HIGH POINT, N.C., Aug. 30, 2012 – World Chess Grandmaster Giorgi Margvelashvili gave quite a few contenders the match of a lifetime at the Grandmaster Simultaneous Chess Exhibition, held recently on the High Point University campus.
Margvelashvili, from the Republic of Georgia who attends the University of Maryland-Baltimore County on a chess scholarship, engaged in 25 matches simultaneously against HPU faculty, staff and friends – winning every single match.
“The grandmaster was amazing to watch,” says Dr. Chris Franks, assistant professor of religion who brought his 10-year-old son, Isaac, to play. “He typically spent all of about two seconds looking at the board before making his move, and then he would move on and look at the next board for two seconds and make a move there. … It was a very fun event.”
Franks says his son was excited to play, and even managed to last through more than 30 moves before losing to Margvelashvili.
HPU senior Michael Higginbotham participated in the exhibition, and notes that the grandmaster’s skill was exactly what he expected.
“I used to compete in chess while I was in high school and had experience in playing high ranked chess players before,” Higginbotham says. “Margvelashvili did not make a mistake and capitalized on my simple errors, which in the end was the cause of my resignation. One could easily tell the extensive depth of experience he has from his acute mind and quickness to recognize the blunders of his opponents.”
“We are constantly looking for opportunities that not only support the community, but also enhance learning and education, and this was a perfect combination of both of those aspects in an engaging event,” says Dr. Don Scarborough, vice president for Community Relations.
High Point University is sponsoring the United States Masters Championship in Greensboro Aug. 30 through Sept. 3.
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Pam Haynes
Communication Specialist
336-841-9055
[email protected]