information for this article.

Pablo's Chess News

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