Martin's Amazing Breakthrough
" Martin* ", whose belief in himself (and great coaching, paid through your donations) helped win the sixth-place trophy in the Middle School Open section at the Southeast Texas (Region 5) Scholastic Tournament at Baylor College of Medicine Academy on Feb. 18. He's from St. Peter the Apostle School. Martin is a seventh grader at St. Peter the Apostle School. a CICSF supported school in Houston. He has been playing in US Chess Federation sanctioned tournaments since he was in third grade. He entered the tournament last week with a 758 USCF rating based on his 160 games over the four years. That’s typical progress for a scholastic competitor. He’s a “normal” good kid; plays youth basketball, baseball, and soccer, … and chess, too. There’s nothing “geeky” about Martin.
Because of the Texas Chess Association rules for scholastic level tournaments, Martin’s 758 rating puts him in the Middle School Open Section of the competition; all middle school players with ratings over 700. In this tournament Martin will be competing against other middle schoolers with ratings up to 1776! There are 34 other players in the section. Martin stands in the 30th position. As we coaches like to say, “This will be a learning experience!” It’s likely that Martin will lose all his games today, but a reasonable possibility that he might win one game in the last round when the computer pairs him up with another player who lost his first four games, likely another player entering with a rating in the 700’s.
Martin has pre-registered for a bye in the first round because he’s participating in a Saturday morning fun 5K run/walk to raise money for St. Peter’s. That gives him a draw for the first round. He arrives in time for the second round. The computer pairs him against a player with a 1136 rating. 1136 vs. 758. Looks like one of those “You might learn something.” games. A half hour later Martin returns to our team room with an inscrutable expression. Seventh grade boys have passed over from elementary school spontaneity, … to “cool.” I ask Martin what happened. He mumbles “I won.”. Martin wins! “Martin, you beat an 1136?” He gives an almost imperceptible nod and suppresses a smile. He’s gotta stay “cool.”
I know that defeating an opponent 378 points stronger is going to give a big boost to Martin’s new rating when it’s tabulated next week in the big USCF computer in the sky. He’s already had a successful tournament, even if chances are slim to none that he’s going to get the three wins he’ll need today to qualify for a trophy.
Martin now has a win and a draw going into the third round; one and a half points. The computer will pair him for the third round with another player with a point and a half or two points. That’s not likely to be one of the few 700-800 range players in the MS Open section.
After lunch, the pairings are posted for the third round. Martin’s opponent is a 1207, a 449-point differential; an even tougher opponent. So off Martin goes. Is his second-round victory perhaps a stumble by a superior player? Coaches and parents are not allowed to watch their kids play at tournaments. About 45 minutes later Martin returns. He walks into the room, walks directly to me and says. “Coach, I won.” He says it like he surprised himself.
Now Martin is entering round four with 2.5 points. The computer will match him against another player with 2.5 or 3 points in the first three rounds. The pairings are posted. Martin’s round-4 opponent is a 1561, an 803-point differential. The USCF rating system is saying that this opponent is twice as good as Martin. To provide some perspective, Magnus Carlsen, the World Chess Champion has a rating that fluctuates around 3000. The computer thinks that Martin’s middle school opponent is about half as good as the best chess player in the world. Off goes Martin to round 4. Martin’s mom, and I wait, fingers crossed and praying. Time creeps, but that’s OK. A 1561 will not be defeated quickly.
I wish I could tell you that Martin won. Then I would have titled this story “Martin’s Miracle.” Martin comes back with a faint smile but gives us a thumb down. He lost. No miracle. We’re all a bit deflated. We congratulate Martin for his phenomenal success. “Martin you beat an 1100 and a 1200 today. That’s outstanding!”
Martin’s record is 2.5 points in four games. The day’s not over. He needs a win or a draw in the last round to win a trophy (3 or more points in five games). We’re hoping that his last opponent might be lower rated player, perhaps below 1000, who is also having a good day today. The fifth-round pairings are posted. Martin is matched against a 1345 who has won three out of four games today. Yikes! That a higher rating than all but the 1561!
“Martin, I have no idea what you’re doing today, but keep on keepin’ on.” Off he goes.
He returns about an hour later. From the entry door he announces, “I won!” There’s his big smile. He has lost (temporarily) his seventh grade “cool.” He wins! Holy rip-roaring old teddy bear! He wins! With three wins and a draw, Martin is awarded the Sixth-Place Trophy in the Middle School Open section.
On Tuesday, the tournament results are posted on line with the new ratings earned by all the players. Martin’s rating zooms from 754 to 1061, a 308-point increase! I’ve never had a player get a rating boost that big in one tournament. His earlier record, factors in, of course, and prevents him from being scored at the 1300 level, but I’m confident that 1300 is his skill level now, and he’ll prove that in upcoming tournaments.
So, how did this amazing breakthrough in Martin’s play happen? Martin did it himself, of course, but this year we’ve had Coach Andrew Koenigsberg coming once a week to St. Peter’s to tutor our chess team. Your CICSF donations pay his fee. He’s a remarkable chess tutor.
Before the trophy awards commenced, Martin left with his parents for a basketball game. Consider Martin's Day. Up at 5:30 and off for the Steps for Students 5k, run/walk; a quick change in the SUV as they proceed to the chess tournament; four intensive chess games at a very competitive level, and then another quick change in the SUV to arrive just in time to play a basketball game.
* "Martin" is a pseudonym. The stories are all real, but we use pseudonyms to protect the student's online privacy.